So life has been crazy. After the flood at the castle we had to have the castle put back together and decided to get premission from the owners of the castle for G and me to paint whole interior while it was carpet free. He said yes and we were dumb. I mean, excited. We set apart a Friday afternoon and a full Saturday to paint a living room, hall way, and three bedrooms. We finished sometime late Monday evening- apparently, painting an entire house is no small task. Luckily, it looks amazing!
Now there are new carpets and new tile, we have the tile guys on hold to come back out and complete the house on Monday with the rooms insurance did not cover (kitchen and enterance way). We did a pre-completed, unofficial walk through, just Gavin and I, earlier this week and it was an amazing feeling. My bare toes sunk into this carpet and I could imagine a castle filled years down the road with our stuff and kids and friends and family! A house overflowing with warmth and happiness and possibility! Tonight is the official, all work is done walk through- wonder what my mind will picture this time!
I'm aware how cheesy that sounds but its how I feel. 310 days from today that house will go from being my home to "The Krueger's Place" (I'll work around with titles, maybe Krueger's Palace? Krueger's Castle? Mission de la Krueger?). God is blessing me big time with this one! Closing on the castles is in 23 hours and 8 minutes...
8.19.2010
8.04.2010
And then life happens
Well God is really working on me right now. I wish I could give a more definative answer for what lesson I am learning in particular but for now I am content and at peace with the knowledge that I am learning something. I guess I hope I learn it soon so that things will calm down a little but, whatever.
So my castle I spoke of previously, flooded.
I know what you're thinking, it's August. This is Texas. There must be some mistake, but I assure you. It DID flood. Apparently something broke on the toilet and since it is a vacant house it took the neighbors noticing the water running out the front door for us to know there was something wrong. Three days before closing, as I was driving to a bridal shop to try on wedding gowns with my mom, we got the call that closing was delayed pending the repairs of this house... $12, 400+ in repairs.
Some of it is good- there will be new carpet, some of it is bad- the new carpet will be ugly and low grade, but in the long run it is what it is. Another uncontrollable life moment that comes and goes and is much easier to laugh at in the future than the present. I assure you, I have cried more in the last week over the stress of this, but I do know with an overwhelming amount of certainty that this will be funny one day.
So, as I type this from my mothers computer- my new home for the next three weeks as repairs take place- I do have more on my mind then just the state of my castle and that is the progress of the wedding.
We have put the deposit down on the reception site- which includes the caterer, picked out the dress, picked out the florist and the main flowers for the day (delphiniums), solidified the color pallet (dark blue, light blue, and white), picked the location, tasted a million cakes (deposit is not down on the one I want, but I am pretty sure I know who it will be), come up with a design for my lovely cake, picked the photographer, bought one of the outfits for engagement pictures, the ceremony site knows of my wedding but I haven't signed the contract (luckily I have the total in on the church so I'm not filling rushed)... its all coming together. I am so ready for this wedding to come together. I can't wait for it to actually happen!
So there is where I am... planning life with life happening all around me ignoring my plans. I'm still excited though because I still know its all going to be good and I think Gavin and me are doing really well at learning how to handle what life throws at us!
So my castle I spoke of previously, flooded.
I know what you're thinking, it's August. This is Texas. There must be some mistake, but I assure you. It DID flood. Apparently something broke on the toilet and since it is a vacant house it took the neighbors noticing the water running out the front door for us to know there was something wrong. Three days before closing, as I was driving to a bridal shop to try on wedding gowns with my mom, we got the call that closing was delayed pending the repairs of this house... $12, 400+ in repairs.
Some of it is good- there will be new carpet, some of it is bad- the new carpet will be ugly and low grade, but in the long run it is what it is. Another uncontrollable life moment that comes and goes and is much easier to laugh at in the future than the present. I assure you, I have cried more in the last week over the stress of this, but I do know with an overwhelming amount of certainty that this will be funny one day.
So, as I type this from my mothers computer- my new home for the next three weeks as repairs take place- I do have more on my mind then just the state of my castle and that is the progress of the wedding.
We have put the deposit down on the reception site- which includes the caterer, picked out the dress, picked out the florist and the main flowers for the day (delphiniums), solidified the color pallet (dark blue, light blue, and white), picked the location, tasted a million cakes (deposit is not down on the one I want, but I am pretty sure I know who it will be), come up with a design for my lovely cake, picked the photographer, bought one of the outfits for engagement pictures, the ceremony site knows of my wedding but I haven't signed the contract (luckily I have the total in on the church so I'm not filling rushed)... its all coming together. I am so ready for this wedding to come together. I can't wait for it to actually happen!
So there is where I am... planning life with life happening all around me ignoring my plans. I'm still excited though because I still know its all going to be good and I think Gavin and me are doing really well at learning how to handle what life throws at us!
7.20.2010
Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
When I used to dream of my prince charming I always dreamed of our castle, too. I don't know that I ever expected something huge. From a young age my mother would tell me "you don't start off where your parents leave off". That I would get a little tiny house that needed love and paint and when I loved and painted the house then I could trade it in for one a little bit bigger that needed a little less love and paint.
It is a weird thing, looking for a "first house". How many beds? Bath? The back yard, how big? What neighborhoods? Schools? Its all so funny to think about because our kids are still invisible little thoughts in the back of our minds, years down the road. It is important though. You buy the house and make it a home.
And thats where I stand. Weeks away from signing the dotted line and promising this house on the beautiful, quite street with the big back yard and the room for 5 someday that I will give it the love and the paint it needs to turn it into a home.
It is a weird thing, looking for a "first house". How many beds? Bath? The back yard, how big? What neighborhoods? Schools? Its all so funny to think about because our kids are still invisible little thoughts in the back of our minds, years down the road. It is important though. You buy the house and make it a home.
And thats where I stand. Weeks away from signing the dotted line and promising this house on the beautiful, quite street with the big back yard and the room for 5 someday that I will give it the love and the paint it needs to turn it into a home.
7.02.2010
Ripped and Famished: The Beginning
Well... with only 11 months and some weeks to go we've got some weight to lose. Both of us fell in love and ate our whole way down to break the fall and while we are happy as clams, we want to be the hottest people at our wedding and that will take a bit of work.
We started this week with three dyas of intense work outs. I call them intense, but they may not have been as "intense" if we had been working out for longer. The first two days he did weights while I did a run/walk pattern on the treadmill. The third day (yesterday) he taught me how to use some of the weights and then we both head to the park to run/walk for a couple miles. I am sore.
Sore, actually, seems like an understatement.
I feel how I would have imagined my Barbie's to feel as a child when I pulled off their limbs and then awkwardly put them back together. My hips and shoulders specifically seem to be barely holding on in their respective joint locations. My body is revolting.
We have also eaten lunch and dinner at the apartment instead of going out. This has been since Tuesday (Monday we had a church dinner to attend to at a delicious Mexican resteraunt). A diet will be the next step, but this is a process and one that I'm willing to walk somewhat slowly into.
We took before pictures so we can see a month from now how we're doing. We smiled because, lets face it, these extra twenty or so pounds we came by we came by happily.
Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to start the process of getting out of the chair because it could take me a long time to get to the standing position and I've got an appointment with a bakery to taste some cakes in a couple hours!!
We started this week with three dyas of intense work outs. I call them intense, but they may not have been as "intense" if we had been working out for longer. The first two days he did weights while I did a run/walk pattern on the treadmill. The third day (yesterday) he taught me how to use some of the weights and then we both head to the park to run/walk for a couple miles. I am sore.
Sore, actually, seems like an understatement.
I feel how I would have imagined my Barbie's to feel as a child when I pulled off their limbs and then awkwardly put them back together. My hips and shoulders specifically seem to be barely holding on in their respective joint locations. My body is revolting.
We have also eaten lunch and dinner at the apartment instead of going out. This has been since Tuesday (Monday we had a church dinner to attend to at a delicious Mexican resteraunt). A diet will be the next step, but this is a process and one that I'm willing to walk somewhat slowly into.
We took before pictures so we can see a month from now how we're doing. We smiled because, lets face it, these extra twenty or so pounds we came by we came by happily.
Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to start the process of getting out of the chair because it could take me a long time to get to the standing position and I've got an appointment with a bakery to taste some cakes in a couple hours!!
6.30.2010
fondant? FonDON'T!
I hate fondant with a passion from the very core of my being.
To me fondant is almost sacreligious. I mean, really. Cake is meant to be eaten and not just eaten and forgotten but eaten in a slow, savory, make-all-your-wrongs-right kind of way. For all of life's big occassions it seems cake it there to walk it with you. I've said it once and I'll say it again, I take my responsibility of picking an amazing cake for my wedding very seriously.
I have been scrolling through photo albums online for hours now today and am saddened by how many of the gorgeous cakes are fondant. Its almost like no one is even trying anymore with our old realiable friend- buttercream. In fact, while reading the fine print of one of the cakeries I was considering I saw that they will ONLY do fondant icing on the cakes that they make May-September. Instantly I had to mark them of my list. They aren't even trying to make a cake to taste good!!
I've ready countless "about us" sections today that talk up their cakes with "blah blah blah natural ingrediants" and "yadda yadda yadda organic crap" but to me, a cake is only as good as its icing and so I say passionately, although with a small smile on my face at the challange at hand!
To me fondant is almost sacreligious. I mean, really. Cake is meant to be eaten and not just eaten and forgotten but eaten in a slow, savory, make-all-your-wrongs-right kind of way. For all of life's big occassions it seems cake it there to walk it with you. I've said it once and I'll say it again, I take my responsibility of picking an amazing cake for my wedding very seriously.
I have been scrolling through photo albums online for hours now today and am saddened by how many of the gorgeous cakes are fondant. Its almost like no one is even trying anymore with our old realiable friend- buttercream. In fact, while reading the fine print of one of the cakeries I was considering I saw that they will ONLY do fondant icing on the cakes that they make May-September. Instantly I had to mark them of my list. They aren't even trying to make a cake to taste good!!
I've ready countless "about us" sections today that talk up their cakes with "blah blah blah natural ingrediants" and "yadda yadda yadda organic crap" but to me, a cake is only as good as its icing and so I say passionately, although with a small smile on my face at the challange at hand!
6.28.2010
Less than a Year
So we are now at the "less than a year" place. We still have plenty of time, but it is less than a year. I still don't have any stress associated with it but I am ready for our lifetime to start NOW.
So amid all the wedding planning going on right now there is that realization that there are more days after June 25, 2011 than there are before it. There seem to be a million conversations to have about what those days will look like...where will we live? How many people will we fill it with? Will we continue our current volunteer commitments- have less? -more? What Sunday school will we go to before?-after? So much to consider. So far, though, luckily, we have been on the same page with our big choices and even the serious, indepth talks have been relaxed and non issues. I remember back when it made me nervous to bring up things too far in the future because I didn't want to jump ahead of us, but now we're talking about the rest of our lives because they're about to start! It's an amazing feeling.
Today I hope to recheck my "to do" list and find something "wedding related" to work on. I mean, I gotta get busy, I've got less than a year...
So amid all the wedding planning going on right now there is that realization that there are more days after June 25, 2011 than there are before it. There seem to be a million conversations to have about what those days will look like...where will we live? How many people will we fill it with? Will we continue our current volunteer commitments- have less? -more? What Sunday school will we go to before?-after? So much to consider. So far, though, luckily, we have been on the same page with our big choices and even the serious, indepth talks have been relaxed and non issues. I remember back when it made me nervous to bring up things too far in the future because I didn't want to jump ahead of us, but now we're talking about the rest of our lives because they're about to start! It's an amazing feeling.
Today I hope to recheck my "to do" list and find something "wedding related" to work on. I mean, I gotta get busy, I've got less than a year...
6.05.2010
Just Another Day In Paradise
One week until the engagement party and for now, at least, there's not much for me to plan. In the meantime, life goes on.
Got home yesterday from a long day at work and Gavin had beautiful flowers waiting for me with a sweet card to say he loves me. The thoughtfulness of his surprise put me in the best mood! It was a great way to start my weekend!
I decided to put the flowers on the window sill in my bedroom where they could get the most sunlight and as I did I noticed there was a black bug crawling up my wall. Super gross. Lucky for me, I have the worlds best bug smoosher that I could call to save me... but before he got in the room I noticed another one not far below the first bug. Oh, and a little to the left were two more. I started to freak out as I noticed there were about a dozen of these nasty critters crawling up my wall and ACROSS MY CEILING! I called my mom before marching over to the leasing office. Apparently the bugs are common in the complex and don't bite and they'll be out in two weeks to spray for them. In the mean time I'd have to spray myself- but of course, its not actually me spraying, its my knight and shinning armor spraying and trying not to laugh at my grossed-outted-ness.
I took Joe to my parents so it'd be safe to spray the stuff and picked up my moms golf clubs to go to a driving range with Gavin and his brother. We had papers that we had to drop off in Southlake and were running over an hour behind on that and decided to drive through Whataburger on our way. Unforunately at Whataburger Gavin's car overheated and we ended up having to take his car to a shop for the night. Fortunately, there was some traffic which gave Gavin and I time to enjoy our Whataburger in the car shop's parking lot until my dad picked us up.
Later we hit golf balls with his brother before calling it a night. Gavin did a touch up of my room for me so that I could feel good about sleeping in my apartment. Luckily, there were no bugs left when I crawled into bed and my flowers still looked amazing even without the sun coming in.
All and all it was a pretty good regular ol' day.
Got home yesterday from a long day at work and Gavin had beautiful flowers waiting for me with a sweet card to say he loves me. The thoughtfulness of his surprise put me in the best mood! It was a great way to start my weekend!
I decided to put the flowers on the window sill in my bedroom where they could get the most sunlight and as I did I noticed there was a black bug crawling up my wall. Super gross. Lucky for me, I have the worlds best bug smoosher that I could call to save me... but before he got in the room I noticed another one not far below the first bug. Oh, and a little to the left were two more. I started to freak out as I noticed there were about a dozen of these nasty critters crawling up my wall and ACROSS MY CEILING! I called my mom before marching over to the leasing office. Apparently the bugs are common in the complex and don't bite and they'll be out in two weeks to spray for them. In the mean time I'd have to spray myself- but of course, its not actually me spraying, its my knight and shinning armor spraying and trying not to laugh at my grossed-outted-ness.
I took Joe to my parents so it'd be safe to spray the stuff and picked up my moms golf clubs to go to a driving range with Gavin and his brother. We had papers that we had to drop off in Southlake and were running over an hour behind on that and decided to drive through Whataburger on our way. Unforunately at Whataburger Gavin's car overheated and we ended up having to take his car to a shop for the night. Fortunately, there was some traffic which gave Gavin and I time to enjoy our Whataburger in the car shop's parking lot until my dad picked us up.
Later we hit golf balls with his brother before calling it a night. Gavin did a touch up of my room for me so that I could feel good about sleeping in my apartment. Luckily, there were no bugs left when I crawled into bed and my flowers still looked amazing even without the sun coming in.
All and all it was a pretty good regular ol' day.
5.31.2010
13 Months and Counting
Well, its a little less than 13 months until the big day and I think we are pretty on top of things so far.
The photographer was an easy choice, we are using a friend from our church who just so happens to be an amazing photographer.
The ceremony location was another given, since we met in church we'll get hitched in church.
The reception site, however, I am proud of myself for coming up with. After visiting the sites that the internet suggested we were ready to sign away for a classy, hotel reception and make it work. Or atleast, I was ready. My dad however refused to sign a check for that much money for me to "make it work". He and my mother insisted that I would find a place that would work on its own at getting me giddy and that all we added wouldn't "make" the wedding but simply "inhance it". So I hit up the magainzes for ideas... backyard wedding in June doesn't really work in Texas and I wanted something more upscale than a barn but I have always loved the soft, white, twinkly light look. My magazine suggested renting out a Mexican food resteraunt, which wouldn't work with my taste in decor and would be kind of random, but we are going to Italy for our honeymoon and my mind started working and I thought of my FAVORITE Italian food resteraunt... there is soft, white lighting with candles...a dance floor, a pianst, and live singing...it has more character on its own than I could have ever created at a hotel or golf course! So, after Gavin and I went together to daydream and discuss we told my parents that it is "the one". I can't wait to bring our friends and family to dinner next June to celebrate!!!
No cake yet, I just don't feel that one cake tasting is nearly enough! I assure you, though, we will continue to journey on through this process until we find the perfect one.
Colors will be blue on blue with a hint of pink in the flowers. I promised Gavin I would let him proposal be my inspiration so bluebonnets will abound.
Only 26 days away from the "one year until mark"!
The photographer was an easy choice, we are using a friend from our church who just so happens to be an amazing photographer.
The ceremony location was another given, since we met in church we'll get hitched in church.
The reception site, however, I am proud of myself for coming up with. After visiting the sites that the internet suggested we were ready to sign away for a classy, hotel reception and make it work. Or atleast, I was ready. My dad however refused to sign a check for that much money for me to "make it work". He and my mother insisted that I would find a place that would work on its own at getting me giddy and that all we added wouldn't "make" the wedding but simply "inhance it". So I hit up the magainzes for ideas... backyard wedding in June doesn't really work in Texas and I wanted something more upscale than a barn but I have always loved the soft, white, twinkly light look. My magazine suggested renting out a Mexican food resteraunt, which wouldn't work with my taste in decor and would be kind of random, but we are going to Italy for our honeymoon and my mind started working and I thought of my FAVORITE Italian food resteraunt... there is soft, white lighting with candles...a dance floor, a pianst, and live singing...it has more character on its own than I could have ever created at a hotel or golf course! So, after Gavin and I went together to daydream and discuss we told my parents that it is "the one". I can't wait to bring our friends and family to dinner next June to celebrate!!!
No cake yet, I just don't feel that one cake tasting is nearly enough! I assure you, though, we will continue to journey on through this process until we find the perfect one.
Colors will be blue on blue with a hint of pink in the flowers. I promised Gavin I would let him proposal be my inspiration so bluebonnets will abound.
Only 26 days away from the "one year until mark"!
5.10.2010
And so it begins!
I have heard this talk of "Bridezilla" and I'm unsure at what point one turns in to it (her?), but so far I couldn't be farther from "that girl" and I'm sure my family is grateful for that!
So far we've got the date (6.25.11) and the ceremony site (our amazingly wonderful church) and that's it. It's plenty for now because it's still a year away. But we are planning, slowly but surely. The first planning thing we did may end up actually being my favorite...
Imagine this: free cake. multiple flavors. different icings. did I say free? My grandmother, mother, fiance and I went together and had a blast. they tortured him for his disgust for chocolate and love for red velvet. Those who are unaware of this should know that red velvet IS chocolate. My grandmother decided we will all call chocolate "velvet" from now on. All and all we tasted many "velvet" cakes... Velvet with white icing, velvet with velvet icing, German velvet... If I know my grandmother, and I think I do, he will never hear the end of this!
I'm so excited for summer. So excited to get to the "one year or less" mark and get to really start planning. Maybe then I will catch the 'zilla-ness? Right now I'm on a high from the wonderfulness of the engagement maybe that's why right now EVERYTHING seems like a great idea, but no big deal if it wouldn't work? Maybe I'm just so stinkin' in love that I don't care about the details of the wedding?
So far we've got the date (6.25.11) and the ceremony site (our amazingly wonderful church) and that's it. It's plenty for now because it's still a year away. But we are planning, slowly but surely. The first planning thing we did may end up actually being my favorite...
Imagine this: free cake. multiple flavors. different icings. did I say free? My grandmother, mother, fiance and I went together and had a blast. they tortured him for his disgust for chocolate and love for red velvet. Those who are unaware of this should know that red velvet IS chocolate. My grandmother decided we will all call chocolate "velvet" from now on. All and all we tasted many "velvet" cakes... Velvet with white icing, velvet with velvet icing, German velvet... If I know my grandmother, and I think I do, he will never hear the end of this!
I'm so excited for summer. So excited to get to the "one year or less" mark and get to really start planning. Maybe then I will catch the 'zilla-ness? Right now I'm on a high from the wonderfulness of the engagement maybe that's why right now EVERYTHING seems like a great idea, but no big deal if it wouldn't work? Maybe I'm just so stinkin' in love that I don't care about the details of the wedding?
4.18.2010
Stopping to Smell the Bluebonnets
I'm engaged.
It all started with bluebonnets on the way to family reunion. He just kept talking about them and after going back and forth between whether or not we needed to be "those people" who park on the side of the highway to get a picture in the bluebonnets and it took us about 20 miles to decide to stop. When we got out of the car I went on and on about the best spot for a picture with him trailing behind until he finally stopped me and had me turn around and when I did I had a shiny promise of forever in tiny box in his hand... and he was on one knee... and I felt so amazing in that second.
My amazing love story I've waited my whole life for was kneeling in front of me in the bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes.
Today my mom gave me a picture from last week, a few hours after he proposed when I was showing the ring to my grandmother and I was happy, and my grandmother was happy, and Gavin was smiling biggest of all. I love that it mattered to him how much I loved the ring, how much I enjoyed the proposal. I love that it makes him proud to make me happy.
I can't wait to spend the rest of my life loving and growing with him and I hope to never forget the way I felt last Saturday or right now when I'm talking about it. Thank you God!
And with that...let the wedding planning begin...
It all started with bluebonnets on the way to family reunion. He just kept talking about them and after going back and forth between whether or not we needed to be "those people" who park on the side of the highway to get a picture in the bluebonnets and it took us about 20 miles to decide to stop. When we got out of the car I went on and on about the best spot for a picture with him trailing behind until he finally stopped me and had me turn around and when I did I had a shiny promise of forever in tiny box in his hand... and he was on one knee... and I felt so amazing in that second.
My amazing love story I've waited my whole life for was kneeling in front of me in the bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes.
Today my mom gave me a picture from last week, a few hours after he proposed when I was showing the ring to my grandmother and I was happy, and my grandmother was happy, and Gavin was smiling biggest of all. I love that it mattered to him how much I loved the ring, how much I enjoyed the proposal. I love that it makes him proud to make me happy.
I can't wait to spend the rest of my life loving and growing with him and I hope to never forget the way I felt last Saturday or right now when I'm talking about it. Thank you God!
And with that...let the wedding planning begin...
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