One tired puppy

Not me.

Not AHB.

Although, we are too...

Nope, Olive the Pomeranian is dead to the world. After another long night of painting, our new apartment is almost finished. If you saw the way she was laying, you would think she did all of the painting, instead of just chewing on a bone, and exploring the other open empty apartments.

Reasons I love AHB (new ones):

1.) He is an attention to detail person. Including cleaning the brushed throurally at the end of each paint session. EXCEPT when he is REALLY tired, then he looks at me and says: "We aren't going to actually NEED the rollers anymore. If we do I'll just buy a new one. It's like $2. (Honey, we have to save for the wedding) It's $2! I'll just get a new one. (What about the trays we borrowed from the Lidy's?) I'll buy them a new one. Seriously, it's like $3. Let's go."

2.) He is a scavenger. And not ashamed of finding a good deal. If I haven't mentioned, we are moving into a tiny 12 unit apartment complex that previously held a fraternity at MU. They are relocating, and we are moving in. And it happened pretty quickly, which means a lot of things were disgarded and left behind. As some of us were painting, I head AHB say, "Hey babe, there is a real nice _____ up in the apartment upstairs. What do you think?" Thank you DSP for the lovely small donations to our new apartment.

3.) He is willing to move without me here to help. And he hasn't complained about it...at least not to me. But, I am sure I will owe him for a while. Looks like I'll be making liver for dinner once we are really settled.

Speaking of dinner. I had to smile last night as we ate our first dinner, just the two of us, in the apartment last night mid-paint. Pizza and Diet Coke. No plates. Christmas tree paper cups my boss brought over for us. Standing with paint on our hands, and scarfing down something before we moved onto the new room. When I called for delivery I didn't even know the exact address. "Uh...it's across from the church on Main St... I'll just stand out on the street and flag you down." - we were real hungry.

In other news: We have a date for engagement pictures. We tasted a sample cake last weekend from Betty and her daughter Angie. (It was more than a sample, as it really was 1/4 sheet cake, and fed all our Puppy Birthday guests.) We are nailing down a few more things. Yay.

AHB, what would you like to add tonight:

"That's the best .... apartment I've ever seen."
I can't say that on our blog. Our parents read our blog.
*Shrug*


mmp

It takes a village...

It took a village tonight to help us prep and start to paint our new apartment. What an insane week. And special "thanks" to our village of people who came over to join the painting party. Aaron, Ellen, Allison, Ralph, Paul, Sarah, and Dathan. Seriously. It was so many people (plus two dogs) in such a small living room! Living room painted and waiting a few touch ups. Kitchen nearly all painted, and needing some more paint. Tomorrow we are taking on the 2nd bed room, hopefully finishing the front room, and (if we get the other gallon in time) kitchen.

T-minus 4 days to moving day for AHB. Thank GOD for his family who will help, and Kayla. LIFE SAVER. Kayla, make sure he takes you out to dinner...since I won't be here. ;o)

And, 4 days until I take Bennett home for the final trip from IL.
Things I have learned from Bennett:

1.) He expects time in the morning to hold and cuddle him. If you don't give him time, he will take it anyhow...or be a bother until you take the time to hold him.
2.) The world is best viewed from Hessler Hall Windows. No wonder he lays in the window all day.
3.) If you throw your body hard enough against the closet door, it will open for you. Although, not a practice I try often...it is good to remember in difficult situations.
4.) If you play coy, people will eventually cave and come to you. It happens with him EVERY TIME.

More to come.

mmp

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

I wish this was the case. I wish I could just blink my eyes and all my apartment things will be packed and ready for the new place. But, sadly, boxes do not pack themselves....boxes REALLY don't pack themselves when you don't have boxes to pack.

So, we found out that AHB has to be out of his current apartment about a month sooner than planned. We planned for June 30...nope...hello moving day May 31.

The next few weeks are going to be busy for us. Prepping an apartment. Packing up another one. And starting the (very) nostalgic process of putting away the items and things of meaning that have been on my Hessler Walls since the day I moved in 4 years ago. It feels like I am packing up and pulling away from Bluffton College all over again. 4 of the greatest years of my life, packed up, put into a van, and ready for the next steps.

And so, I will pack up every little item in my teeny little Hessler space, and remember every late night conversation, every cake baked in that oven, every person who came downstairs for Bennett the cat's love...and who got more, every craft night, every student, every noise, every fire alarm...and I will put them into boxes, and move them to the next phase. A really good phase.

The next step? A new start. With a husband and two dogs. One territorial Shih tzu and an over energetic Pomeranian. Where is beloved Bennett in this mix? With Tia Anna, who will love him and care for him in a house that isn't allergic to his dander.

Until then, we wiggle our noses and wish the boxes would pack themselves.

mmp

Cake Crisis Adverted

Well, we met with Betty. And might I say, I am feeling quiet a bit more comfortable knowing that our wedding cake does not have to look like it is from 1985. Not that we are set on Betty, but she does good work, and it looks like some of the cakes we have looked at in photos. Thank God for Betty and her modern touch. :) We actually have a cake testing with her on Saturday the 21st. And one other perk: instead of freezing the cake to save for our anniversary (which never tastes good she said), she said to call her a few weeks before, and she will make us a 6" cake for free. How sweet.

Do you suppose this will jinx us? :)

In other news: I'm really excited to be traveling to see my friend get married this weekend.

Welcome wedding season.

And Good Luck to AHB who will be meeting these wild friends all in 24 hours of each other. It's bound to be too much for him. :)

mmp

All things Royal

Can you imagine what it would be like to have every media source following your every wedding move?

I was one of many who got caught up in the Royal Wedding Buzz. And I loved it. It was something fairytale like, a little bit romantic, a little bit impossible. And even though I would never want that kind of attention, I couldn't help but watch their every move (and get up at 2:45am CST to watch it all unfold). AHB refused to come over to watch it, by the way. Surprising to anyone?

Pictures are posted below of our Royal Wedding festivities.

Our wedding will be far from royal. However, I might just start referring to us as the Duke and Duchess of Decatur. Or possibly the Baron and Baroness of Millikin West Apartments. I like the idea of being a baroness...

But, since last night's 2nd marriage counseling session, I have been thinking about our relationship and how "public" we are with how we spend our time together. When we got engaged, many many students who I see on a daily basis (and even some of my college friends)said, "I had no idea you were dating someone!"

This is purposeful. I don't like to talk about relationships, especially mine! :) It is one of the few things that can remain something that is completely mine (ours). I mean, it's not that I don't want people to share in our happiness - I mean, we are having a wedding with upwards of 250 guests - but I feel so "Public" with everything else in my life (due mainly to my job) that having a quite and personal relationship is a sanctuary of sorts. And it was brought up in our marriage counseling last night the idea of how we spend our time.

I couldn't be more thankful for our quiet life.

When counseling was over I looked at AHB and asked:

"Are you concerned about anything?" - referencing anything that was brought up in our conversations.

"Yes. Sometimes I worry that my left hip doesn't pop as easily as my right hip."

"Really. That is your concern."

"It's concerning to me."

love. this. man.
mmp