Eyesore......

After I got home from work today, I did my usual routine that involves picking up the kitchen, cleaning out the coffee pot from the morning drip, and whatever else I feel the need to tidy up. Yep, I admit it, I'm a bit OCD...but hey, we all have our issues.

So, I go to the bathroom and something caught my eye out the window. I look outside and much to my surprise the neighbor who lives behind me has so eloquently placed a big ole' Coca Cola metal sign behind his garage. In his eyes, it's outta the way. In mine, it's all I see when I look in the back yard! What an eyesore!

Guess it beats metal on cement blocks, right?

Yes.....winter is boring!

I love taking pictures of my two cute cats. Their expressions and personalities are so much fun to watch each day and Jamey and I get a kick out of these two furballs just being cats. They have a rough life that involves napping, playing, eating, going to the bathroom (all the way downstairs), napping again and snacking. Here are some recent shots of them.

Cat toys (Christmas presents from my in-laws)!

Ernie and Farlie kicking the toys around

Ernie playing/resting

Farlie watching from the side lines

Isn't he a handsome fella?!?! SO CUTE!

Time for a break...gotta re-fuel (note how Ernie lays down to eat...no shame in his game)

QUIT taking my picture!

Yeah.....enough already.......
I surrender

This and That

I know....I'm terrible at updating the blog. I feel as though every post is an apology to my few followers about my lack of recent postings! Well believe me, there hasn't been too much going on, so please don't hold it much against me. Here are a few shots (completely random) of the past month or so. Everyone likes pictures so here you go!

The recently painted bathroom!

We decorated the Christmas Tree!!

We celebrated Jamey's birthday on 12.19.08 (in the heated garage due to being snowed in) Here are a couple neighbors Krista, Beth and Anna

Our source of heat.....we love spending time outdoors as long as we have some warm gear and a Mr. Heater........what else could you ask for?!?!

Another of the neighbor ladies Krista and Anna

The birthday boy...my handsome husband Jamey!

Jeff, Steve and Jamey........something really funny must have been going on!

Beth and Anna

The Married Life

OK, sorry for the delay in posting....we've been trying to come off the wedding high and it's just so hard! For starters let me just say that I LOVE married life so far. Being Jamey's wife and having him for a husband is amazing, I couldn't be happier. We're eagerly awaiting pictures, so hang tight as I'll be posting some as soon as they are in.

After the wedding we went up north and stayed at The Homestead Resort in Glen Arbor, it was the best. We went into Traverse City one day and did some shopping (Jamey even tried on clothes at the Gap outlet)! Another day we drove to Leelanau, Northport and Sutton's Bay. We even hit the casino and Jamey won us some $$$ (what's yours is mine I told him)! We also did some wine tasting at a winery and just enjoyed ourselves and had a fabulous time. The color tour was gorgeous, I don't think the trees get as bright as they do up north, it was breathtaking!

To everyone who supported us through the engagement and wedding, thank you so very much. We are very lucky to have so many wonderful friends and such an amazing family, it puts smiles on our faces everyday.

Jamey observing the salmon at the Carp River Dam

Me at the dam

Good ole Al's Tavern

Where I spent the majority of my time!

25 Days and counting!!!!!!

Today when I logged into theknot.com website, the first thing I saw was Welcome Back Elizabeth and James, 26 days until your wedding. I swallowed deeply and realized it is really here, almost! I used that website as a reference here and there but never really followed their timeline and to do list, as I like to figure those things out my own way. Needless to say when I clicked on the to do list, I had about 200+ things past due. It didn't bother me since I never checked the completed things in the first place. What hit me the most was realizing that in 26 days, I will experience probably the happiest day of my life. A time that I waitied so long for. As a little girl I always wondered who I would marry. Not only am I marrying the love of my life, my best friend, my soulmate, but I couldn't be more excited about it. I even caught him saying the same thing the other day. Overjoyed is a good word to describe how I feel.

There are still plenty of little things to do, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the wedding planning process. Don't get me wrong, there have been some hectic times, a few tears and maybe a stomp of the foot, but in the long run those times that have seemed heavy will be forgotten. I am so grateful for all of the support that has been given to Jamey and I. From both of our parents, to a great great man named Dave Deur who will be marrying us, to our families and friends. We are embarking on this new beginning and couldn't be happier.

Looking forward to the continuation of the countdown and seeing everyone at the wedding!!! Until then................................

Engagement Photos

Here are some pictures of our engagement session downtown lovely Rockford. Thanks Lewis for doing such a great job, you made it fun!

Flying on a Sunday afternoon!

Today my Dad took me flying in the new Zodiac plane he gets to use on a pretty regular basis. He got his pilot's license almost a year ago and today was my first solo trip with him. I grilled him the whole ride to the airport with the typical "first timers" types of questions. "How many times/hours do you have under your belt?" "Has anything weird or unusual ever happened prior to or in flight, and if so, what were they?" "Should I bring my purse?" That should have been a given if I had known the size of this thing we were about to take an adventure in. I don't think we had room for much else besides our selves. Besides that, what the heck would I need my purse for......in case we found a place to stop and get a drink or snack...in the high up altitude. So anyway, we got there, took off and had the greatest time. I even got to steer a little bit, although I was more at ease just snapping pics and talking on the headset microphone with Dad. I had the lingo all down, 10-4, Roger that...you know.....I was smooth like that! I had to laugh as I started quoting one liners from the old movie Airplane like, "What's your vector, Victor!" Here are some pics of the plane and Dad and I. What an experience, I am game to go again anytime I get the chance to. Thanks again Dad.....you're a fantastic pilot!!!!!!

No more carpet!

Yesterday we decided to take up the living room carpet. Low and behold the beautiful hardwood floors underneath. They are in great condition and need only a little bit of work. The room looks so much bigger now and I feel like I have a new house! Getting rid of that enormous entertainment center was key to making this room a better place. We put in in the front yard with a couple for sale signs and after no one showed any interest, we dropped the price to FREE (a.k.a. PLEASE TAKE IT)! We left it in the front yard while we went to a birthday party and prayed for someone to just come get it. When we got home, it was still there. Had to get my sales pitch on and go work the neighborhood....it worked! One of our neighbors ended up claiming it and I hope they find great use out of it. The new TV stand is an old tack box that my Dad made me back in my horse days. I would take it with me to horse shows filled with all my stuff, it's great that I found another use out of it years later...thanks for making such a quality piece Dad!!

Just for the hal-i-but!

Here's a picture of a gourmet meal that Jamey concocted! It starts with fresh Halibut (compliments from his parents on their most recent Alaska trip), wrapped in prosciutto and placed on skewers between slices of fresh andouille sausage. Talk about a meaty meal, but it was very good. Made us feel like we were royalty for a moment.

How does your garden grow?

Mine is doing alright so far. I give myself an A for effort but I'm definitely a novice at this. Here are some pictures of the variety of flowers I've planted this year. I love how people walk by and go, "Oooh, now that's a cute house" and then they point at the pretty flowers. It's not only enjoyable for me to look at but for others too! I'm all for keeping the neighborhood lookin' good!

Happy Birthday Tash!

Hip Hip Hoo-ray, it's Tasha's birthday today! For those of you who don't know her, she is my beautiful, lovely sister in law, Mark's wife. Hope it's a great one. Love you!!!!!!!

Tasty!

Tonight we went to the Bonefish Grill for dinner. It was amazing, the food was so yummy! My parents took Jamey and I, my brother Mark and his wife Natasha out for a special treat. We had such a nice time, I am still in "food coma mode" and am having fun reminiscing our great conversation and fun evening. Thanks Mom and Dad for a wonderful time...it meant a lot!