So, I just needed to get on here and brag about my mad blogging skills.  This is referring to the new header/title or whatever it is.  I am pretty impressed with myself :)  It only took me... about an hour to figure out.  I'm slowly learning the secrets to blogging.  Personally, I think it looks amazing, but that is just me.

Home improvements are finally finished!  I cannot tell you how happy that makes me.  We finally have a home and not a construction site.  It all looks great.  We painted and installed new flooring in the entire condo minus the two bathrooms.  It was quite the process.  There is now wood flooring in the kitchen, dining room, and down the hallway.  We put new carpet in the living room and both bedrooms. 

The carpet was probably the most stressful.  We ordered it in the middle of July with the intent of having it installed before August 5th.  We were having a mini family reunion that weekend.  My mom and Cassie were flying in that day, and then my dad and the family were driving up the following day.  The only problem was that our carpet was put on back order.  This wouldn't have been an issue except  Brett had already installed the hardwood in the house.  This left a large gap between the old carpet and the new floor.  Not to mention that he had disregarded all care for the old carpet.  We had cuts, tears, glue, and putty smeared across it. 

The carpet installers told us that they could install the new carpet on the 5th and that they would be there between 11 and 2.  I was a bit of a mess after that.  All of our furniture was stacked in the bathrooms, dining room, and kitchen on the day that the family was suppose to arrive. Luckily, the installers were fast.  Brett and I were able move everything back before everyone got there.

Before

After

Before

After

Well, I finally stepped up and made dinner.  The menu? Pan-seared chicken with red grapes.  It sounds so fancy, but it really isn't.  It was quite tasty, and Brett like it!  For those of you who don't know my husband, he is a severely picky eater.  I say that with love and admiration of course :).  All in all, the chicken was a hit, and I am sitting on the couch feeling quite full.

Since we have been back in Milwaukee a lot has happened.  The house is now, finally, somewhat settled.  The guest room is still a disaster, but we like to keep the door shut and pretend like it doesn't exist.  The big accomplishments lately have been...

• finding room for all of my clothes
• painting the living room and bedroom
• getting my social security # changed
• surviving a trip to the ghetto
• finding shoe storage
• ordering the new flooring
• putting together various pieces of furniture
• driving alone on the freeway

The list continues to grow.  The worst thing that has happened thus far happened last night.  It rained.  I love rain too, but this rain was scary.  I would say that it rained from 9pm until 7am this morning.  It wasn't a light rain either.  It was a continuous down poor with strobe-light like lightening and thunder that shook our house.  Not to mention that there was a TORNADO WATCH put out on Milwaukee!! Tornadoes!  Needless to say, I had a rough time sleeping between the crack of thunder and the fear of being blown away while I was asleep.

We have been so busy lately.  Shauna put together a bridal shower for me last Saturday.  I got so many fun things!  Overall it was such a great day.  I can't thank everyone enough for being so wonderful!

We spent the entire last week with my extended family up at Reid Ranch.  There was horse back riding, paddle boating, archery, mini golf, and several other random activities that my family put together.  It was great to see everyone and for Brett to get to know everyone a little bit better. We didn't get home until last night.  All of my clothes have been packed so I had to do laundry immediately.  I'm not a laundry fan, but decided that I would rather do that then smell like horse and campfire.

Today I went through the temple.  It was such a great experience.  I was so happy that I was able to experience it with my parents, Brett, and his family.  Afterward, we all went out to eat.  That was a party.  Now it is relaxing and attempting to do my homework (the attempting isn't succeeding). 

We will be married in only ONE WEEK!  It is coming fast but still not quite fast enough :D

Last night we went to Costa Vida, and then we watched Iron Man 2.  It was a fairly decent sequel.  We both enjoyed it.  Downey didn't fail to impress.  I think I enjoy him more in Sherlock Holmes though.  That movie cracks me up every time.  We got to the theater a tad bit early so we had to entertain ourselves for a little while.




Today was a great day.  Brett and I started it off with some church time.  I officially have my temple recommend now which is AWESOME!  We had dinner with my family once they got home.  The Ludlows, minus Natalie, came to dinner as well.  Brea kept pointing out the fact that everyone was eating ribs and that they were her favorite (even though she doesn't eat anything).

After dinner, Brett and I finished the slide show for our reception.  I was pretty impressed with us :).  It was at that point that I decided to become a professional golfer.  We took the golf cart out on the golf course to hit a few balls.  And you guessed it, I am pro now.  Pretty sure I hit it further that Tiger ;)  I was lucky if I hit the ball at all.  Brett, of course, hit it every time and pretty far too.  It was a beautiful night so I was satisfied just being there with Brett.  My hands are a little sore though.

Here is what has been happening lately.  Brett finished his first year at med school!  He did great (like anyone thought he wouldn't).  He came back to Cedar on the 1st and will be here until the wedding.  The wedding planning is pretty much complete.  Our wedding planner, Laura, has been wonderful!  She is taking care of everything.  The only thing left for us to decide is the song for our first dance.  This has been an issue since the day we got engaged.  We just can't seem to find the right one.  I'm sure we will come across it sometime.  We have to because the wedding is only a day and three weeks away!