Wow! It's been 2 months since I've written. I think it's because so many people are on facebook now that I feel like there's nobody to update. Which is quite possibly true, however I'd be upset if I quit the blog. It's a memory keeper for me more than anything else. For awhile I had it automatically update to my facebook account as a "note" but I found I don't really enjoy the conversation that comes from it. Oddly enough. I don't like to think about what I'm writing, although it's rarely of any importance or controversial. I like to just write, for my own benefit, and to update people back home, not to get into debates about things. So I switched it so that it won't update on facebook anymore. Ahh. It's a great relief! I can talk to nobody again! haha
So let's see. October...the first weekend of October we had a housewarming party, which was so fun! We had about 50 people over, grilled out, drank, played games, and just hung out. It was so much fun. I love having the space to do that, and I love that we have a lot of people in Arizona to do it with. It was at that time that I realized how many people we've met here and why we like it here. I keep wanting to have a party for everything now! It doesn't help that I love evites :) I just need a reason to send them out. haha
The week after that we went to the the Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) championship game, and they WON! It was so much fun. We've really become fans this season, we went to 4 games and they are just so much fun. Plus, the tickets are cheap so you can sit close and the excitement is just the same as an NBA game. Being at a championship game was pretty awesome. We also had a friend's wedding in October. Very pretty. Made me think about ours quite a bit. I'm trying to make peace with the fact that all eyes will be on me that day, which is the part I'm having the trouble with! I don't want to be the center of attention. Oh well.
October was also Ivan's 27th birthday! We had some friends over to play games and hang out that day. It was fun. We had a tasting to pick our menu for the wedding too. Good food :) It's Macaroni Grill for anyone who is interested! For Ivan's birthday I got us tickets to a Coyote vs. St. Louis Blues hockey game. Ivan knew we were going but I surprised him with 4th row seats. Which was fun because you're so close when the guys get slammed up against the glass!
I also spent the day doing some volunteer work with my River Rampage friends. We're trying to get people together at least once a month to keep up the volunteer spirit, good influence, and just get everyone together. We have a decent turnout each time. That day we were picking up trash at a park. It was so good to see everyone.
Halloween was fun of course. Ivan was a pilot and I was his flight attendant. We went to a party at our friend's house and then headed to the bar afterward. Lots of dancing and good times!
November... I found out my Pastor from back home lives out here now and he is going to marry us! That was pretty exciting, and I know my family will be happy to see him again as well. Which reminds me I need to schedule our pre-marital counseling. I'm nervous about that... I'm open about a lot of things but not really feelings and our relationship, etc. So I'm worried what we will talk about?! And then there's always that guilt that we aren't active in a church or anything...ah well. I'm sure we'll be ok!
I went to an orientation for Habitat for Humanity too. It's something I've always wanted to be involved with. So once you attend the orientation all you have to do is go on their website and sign up to work whenever you're available. Simple! There's not a mandatory commitment so that is cool. I haven't had time yet to actually get out there but sometime after the holidays I hope to.
The second weekend of November was the Memory Walk, which is a fundraiser for Alzheimer's. I raised $245. I went to the walk that morning and they give you a little badge to wear, and you write on there who you're walking in honor of. As soon as I wrote "Grandma & Grandpa" (Beehn & Spaulding) I got a little emotional, and it didn't stop. I know from Team In Training that these kinds of things can be a little emotional because you stop to think about the disease, what is does, the people you know who are affected, etc. It's not something I stop and think about often so I guess it just kind of got to me that day. I'm glad I did it though :)
That same day we (me, Ivan, and our friends Jeff, Julie, Kara & Kristin) all did a bowling tournament for our school district. That was fun, although we didn't win anything of course! I actually think I pulled a muscle in my arm. By the end of it I was granny rolling the ball because I couldn't hold it right! That night I went with Kristin & Kara to a little cookout at one of the teacher's house from our school. It was nice and small, and he lives out in the "country" (I put that in quotes because it seems weird to call it that out here in Arizona but that's what it is I guess....) So we sat around a fire all night just talking and playing Truth or Dare, although they were all truths. Great way to get to know people!
Ivan & I also met with a photographer & a DJ this month. I'm not super picky so we'll probably go with them. I think I want to meet with another DJ just to compare prices. But that's the last big things we have to take care of. Aside from picking out the menswear which I think we'll do soon so we can have all the groomsmen get it taken care of while we're home for Christmas. We'll see!
Last weekend I organized a Girls Night Out with a bunch of my lady friends. It was a lot of fun. We went to this place called the Shout House which is a dueling piano bar. They make fun of people in audience, make you come up on stage, etc. It was a really good time-- although I think if I go again I will hide in the corner somewhere and just watch the fun. I made it out of there without having to get on stage but we were very close and I was worried the whole time :) haha
Thanksgiving was good as usual! Ivan made all the food (he's the cook, I clean!) His cousin and his friend happened to be here so we had some family with us. Kara talked me into going out early on Black Friday with her, which I've never done before. We were at Target at 5:00 a.m. I got our Christmas tree for $25 and all the decorations for it for $10. So that was exciting! I went back out later in the day for some garland, stockings, and a few other Christmas decorations. I could really get into the Christmas decorating!
Well I guess that's all for now. Everything is good out this way. Did I mention in my previous post that Kara is living with us while she closes on a house? She is buying a short sale house so it will take awhile but it's helping her save some money and we like having her here. It's fun :) We'll be home for Christmas soon. I fly in on December 22 until January 2nd. Ivan will be in St. Louis from December 22-28th. I don't know if he'll be able to make it up to Heyworth at all though. So you'll probably see him at the wedding!
Take care! Some pics to come soon.
