Teaser!

My mom sent me about 200 emails today with each individual one a dowloadable picture from our professional photographer.... I am still going through them here at the barracks so stick with me! Internet Arrival Estimated Date: JUNE 16TH. UGH Comcast why are you so slow!!!!!

And just kidding, uploading to my blog will not work on this computer. UGHx2!



Well, remember all the men and women who have served our country and still do this weekend! I love you Ryan, Uncle Dave, and Poppy (:

Nineteen...

At the barracks again, doing some laundry and abusing internet access... but we should be getting it this week hopefully!!!!

So you're probably wondering, why nineteen? Well, I'll tell you!

Josh, Ryan's best friend, and his girlfriend Richie are staying with us for a few days since she is in from Louisiana. It has been great, we share the cooking responsibilities, play Battle of the Sexes and Scrabble, and last night went for a long walk along the river. Aside from the mosquitoes it was great. So this morning Josh and Ryan go off to work and Richie and I go back to sleep. We send the men off at 0630 or so and pass out til 9 or so like normal people! :P

The guys text us asking if we want to meet them at the barracks for lunch at 11. So we get dressed and I grab the laundry and we head out to the parking lot of my building. Josh and Ryan took Ryan's car to work so we had either my car or Josh's truck. Richie wanted to take the truck since Josh has the DOD sticker so we walked down to his car and see a police car hanging around nearby. We walk around and as I stand at the passenger side to be let in I notice Josh doesn't have a window...

Yep, the truck was broken into. So the cop comes over and talks to us, turns out between 1am and 5am nineteen cars along the back row of the parking lot were broken into. NINETEEN!! Luckily nothing was really stolen from Josh's car, except for the Marine Corps Marriage PREP class certificate of completion from the class the four of us took last week. Why they stole that, we have no idea...

Strange thing, my car was in that row and left alone. Sure my car is an old POS thing but it isn't that bad! A 97 taurus! Ryan's apparently was fine as well, since he and Josh went to work this morning without a hitch. Apparently three cars, including Josh's, were just broken into with nothing stolen, another girl was saying her cash was left but a bag of Budweiser tshirts were taken, and her GPS charger but not her GPS itself.

Weird?

Anyway, that is the story of nineteen for now. I am going to wait for the laundry to finish up and maybe Richie and I will do something productive til the guys get home from work. We went to the zoo yesterday but its rainy today so we'll have to think of something.

Ryan and I may go to Virginia Beach this weekend for Memorial Day and I am SO excited! Fingers crossed it actually happens!

I Want it Wednesday 5

A full time job come fall.

Simple right?

I want a job that I do not hate. I want one that I will not dread weekdays and having to get up in the mornings and count the hours down until home. One that isn't too far from home. One with good people and doing something wonderful.

I am not jaded, I am in no place to be a full time actor (a girl can dream) but in the mean time something to bring money into this marriage and pull my weight (and still act on the side) would be amazing!!!

Still no internet...

And I am surviving, even if my poor blog is not!

I'M STILL HERE!

Ryan and I are doing pretty well without it in general. We talk, these wonderful deep talks that go from our living room couch to smoking on the curb to lying in bed. I love them. We play Scrabble and Rummy (which I kicked his butt in!!! 485 to 175!). On Sundays we started our first tradition, post church we pack up the three dollar picnic basket I got and go to the park down the street.

This week it was extra awesome because we could see the Blue Angels flying over Andrews Air Force Base across the river! We ate, climbed on rocks, and walked along the river. All within a short distance of our apartment. Then we went and explored King Street, just walked up and down, lounged by the fountain at the Court House, I got lost in the book store, it was wonderful.

We watch movies, DVDS, quite often. I make dinner and we sit at the table and just talk about our days before he helps me clean up. I am proud of myself for the cooking so far, meatloaf, pasta, chicken fried steak, pierogies... not too shabby if I do say so myself!!!

I love being with him. I love that on Sundays, what used to be the worst day of the week since I always had to say goodbye to him, we have our picnic tradition. I love waking up with him (even at 4am to kick his butt out the door) and falling asleep with him (even if only moments before he spilled red wine all over me as we fell asleep on the couch during Ocean's Twelve). I love making dinner and sharing it with him. I love being married to my husband!

I've started training for work at the summer camp. Due to privacy rules I will not write about the camp or campers, but I am excited to start next month. Even with the hour or so commute in the mornings to get me there for 8am!!!

We also did the marriage Marine Corps PREP class today. It was actually pretty helpful, it is about strengthening your relationship and fair fighting and I think it will be good for us and our silly bickerings. The chaplain and FRO ran it, and it lasted about five or six hours with an hour for lunch. I was just happy to spend a week day with my husband!!!!

<3

Tis the season....

PARADE SEASON

The time of year my poor hubby gets worked into the ground and not much else to show for it! He will be at work from crack of dawn til midnight with barely a break between. He missed the first two parades since we were doing that whole wedding and honeymoon thing (:P) and last year since he was in Iraq. So this year a lot of things are different AND he is an NCO so things are quite hectic.

I was in the midst of unpacking today and I got a text saying he had comp time and to come meet him. YAY! Comp time was cut from two or three hours to about thirty minutes. So I still have time on the parking meter before I have to run to Navy Fed so you all get an update!!!

I was home in NJ the last two days and nights for a funeral. Originally only intended to be gone one night but the weather was bad and funerals just drain you, emotionally and physically. Ryan wasn't too happy I was gone so long the first week we're in our new apartment but he understood. Please keep Joan in your prayers and remember Howard as well. He had a long long fight with MS and is at peace now, and I hope Joan can find comfort in this difficult time. She is my church family, almost like another grandmother to me (and I know she reads my blog and my mom's!) so please put in a good thought for her tonight.

I am so excited to see so many new followers! Welcome readers! I have to apologize for my lack of internet (exception being stolen from the barracks as presently) but I swear once I am hooked up in the apartment you will have another faithful follower and commenter on yours as well!

Also thanks to Skinnie Piggie for allowing my entry into her wedding week contest... I was a tad over excited about pictures being the wedding was only on the first! Much appreciated dear (:

Hopefully professional pictures will be in soon and you all can have some more to see!

Off to the bank and back to unpacking (that would be unpacking my husband's boxes, mine are done, he hasn't gotten around to it yet... :P )!

THE Wedding Post!! (Part 2)

The Ceremony

Our Moms went up and lit their unity candle parts so when it came time for Ryan and I to light the candle we used the two outter ones they lit and... ok you know how it works! Haha. Stefan escorted my mom down the aisle, which was adorable, then looped back around to escort Hannah, Ryan's sister, to fufill their Junior Attendants positions. They were so fricken cute!!!!



And I loooove this picture. Babs got it in the church before Ryan and Josh went down the aisle to wait for me to get there :P It is just so sweet, he looks like he is looking for me to get there already!



Before I knew it my dad was walking me down the aisle.



He was making me smile, commenting on how my mom was already crying and how proud he was of me. It was very touching. But like a magnet my eyes found Ryan's and that was all I saw as I walked down. Deacon Paul said he saw Ryan's mouth physically drop when he saw me and then quickly recover. My dad put my veil back and kissed my cheek and my hand found Ryan's and... everything was perfect. I came down the aisle to the good old traditional Here Comes the Bride and I felt like it was just a dream come true.



The ceremony itself was beautiful. The pew torches my mom's friend Ann Marie made were stunning, the flowers were great, the music was beautiful, it could not have been better. When Ryan and I sat down he took my hand and gave it three squeezes, our little thing to say "I love you" that no one else ever can notice or see. It is a moment between us that we abuse almost as often as the words themselves!



Matt, one of Ryan's groomsmen, did the first reading from Genesis, on how Adam needed a suitable partner, an equal, in Eve. Perfect. My cousin Jill did the second reading that spoke of trust, loyalty, and honesty in love. The Gospel was the Wedding Feast at Cana, ironically the first gospel Ryan and I heard at church together after getting engaged. Father Tom's homily was beautiful. Having him know me and Ryan so well had it be so personal when he spoke of our character and our love. He made us laugh, he made me tear up, it was just terrific. We then did our vows and exchanged rings, and you saw the kiss picture in an earlier entry! I cannot wait to see the professional shots of those!



I then presented flowers to Mary since she has so many huge connections to my life. My mom prayed to her to become pregnant with me and then I was born on the Virgin Mary's birthday, September 8. Mary is my confirmation name. May is the month of Mary which we were married in, and I have a crescent moon and two stars as a tattoo on my ankle, all of which are commonly depicted in Marian artwork. Pretty cool huh? (: I always pray to her too when I need a little extra special help. She comes through for me a lot. The song for this was "Gentle Woman" and if you've never heard it, google it, it is stunning. Lois, our cantor, had this wonderful alto voice that broke your heart and made you smile all at once.



After the flowers to Mary we lit the unity candle to the song Where Love is Found. Of course my allergies were still terrible and my nose was running anytime I leaned forward so I was getting desperate during parts of the ceremony!!! Haha. There is even quite the unflattering picture of me wiping my nose on my Irish Linen bridal handkercheif. No I will not post that here :P I was glad I had it though!


After we went outside for the arch, which my 87 year old Poppy was so honored to be a part of. My Poppy was a Sgt Major in the Marines in WW2 (actually the youngest in history to reach that rank at only 19 years old!) and always has instilled my sense of pride and patriotism. I never expected to end up married to a Marine, but my Poppy was sure thrilled! He and Ryan exchange war stories and military anectodes like crazy.


So we went through the arch, no pictures so far of Matt whacking me with the sword and welcoming me officially to the Marine Corps, but he did do it! Ryan was royally pissed when the photographer broke in to the arch to fix my veil... yikes. But no one else knew, he was just not happy.

Then we took pictures in the church.



And outside. Before we were in the limo on our way to...


The Reception


We took pictures and mingled during cocktail hour. My stomach was still funny so I nibbled on fruit and cucumbers and some other veggies. Had a diet coke. Mingled more.

Before I knew it we were walking in as husband and wife! Of course to my ringtone for Ryan, "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey!



Our first dance was to "It's Your Love" by Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. Perfect. As you can see from my header he insisted on dipping me (as we do when we dorkily dance around in the living room) and I was just praying my dress stayed up! It did! We also did a spin or two also, but no pre-choreagraphed number for us. We were winging it.



Then my dad and I danced to "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban. He made me cry by saying how proud he was of me and how great of a guy Ryan was. He stepped up and became the best father for me. My mom said my dad became the dad she thought I deserved from birth. He has been truly wonderful and there for me since I was two, I couldn't imagine that dance with anyone else.


Ryan and his mom danced to "Forever Young" by Rod Stewart which is so beautiful if you listen to the words.


I also danced with my Poppy to "My Girl" (as he was like a dad to me til I was 6).


And to "You've Got a Friend" with Stefan, which made me cry since he did! He said it was half puberty and half sadness but I still cried with him. Ryan and Hannah danced together during this song too so it was very sweet.


Our cake was delcious, the bite or two I had! Chocolate mousse and strawberry filling with yellow cake and vanilla icing. Our cake topper rocked! I will repost the link here when I find it but it was totally personalized. Not just hair color or eye color or the flowers on my dress, but the medals and ribbons Ryan had were on the little groom!!! So cool.




I did the bouqet toss (my cousin Suzy caught it) and Ryan did the garter (my brother Sean got it) and it was funny to see the two of them. They aren't at all related even though they are related to me (don't you love modern families?) but it was still hysterical.


Sam, Josh, and my Dad gave beautiful, heartfelt toasts that made me laugh and cry during each one. Sam gave me a written copy of hers as she got too choked and deterred slightly but both were gorgeous. My Dad's was so wonderful, he is a great writer and speaker and his speech was perfect. He joked about Ryan always stealing his belt when he came for the weekend which cracked everyone up. But he said I always had a wanderlust in my eyes, the need to travel and for fame or fortune, but he said the sparkle in my eyes grew with Ryan but it grounded me all at once. It became real and attainable. (:



Before I knew it the night passed. The Cupid Shuffle was played, Soulja Boy of course, I danced with Ryan's former stepdad, his grandfather (who did a great toast and blessing), my friends, Father Tom, and of course my husband. We took tons of pictures, one that will be AMAZING in the gazebo that will be a sillouette shot. So excited for that. And Nicole at Flip Flops and Combat Boots will appreciate this one. We had two open bars at the reception and Allan was like, "Get on the bar! It will be adorable!" Ryan was all for it so on the bar I went. I have no idea how you did it! I was so worried in that poofy dress I was going to fall off or flash something I didn't want to flash!!! Haha. But I thought of you when he had us do that.



Our bridal party decorated our car, cans and all, and off to the hotel we went!


Whew, that took forever! Expect more pictures once I get them from the professional photographer, and a honeymoon post sometime soon! Western NC was amazing and I got some great pictures of all the things we did and the house my parents will live in starting next year.



I'll leave you with the teaser Allan gave us that he polarized and played with...



<3


Check it out!

THE Wedding Post! (Part 1)

Ok, I am going to attempt it, here I go!

The Rehearsal

Lost bridesmaids, lost groomsmen. It is what happens when your church is out in the middle of nowhere! Eventually everyone got there and we tweaked the ceremony to our liking. The guys got to practice the arch and we ran through the ceremony twice to make sure we got it right. Then we were off to Cryans for the rehearsal dinner.

Ryan and I at the rehearsal dinner.

The dinner was great. I didn't put my pictures up yet but his groom's cake was... an armadillo!! For any of you who have seen Steel Magnolias you understand where that is from! It was red velvet cake too. I will post my pictures of it once I find my camera chord...

We gave the gifts to our attendants. Ryan gave the guys Marine wallets and shot glasses and gave Stefan his old set of medals from Iraq, he was SO touched. I gave the girls silver heart friendship necklaces that say A true friend reaches for your hand and touches your heart.



I also gave them bridesmaid bags from Michaels with a sleep mask, bath bomb, Disney princess pen (naturally), two personalized notebooks with their initials on it, and red glittery heart stickers.

The Marines all got together, my Poppy included, and sang the Marine Corps hymn which was amazing. The Sam and Josh got the bridal party shots, the guys rum the girls cake. I Coyote Ugly'd mine since I cannot drink... aka I spit it out into an empty "chaser" glass. My Poppy even did a shot with the guys! Not bad for 87!!!

That night my allergies kicked my butt. Worst I have ever had them. I was so stuffy and it had nowhere to go but down so I was throwing up that night and then next morning in the shower. No fun. But it could have been worse.

W-Day

So the day of the wedding we got up super early and drove forty minutes to Sal's to get our hair done. We've been going to Sal since my MOM'S prom so no one else could do my hair! He then wouldn't take any money for mine, even though he opened half an hour early to see us. Awesome guy. I had some tea and a piece of toast and Zyrtec to reign in the stuffy nose. It finally kicked in at the house. The girls were there getting make up done and to get ready.



The make up came out beautifully and I was so happy with it. My mom's friend Babs came over and took pictures of us getting ready, so these shots are all from her!

Me

Sam, maid of honor

Jill, my cousin

Cat, DC bridesmaid

Kim, highschool/theatre school

Dell, Ryan's friend who became my friend! Her boyfriend is a friend of Ryan's as well.

The the "official photographer" arrived, Allan, and he was crazy but great. I cannot wait to see his pictures!!! I also had quality time with my dog Dippy and my littlest brother Stefan in the mean time.

We got into my jewelry then all of us got dressed.





We took some pictures at the house before the limo arrived! After that it was a mad dash to the church and getting everything there and situated.



Entering the church, my entourage!

Ceremony and reception to follow!

New Header

So I am stealing my brother's computer even though he is supposed to be asleep! I quickly made a new header, let me know what you think! And welcome new followers! I promise to do some amazing entries soon, hopefully one tomorrow if I can. Not having internet at the apartment is killing a blogger like myself. I also want to redo my blog in that three column layout and have NO idea how to do it. When I tried nothing happened. And as you can see from my header my graphics skills barely extend past paint. Ah well... let us see what we can do!

UGH

So, we have no internet! Not yet anyway. Currently at the barracks with my HUSBAND using their internet. I have to go home for a funeral this week for a dear friend of our family so maybe I can do some wedding/honeymoon updates from there. Both were fabulous. Say a prayer for our dear friend Joan though who lost her husband Howard. May God watch over them both.

For more wedding updates check out my mom's blog in the mean time...
Church Lady and Mom

More soon I hope!

Sneak Peek

While I have a random free moment, here are some teaser pictures for you!!!


Our official kiss to seal the deal!

And of course the arch. <3