Hey Guys!!!

Brighter - That is so funny that you are having a BBQ with Greg. We are cooking chicken cutlets marinated in balsamic vinagerette, hot dogs, hamburgers, sticky wings, stringbean salad, reg salad, coleslaw, and chips and stuff. Not really going overboard but just something we can all enjoy. We also have cupcakes for desert and I am going to make some cookies.

As far as us going out and stuff, FH is always willing to pay, but I like to take him oout sometimes. I think that it is only fair. So yesterday we played mini golf and I paid for ice cream after, stuff like that. We had a lot of fun and I kicked FH's ass, but it was just a great day in general. I had taken the day out of work yesterday to do shopping and run errands for the cookout and FH came with me so that was a lot of fun too! All in all we had a really good day yesterday and I think that we're going to have a lot of fun today too. We are going to play whiffle ball and stuff today too!

Autumn - As far as what are we doing now? LOL good question. No I am planning on going to grad school in the fall and stay at the job I currently have now. I work like 32-35 hours during school and I am going to be working 40 hours in the summer. FH hasn't decided what he is going to do with grad school yet, I hope that he goes, but that is up to him. He is going to stay at his current job right now too. He always works 40 hours a week so nothing is going to change there. FH is going to play in a softball tourney in NY in July so he wants me to go with him and we are going to be planning a vacation but we are not sure where we are going to go yet. I thought that it would be fun if we went to Vegas for the 4th of July for like 5 nights with a bunch of our friends, but we haven't actually looked into it in detail yet. Other than that FH and I just like going out in the summer, we'll go to the casino, to the beach, cookouts, out to dinner and just fun stuff like that. We have some family bday parties and graduation parties (including our own) to go to so that would be nice too.

As far as you and the move - congrats on the house!!! You must be so excited! I am excited for you lol! that is really great and I hope that you only have 5 weeks of school so you can go down there earlier. I'm crossing my fingers for you. And 3 years is great. FH and I are coming up on our 2 year anniversary (July 7th) and I am really excited for it. As far as proposals go... FH and I talked to our parents 4 months before he proposed. He had a plan and I had no idea when he was going to do it. Like you I knew it was coming, but didn't know when. All I knew was that FH wanted his own special day to do it (meaning not a bday or a holiday) and he set the whole thing up. It was great and it was in NH, we live in RI. The place was romantic and really nice and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I'm sure that it will come in Florida because that is where you guys met and where you are moving too, so that has meaning to the both of you. I can't tell you not to be disappointed at times, because I was when I thought it was happening and it didn't, but as I always say in the end everything will work out. It will be great and it is going to happen! Just think of that and smile because that alone is a great thing!

About the girl at work. I had people like that at my old job and you know what their engagement didn't last at all. She was the type of person who bragged about it too and look where she ended up. So for your co-worker as far as it's hard that she is planning her wedding and your not engaged yet ... push it aside. You have plans and you know what they are and that is what matters. I had a problem like that recently. One of the girls that I knew from school is moving in with her BF and they are planning on getting engaged this summer and married the same year FH and I are planning on and I was jealous. I was jealous because at the time FH and I were having our wedding problem and just of the fact that I was already engaged for 1 1/2 years and I had to wait to get married. They are going to be just getting done with school with no jobs lined up doing it and while that is their decision there are days where I just want to get married already. I just have to repeat to myself that it would be better for us if we were situated first. It is going to cause less problems and fights for us because FH and I are the type of people where we worry about things. We worry about financials and kids and jobs because we don't want the pressure of not having it and fighting over it. The way I see it for us is that if we got married and weren't financially ready we couldn't build our own house, or plan to have kids a couple years down the road, or travel as a married couple all over the world. So I guess my point is that in the end FH and I have our own plan just like you have yours. And while it is hard, you're better for it.

Rose - I think that us relaxing and enjoying the summer is going to take off the stress and added pressure. I can already tell that it has and honestly we are having a great time. We really are bonding and flirting and everything the way that we used to be. I know FH and I are going to get married I guess it is just the pressure of everyone asking when that bothers me. For so long I said we haven't decided and so on and now that we are 2 years away we started to tell people. But they keep pushing like where are you having it have you heard of this place and this band and this florist and whatever and that is what pushes me to want to get things done. I know that it will, but the excitement of planning gets to me too. I like that stuff and while so does FH, it is just not at the same level as me yet. He doesn't want to encounter any problems and I get that, we're different when it comes to some things. An example ... FH works outside of his normal job reffing and makes extra money on the side. He is saving up for the Big East Tourney next March so we can go. On the other hand, I bought my lap top a couple months ago and got a $50 rebate. Instead of saving it, the next day I went out and bought myself a charm for my Pandora bracelet. Mind you I had just gotten the bracelet the same day I bought myself the charm as a gift for graduation. FH said to me you just put the money right back into the economy huh? Joking around, but it is true. While I save money out of my paycheck, any extra money either gets put away or I buy myself something. Another example is that we're going shopping on Monday. There is a big sale and we want to go. FH usually doesn't buy much, although lately he has been spending more than me for some new things. I think that at the same time that he wants to make sure we are financially stable he feels that right now we have the freedom to purchase and do what we want with our money rather than paying the mortgage, or the utility bills, or car insurance, you know? Which I understand, I just believe that if we wanted something when we are married, we will find a way to work for it and get it, the same way we do now. FH is warming up to that idea as I pointed out how many games he reffed for the extra money, he didn't have to, but he wanted to, for him.

As for the bathing suit - Victoria's Secret. I know you need one now, but in the future I found that what I do is buy my bathing suit at the end of the season for the next year because it is marked down to a really good price. Something to keep on mind for next season!! I'm not sure where you are from, but we also have a Macy's around here which is good because they always have coupons for like 20% off and stuff like that.

Jewel we haven't heard from you, hope all is well! I know you were stressed out last time so I hope everything is better.

Well I'm off to get ready for the cookout, I gotta cook and clean and I haven't done anything yet!!

So I am still a little hungover from last night and didn't read all the posts.......But I was scrolling and noticed Autumn posted a ring, so I went back and it took me like 3 times to register you put your engaged!!! OMG How exciting!!!!!! Thats so sweet he had a photog there and everything!!!!! I am so happy for you. I love my planning binder, I carried it with me everywhere for the longest time, I am going to make it a scrap book after the wedding!! I would go with planning for 11 months but thats me. I am sick of wedding stuff and its only been 9 months........I am so happy for you!!

Ok I am off to dinner with my family that is in town!!

Lol, I'm not always sure about the technical side of brides.com (see above post).

Autumn- I'm so happy for you! Congratulations! It's such a cute story, simple yet full of meaning for you guys since it's your campus and your picnic tradition. You ring looks beautiful, but I really can't wait to see the photos the woman took! Was she a real photographer your FH hired or a friend? What a great disguise, to play with a dog, lol. I was in Borders last week and wandered by the wedding shelf, you must be excited to be able to start officially planning! Besides the date, do you have anything else figured out yet? Lol I feel like I'm asking a bit soon, but since you knew a proposal was coming maybe you and FH are making decisions quickly, hehe. Oh and now you can join in the wedding talk with your coworker!

Nessa- TOMORROW!!!!!!! Sounds like you had a good time last night which is awesome, and good luck getting sleep tonight. Make sure you have lots of family and friends taking photos tomorrow too, cause you'll get theirs back immediately and it helps the wait for the pro's photos. I can't wait to see them! ;) Hm.... What is an appropriate thing to say to a bride the night before her wedding? Is there a "break a leg" equivalent or something? I want to say "good luck," but that seems silly!

Care, NK, Autumn, and Ariana- Thank you for the suggestions! I checked out the websites for both Victoria's Secret and Old Navy but I'm a wary online shopper, so I visited both in the mall hoping to try suits on, but both stores were only carrying bikinis. I ended up at Target, and after multiple trips to the fitting rooms, found a tankini I like-- cute yet adequate coverage, and decent support. I think I'll still wear my bra with it though, cause it's all covered by the suit (except when the straps aren't perfectly aligned) and I feel more comfortable in a bra.

Ariana- It's great to hear that you and FH are on the same page and having fun together again. It sounds like you know yourself and FH's habits really well and that's important. Hope the cookout is a blast tonight!

CONGRATS AUTUMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CAN YOU TELL THAT I AM EXCITED FOR YOU! LOL. SO HAPPY EVERYTHING SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS GREAT!!!!

Congratulations Mrs. Nessa!!!!!!!!!!

Ok so I am never on here anymore & a lot of the newer girls probably don't even know who I am. But.....

CONGRATS NESSA & AUTUMN!!! I'm so excited for the both of you! Wow. Nessa's a wife and Autumn is officially a fiance! That is so freaking exciting. I expect lots of pictures from both of you!!!

Autumn: Kevin had the owner of the B&B we were at take pics of the proposal. I had been telling him that's the one thing I wanted and it was soooo worth it. I absolutely love having those pictures, they are my favorite memory.

I guess since I'm here I'll update you guys. I'm not on here very much because I'm working two jobs right now and going to school. The spring semester ended last week but I'm taking summer school classes, so no break for me. Things I have done recently are: book the florsist/decorator, buy my dress, and pick out the BM dresses. My MOH is FINALLY coming into town this coming weekend. I'm going to get her & my two BMs measured for their dresses. After that I'm going to look at cakes and videographers because I need to have those booked within the next few weeks. I also have to remake my save-the-dates because I don't like the way they turned out. Kevin still doesn't have a job and we're getting incredibly tight on money. We've run through our whole savings....ugh.

I think that's it really. Not too much has happened, I'm just really busy.

"I don't care how much it hurts. I don't care if its a brick wall disaster. I'd rather fight with you everday than be happy for one second with anyone else." <3

Kevin & Mari: 11/09/06 to Forever.

OMG!!! Congratulations Autumn!!!! Your ring is beautiful!!!

Nessa: Isn't it nice to just be DONE??? lol! I'm so glad that your day went so well and that you had fun! Enjoy being married!! lol. It does take a little bit to soak in. I was just giddy when Chris called me his wife for the first time! I call him "husband of mine" all the time and I love saying it!

I hope that everyone else has had a great Memorial Day weekend. :-)

Chris and I went to my aunt's house yesterday and we had a BBQ with her, my sister and her BF. Another friend of ours and Chris's mom came too. It was supposed to be a big thing with my mom and my other siblings and a few of my aunt's friends but it didn't work out that way. We still had a blast! My aunt has 3 acres that backs to a 7-acre lake and she has this floating, detachable dock that we took out and floated around on. That was a lot of fun! After that, Chris and I made it an early night and just hung out at home. Now he is out with JR (my sister's boyfriend) and they are working on the shed and a couple of vehicles, and I'm doing laundry and just hanging out. Later we are thinking about going out to Red Lobster for dinner--it's one of our favorite restaurants and we haven't been there in awhile.

We got some bad news the night before last, though. I think I've mentioned my niece Delilah to you guys. She's going to be one on July 15th and lives in NC with her parents--her dad Jesse is Chris's best friend and we are considered her aunt and uncle, like the rest of our group of friends is. Anyway, she is in the hospital because she got burned on Thursday night and will be having surgery on Wednesday. Basically, she pulled a hot iron down on her right hand because her dad turned it on to prepare his uniforms for an inspection and left it for just a second without telling his wife that he had the iron on. It was an accident but now Jesse and Frankie (Jesse's wife) are under a 45-day investigation by social services and have had to file 2 police reports about the incident (they should have only had to file one, but the military police got involved even though they didn't need to because Jesse and Frankie don't live on base). Anyway, the burn was originally diagnosed by the ER doc as a 3rd degree burn, but the hospital that they transferred Delilah to has diagnosed it as a 2nd degree. It's deep though, and she is going to need srugery. When I talked to Frankie the other night, Delilah was still using the hand and was more bothered by the IV they had in her left hand than by her burn! Anyway, that's what is going on and we are hoping that it all ends up getting worked out. It has been a huge ordeal just with the hospitals because at the first hospital they didn't wrap her hand till the ambulance got there to transfer her, they wouldn't let Frankie go in the ambulance with Delilah (it was an almost 3 hour drive!), they allowed a whole bunch of other nurses who weren't even involved in the case come look at Delilah because it was a "good training experience" for them, etc. There are some other things that have happened along those lines too, but that's all I'm thinking of right now. So keep them in your prayers!

Other than that...OMG!!! I just found out that my friend got engaged!!!!! Her wedding is at the end of this summer!