Merry Christmas To All!

Can I just say that i'm super stoked about Christmas this year? That's not surprising. I heart Christmas. The music. The decor. The presents. The wrapping. The feelings. I luff all of it!

This year is gonna be a little tough though. It's my very first Christmas without my 'rents and siblings. Ouch. I'm tearing up just thinking about Christmas morning without Dad taunting us that Santa may have forgotten us this year. Christmas Eve won't be the same without a pj picture cuddling Morg by the base of the tree. I'll miss getting pretty downstairs with my sisters before we come up to open presents (lots of pictures are taken at our house- you'd want to primp too.) and I'll miss green pancakes with red syrup on Christmas Eve. I'm already missing that big gorgeous tree in the living room and the stockings with our names on them. I'm craving seeing the snowman collection by the front door when I come home and treats on the bar in the kitchen. I'm even missing wrapping a million presents to Mom from Dad and the yearly debate on whether or not to make goodie plates.

But this year is the Joseph's turn to have us for Christmas and I really am excited. A little nervous to be honest... not totally up to speed on their family traditions for this time of year. I'm psyched to have snow on the ground, to see mountains, and to smell pine. I'm excited for Booger to spend time with his Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, Great Grandparents, Great Aunts, etc. It'll be the big family event right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. And let's be real- Mr. Joseph hasn't gotten to spend Christmas with his family in three years. He's trying to play it cool, but I think he's really, REALLY excited about that. Plus it's Booger's first Christmas and even though he couldn't possibly open his own presents he still has the most gifts under our tree. I'm so excited to be able to start sharing the magic of Christmas with my little one.

Little One

here he is!

11/30/2009 at 7:01 pm. He was 7lbs 12 oz, 21 inches, and absolutely perfect!

monday, Monday, MONDAY

We scheduled my induction for Monday! Holy canoli... if all goes as planned we'll have this baby FOR SURE before Wednesday. YAY!

P.S. Miracles happen. Mr. Joseph got a job! It might only be for the holiday season, but they're not sure. Either way, at least we'll be able to pay rent in January. :D

a million things

I can't sleep again. bah. I hate this... I'm fully exhausted all day and then can't sleep at night. It's me being stressed over all the usual things, and all the new things.

Baby could come any day now- emotionally I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be for him. I'm pretty excited now, but stressed out of my mind at the same time. From what I hear I need to get used to that feeling. As far as being actually prepared for him to get here- not even close. His clothes need to be washed, his crib finished, and about a million little things need to still be bought. Yikes. Also, his room is currently serving as my make-shift craft room. I'm already dreaming of the day I'll have space of my very own to make things.

The craft room monstrosity is because I decided fairly last minute (as in two weeks ago) that I want to do all or most of our Christmas presents to family by hand this year. yikes. Nephew's gift is nearly done now and I have to say it's even cuter than I'd hoped. I'm a little in love with it. I also have most of the stuff together to make sister's present. The goal is to have all of the Van Allens' gifts done by the time Mom leaves from helping with brand-new-baby. wish me luck!

Today the maintenance guys are coming to check on our air-conditioner, smoke detectors, vents, etc. I'm thrilled. Ok... I lied. I don't want them to come. Mr. Joseph will be at school and their visit means I won't get to nap. dang. Plus we had to move the shelves that my sweet husband made me so that they can get to the air filter. Also- we get to meet with the bishop tonight. Not sure what that's about and not sure I'm excited. Now would be a fairly inconvenient time to get a calling.

Mr. Joseph is talking in his sleep in there. It makes me think of the part in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban where Ron talks in his sleep- possibly my favorite moment of that movie. It's kinda adorable. The poor guy is also sleeping in a long sleeve shirt and pj pants since my little space heater (aka baby Booger) makes it so I have to turn on the air conditioner despite it being the middle of November.

Nikki's James comes home today. Holy flip. I'm so excited for her. Russia buddies forever lady. Crazy to think this means that it's been almost two whole years since Mr. Joseph got home. James flew to Russia the day Kimbal came home from his mission. I can't even believe we've known each other (or at least known of each other) for that long Nikki. I'm so happy for you! It's going to be wonderful!

I miss my MG's. All of you. Like a whole lot. I want to come see you all badly, but I'm not really supposed to travel. bah. I'm trying to think of some way we can fit all of you into our itty-bitty apartment for a get together. Perhaps sometime in early January when Booger is still little and new, but not so new he's super susceptible to getting sick (I'm already getting paranoid about that).

happy?

Last night Mr. Joseph asked me if I'm happy. For the first time since we got married, I had a hard time answering that. Am I happy? With what exactly? With him? Absolutely. He's amazing- I honestly never dreamed I'd have a husband this caring, loving, and understanding. But with life in general? I'm not sure. I know life is hard for everyone right now, but sometimes I let myself indulge in a little pity party because we just can't seem to catch a break. We've been trying to get a steady job for over a year. Being poor I can handle- being completely and utterly broke... not so much. We're only a few weeks (at the very most) away from this baby getting here and we don't have the time or the money to get his room in order. On the other hand, I have an incredible husband, a great family, and while I'd love to have a few friends who live close to me the ones I've got are pretty incredible. I'm trying so hard to do my best here, but I've about reached my limit of stress before I just break down. Whine much? Yes. But I have to get it out so I can try to move on and get something done today.

First up- Today I get to work on Cameron's Christmas present! YAY! My sweet husband got my sewing machine all cleaned up and running. I'm psyched. I just hope I'm better at sewing than I think I might be... yikes. Also looking for tutorials for crafts for my Momma. Already found a few that I think she'll love. Bomb.

"It is only possible to live happily ever after on a day-to-day basis."

-Margaret Bonnano

thought For The Day

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

-Theodore Roosevelt

Love that. Especially since I've been in a crafting mood lately. I think it's my own personal version of nesting. I'm using it to my advantage though because it's beginning to look a lot like christmas and my latest rounds of craft blog-stalking have turned up tons of beautiful ideas for gifts I can make on the cheap (my two fave craft blogs- Make It and Love It and Ucreate). Yesterday Mr. Joseph and I got all the stuff I needed to make something for my nephew and a few things for the thing I'm hoping to make for Booger for christmas (kinda doubting I'll get that one done though). I'm super psyched about Cam's present! I think it'll be awesome if I can get it to work out even half as cute as I'm imagining it. And all this awesomeness cost under $7 including some supplies that I'll be using for other gifts. Amazing.

Can't Sleep

Don't you just hate when you lie there trying to sleep and all you do is find a million different angles from which to stare at your ceiling? This can be especially bad if you have truly icky popcorn ceilings like we do here in student housing. Lovely. So I gave up on the sleep idea- between the heartburn, general restlessness, and excitement about the upcoming trip to AZ, it'll be a bit before the snoozing kicks in for me.

where have you been all my life?!?!

Apparently Golden Oreos now come in double stuff. Sounds delicious... I might have to snag myself some the next time I'm at the grocery store.

Last two posts are about food. Pregnant much? Yes.

Otter Pops

Are delicious. Except I only eat the orange and purple ones. Mr. Joseph is really nice and doesn't eat those colors because he knows how much I like them. Yum.

Calling all Mommas

I'm probably going to start registering soon and I was hoping to get some input on what to look for/ask for. If there are any products you couldn't live without, things you never used, brands you love or hate, or stores you wouldn't go through please let me know. Thanks so much! Also- if could leave your comment on the post here so I can keep them all together it'd be much appreciated!

Meh...

Today I feel a little lame. Not sure why really, I just do. Now that I typed that a tiny tsunami of potential reasons has flooded my head. Here's a few-

1. My living room is a disaster zone. We have about twice as much stuff as there is storage space. Baby's room is also a little frightening looking.

2. My eyebrows are out of control and my skin is in the midst of a freak out. Pregnant glow? Ha.

3. We haven't even finished sanding the crib yet, let alone staining it. Not to mention the shelves we need to paint. Yikes. Overwhelming? Yes.

4. I'm not really sure how to decorate the nursery. Not that it matters much since we really can't afford to.

5. I've recently become a little obsessed with the show Naruto. This means I'm even nerdier than I previously believed.

6. I'm such a hermit. I leave the house to grocery shop, go to Church, and occasionally to walk. That's it.

7. I really suck at blogging, yet I have three of my own and one I contribute to. Does this make sense to anyone?

8. Mr. Joseph has passed my level of Spanish in barely over a semester. So much for my four+ years of Spanish in school.

9. I am NOT making that kind of progress in Russian.

10. I miss Theatre. And being creative. And crafting. And not having bills.

11. I'm so not ready to be a mother.

12. I had a dream about donuts the other night. Sick. Even my subconscious is a fatty.

13. I miss my family a lot. I cry after I hang up pretty much every time. Sometimes I cry just trying to dial, so I give up.

New format: part dos

My new format? Loving it already. Much less stressing. I can just type whatever pops into my head. i can even type without caps. love. Right now I'm realizing that my eyebrows are out of control. In the worst of ways. Also I'm a little freaked out about going to my new ward on Sunday. I keep having daymares of them all looking perfectly TAMN. Yikes.

Blogger's new format? The new way to change backgrounds/layouts/etc.? Sorta freaked out by it. Does anyone know if I can use all the free background sites still?

New format

I've been thinking. I do that a lot. No really, I do.

I've been thinking that I really suck at blogging when it's to update you all on what's going on in our lives. I'm no good at it. I suck at keeping people up to date. I'm not good at answering or returning phone calls and I'm not good at this "events" sort of blogging. So I quit. Don't panic people. I'm not quitting blogging, but I'm not going to try anymore to let you all know all the little happenings in our lives. As I may have mentioned, I'm bad at it. Also it stresses me out and frankly I find posting my daily adventures a little creepy.

So here's the plan. I get on the Internet pretty much every day anyway- facebook games, entering to win free baby stuff, blog-stalking, you know how it goes- so from now on I'm just going to get on here and ramble. I'd much rather let you (and any passing stranger) know what's going on in my head than in my household. Deal?

Oh gosh...

I'm awful at this! About a million things have happened since I last posted but now that I've actually sat down to write about all of it, I can only think of a few.

*We decided to move into Student Housing instead of the apartment we were fixing up. Things just weren't working according to plan, but that's ok because this arrangement will probably be better for us in the long run

*We had another baby check-up, he's doing great!

*We had our one year wedding anniversary. It wasn't what we'd planned originally, but it was wonderful nonetheless. Details and pictures to (hopefully) follow.

*I started up a blog to try to document this last bit of my pregnancy. I basically suck at writing things down/keeping a journal and all that. I'm working on it I promise!

*It's starting to feel like this baby is close. Really close.

I needed that...

Two of my cousins stopped by today. Shellie is in town (in state?) from Georgia and Austin and his lovely family live right here in UT and I haven't seen either of them in forever. I think it's been two years. Sad, but true. They came by because Austin found out that we have no air conditioning and he brought us a fan. Love it. This thing is intense. Seriously- it's basically more like a portable swamp cooler than a fan. I hope it works like I'm dreaming it will. Anyhow, according to Austin that was "just an excuse to come see you" said with a big signature smile. Thanks! You have no idea what that means... it's been a lonely time for me. Fave moment- both of them telling me I look good for how far along I am. Lovely! I've been feeling as huge as a house, but apparently I don't look like it. I believe the term skinny-mini was even thrown out there. :D There was talk of a get-together so they can both finally meet my husband and I can see there adorable spouses again. Yes please!

Ps. Shellie- Your hair looks fab. I forgot to tell you when you were here.

Vicariously

I love when my girls are happy. Especially when they're wonderfully, blissfully, out-of-their-minds-with-joy happy. Thanks for letting me be a creeper and enjoy all this smiley goodness.

Wonder Wife

Today I am awesome. No, seriously. This morning I was up at 3:00 (yes... the dark one) to pack Kimbal's lunch for the day, get his stuff all good to go, refill his water bottles, and get him breakfast. Bomb. Then he left and I felt lonely and sad for myself for about 2o minutes. Got over it, checked and published another photography feature for my other blog, and checked all my emails. Next I straightened the living room and started a load of laundry. Read from my book for a bit (gotta have my me time) and did battle with some seriously wicked heartburn. Ew. Fixed myself a turkey sandwich for lunch (and kinda wished I'd saved some of the DELICIOUS bbq chicken Kimbal got for myself) and took a little nap. Got up, called my Dr. office (they didn't answer even though there were still 40 minutes until their office hours were over. rude.), took out laundry load #1 and put in #2. Got load #3 all good to go, started folding #1 and began to feel ridiculously proud of myself for all I've done today and had to tell all of you. Go ahead... Tell me how great I am.

Meet our little man!

It's a boy!

The little guy's profile

Is it just me, or are baby feet adorable even in utero?

I think it's hilarious that they label it... as if any of us couldn't tell what that is there between the little guy's legs.

A look at baby from the front. He keeps his hands by his face all the time!

Hurry Up and Wait...

This ready-or-not baby of mine is about half-way here now. That's scaring me, seriously... I'm just starting to wrap my head around the idea of being pregnant, let alone the actuality of parenthood. On Monday my Doctor gave me a hugenormous stack of reading material all about pregnancy, and birthing, and newborns, and babies, and being a mom. It didn't help me feel prepared or informed. I read the whole freaking thing and all I really learned is that I don't know anything. Yesterday I had a super fun emotional day. I was mad at everything and everyone. Yelled at my mom and my husband. It sucked. Don't worry... apologized (and then cried) to both. Still didn't help. I feel awful... I'm a wreck. I have a million little things to do before this baby gets here SOON and there's nothing I can really do right now. Nothing I can get done. I've never been one of those list girls, but right now I'd like nothing more than a big check mark next to something. Anything. Just to know something was ready because I'm sure as heck not.

Happenings

Sorry it's been forever! There's a LOT going on in our lives right now, but nothing that seems exciting enough to post about it. Perhaps an overall will seem exciting just in the sheer quantity of goings-on.... A briefish list of what's happened in the past few weeks

*Saw a sign for an apartment in our ward boundries- called that day.

*Went to look at the apartment and met the landlord the next day- decided to take it

*Kimbal and Scott have sanded and puttied their little hearts out and still the only room done is the living room- uh-oh.

*I got on with the OB/GYN I wanted... finally!

*Had a much needed MG night... so fun! Ladies- repeat soon? Ok thanks...

*Several of my MGs I heart have boys coming home SO SOON. Freaking out a little for them... living vicariously and so excited for their weddings.

*Kimbal went "camping" with the scouts and apparently spent most of the time on a water-slide. Jealousy raged.

*I started a blog about all things wedding with a focus on LDS brides who want to do things on a budget. Got followers on day two. Felt Like a rock-star.

*Kimbal had a phone interview with Delta- results pending- Family flies free? Yes please!

*It's rained so much I had to reread Breaking Dawn just to remind myself that NO, I do not live in Forks and NO my husband doesn't sparkle in the sun. Good thing too because human deliveries have nothing on half vampire deliveries- yikes. Scared me silly.

*Fell in love with freecycle. Seriously... cool concept. Check it out.

*Kimbal and I are about half-way through with rereading the last Harry Potter book. Freaking excited about the new movie!

*Got a photographer to agree to be featured on my blog, including allowing me to use her images. Lovely! Too bad I was shooting for a series and asked five photogs (including family) and got only ONE response (not family). Lame, but at least I have one.

*Bought a queen mattress/box spring/down pillow topper/complete sheet set/bed frame for $30- Thank you KSL

*Put a bunch of my stuff on KSL thinking I was a hot-shot and that this would totally save us in the money department.

*Have gotten no replies except one scammer... drat.

*Scheduled my "find-out-if-I'm-incubating-a-girl-baby-or-a-boy-baby" ultrasound. Results on Wednesday. You people will find out once we've called all the fam I promise.

*Got the paint and tile colors approve from Landlord guy- now we just have to get him to approve the prices. Round one was a no-go. Apparently Landlord guy hasn't checked paint prices since about the '80s. He asked us to find non-latex paint and primer for under $10 a gallon- yeah right.

*After much searching we found latex for about $13 a gallon and enough primer for the whole place for about $80. Cross your fingers kids.

*Kimbal found a place that is basically a temp agency for Flaggers. Neat. He'll be kinda like Ryan the temp, except he won't start a fire or bleach his hair or do drugs. Yay for Office references!

*Grandma J broke her hip. It was a scary one and she had to have a pretty intense surgery, but we've been told she's doing well. Mom and Dad are on their way up right now- glad to be seeing the folks even though it's a really crappy reason they have to come.

Ok... I think that's it. I'll try to be better about writing on here, but I make no promises. Love you all! Thanks for bearing with me.

Smarty Pants

I LOVE when I know things that Mr. Joseph doesn't know.

I've always been a smarty pants. I don't know when or how it happened, but it's true. I know random crap and retain most anything I read. Sometimes it's super, odds are good I'll kick your butt at trivia games, but sometimes it just makes people hate me. I think it made Fate want to spite me a little too because I married one of the few people I've ever met who not only knows most of the stuff I know, but a ton of things I never even thought to memorize. Dang. I never feel like the smarty anymore- after years of hiding behind that it's a tough blow to the ego. So when Mr. Joseph asks me a question I sometimes instinctively rattle off the answer in true know-it-all form (you know, absently- as though the k.i.a. is clearly contemplating deeper things and is a. too important to be bothered by your mundane inquiry and b. judging you for not knowing something so basic in the first place). Then I have to stop- frequently I literally stop whatever I'm doing, especially if it's walking- and stare at him for a moment. Is he serious? Do I really know something he doesn't know? Or is he just trying to make me feel good about my intelligence for one brief, shining moment in my day? Sometimes I ask him, "Did you really not know that?" because I can tell when he's lying most of the time. Then if he didn't really know I proceed to gloat until the next time I have to ask him a question I don't know the answer to and surrender that elusive pair of smarty pants.

Second DeeLovely Blog!

I've FINALLY started a blog about weddings- colors, trends, diy, ideas I love, etc. I'm pretty excited about it. I plan to blog at least three times a week with a different theme for each one and will be basing as many of my post on requests from friends/readers as I can. Please send in anything you'd like to see and DEFINITELY go check it out sometime soon! LOVES!

http://deelovelyday.blogspot.com/

Have I mentioned...

that I'm pregnant? It's kind of a big deal around here... Yep. Due November 30th. It's so exciting and crazy and scary and wonderful!

Gorgeousness.


Does saying that about my own wedding picture make me incredibly vain? Probably. Oh well... I luff this picture. And my lovely bouquet courtesy of my momma. Yum. Yum. Yum.


And again... http://momentscapturedbyjess.com

Have I ever told you...

how INCREDIBLE my sister Jess is?! I don't think I have. She's amazing. Seriously... Pretty incredible in every way- She's adorable first of all. Stylish beyond belief with the hottest little momma body you've ever seen. Wickedly jealous of that. Second- She's an wonderful mom to possibly the cutest kid on earth. Third- She's absurdly talented.

She's a photographer. Weddings, babies, preggo ladies, families- the whole shebang. I'm not just saying she's good because she's my sister... She's really very good. (I'm not nice enough to lie like that) You should check out her site for about a million different pictures basically guarenteed to make you smile. Her site is momentscapturedbyjess.com and her photography blog is capturedmoments-jess.blogspot.com. Not kidding... Check it out.

http://momentscapturedbyjess.com

I'm currently blogging

From my living room. Does anyone else find this as exciting as I do????

Woot.

SO sorry.

That I've disappeared for a while. I love you all still I promise. We might be getting the internet installed TOMORROW... Wouldn't that be lovely? (totally just heard saw Audrey Hepburn singing that in my head) Kimbal has another interview tomorrow. Cross your fingers for this one!!!

Someday

I'll have the internet and actually blog regularly. Perhaps even at reasonable hours. Also I'll actually post in the two other blogs I started with great ambition and no follow through. I'm lame. Lame lame lame. But at least there's hope for someday.

P.S. On a note that is very not lame- Kimbal has a job interview on Tuesday. We REALLY want it. This job would be perfect- no joke. Please pray for him!

Leanna

I miss hearing your blog voice in my head. Seriously woman. Where have you gone?!?

Desperately Wanting

One of the aprons featured at http://epicureanstyle.typepad.com/my_weblog/ There's a giveaway going on right now and I'm crossing my fingers that one of the Paisley aprons will be calling my kitchen home very very soon!

We're...

exercising. For anyone who knows me... REALLY knows me... I HATE to exercise. Loathe entirely (totally picturing Sister doing her whole Grinch bit right now. Hilarity.) but Mr. Joseph and I got talking. I've been losing weight. Good? Not so much. I seem to only be losing from the girls and the tush. My two favorite zones. His too... just sayin. So we decided to get in shape. Bad choice? I think so... We're about five days in and I'm still sore from day one and hating life. Help anyone?

tears in the library.

Music has a massively powerful effect on me. Always has. Mr. Joseph probably gets sick of me saying... "Oh man... SOOO many memories tied up in this song." While all music gets me deep... Some songs really just make me break down. Badly. That happened just a few minutes ago. Ew. One song that reminds me of a particular time and a particular boy and the particularly mean things he did to my heart and mind was on a friend's blog. And I just started crying. Right here in the library. My husband about a foot away. I hated it. It made me freeze for a second and when I finally got control of my body again (about a minute into the song) I moved my little hand to exit out of that like a bat out of hades. Seriously... I'm still feeling nauseated. Does anyone else get like that? Or is that just part of the crazy/beautiful mind unique to Dee?

It's official... I'm obsessed.

With weddings. I think about them all the time. Plan them in my head. Critique ones on movies/in pictures/on TV. I crave the magazines. Want to know all the details about friends' upcoming weddings. It's sick. Just sayin'.

Scrapbook Night

Thanks girls! Loved getting to see you ladies- I really needed the girl talk time and it was nice to feel so accepted by people I'd only met a few times before. Love ya!

Calling All MGs.

Ok girlys... I NEED MG time. Hard-core. It's pathetic. It's not just a want but an honest to goodness- I have no girlfriends here- NEED.
I'm thinking I'm wanting a sleep-over sort of thing maybe... lots of girly-ness. Chick flicks, make-overs, gossip, large quantities of calories consumed. Here's the deal though- I can't host because we have a tiny place and I think that'd just be weird (hubby in the other room and all). But I can help plan and bring all sorts of tasty food. Any takers???

Gulp!

So... Those of you who know me shouldn't be at all shocked by the statement I'm about to make.

I'M FREAKING OUT!!!!!!!

Yeah so, now that we've got that out of the way- I can tell you why. Or at least some of why.
1.I have an interview tomorrow (WOOHOO!) but I suck at interviews... no bueno. So I'm stressing out. What to wear. What to say. What to do my hair like. How I'm going to drive there in the friggin' snow tomorrow. Ew. All of it is seriously making me nauseated. Couldn't even eat this morning. Bad news.
2.Valentine's Day is this week. I am notoriously bad at Valentine's Day. I haven't really had a guy on this the most "romantic" of holiday's before (ok... sorta last year but that was a long, sad/funny story.) and other than Mr. Joseph I've never kept anyone long enough to even worry about holidays at all. So on top of my icky history with the day... my husband announced about a week ago that he had already planned what he was going to do for me. Um... What?! I'm the girl and I have NO freaking idea what to do. Crap. Now what? Stress.
3.We're still pretty much broke. I say pretty much because we did get approved for the grant money we were hoping for. Yay! So we'll have the money to pay for Mr. Joseph's tuition this semester and have the money for rent next month and a little more. This is good... but we know from experience that it won't last long. We still don't have jobs, or any offers, and only the one interview. Pathetic? A little. But everyone is going through this right now so I'm trying REALLY hard not to take it personally. Really. I am.
4.I'm still having friend issues. I FINALLY have a friend in the ward. (woot) She's one of my visiting teachers and half of one of the few other young-kiddless couples in the ward. We had dinner at their house the other night and I loved it. But I still feel kinda lame sauce. I don't see anyone else really. One social encounter a month is just not ENOUGH for me. Is this a little silly? Yes. Is it still true? Oh heck yes. I really don't want to become a hermit- anyone wanna help me out on that front?

So yeah... That's what's going on. Overall though- life is pretty ok. I'm getting better at being a housewife ( I even ironed yesterday- I know right?!?!) and Mr. Joseph is, as always, so amazing. I'm really very blessed to have him. I don't know what I'd do or how I'd make it if it weren't for him.

A loser smothered in lame sauce.

Sometimes I feel like I'm the coolest person alive. Seriously. I do. Everything I think of seems brilliant. My clothing is incredible. My jewelry beautiful. My speech impeccable.

Today is not one of those days. today I feel stupid. Really, incredibly dumb. And I hate that I have nothing in my life. Okay... That's not true. I have my husband who is amazing, but I have nothing that is truly mine. I suck at being a wife. I'm getting better, that's true, but I'm still pretty awful. I'm not in school. I have no job. And no friends. I know this sounds like a total pity party (in a way it is) but I'm just trying to tell you what I feel- with total honesty, just like I promised when I started this thing. I'm just wishing I had something. I really want to get into the wedding biz somehow. I think planning is really the route I want to go, but alas we can't afford to get me through one of the handy certificate programs they recommend and no one will take me on. And why can't we afford it? Because I don't have a job and can't support my family. Lame lame lame. Sorry for whining. Today I feel lame sauce. Just so you know.

Job Hunting

It's tough. Really, really tough. I've applied for about four jobs so far today and I'm not even close to done. Yikes. If anyone hears of anything I'd love to know about it! Thanks tons and bunches!

Blog Numero Dos

That's right kids... I want to start a new one. Kinda trying to ease myself into the idea of being a wedding planner- I want to have a blog of wedding stuff I love. Ideas, colors, dresses, decor, etc. I want to stick with the same theme of this one. Using lyrics from the Cole Porter song De-lovely... I can't decide what to call it and which three to use for the address. Anyone have any ideas? Here's the lyrics to help you out...

I feel a sudden urge to sing the kind of ditty that invokes the Spring
So, control your desire to curse while I crucify the verse
This verse I've started seems to me the 'Tin Pan-tithesis' of melody
So to spare you all the pain, I'll skip the darn thing and sing the refrain

The night is young, the skies are clear
And if you want to go walkin', dear
It's delightful, it's delicious, it's de-lovely

I understand the reason why
You're sentimental, 'cause so am I
It's delightful, it's delicious, it's de-lovely

You can tell at a glance what a swell night this is for romance
You can hear, dear Mother Nature murmuring low 'Let yourself go'

So please be sweet, my chickadee, and when I kiss ya, just say to me
It's delightful, it's delicious, it's delectable, it's delirious,
It's dilemma, it's de limit, it's deluxe, it's de-lovely

Time marches on, and soon it's plain
You've won my heart and I've lost my brain.
It's delightful, it's delicious, it's de-lovely.

Life seems to sweet that we decide
It's in the bag to get unified.
It's delightful, it's delicious, it's de-lovely.

See the crowd in that church, see the proud parson plopped on his perch.
Get the sweet beat of that organ sealing our doom. 'Here goes the groom, boom!'

How they cheer and how they smile as we go galloping down that aisle.
It's divine, dear. It's diveen, dear. It's de-wunderbar. It's de victory.
It's de valoop. It's de vinner. It's de voiks. It's de-lovely.

The knot is tied and so we take
A few hours off to eat wedding cake.
It's delightful, it's delicious, it's de-lovely.

It feels so fine to be a bride and how's the groom?
Why, he slightly fried.
It's delightful, it's delicious, it's de-lovely.

To the pop of champagne off we hop in our plush little plane,
'Till a bright light through the darkness cozily calls, 'Niag'ra Falls.'

All's well, my love, our day's complete, and what a beautiful bridal suite.
It's de-reamy. It's de-rowsy. It's de-reverie. It's de-rhapsody.
It's de-regal. It's de-royal. It's de-Ritz. It's de-lovely.

We settle down as man and wife
To solve the riddle called married life.
It's delightful, it's delicious, it's de-lovely.

Russian with love

Preevyet! (Hi!) For those of you who don't know.... I'm learning to speak Russian right now. It's pretty exciting and I'm becoming obsessed with the idea of have super secret conversations in Russian with Mr. Joseph on Trax and going to Russia on a couples mission and pretending we're foreign at the bus stop etc. My sweet husband swears I'm doing great but I have the reading level of about a four year old (I can sound things out but have NO CLUE what I'm saying) and the vocabulary of a two year old. We work hard but it's a pretty crazy language and my brain can only hold so much at a time. My favorite part of Russian lessons though is how excited and proud Mr. Joseph looks when I get something right. Love it! We watch movies in Russian sometimes to suplement the lessons and keep his language skills up. Twister is our favorite and pretty much the only one I can watch the whole way through without getting bored or frustrated but Mr. Joseph worries that if we keep watching that one I'll be able to swear in Russian but nothing else. Typical me right?! I also love watching War and Peace with him but it doesn't have subtitles or anything and it's tough for him to translate it fast enough for me. Dasvyedania!

Computer time! Yay!

So I'm in the library again... yayayayay. And I have so much I want to tell you all right now.

First. I have the best husband in the whole world. Really. Don't you other married girls try to argue with me. Mr. Joseph wins hands down. He's so good to me. I want to cry every time I have a second to think about how blessed I am to have him. He's just amazing and he understands me more than I understand myself sometimes. Today we went to Albertsons on the way to the bus stop. We realized we didn't really plan in the fact that it was lunch-ish time when we left. So we stopped and got some things there and then got on the bus and rode to the school. We had a lovely little picnic by the library. It was wonderful. I'm not doing it justice at all but the important thing is I love him. And us. And this beautiful life we're building every day.

Second. I keep thinking about what I want to be when I grow up. A mom first and foremost. And a darn good one if I have anything to say about it. But do I want anything else? I've known for a few years now that if I do have a job... I think I'd be happiest in the wedding industry. Really I'm obsessed. It's a little sick. So Mr. Joseph and I got talking the other night and I'm now thinking that I want to maybe do wedding planning as well as doing wedding cakes. I don't exactly know how to break into the biz though... Any thoughts? Tips? Anything?
You all know me... Do you think I'd be any good at that?

So it seems I'm a slacker...

Ok. No I'm not. I just don't have the internet... which is usually fine because we have the library (which I'm slightly in love with by the way) but right now we don't have a car so that makes it difficult for me to come here and blogstalk the crap out of all of you and chat 'til all hours of the night on facebook. It's been a trial but I'm getting through it. Oh... and for all of you who missed it Eden our darling Intrepid is in the shop. We got in a little fender bender while Christmas shopping in Sandy ('tis the season right?!) and it will be done Monday the 12th... No Wednesday the 14th... No... at the end of NEXT WEEK. Basically I'm ticked about it... The poor kid who hit us was driving his new dad-in-law's jeep and the insurance was expired. There was a whole sob story... and I'm not saying that to sound mean though I probably do. I really do feel bad for him. And he's paying to fix our car out of pocket- thus no rental car. Which was fine when we were told they would only have it a week and they "already have all the parts and just need to do the labor" of course today when we call because we were supposed to come get it the receptionist tells us they're "having a really hard time finding all the parts because it's an older model". Seriously. Get your stories straight and get me back my car so I can find a job before we're living in a box on the corner. Ugh. I'll stop now... I'm sure my angry rants are no fun to read. So for now... I'll say goodbye. Until the next time I can get to a computer... Peace out Girl Scout!