78 days

Guess what's in 78 days, my loyal followers? ....OUR WEDDING!!!

I can't believe it's so close! Since the beginning of the new year, we have been in power-planning mode. I feel like I'm back in college with all of the "I think I did that" and the "I have to do WHAT?!" moments I've been having lately BUT....it's okay because I can't wait for the actual day.

 

Another piece of exciting news: Keaty boy graduated!!!! He was officially finished on December 23rd and I don't think I've ever seen him so relieved! He starts a bowling league with Left Hand pretty soon and I know he's super excited to be able to ENJOY his free time without the stress of having homework and classes.

 

Anywho, we hope to see and hear from you all soon!

Merry Christmas!

Aloha, blog readers.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your families. I only got to see a couple family members while I was back in Iowa (for a short five days) but it was still a great time. 

I returned to Colorado on the night of the 23rd to a very excited fiance! HE'S DONE WITH SCHOOL! WOOHOOOOO! Congrats, Keaton!! I think we're both equally as excited and so far, we haven't figured out what to do with all the spare time!

We got to celebrate Christmas together this year and it was a lot of fun. I think it's been two years (or maybe only one?! Who knows, I'm dramatic) since we've spent the actual holiday together as I'm always back in Iowa/Minnesota,  but this year we made it a point to start our own traditions. :)

I have to admit that the last couple days have been very different from what I'm used to as far as the holiday goes. I'm used to spending time with family nonstop from the 23rd - 26th. I spent Christmas Eve day alone since Keats was at work and then we made our own small dinner that night. Which, may I add, did not include ANY kind of soup which is a pretty constant tradition on both the Johnson and Jennings sides. (Insert my sad face here...) We had our own relish tray, shrimp cocktail, and ham and cheese sliders with the butter and poppyseed topping. SO GOOD! My day was so off that I even went to Target and Walmart...on CHRISTMAS EVE! I've never done that before....ever! I felt like a sad panda as I walked through Target by myself looking for a last minute graduation gift for Keaty.

On Christmas day, we opened our stockings and presents with mimosas and (burnt) monkey bread, and then we went to Keaton's mom's house to celebrate with his family. We ate lots of good food and even played cards! Playing cards is a Dahle family tradition, so I was glad to be able to play with his family, too! Maybe I will have to teach them how to play Shang-Hi for the next family gathering? They might hate me for that though. That game has the ability to tear families apart...hahaha, only kidding. Kind of :)

I'm off school until the 3rd, so I've just been relaxing and taking my time getting our place cleaned up. I hope you're able to relax this holiday season, too! 

Grumpy Bear

Ahhhh....three more hours until FREEDOM!

(Yes, I'm writing this on my lunch break because it's the only free time I've got for now!) We're off school tomorrow and won't return until the 26th. Woooosaahhh!

 

I've been VERY on edge the last couple of hours. I'd assume it's because I know of the freedom that sits so near OR because I've got so many kids telling me "HE BUDGED!" or "SHE STOLE MY MARKER!" or my personal favorite "HE'S LOOKING AT ME!" My personal favorite phrase today has been "I don't want to hear it." 

 

As obnoxious as I find these things, my kiddos are very sweet and they do say some of the funniest/cutest things ever. I've been writing them down to share with Keats (and to keep my sanity) and I'd like to share some with you!

 

"Gahh, my butt keeps pulling my underwear in and it REALLY hurts!"

 

"You have a mean face right now."

 

"Whoa, did I just burp SUNSHINE!?"

 

"My mom looks like a beautiful person. Well, almost."

 

"My boyfriend's mom? I don't know her name. Can't know EVERYONE'S name!"

 

"My dog burps a lot after he eats beef turkey."

 

 

I'll leave you with that for now and since I probably won't write before next Thursday...HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I can't wait to see my family and friends!

TA-DA!

Wasn't that just the best disappearing act you've ever witnessed?!

 

I have no idea why I stopped blogging after the proposal...I mean, I feel like I was busy but then I think back on all of the nights I watched show after show after show on my couch and now I realize that I could have been entertaining all of YOU with my mindless writing. :)

 

Six days before the school year started, I accepted a job at a different (than last year's) school as a childcare director of a wrap-around program (aka I'm a glorified babysitter!). The program is brand new this year and the beginning of school was very stressful for me as I had to build a program from scratch with about six boxes of toys and books. Luckily, people were donating items left and right and I was able to make things happen with what we had!

 

Keaton is still at Left Hand Brewing Co. and is of course still loving it! He and a few fellow Left Hand guys are growing mustaches for the month of November. They've formed a team at Movember.com to raise money for testicular and prostate cancer research and here is Keaton's individual page: http://us.movember.com/mospace/4151781 Check it out and donate if you would like! I know he and the "Milk Stout Mustache" team would appreciate it GREATLY!

Wedding plans are coming along quite nicely. We've already switched venues and we are so in love with this new place! When Mom was out to visit we went there three times in five days! I don't know what I've posted as far as dates, but we're getting married April 6, 2013.

 

Until next time, my friends......and I promise it won't be four months!

 

Also, Keats and I will be back in Iowa November 21-24, so I hope we get to see everyone!

 

 

 

WE'RE ENGAGED!

I'm sure most of you (all five of you?!) have heard by now that Keaton popped the question on Wednesday. I said yes, of course! 

I think it's the most gorgeous ring, EVER! But...I may be a little biased. 

We went to the Rockies game on Friday night and there were fireworks after the game and they were AMAZING! 

Note: This is a video of fireworks..if your speakers are all the way up, you will crap your pants. 

In other words, turn your speakers down. :)

How do I know I'm marrying the right man? Because after the fireworks, we both said "HONK, HONK" at the same time without knowing the other was going to do it. 

The Dahle family is responsible for that one! We would always watch the Clear Lake fireworks together and they would always say "Oooh, ahhh....honk, honk!" And the first time I said it, Keats thought I was absolutely crazy. Now, he is forever going to be a part of this craziness and I couldn't be happier!

Lazy Sunday

I instantly went to write the title "Lazy Sunday" without thinking if it actually was a lazy Sunday...today I was definitely not lazy!

Kellen needed a girl to play on his work's coed softball team and I was the lucky winner. Keep in mind, I haven't played legit softball since I was 14. Uh...let's just say I did not get my dad's softball skills. Or any skills, for that matter. I struck out every time except for one, but I still had fun and that's all that matters, right? (Yadda, yadda, yadda, blah, blah, blah!)

After Kellen and I got back to the house, Amy wanted to go work out at the rec center so I went with her. Uff da...I'm wiped! Once I got home, someone or something kicked me in the butt because I power-cleaned the kitchen and then made 3 more canvas photos and hung them up....see!

(As if we don't see enough of each other as it is...)

Did you have a lazy Sunday?

Building with Bagheera

Do you like my titles lately? That's laziness at it's finest!

I've been sick of the storage in our guest bedroom (my and Bagheera's room!) lately and finally decided to get one of the cube organizers at Target. Bagheera "helped" me put it together.

Bagheera getting in the way while....

Nixon watches and whines...awww!

I love these pictures.

"Okay, nobody is looking."

"How do I get in there?"

"Oh...this handle?!"

"In I go..."

"Eh, not what I thought. Booooring!"

Here it is! I love it!

Keats and I at the Rockies game on Tuesday

I took this picture on Tuesday morning because you could smell and see the smoke from the High Park fire in Fort Collins (35 miles away). We were supposed to go hiking in Boulder for work and we didn't end up going because we weren't supposed to be outside. We took the kiddos to see Madagascar 3 instead...HILARIOUS by the way!