Trash the Dress

Britt and I had some fun playing with her wedding dress! It had been over a year since she had it on, so we decided to have some fun one sunny winter afternoon.  So grateful to have gotten to practice my photography skills, even if the pictures are nothing special! Thanks, Britt, for being so willing to let me photograph you :)

Long Days Bring Silly Laughs

Weekends with school seem to drag on! You might wonder why this would be a bad thing, BUT...being in school for 21 hours in three days can feel SO long. So, here we are, on a Saturday night, getting ready to call it a night, but having a few laughs before we do! We were looking through Christmas pictures and couldn't help but laugh about a few of them.  Here is one to bring a smile to your face for the night! Enjoy!

4 Months in a Nutshell

Geeze...It has really been a long time since I have blogged. I am sorry! Forgive me, truly, there is not a lot of excuse.  So much has happened in the past, oh, 4 months!
Thanksgiving was one of the best we've had.  We got to spend a week traveling in both Boston and New York City with Matt Fisher, and with Drew and Laurel.  Neither Erik of I had ever been to Boston, and Erik had never been to NYC.  It was great to expand our travels to the East and especially great that we had the chance to do it with such great friends. We even got to experience a Broadway show together (thanks Drew and Laurel)!!

The beginning of December we had our sweet friends Matt and Steph Waller out for a long weekend. It's so refreshing to see them and we had a blast as usual.  There is never a lack of adventure with those two and it proved to be true again with this trip! Not only did we get to hit up our favorite place, the Rio, but we also go to go on a private tour of New Belgium Brewery!

Christmas was also wonderful as most of the fam was together! We had the best time spending a few days just hanging out with each other and enjoying being in the same place. It made me wish we all lived closer, but I was grateful to have those few days with them and know that it is because we live far apart that those times are that much sweeter :) (Just a little picture to brag about the CUTEST nephew ever)

My job at CU ended the beginning of December, and I began a new job just two short weeks later at Hudson Companies.  They are a property management company in Boulder that manages about 30 properties.  I am so grateful to be there and love the people.  It's so nice to have an office that has windows in it, and I am so thankful to have the position that I do! I especially love that Erik and I can still drive together in the mornings as this new place is just one block from CU! 

I started Graduate school in January, pursuing my Master's in both Clinical Counseling and School Counseling at the University of Northern Colorado. I continue to go back and forth on deciding on just one major, so for now, I am happy to say that I am a double major.  I am sure that come praticuum and internship time, I will not be so happy! Its a challenge doing a weekend only program, but so far has proven to not be impossible.  I miss my weekends and knowing that I may be missing out on something, but also feel so confirmed that I am doing what I need to be doing and am in the right place.

Erik continues to work hard at Grad school and at Sushi Zanmai...he is such a stud and I am so thankful to have a husband who is as hard working as he is. 

Speaking of a studly husband...for my birthday he went over and beyond my greatest expectations.  Thursday we both had the day off so we were able to get up to the mountains and hit the slopes. It was the MOST beautiful day of skiing I have had in long time, with 40 degree temperatures. For those of you who don't know, I hate the cold, so this was the best scenario possible.  We got to have delicious sushi for dinner with some great friends, and I thought my birthday was done. However, on Friday, he threw me a HUGE surprise party full of tons of friends, and, I really was surprised! I had suspected he might be doing something, but as time went on, shrugged off the idea.. He did AMAZING! 

Well, there is our life in a nutshell the last 4 months. I promise to be better about keeping this up! 

Fall Travels!

Erik and I have really been enjoying our time lately. Once again, time slips by so quickly, but it seems like our moments are filled with laughter, fun, and the ones we love the most!

Last weekend I got the chance to go to Phoenix to spend 4 days with my grandma, mom for a girls weekend. It was SO good to finally be back together with Britt, and it was so great to get to spend some good time with Brandon, Kirstin, Caleb, Collin and Beau.  There was nothing formal about the weekend which I think made it that much better...so great to finally all be back in one place...the only people missing were Erik and my dad!  It was so fun to have some quality time with my mom, grandma and sister. We have been trying to plan a "Girl's Weekend" for a long time and I am so grateful that it finally happened. There were lots of much needed laughs shared and it was a reminder of the blessing I have in such an incredible family.

Erik got the chance to hike up Mount of the Holy Cross with Ryan and Ralph. They do an annual trip every summer but with the busyness of being a newlywed and traveling to Peru, their plans were put on hold until this fall.  Thankfully the chose a great weekend to go and the snow held off!  Hard to believe that they already ran into snow on some parts of the trail! I am not quite sure that I am ready for the season to end..but inevitably it is coming.  Check out the picture of Ralph on the tip top of his first 14er!  Erik said that Ralph did well for the most part, but was absolutely exhausted for the next two days....I can imagine why!
We both enjoyed our time away from the routine of our everyday life.  It was a breath of fresh air to be with some of the people we love the most and are really trying to not take times like these for granted!

Back! Sharing in the birth of Zuri!

Sorry for the delay in blogging...I can't believe how poorly I have been at keeping up with this since we have been married, but I am back...and have intention to keep you updated!

The last four months have been filled with memories to last us a lifetime no doubt. We rounded off the summer with Erik traveling to Peru for a month, two more beautiful weddings of wonderful friends, had a fabulous trip to Seattle to visit our dear friends Matt and Steph Waller, and just like that we were back in the swing of the school year! Erik has started his second year of grad school at CU in Environmental Engineering, and I am still working at the Office of the Registrar. Its been great to be able to go to and from campus together, and we definitely are grateful to only have to take one car! Erik has to get up a little earlier than he wishes, but its been good for him to see that sun rising and getting his day started off early ;).  I have been looking for a new job and am praying that one will come soon!

We had big news this week with the birth of sweet baby girl, Zuri Amani (which means Beautiful Peace), to our dear friends Wes and Marissa Wicklund.  Marissa was in labor for 41 hours, and is no doubt a hero in my mind! She is truly incredible and so strong, and Zuri is absolutely perfect and beautiful in every way.  Erik and I are looking forward to spending much time with this sweet family...we love you three so much! I am still in awe at the way life is created.  Congratulations you two...we are so excited to get to support you on this road of parenthood!

 I am officially back and vow to be better about blogging (thanks for the push, Steph!!).  So grateful to have you on this journey with us!

Thankful tonight for: Cool fall nights, our poochie, Ralph, who so graciously keeps me company, Zuri Amani, and friends and family who love us so well despite our failures!

We Officially Have the Same Last Name!

Oh my goodness it has been WAY TOO LONG since updating our blog. I apologize! What a crazy past two months it has been! Unfortunately we don't have internet yet so this post is going to have to be cut short, but I promise we will update it as soon as we have our own internet that does not cut in and out ;)
Let's see, where to start. Well, we are MARRIED! Thank you so much to all of you who were there both in person and in spirit with us as we finally said our "I Do's" and committed our lives to one another.  We are incredibly thankful for everyone who was there, especially those who traveled so far to be with us and gave up their time and lives to be in Colorado for the weekend. We were truly in awe and speechless at the impact each of you had during this time and know that without the love and support of all of you we could not be where we are today.  The out pouring of your love, lives, and truths have touched us in a way we never thought possible and we feel blessed beyond words for the relationships we have with each of you.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for allowing us the chance to share in your lives and for choosing to share in ours. We are so blessed.

From there the list goes on. We finished our house, I graduated from CU, Erik finished his first year of grad school, I started working full time, and we went on a honeymoon!!! Life is full and busy, but wonderful!!
Things we have to look forward to in the near future:
Erik going to Peru July 20th for 3 weeks!
Sara and Phil's wedding on July 31st in Denver!
Matt and Steph's wedding in Billings August 14th!
I promise more updates and stories to come, but I just had to get a thank you out to all of you! We love you!

Brianne and Erik