As you must have noticed we are BUSY! For the holidays we spent time in both Gladstone and Seattle. We travelled through all sort of weather. We had a great time with family and friends but missed home. It takes a lot of adjusting after being gone for nearly two weeks.

School is back up again for me and will be much more work intensive than in the fall. We are also full-speed ahead with wedding plans! Booked a venue yesterday and my mom and I have been brainstorming bridesmaid dresses (yes, she is making them!!!). On the 18th of January we will be back in PDX going to bridal show. Now to begin the hunt for a dress…

Really the wedding stuff is much more exciting than I thought it would be. The main issue is time. Especially because I think we may be doing a lot ourselves to save money. So, swamped. We are also pretty much sure we will be moving to Portland in the spring. Moving. Soon. This term. Among crazy wedding plans and juggling a courseload and this other thing I’m not supposed to blog about.

Overwhelming.

Which is why I can’t go there. Only focusing on the here and now and the POSITIVE. Thus, I must go do some reading or math or something.

Gah.

I think I’m developing ADD. Mostly because there just seem to be SO MUCH going on. Though a lot of it is in the distant to not-so-distant future a lot of thinking, deciding, and planning needs to occur in the present. There’s much to be done and now I feel the need to blog about it (versus DO it?). The next year[s] will be crazy for us.

• I’m currently going to school. As any regular should know. So I have 12 credits worth of work going on right now.
• I’m graduating from PCC in the spring and have had to line my ducks all up for that recently.
• Next fall I hope to attend Portland State University. Which involves SO many things. At the moment: applying (done), filling out endless scholarship apps (getting there), applying to the BSW program I hope to get into, making sure I take classes that will transfer over well and satisfy as many lower level requirements as possible. A lot of administrative stuff.
• And, further in the future: filling out a FAFSA pretty much on New Year’s Day, MOVING hopefully between winter and spring terms so I can take some on-campus classes my last term at PCC.
• Moving and all that that entails.
• We are getting married in July! And that is quickly approaching. Currently working on "save the date" cards, looking at venues next week when we’re in portland for Thanksgiving, trying to come up with some sort of guest list. Gah.
• The holidays are oh-so-quickly approaching. We blessed to be able to do some of our shopping early this year. Or at least consider it! Last year times were very tough for us.
• I recently started working out again. Which is great, makes me feel good about myself, gives me energy, etc. But that is yet another thing to add to the list of time-taker-uppers. And to feel guilty about when it doesn’t get done.
• Due to a cold/daylight’s savings time Ali shaved nearly and hour and a half off of her normal sleep time. Which means significantly less time available to do: schoolwork, kind of cleaning, exercise, BLOGGING, relaxing, and SLEEP. I think the lack of adequate sleep time (which, for me is 7.5 to 8 hours for sure I don’t do well with less and especially not for a few nights in a row) has been probably the biggest component to my feeling overly stressed and worn out/down.
• Just everyday things like dishes and cleaning have been seeming never-ending and insurmountable.
• Maybe this isn’t so much? I don’t know, but it’s frazzling me. Too many variables and outcomes dependent upon other outcomes. I hope to have some answers in the next couple of months so we will have a clearer direction.

Stress aside, this is a very VERY exciting time. The next year is going to be challenging and I don’t see it get easier after that. I’ll be in school (the Bachelors of Social Work provides the opportunity to get a Master’s in one year versus two) for quite awhile and somewhere in the mix is a sibling for Ali. Which, btw, I cannot believe it’s already something we have to think about! It’s a bit much.

So that’s it. Rather new-sy eh?

Ali has been very into the coloring lately. And she’s still a total lefty! Which makes me happy. Despite being inconveniant at times, I think there’s something very special about lefties- especially left-handed women! Other than that I’m swamped with trying to stay ahead on my schoolwork and plan what the next year holds. Looking at universities and where we’d have to move for me to attend one. Also, that pesky summer wedding is approaching sooner than I’d like to admit. And there’s Christmas stuff in the stores. Is it the holidays already?!?

Storms too! Which are exciting and kind of cozy. As long as the power stays on. Unfortunately something super obnoxious is going on with the house next door (the new one) that it makes horrendous noise when the wind blows. Keeps me up at night and I have to figure out what to do….

Last Sunday, no not yesterday but the over-a-week-ago Sunday, we were lucky enough to attend my friend Kelsey’s wedding. I’ve known Kelsey forever, probably since first grade at least and we went to the same church from third grade through high school. She married Josh Anderson at Timberline Lodge, and the service was so beautiful and unique in the outdoor amphitheatre there. The weather was so, so perfect. It was a scorcher in the valley, but up there is was cool enough to be pleasant. Though it sprinkled as we got out of our car, and began to thunderstorm as we returned to the parking lot, the unwanted elements stayed at bay throughout. At least while we were there.

My dad and sisters waiting beforehand.

The beautiful bride and her dad. I loved the black-white-red scheme.

Ali was being a pain throughout the ceremony because she wanted to nurse.

Awww, getting pictures taken.

Ali learned to say "Uh-oh" at the reception.

Ali and I.

The whole family.

Trista and I on the ride home.

To give credit where credit is due, Tony and I have now been motivated to finally finally start planning our own wedding. We have set a date (one we’ve had our eye on for quite awhile) and hoping to scout a venue this coming weekend. More on that to come I’m sure. Also, more pictures.