Ch-ch-ch-changes

For those haven't heard, after almost three years at KINSCO, I no longer work there.  I was offered a job at Front Range Community College as a Public Safety Officer.  The offer included a significant pay raise.  The job is very relaxed, and I get three days off a week.  It is quite wonderful.  It's taking some adjusting though.  I went from going a million miles an hour to about ten miles an hour.  I'm done with school, and am at a much lower-level stress job.  This is giving me a LOT of extra time, and I'm having to find things to do with that time.  It's strange though.  I'm not used to having extra time, let alone a lot of extra time. I'm kind of missing school, even though I complained the entire time I was there.  I like learning.  However, I figured out that the harder I work and play, the faster time goes.  The faster time goes, the faster I'll be able to do a new kind of "learning."

The regional premier of Annie Warbucks (the sequel to Annie) is being loaded in at the Candlelight this week.  This week is tech week so we've been spending a lot of time at the theater.  I'm kind of sad to see Big River go.  It was a WONDERFUL show, and had a fantastic cast.  Annie will be good though.  Neal's working hard on the sound (or at least he will be in about an hour...right now he's sitting next to me on Facebook...).  He's enjoying his job, as usual.  He also starts school this week, so he'll have something to do while I'm at work and he's not.  He's getting closer to his associates, and then will be moving to another school to get his bachelors.  We're hoping to find a school where he can specialize in audio engineering, but as those schools are few and quite expensive, he may also go to a school to get a technical theater degree, and just specify his classes in audio.  We'll see!

One month! Woo-hoo!

So I haven't been on here in a while.  Between making finishing touches on the wedding plans, actually having the wedding, going on a honeymoon, coming back and starting school and working full-time right away, I haven't had much time!  The last month has been wonderful though, and being married is AWESOME!

The wedding day went very well.  The sealing ceremony was wonderful.  Neal and I were able to sit in the Celestial room for about a half-an-hour before our ceremony began, and we were able to just chill and be with each other.  As we walked from the Celestial room to the Sealing room, I felt so warm and excited.  I was getting married to my best friend!  Seeing all of our friends and family in there made me so happy.  (Funny blooper: as we walked into the Sealing room, Neal stepped on my dress and ripped the loop that made my dress bustle...the rest of the day was interesting with that!)  We then went outside and were able to see the rest of our family and loved ones.  We took LOTS of pictures and had so much fun!  Kelsey Hansen, one of our best friends and photographer, did a wonderful job.  We get the pictures soon!

On the way up to the reception, a couple crazy things happened.  I got extremely nauseous and we had to pull over - I hadn't drank anything all day, and had only had a small bowl of cereal for breakfast.  I don't do well with no food and no liquid in my system.  We also got stuck in traffic - there were major accidents on I25 and I70, so no matter which way we went from Denver to Longmont, we were hosed.  We were late to our ring ceremony, but oh well.  I am so grateful for how well Neal took care of me while I wasn't feeling well.  His love for me really shinned.

The reception was so amazing.  I hadn't seen all the decorations together because the day before, Neal finished everything while I was getting my nails done.  When I walked in I teared up.  He worked so hard, and everything was absolutely perfect: just how I envisioned it.  We danced and ate cake and threw bouquets and garters and saw family and friends and had so much fun!  We then left, and were pelted with marshmallows (long story) as we did.  When we got to the apartments, we realized my grandparents had my house key, and Neal's parents had his.  Yup.  We didn't have a key to get into our apartment on our wedding night.  Luckily my grandparents only live about five minutes away from us and we were able to get one quickly.

We left the next morning for Pagosa Springs, and had a phenomenal time down there.  We went to hot springs, and ate out, and did hikes, and had "old time" photos take.  The LDS chapel was within walking distance from our hotel, and so we went to church on Sunday.  They were the most wonderful ward!  All friendly and LOTS of families.  The best thing about our honeymoon though was that we didn't plan anything.  We literally woke up in the morning and figured out what we wanted to do (something that is rather rare for Neal and I).  We came home on Tuesday, and real life began.

The last month has flown by.  I started school (I'm taking Yoga and Child Psychology...two highly recommended classes), and began working again (40ish hours a week).  Neal also went back to work, and is actually mixing the last show of the King and I run for the Candlelight Dinner Theater where he is the sound designer and engineer.  He's done a wonderful job with his first show, and everyone loves him.  Today marks the beginning of tech week for the next show: Big River.  It will be a much different dynamic, but a VERY fun and entertaining show!  Come see it if you're in the area!  The cast and crew do a wonderful job, and the food is amazing.

Here starts the beginning of our journey!

Two weeks!

So Neal and I have two weeks until our wedding!

We went to the temple Tuesday night so I could get my endowments.  That was wonderful, and being in the temple with him was wonderful.  Everytime I saw him, I couldn't help but smile. The Assistant to the Temple Matron said I glowed when I saw him for the first time, and Sister Hansen said Neal kept looking at me during the session to make sure I was ok.  We all went to CiCi's pizza after, and had a wonderful time.

Wednesday, I got sick.  Talk about annoying.  I stayed home from all but two classes Thursday, and didn't go to work today (I've been working from home).

Anyway, the wedding is coming, and we're quite ready!  We're getting sealed in the Denver Colorado Temple, and having our reception at the Longmont Stake Center.  We're then going down to Pagosa Springs for our honeymoon.  Both of us can't stop talking about how ready we are to quit saying, "Ok, go home now, and I'll talk to you tomorrow," and instead say, "Ok, let's go to bed now."

Neal is doing well.  His first show as the head sound engineer at the Candlelight Dinner Theater is going well.  The show is "The King and I," and it is a WONDERFUL show.  I highly recommend it to anyone who likes theater, and anyone who doesn't.  The cast is great, as is the music.  We've definitely learned what a gremlin is though.  They like to attack the microphones!  Crazy when something odd happens for like five minutes, and then stops.

All in all, life is good.  I'm looking forward to being in a family ward (and maybe primary!!).  We're ready to move forward, and quite excited!

PS, anyone who is available May 7 at 4:30pm, we're going to be making the decorations for the wedding at my parents' house.  Let me know if you'd like to come help!

An update...cause I have time...

Haha I just had an advertisement pop up on my Facebook that started with "Are you and your loved one trying to get pregnant?"  Um, NO, we're not, and we won't be for a while, thanks.

Anyway, so I'm sick.  Again.  Woo-hoo.  Great thing?  We have engagement pictures tomorrow!  Ugh!  I've taken three days off in hopes of feeling better by tomorrow.....its KIND of helped, but I still feel very blah.  I've been looking forward to these SO much (especially since our friend, Kelsey Hansen, is doing them!)

So Neal and I are hooked on the show Bones.  Shauna has the seasons on DVD, and we started watching it cause we were bored.  Now, we're hooked.  We can't help but sit down on the couch every night, waiting to see what Booth and Bones are gonna do next!  It was kinda funny today:  Neal watched two episodes after I went home last night, so I've been laying on his couch while he's at work, catching up on them.  I couldn't help but giggle when he said "You may not wanna watch the first one until I'm there.  It's kinda freaky."  Well, freaky it was, but I'm a big girl ;) I can handle it.

Let's see....what else is new in our life.  Oh!  We registered at Bed, Bath and Beyond and also Target.  We've also figured out what everyone (except my mom...) is wearing and we're going to buy bridesmaid dresses tomorrow after pictures!  Eeek!  I was thinking about it while I was listening to my future mother-in-law teach piano lessons: I'm going to be a wife soon!  I'm gonna have a mother-in-law, a father-in-law, sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law!  Its makes me nervous but also super excited!  We only have 77 days left (no, we're not keeping track...that's according to our BBB registry thing....).  Yay!!!!

And so begins happily ever after

OH the joys of planning a wedding.

Can I just say, I want it to just happen now?  I'm having a hard time being patient!  I found my dress (which was stressing me out the most) and Neal actually WANTS to be involved!  That makes me so stinkin' happy!  The funny part is he didn't realize how much he wanted to be included until he wasn't being included in decisions.  Things changed after that :)

I am so excited.  I can't really even put it into words.  Neal has become my best friend, and my confidant.  I am so grateful for him and his willingness to put up with my silly weaknesses (such as getting so tired that I start crying a babbling about something that really doesn't even matter....he then laughs at me in a loving way and tells me I need to go to bed).

Here's to May 13, 2011!  (PS.  Hope to see everyone at the reception!  Invitations/announcements coming soon!)

Wedding bells are ringing!

It's been a bit since I posted!  My how time flies!  Finals and such went well, but they definintly kept me busy!  Anyone who keeps up with me on Facebook knew that I spent a week writing four papers due in four different classes, for a total of thirty-one pages due in two days.  Apparently, my teachers did NOT get together and chat.

Anyway, on to the more exciting news......NEAL AND I ARE ENGAGED! 

About two months ago, I asked Neal if he wanted to put a "limit" on how much we could spend on Christmas presents for each other.  He VERY promptly said "no."  So I smiled and agreed, but I had a feeling I knew what I was getting for Christmas.  So, days dragged on, and Neal kept teasing me about a ring.  On the 23rd, we went to the Denver Zoo Lights.  He kept trying to get me alone, but I kept refusing!  I wanted to see all the lights!  Finally, he tricked me into going to the downstairs portion of the polar bear exhibit (to see if we could see any polar bears....in the water....at 8:30 at night...when its pitch black...everyone's allowed their blonde moments!)  There was another couple down there, but Neal convinced me to stick around until they left.  I turned to him and as I was wondering why he kept trying to get me alone, he kept fiddling with his pocket and then was holding something behind his back.  As I tried to move to see what it was, he pulled out an absolutely beautiful ring and said, "So...do you kinda, maybe, wanna be my wife?"

(Now, precursor to this:  When he asked me to be his girlfriend, we were standing out by his Jeep, and he gave me a small kiss and said, "So....do you kinda, maybe, wanna be my girlfriend?"  This was after seven days straight of going out and hanging out...and on my birthday :) AW I know)

Anyway, the first words that came out of my mouth were "ARE YOU SERIOUS?"  Neal looked at me with a rather quizzical look and sarcastically replied: "No, I'm totally joking."  I then proceeded to jump around like crazy (Neal swears I was four feet in the air) and babble incessantly.

So, there you have it.  We're engaged.  We'll be gettin' hitched in May, and enjoying every minute of the journey :)

To see the ring go to: http://www.shanore.com/popup_image_blank.php?image=14L75WED_L.jpg&name=Emerald+And+Diamond+Set+Ladies+Claddagh+ring

Princess!

Ok. CUTEST thing happened last week.

Neal and I were going to a formal dance in Fort Collins. I got all dressed up in one of my old prom dresses (which thankfully fit....) and Neal got dressed up in a suit, and we went out to eat and to the dance. I wanted a princess night, and Neal humored me :)

We went to eat at Chili's. After I finished eating, I got up to use the restroom. On my way back, I was stopped by a couple with a young girl. The mom looked at me and said "we're sorry to interrupt, but we were wondering if you were a princess!" Laughing to myself, I looked at the little girl (whose name was Logan and she was four years old) and said, "why yes! Yes I am!" She then proceeded to ask me where my crown was. It was so much fun!!!

We then went to the dance, where we partied it up (almost a little too hard....I think Fort Collins FD LOVES us now! Too much "fog" in the gym). We learned how to waltz and danced until about 10:45 pm. It was wonderfully fun, and amazing to see everyone all dressed up and lookin' snazzy!