What? A blog?

You know, writing a blog is relatively overwhelming when it's the first you've written in a month.  I have just been so busy.  As usual.  But I thought I would reiterate in case you forgot.  

Quick recap on what's been happening:  the weekend of Easter, Bryan's cousins Jessica and Courtney and Courtney's boyfriend Myron came to visit from Boise.  We got to have a fun family day that Saturday!  On Easter Sunday my dad's parents got baptized, which was pretty cool.  Oh, and in between all of this we started spring term on March 29th.  I have been working about 34 hours a week and taking 12 credits, so it's been crazy!  I did drop a day of work since the last time I wrote though, which has been relieving.  I am still spread pretty thin but it's nice to have a little more free time!

The Halls and the Hayses

I love this picture because Kyle is shooting daggers with his eyes directly at me.  I don't know what I did!  Lol

The following weekend, we went to the wedding of a friend of Bryan's.  Bryan and I went up to Portland Friday night and stayed with Kyle and Jenna (and Payton!).  We had a good time, and the wedding was nice!  I'm racking my brain for what we did the next weekend, but I can't think of anything!  OH, on Friday the 16th, Bryan and I went and looked at a church in McMinnville as a possibility for our ceremony.  It was GREAT and is CHEAP (I mean, really.  The price speaks to me), but the church has no center aisle, just two side aisles.  Ever since then I have been trying to get over that.  We don't really have any better options for a church, but I just don't know how I feel about walking down a side aisle.  I guess if that's the worst thing we have to deal with we should be thankful!  That Sunday, my cousin Joy took these engagement photos of us.  They are great and we had so much fun!  Bryan and I love their family, so we were excited to get to go to lunch and spend a few hours with Joy, Brett, and their kiddos.  We plan to take more pictures in a few weeks, so stay tuned!

Just this last weekend, one of my sister Rachel's old roommates threw a baby shower for her.  She is due June 12th, but her doctor is thinking she will most likely deliver mid-May, so we don't have much time left!  We had a good time, and she got a lot of useful stuff!

Swaddling blankets!  I took lots of pictures while she was opening gifts and this was probably the best one...so sorry for the closed eyes!

I think that about wraps it up for now.  Sorry about the lack of photos and general boring-ness of my life, I will try to spice it up for my blog posts!  Which I will also attempt to write more often!

Tomorrow, Kyle, Jenna, and Payton are coming to spend the weekend here!  Actually Bryan and Kyle have a civil war event, so they are coming for that.  Bryan's birthday is Monday, so we are going to celebrate this weekend as well.  He is going to be 23!  So old!  ;)

Well, I'm quite overdue for a new blog post.  So I will use this time in the library on the first day of the new term to blog instead of getting ahead on my reading like I had planned to do.  Where to begin?  Last term finally ended (obviously) which was great!  I was just ready to be done with those classes.  Bryan got his tonsils and adenoids removed on Wednesday the 17th (yes, St. Patrick's day), and it was a rough time for him!  He couldn't eat solid food for a week, and he felt pretty sick and just yucky for that amount of time.  I am glad he is finally feeling better, though.  It was tough to see him in so much pain that I couldn't do anything to fix!

Last week was spring break, but I worked something like 45 hours so it wasn't exactly a break for me!  That's okay though, I didn't have anything better to do, and I can definitely use the money!  

This term I'm taking Macroeconomics, International Economics, and Math.  I would say what math but I honestly have no idea.  It's math 245, but if that means nothing to me I'm sure it doesn't mean much to you either.  My first lecture is in a little over an hour, so I guess I will find out what it's all about!  I think it will be a good term.  I like economics a lot, and math is a strong subject of mine.  I am still going to be working almost 40 hours a week though, so it will be a challenge!  It's nice to know that I can always drop some hours at work if I'm having a hard time being successful.  

That's it!  That's seriously the extent of my life right now!  Easter is this weekend, and that is sure to bring at least SOME excitement!  Now I'm going to go while I still have time to delve into the wonderful world of economics!

*In the wedding world, Bryan and I went to McMinnville Saturday to check out some possible churches for our ceremony.  We found some possibilities, but we aren't sure yet of their availability.  I will keep you posted!*

Here are a few gems to leave you with just to spice up my otherwise dull post.

Bryan changed Payton's poopy diaper *tee hee*  I wanted to include the more graphic picture, but would prefer to not get arrested for child pornography.  So you'll have to use your imagination for the poop.

"I'm going to eat you!!!"

So much has happened since I blogged last!  I have been super busy, though, and even when I've had spare time I've slept!  That's what it's come down to now.  So anyway, almost two weeks ago now our little Payton Marie was born!  And by "our" I mean Kyle and Jenna's...I didn't give birth.  Just in case you were confused.  She was born February 27th, and we spent that day in Portland visiting! 

Bryan and I with Payton the day she was born!

Payton with her parents and all her aunts and uncles!

We decorated Kyle & Jenna's house!

One of Payton's hospital pictures.  So sweet!

Anyway, that is actually about as exciting as our lives have been lately.  Nothing new in the world of the Green-Hall wedding, and Bryan and I are just about as boring as usual.  We have finals next week, and are both REALLY excited to be done with this term!

Next Wednesday, the 17th, Bryan is getting his tonsils out.  The surgery and recovery won't be fun, but we are really hoping that it will eliminate his snoring and help him sleep better!  Plus he will get rid of the sore throat he's had for about six months, so that will obviously be nice!  I will have to post an update after his surgery.  That will probably be the next time I blog, between now and then I will be STUDYING!

Oh WAIT, reverse!!  I forgot I haven't blogged about Sue's grandma shower yet.  On Friday, February 26th, we had a surprise grandma shower for Sue at work.  It was really fun, and she got a lot of cool stuff to keep at her house for when Payton comes to visit! 

The sign at Sue's desk.

Opening a gift

All of Sue's wonderful gifts!

Okay, so now that's all that's gone on in my life.  Whew!

We Have a Venue!

We officially booked our reception venue yesterday!  Yay!  It's the one I had a picture of in my last blog.  I am excited to finally have something big checked off of my list!  Next we have to find a church in the area (McMinnville), so if you have any ideas let me know!  

We also met with the dress alterations lady yesterday.  I don't think I've officially announced any dress news on my blog, since we weren't sure if it would work, but since we know now I can talk about it!  Around Thanksgiving, I bought a brand new Maggie Sottero designer wedding gown at the Goodwill for $50.  That's right.  Unfortunately, it is a size 12, so we weren't sure whether or not it could be altered to fit me.  Well we found out yesterday that it will work out!  And only cost $300!  We (meaning my mom, Sue, and I) went to a place in Portland, and Jenna met us there.

After being at the alterations place, we all went out to lunch and had a great time visiting.  Afterward, Sue went home with Jenna because the Halls are snowboarding today and stayed the night at Kyle & Jenna's.  My mom and I went to the Goodwill that I got my dress at and I got some fun wedding books!  Fun stuff.

That's about it for this weekend.  I'm just sitting at home today, doing homework and whatever else.  Be jealous.

 

Bryan's got wedding fever!  ;)

So, the last time I blogged I left you on the edge of your seat about our venue-looking.  Still on the edge of your seat?  Probably not, considering that was forever ago.  But anyway, we only ended up looking at one venue that day, the McMinnville Grand Ballroom.  It will most likely end up being "the one" because of its size, price, and looks.  We are anxious to get it booked, because then we will be able to relax a bit!  Although with 401 days to go until our wedding, we're probably just fine.

 

Pretty, huh?  =)

The following weekend was Jenna's baby shower in Gig Harbor.  Sue and I drove up on Saturday the 30th and stayed until the 31st.  We had a great time!  Saturday was also, consequently, Bryan's and my two year dating anniversary, which is just cool because I can't believe it's been so long!  Time flies when you're having fun!  Or, as Bryan would say (every time anyone says "time flies when you're having fun), unless you're Kermit the Frog, then time's fun when you're having flies.  Gag.  Yes, I am marrying him.

 

  

  

These dolls are dressed up in outfits that were Jenna's when she was a baby!

(I realize I'm skipping weekdays here, but do you want to hear me talk about 10 hour work days, classes, and homework?  I don't think so...)  So the following Saturday, Pam and Sarah (Bryan's aunt & cousin) had another shower for Jenna.  That one was fun too!  We had a great time hanging out with everyone!

 

  

Sue (our mom-in-law), Jenna, and JoAnn (Jenna's mom)

 Sarah, Jenna, and I

Since then, I haven't done much.  I've actually had a bit of a bug yesterday and today.  I didn't go to either of my jobs yesterday, and today I missed class.  I slept for a loooong time though, so hopefully I will start to recover soon.  I'm already feeling a little better today; I'm glad I have the whole day to relax.

Also, this week concluded the season of the basketball team that Bryan "coached" and Tanner played on.  They made it to the championship game, but unfortunately they lost.  I had fun going to watch their games, though!

 

They didn't really know I was taking a picture...obviously.

I can't wait for this weekend!  Valentine's Day!  Bryan and I never go out.  And when I say never, I mean the last time we went out was on my birthday.  Which is August 29th.  Almost six months ago.  So I'm reeeeealllly excited for our date!  I think we're going to dinner and a movie, but we'll just have to see.

Blazer Game, Bridal Show, Baby's Room! (and my exhaustion)

I have been SO busy lately!  I am working 15 hours a week at OSU Payroll and 18 hours a week at the Grocery Outlet.  I'm getting tired just thinking about it!!!  My weekdays are pretty exhausting because I'm doing so much, but it is definitely worth it to never work during the weekends!  Anyway, I just thought I would get that out there so you would all understand why I don't have time for blogging (or thinking). 

Last Friday, Rae offered Bryan and I tickets to the Blazer game that night.  She had bought them for her brother and sister-in-law, who couldn't end up going.  So we went up to Portland with her and her boyfriend Mark and had a great time!  The Blazers beat the Orlando Magic 102-87.  It was a really exciting game to watch, even though the Blazers never gave up the lead throughout the game.  Plus, we got free Chalupas AND Egg McMuffins.  Basically a great night.

Bryan and I at the game

Bryan and I stayed the night at Kyle and Jenna's house that night because Saturday was PAINTING DAY for my little niece's room.  On Saturday, Sue came up to Portland and she, Jenna, and I all went to the Portland Bridal Show while Kyle and Bryan went to see Avatar in 3-D.  (What I wonder is WHY wouldn't they want to come to the bridal show?  So baffling.)  Anyway, the bridal show was really cool!  We got there (1/2 hour after the time that they start letting people in) and had to wait in a line of probably 300 people still!  We were in line for about 1/2 hour, then we got to go in.  There were so many people there and it was so huge that we basically just went around grabbing brochures and information from people.  I also entered about 500 drawings.  Will I win any?  No.  But who can turn down the possibility of getting free stuff?  Not I.  Oh, and we also gorged ourselves on cake samples!  It was out of control!  We all got really sick...too much sugar and not enough real food to eat.  That being said, they were all delicious.

Sue, Jenna, and I at the bridal show

 

All of the stuff I got!  I didn't spread it out fully because I didn't want to have to pick it all up.  ;)

After we were done at the bridal show, we headed back to Kyle and Jenna's so the boys (and Sue) could get painting.  They got a little ladybug border for the room that has a pink and green color scheme.  They painted the bottom half of the room green, and the upper half pink.  I didn't take a picture.  I sincerely apologize.  While they were painting, I looked through some of the paraphernalia I had just been bombarded with and then fell asleep on the couch at a wonderful 9:30 pm.  I got to glance at the room when it was done, but I wasn't quite there enough to think about pictures.  I'm sure Jenna will have pictures of the room once they put the border up.

The rest of the weekend I just relaxed and did homework!  Not too much fun, but not bad either.  Then back to the normal grind this week!  On Tuesday afternoon, the Halls had to put down their 15 year old dog, Barkley (whom I also don't have a picture of...).  It was a really hard thing for them to do, but it was definitely his time.  He will be missed very much!

And...for the great news...Saturday, Bryan and I are going to go look at two reception venues!  I'm SOOOOO excited!  But I'll leave you on the edge of your seat and talk about that a different day... =)

Perspective

So today, between reading articles about the traumatic earthquake in Haiti, I saw a Facebook status update of a friend of mine.  It announced that there is an H&M going in at Pioneer Square this year.  And I quickly said, "YES, life will be so great from now on!" 

Really?  My life hasn't been great up until now?  Not until I know there will be an H&M within a two hour drive?  Not to say it's not okay to be excited about a store that I LOVE (and is really inexpensive by the way), but I just had to chuckle a bit as I continued to read about the crisis Haitians are facing.  Not because it's funny, but because I am so ridiculous.

Anyway, this realization actually served to remind me to be very thankful for everything that I have.  I have THREE jobs in a recession (that's hard to be thankful for sometimes...), I have a house to live in and food to eat (sometimes too much) for FREE (thanks mom & dad), I have a nice car, I have an obscene amount of clothes for one person, and more importantly I have a great family, a great fiance, great friends, and a great God who all love me very much!

So, in true Joy Quarles blog style (because I have blog envy), I will say, "Be thankful!"