And So It Begins!

Wedding season is finally upon us. I LOVE wedding season and couldn't have been more excited to kick it off with a sweet, intimate wedding of a dear friend, and a fun-filled bridal shower for my oldest friend (Oldest not in years, but in length of time being a friend :)).
First, a couple of pictures from the sweet wedding of Rebecca and Sean. This sweet family was surrounded by their closest friends and family as they started their forever together, and the weather could not have been more perfect for the outdoor ceremony!

Today, my mom and I had the chance to throw a bridal shower for my dear, beautiful Christina. She is getting married May 29, and today marked the beginning of wedding festivities! She was showered by some great women and close friends at the Dushanbe Tea House in Boulder. Amazing food, amazing setting, and amazing people!

Love This

Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
its jealousy as enduring as the grave.
Love flashes like fire,
the brightest kind of flame.
Many waters cannot quench love,
nor can rivers drown it.

---Song of Songs 8:6-7

Engagements, and Conferences, and Sickness...Oh My!

So much has been going on in the past three weeks, I can't even believe it!
Engagements:
First, we had four of our best friends get engaged! Chris and Courtney got engaged March 27, and six short days later, Kyle asked Abby for his forever.  Erik and I got to be a big part of Chris and Court's magical day, and it was magical to say the least.  Courtney's parents had been visiting for the weekend, and somehow Chris was able to convince Courtney to take a morning away from them to go on a hike up to Chasm Lake on the trail to Long's Peak.  Erik was there to capture the moment as Chris asked Courtney to marry him! She said "Yes"!

Six days later Kyle and Abby got engaged! We are so excited for both of these perfect couples and it has been fun to watch both of their love grow and mature. What an amazing thing love is and is so evident through the love that we have seen in both Chris and Courtney, and Kyle and Abby. Congratulations you four :)

Conferences:

Erik had the chance to attend and present at the NOAA Climate Change and Water Demand conference in Washington DC through his research at CU.  The conference was literally one day, and total travel time (including driving to and from the airport) was a short 28 hours.  Erik presented to a group of about 30 fellow field professionals on water and climate change.  I found out afterwards that he was presenting to the best of the best in the field, including one man who had his PhD in two different fields.  Erik said that it was intimidating to say the least, and that in some sense he felt unprepared to be presenting to these well educated professionals, however, felt as though it was one of the greatest learning experiences he has had.  He was constantly grilled on his presenting ideas, but was encouraged afterwards when he was approached by the man with two PhD's who told him that he did a great job and that the questions and grilling he received during his presentation were sure to prepare him well for his thesis defense.  In fact, the man told him that his thesis defense would be much easier.  Phew! 

Sickness:

Both Erik and I have been catching spouts of sickness here and there, but nothing too debilitating...until this most recent episode.  I first got sick about a month ago, and it seems that every other week Erik or I will feel under the weather.  This past weekend, the sickness finally took its toll and my body couldn't fight it any longer.  I got the flu, and suffered with it for nearly 5 days.  Cross your fingers that it's over for both of us and we can begin to enjoy the beautiful spring weather that has begun to grace itself here in Colorado! 

Things we are looking forward to in the near future:

- Erik heading to Bozeman, MT to fish the Smith River with some great friends over Easter weekend!

- San Diego in May with our besties Matt and Steph Waller to visit Steve and Lindsey Miller!

- Erik finishing his second to last semester of Graduate School!

Sunday Night

Sitting here enjoying a glass of wine as I wind down from the weekend. Grateful for a husband who works so hard to provide for us as we both go through school and even more grateful for a God who has made this possible for both of us.  I have been so challenged by a dear friend of mine to look for the greatness in each day, and today I am so grateful feeling so grateful to be in the position we are, and resting in the beauty of this time in our lives...enough of looking forward for now; learning to appreciate and enjoythis time.

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!