The Meaning of the 'Fish'

If you've chatted with us at all in the past 2 years, you know that S had to work very hard to get his 'fish'.  "Getting qual'd" has been the name of the game. And since S isn't here to write about it himself, this falls into the "proud wife" category of sharing.

Until you earn your 'Fish', you're considered a newbie - and a liability while underway. Once you qualify, your life stinks a little less (more down time), but there is a never-ending process of learning how the boat works, how a sailor can keep their shipmates safe, and where to go from there.

So I thought I'd direct you all to this blog of a retired submariner- as he gives those who just earned their 'Fish' a run down of what it means.

http://bubbleheads.blogspot.com/2012/12/submarine-officers-earn-their-dolphins.html

Enjoy!

 PS.  S did indeed earn his 'Fish' this year.

It's Begining to Look A Lot Like Christmas

So the Elves (namely, J) have been very busy around these parts lately! Lots more to come, but some of the tricker decorating is in place already!

Going from an 800 square food apartment without room for a tree, to a 2000 sq foot property is quite a change, and more than a little challenging on our little boxes of decorations, but we're getting there.

The goal this holiday season is to "buy local" whenever possible for any decorative needs. To complete the lit garland on the stairwell, I made a trip to our local Goodwill store! It's not exactly the 'craft' type thing, but is locally provided and helps people in the immediate local community, so it's counting.

So I scored about 80 feet of lit brand new lit garland (running about $25/20 feet in Target) for about $15 total.  Pretty proud of our awesome staircase. Odin seems to be okay with it too! Since it's his first Christmas with us, we weren't sure how he'd react, but he seems pretty okay with it. It brings out the Polar Bear in him, don't you think/

Before S left to go Find Nemo, we picked out a few Christmas cards, and it'll be Elf J's duty to write them out and keep them ready to be signed (Power of Attorney does NOT extend to Christmas cards  whenever possible in this house!). They'll be going out late, but what the heck. Who couldn't use a  little holiday cheer all year long, right?

This year, we'll be hosting the Munderloh's! Our first Christmas at our first house with in-laws attending! Should be a fun year. And who knows? We might actually have a little bit of a white christmas this year?

Paid Our Highest Compliment

Sake with Brion and Gen in Japan, World Showcase, Epcot, March 2012

 We've been so busy that my blogging has fallen really far behind! My apologies, you poor little neglected blog!  Most of our "busy-ness" has been formed around hectic work schedules and squeezing in time for life's fun and responsibilities. But it dawned on me (J) yesterday that Sean and I have a pretty unique relationship now-a-days.

While we were having lunch at our favorite local Japanese place, we got to talking with the waitress/owner's niece. A nice enough, well intentioned lady, she asked if we were married. We said yes, and she looked surprised, adding, "I thought you were friends."

I love that.

Extreme Mud Run, Poulsbo, October 2012

That's got to be one of the highest compliments we've ever received - especially from someone who doesn't know us other than seeing us pop in and out of the her eatery a couple times a month (usually with our roommate or other friends in tow).

I answered with, "Well, we are. We really like each other."

To which Sean added, "We more than like each other. We love each other."

The conversation went on briefly to talk about kids, the business, etc. But that moment really stuck with me.

Most people who have met us in Washington believe we've been together forever, and in many ways, they aren't wrong. Once they learn our story,  I've her reactions that range from comparing us to a fairy tale to comparing us to the accusatory, 'whirl wind romance.' Yes, Sean and I are both dead ringer romantics at heart, but I think Brion (my brother in law) got it right when he said, "They just didn't need to wait."

Pre-wedding Disneyland morning, August 2012

Lately, life has shown us just how valuable that deep friendship is. Being as busy (and exhausted) as we usually are, making time for true romance is challenging. And that's where being best friends comes to the rescue.

I've noticed a few commonalities between our relationship and the couples we know married over 40 years and still going strong. Without exception, they are friends come what may. They actually enjoy each other. But it goes a step beyond that. (We all know life doesn't give us wine and roses 24/7.) There is a security that is uncommon with other relationships. Sure, we don't like conflict, but we don't shy away from it when we need it. We know that we're both in this life together. We're on the same team. We're not always perfect, but what we are always is really really really good friends.  Without that, I don't know how we would have had the faith to see us get this far, much less the tools to work through long deployments without either of us losing our minds.

I couldn't be more glad to see that it shows in our everyday life. There's no one else I'd rather walk this path with then my best friend.

- J

Wedding pictures are in!

They will be posted on Shutterfly so you can order which ever ones you like this week! I'll post a slide show up here and some more of our favorites when I get the chance (hopefully this week).

Leavenworth Oktoberfest 2012

This year, Sean and I headed up to a famous Oktotberfest in Leavenworth, Washington.  The drive was a harrowing evening through the mountains. Between the construction (blasting they are doing to widen the 2 lane highway) and the new light rain, the white knuckle 4 hour drive was an adventure in and of itself! Sean drove nearly all of the way up, and I drove nearly all of the way back.
 On the drive up, we learned the cabin we'd booked with friends for the weekend had been double booked. So instead of a luxury cabin, we ended up staying at a large house with an amazing view. Sure, we didn't have a hot tub, and the area was too dry for a fire, but it was a stunning retreat that immediately had me thinking that it would be a perfect writing retreat.
  We checked in around 10pm on our first night and enjoyed some wine and chocolate before crawling into bed.
  Later that night, our friends arrived (another married couple) and we helped them find the way and come in. Once we were all moved in and comfortable, we went to bed because we had a big day coming up. Oktoberfest awaits!
To check out more (and lots of photos) about our Oktoberfest adventure in Leavenworth - Click here and Here to be redirected to my personal blog.

Hope everyone had an awesome October!
 

Extreme Mud Run 5k

On October 6th, Sean and I (and pretty much the rest of his division) took part in a great obstacle course through woods and field, mud pits, and obstacles built (and manned) by Marines.

It was a TON of fun and really started off the day well! The course included obstacles ranging from wall crawls to a 1/4 mild mud crawl (and they aren't kidding when they say "crawl"). We made a pretty good showing of ourselves. (Even as the only girl, Jaime didn't come in last!)

Jaime was the only Navy wife who attended and we both decided it was a great way to spend a day together. Those gals who didn't want to get muddy sure missed out!

Meet Odin - the Newest Member of our Family!

We've been talking about getting a 2nd dog for a year now.  Clydas is a Boxer and the average boxer lifespan is considered about 9 1/2 years. While Clydas is still VERY spry at his ripe old age of 8, we wanted to get a 2nd dog in time for Clydas to enjoy the company, and for him to help "train" his younger brother. 

Sean wanted a "big fuzzy dog". I wanted a large breed. We bounced around a bit and considered several breeds. Top on the list were Malamutes and NAID (Native American Indian Dogs). But when Odin turned up at a local shelter, we decided to take a look at the Great Pyrenese. While originally bred to guard livestock, we dug a little deeper and found that they are actually more like bigger, hairer Golden Retrievers. At least our Odin is! He loves everyone that is invited in and the only thing daunting about him MIGHT be his size. (He 75lbs already - but only expected to fill out from this point on.)

We felt even better about adopting through the Humane Society. To get our paws hands on an NAID, we'd have to order a puppy online through a breeder in California. They are pretty rare dogs still and neither of us (or our wallets) felt good about that situation. We're very much of the opinion that there is a heart connect that doesn't occur with all relationships and the waters should be tested whenever possible.

And that's pretty much how Odin came into our lives. After hearing about him online, we decided to go visit him. He was actually out at a local PetSmart at an adoption booth the Humane Society was putting on. So after visiting the Humane Society itself and not seeing him, we made a swing by the PetsMart. We actually caught up with him just as he was about to leave and go back to the Humane Society. We met him - and within 10 minutes he was leaning on Sean, tail wagging, and already looking quite at home. We started the adoption paperwork and asked them to hold him for a day.

The next day, we visited him and brought Clydas along. If the boys hit it off, it was kismet! They walked side by side for a few minutes and, when given leave, immediately did play bows and started to box and play with each other.

Bingo!

So now that Odin's been with us for a week, he completely feels like part of the family. He's already fixed, has obedience pretty much down pat, is well socialized, currently on antibiotics (a touch of sinusitis), and we're learning all about the joys of housekeeping with a big hairy dog around! (Let's just say, the 6+ year old Orek is really proving it's worth and is getting a GREAT work out every other day!) When we got him, we were warned about his resource guarding (meaning he'd guard food, water, and toys if allowed to). We nipped that in the bud and he's actually doing great, able to share a water ball with Clydas during the days as well without incident!

Odin is made for cold weather, so he's loving the cooler fall days, and will probably have great fun when it starts to snow this winter.  Clydas has regained lots of his puppy energy - in fact, he usually STILL outlasts the pup!

Clydas and Odin

So here are our good boys, showing off their awesome sit behavior. 

DCA day, Hen Night, and Trader Sam's Sip n' Snack!

Check out my side of the day here!

 

Wedding Recap Poptastic style, Part 2!

Just in case you haven't checked it out yet, part 2 is up today- Click here to see more of the great photos by Jenna Henderson at White Rabbit Boutique!

Future blogs include:

Extremely muddy fun, weekend pottery, and a NEW family member! Stay tuned!

Lots of Links - Wedding and Extreme Mudder Race!

  Hi all!
I have about 4 posts in "draft" mode, nearly ready to post, but this one seemed the easiest to throw up and I know so many of you are aching for wedding photos.

We've been featured on Poptastic Bride!

To be included with these amazingly creative brides and grooms is quite an honor!

Click here to see the blog post (which is FULL of pictures!)

Part 2 will be featured on Monday on the same blog!

In other news - Sean and I will be competing in the Poulsbo Extreme Mudder 5k TOMORROW!

Click here to see some photos from the course as it comes along,
Look for videos and photos from our racing experience next week!

Sean's 29th Birthday

For Sean's birthday, we threw a Murder Mystery Party. The theme was that everyone was a different assassin with their own unique style. Sean played Top Gun, the leader of our band of misfits. I played Poison Pen, the secretary and I doubled as Nurse Rachet (who couldn't attend). Other attendees included Black Knight (who doubled as another character as well), Clown, Cowgirl, Mad Bomber, Apache, and Dr. Death (who doubled as a CIA agent Ghost). A great time was had by all, and no, Top Gun didn't do it (though he did kill Ghost before the night was over - then again, can you really kill a ghost?).

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Wedding photos have been blogged!

While there is still more to come, I figured I'd give you guys a sneak peak at the blog our photographer threw up for us. :)

Click here to see some of our wedding photos!

Enjoy, and PLEASE feel free to comment away! :)

Just a short update to say "Thanks!" More the come later!

Thank you all for helping to make our event wonderful! More to come, but for now, we're glad to live happily ever after.

One week from RIGHT NOW...

 We'll be out taking pictures around Disneyland Resort property with our photographer, friends, and family.


The B's are Ready! Are you?!

We are so ready for this vacation, I can't even begin to describe it. With a week's worth of overnight work shifts behind us, this couldn't have come at a better time.

It really is amazing how all things work together in their own perfect timing.

I only have a few projects left to finish up - like putting together the signature frame we have planned instead of a "guest book" (won't work on that until we get to California), and finishing up a very special hidden Mickey that our Flower Girl will be carrying (Started on it yesterday - just need some better scissors to put some finishing touches on it), and finishing up our "just married" shirts for the park that day!  But we really can't wait for some down time together. For those keeping score, our honeymoon will actually be our very first vacation together. See, being married in the military means you spend more time apart than you do together - especially when shipyards are involved.

And that's the latest and greatest! It's back to work for me (J). S is sleeping off last night's shift.

Can't wait to celebrate with all of you very very soon!

California here we come!

Break out the T-shirts and the Sunglasses 'cause California, here we come! Our flight is booked. The dog watching has worked itself out (yeah!), and we're all but packed!

Speaking of 'packed' - this is what our schedule looks like for those that are curious:

8/7 Arrive in CA around 1pm. Zumba class for J in Escondido around 6:30pm-7:30pm. Then catching up w/ the boys (and the rest of family) at the Stone Brewery!
8/8 Up early to snorkel with Leopard sharks in La Jolla, followed by a leisurely day at SeaWorld and a seafood dinner with the Munderloh's.
8/9 Last minute wedding stuff and we're off to Anaheim! Linner(Lunch/Dinner) w/ the Humenay clan at the Rainforest cafe, check-in to the hotel before a night in the parks just the 2 of us style!
8/10  Disneyland all day w/ friends and family! Can't wait to see Carsland!  Today we'll be meeting with the WTTM crowd for the Sip n' Snack at Trader Sam's, and Sean will get to enjoy some guy time at a Stag Night/Bachelor Party! J will have a free night to roam the parks, chill in the room, whatever strikes her fancy Flyin' Solo style (a throw back to my Disneyland Annual Passholder days - Yeah for Single Rider Lines!)
8/11 We're going to a Character Breakfast at the Disneyland Hotel w/ the Matron of Honor and her family. We get to meet her youngest for the first time and are pretty excited about some character photo ops.  Then it's off to the rehearsal at noon and the Sip n' Snack to follow. After wards, Disneyland/DCA/downtime night!
8/12 Wedding day! J's up early and off with my Mom and photographer in tow  to Flawless Faces in La Costa for some primping. Sean will be taking his time getting ready with the guys for the big day!
8/13 Honeymoon Road Trip begins! Tonight we'll be checking into Buelton, CA.
8/14 Checking out of Buelton and exploring Solvange, winerys, and Hearst Castle before ending up in Salinas (near Monterey!) (This just happens to be my parent's 41st wedding anniversary - yeah!)
8/15-8/16 See the Monterey Bay Aquirium and explore the area (maybe a kayak trip depending on how the wedding gifts pan out) but we'll be heading into San Fran herself on 8/16.
8/16-8/18 - San Fran and nothern California! Sites include Muir Woods (redwood forest), Ghiradelli Square, the Peirs, China town, Walt Disney family Museum (of course!)... and probably a meal with the Norther Californian Munderloh's!

Should be a great - fun-filled, packed trip! Can't wait to see ya'll there!

"No Rehearsal Dinner?!" AKA "What is a Sip N' Snack?"

I touched on this in my Trader Sam's Preview post here, but I thought I'd clarify so everyone has the same expectations.

I haven't really touched on the financial end of things when it comes to the wedding, but I guess now is as good a time as any.

NATIONAL AVERAGE WEDDING SIZE - 178 Guests
NATIONAL AVERAGE WEDDING COST - $26,961

Just as our guest list is a small fraction of the US Average, our budget is also a mere fraction of the national average as well. In fact, if it weren't for so many open hearts and understanding people, relocating the wedding may not have happened at all.  We couldn't be more grateful to those who learned the circumstances, sucked it out, and have come to our aid to figure how to make this happen in under 100 days!

We would LOVE treat each and every one of you to a bill-free vacation, but our budget doesn't agree. Our sponsored event is the wedding and reception meal only.
That's why we opted to make our events outside of the wedding "Sip N' Snack" events!

"What is a Sip N' Snack?"
Usually set in a casual setting, a Sip N' Snack is a come-as-you-are, BYOC (bring your own cash) event. Come and have a drink and appetizers. Mingle over a glass of water. Hungry? Have lunch! There are no rules! And that's what makes a Sip N' Snack so awesome. It's completely optional, and an easy, laid back way to get to know people.


"So... there is no rehearsal dinner?"
Yes, there is no rehearsal dinner. Rehearsal dinners are traditionally attended by everyone from out of town. Well, we're a destination wedding and everyone is from out of town. Like we said above, we'd LOVE to treat everyone to an entire vacation if we could, but the reality is, until we win the lottery, we can't.  Luckily, our rehearsal is prime lunching time (Noon-1pm), so we've opted to do a Sip N' Snack a short walk away from the rehearsal site, immediately following it. If you'd like to join us, please do! If not, that's fine too. We're just getting an approximate head count so we can give the location a heads up rather trying to storm a lounge and hoping for service.

"So, what Sip N' Snacks are planned?"We currently have two Sip n' Snacks planned. For those of you not going into the parks, you'll be glad to know NEITHER OF THEM REQUIRE PARK ADMISSION! In fact, you'll get 3-5 hrs of free parking in the Downtown Disney lot!

Friday,  August 10th @ Trader Sam's 4:30-7pm (the lounge on Disneyland Hotel property, park in Downtown Disney. My wonderful Podcast friends Paul and Tairy Barrie (from Window To The Magic) are hosting a Sip N' Snack gathering inside this fun, quirky lounge! Come meet our videographer (Paul) and his wonderful wife (Tairy) who have been my eyes, ears, and tastebuds! Kid friendly until 8pm, click on the name to find out more about this quirky, fun place to beat the heat!

Saturday, August 11th @ Tortilla Jo's  1:15pm (located in Downtown Disney, patio) This location is subject to change, but I'll be sure to let ya'll know if it does! No trip to Southern California is complete without a little South of the Border flavor. For those who need some tequila to beat the heat their list is over 100 long!

While other meet ups MAY happen on Friday and Saturday - those will probably be more spontaneous in nature. Stay tuned to the email list for updates there! (If you RSVP'd via email I have your info! If not, PLEASE send an email to JDHumenay@gmail.com ASAP to be sure you don't miss any updates! Thanks!)

Getting a Lay of the Lands - Resorts and Downtown Disney

Since most of you haven't been to Disneyland (or haven't been in over 10 years), here's a little teaser!

If you're staying at a Disney Resort (or want to know where Sean and I are staying), you'll probably be staying at either the Disneyland Hotel or the Paradise Peir hotel. Where are those in relation to everything else? Well, here's a quick clipped map to give you an idea of where everything is.

So the wedding is happening in Downtown Disney, at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen. They are graciously giving us the ENTIRE top floor from 10am-4pm, and allowing the girls in to a small dining room as our 'prep space' starting at 8:30am! I'll show you all the space during the rehearsal so you'll know where and when to meet. Guys - I imagine the best place for you to meet would be at the Disneyland Hotel. Sean will be flying solo that morning. (I'll be out early getting my hair and make-up done with my mom at a studio in Costa Mesa. Any ladies that would like to be early risers and come along to take photos, you're welcome to!)

Wedding weekend events (not requiring park admission) will take place in Downtown Disney.  A central location keeps parking and everything simple and stress free, and that's what we're all about! A few guests have mobility limitations so keeping it central makes it easier on them as well. (I hate being a guest at a wedding where the bride and groom only have about 5 minutes to spend with guests, so we're trying to avoid that scenario, even though we don't have time to spend a day one-on-one with each of you.) Please don't feel like you need to attend every event. We're happy to see you whereever we can.

So what is Downtown Disney all about? Mostly shopping, with live entertainment in the streets, and delicious food all around. Here's the most accurate map I could find of the place, with a few key wedding event locations marked. 

All this prep work is putting me in a Disney mood! Hopefully you folks are enjoying these updates too!  To get the official line on what else you can find in Downtown Disney, Click here.

A Preview of Trader Sam's!

Last night, I got to explore Trader Sam's with the WTTM crew, and it was a really fun experience! Safe to say, this is a great destination for a Sip N' Snack!

What is a Sip N' Snack?Usually set in a casual setting, a Sip N' Snack is a come-as-you-are, BYOC (bring your own cash) event. Come and have a drink and appetizers. Mingle over a glass of water. Have a drink or two. There are no rules! And that's what makes a Sip N' Snack so awesome. It's completely optional, and an easy, laid back way to get to know people.
 
Who the heck are the WTTM crew and What is Trader Sam's?

WTTM stands for Window To The Magic Disneyland Podcast. It's a FREE downloadable podcast that transports listeners to Disneyland Resort by coming along on an audio adventure. Want to hear what rides sound like and let your imagination take flight? It's been one of my favorite Disney Podcasts for years. I highly recommend it when warming up for a visit to the parks! It might give you an idea of what to expect as well. The crew includes the host Paul Barrie (and our videographer!) and his wife Terri (our wedding coordinator and general 2nd set of hands), and the folks who help make the magic come to life in my ipod every week.

Trader Sam's - Trader Sam's is a bar at the Disneyland Hotel. It's themed in a fanciful polynesian fashion, and is lots of fun. It may not be the perfect place for quiet conversations, but it's a great place to have some fun. The drinks are delicious (and unique), and the food is good as well. It's difficult to describe the entertainment, so I won't, but I will my friend Tom from the Disney Tourist blog do it. Click here to see his photos, description, and reviews.  Children are welcome before 8pm, and there is enough going on to keep them entertained, if they aren't frightened by low lighting or loud noises from me time to time.


"Cool, but what does this have to do with Wedding stuff?"
Well, Paul Barrie, the host of the Window To The Magic Podcast, and his wife are pals of mine, as well as wedding particpants! Every Friday night from 4:30-7pm they take over Trader Sam's, and I'd love to get my family and friends in on the fun.

Now- this location isn't for everyone. It can be noisy but it's all in good clean fun. It's a good time with good people, not to mention a great way to get out of the unforgiving Anaheim August sun.

There are no reservations to make, but if we know you're coming, we can save you one of the limited seats, so please let me know if you plan on attending before you arrive if possible. If not, you may end up standing!

Honeymoon Destination Decided!

We're very excited to announce our honeymoon is being finalized - FINALLY!

Much like the wedding, we weren't sure if we'd have a honeymoon this year. After much batting around and discussion, we honed in on an adventurous honeymoon - A Road Trip up the California Coast!

While we're still working on an exact itinerary to share, the most beautiful thing about this trip is that, there is no "exact itinerary".  Well, that's got to be the second most beautiful thing. The first most beautiful thing has got to be that we're FINALLY getting our FIRST TRIP TOGETHER as a married couple that's more than just an overnight.

That's pretty exciting!

A bakery in Solvang

I thought I'd share some of our prospective hot spots with you -

Hearst Castle, San Simeon, CA - Built in 1865, Hearst Castle is an American marvel through and through, built by a wealthy miner at the time, it even included it's own zoo at one point!

The Danish Town of Solvang, CA - Known of it's windmills, wineries, and delicious food, this Danish land mark village is right in the heart of the Ynez mountains, and the road from here drives though - you guessed it - Central California Wine Country!  I'm sure we'll make a few stops along the way for tastings (driving safely, of course).


Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA - Another beautiful little town, this place is known again for great food, great art, and some relaxation in the redwoods and pines on the coast of Northern CA.

Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, CA - We'll check out one of the biggest and best aquariums in the country, and spend a day enjoying Cannery Row.

And what trip to San Fran would be complete without a glimpse of the Golden Gate?  Or maybe setting foot in China Town, or Alcatraz?


Think this sounds exhausting? Think again!

All in all, the drive from Anahiem to San Fran is only about 8 hrs, so we'll be able to really take our time and spread things out, driving 2-3 hrs/day and still having plenty of time to spend a day or two in San Fran.

Lucky for us, my dad used to travel A LOT, so our hotels are covered for the entire trip on his gift of reward credits!

Want to contribute towards our honeymoon? Check out the link below our picture on the left!  There is also a link in our Disney Wedding registry page!  Since we're traveling, we'd like to request guests use these, or flat gifts - saves on shipping and we'll have a limited amount of space in our suitcases.

I can't wait! I guess we better invest in some shorts this summer....

April and Beyond

It's been a very eventful past month here at the Pacific Northwest Homestead.

First the Good News!

We Got a House!
Soon after our visit with family in Michigan and Florida, we started the house hunting process. We ended up purchasing a 1948 farm house that's been renovated, and has an amazing view of Liberty Bay - one of the inlets off the Puget sound. In fact, on a clear day, you can see snow capped peaks in the distance. We're still in the process of getting set up and it's really been "baptism by fire". Sean's been working hard at the landscaping when he has time and we've both been working at getting the place set up - no easy feat when you're both working full time. A video tour to come when we're all set up, but here are a few promotional photos from the listing for now.

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Other News Our Wedding is FINALLY coming together! We set a new date (August 12th) and a new location has generously offered to work with us to give us a great event. We've moved the whole sh-bang to California. The artwork for the invitations should be done by the end of the week, Sean's leave should be approved tomorrow, and my girls are all over ordering their dresses. I have a local craftsman lined up to make my bridal fan and my old roomie is going to dj for us and a good friend of mine will be our officiant. I might have a photographer lined up, and we're still on the look out for a bakery, videographer, and someone to do hair and make up (though in a pinch I'm sure I can manage those for myself). I might have a gal lined up for floral too but because we're doing it at a fabulously decorated venue already, we won't have to do much as far as center pieces and decor like that. And the Bad News Into every charmed life, a little rain must fall. We've been struggling through a few minor hiccups, but we recently learned my dad has Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. He'll start aggressive chemo in a few weeks to buy us some more time with him. This August will make my parent's 41st wedding anniversary, and we're hoping he'll beat the odds and be around to celebrate 42 with my mom. Pancreatic Cancer is known for being highly aggressive, but my dad's attitude is amazing. He continues to inspire me and we'll keep reaching for the bright side. I'm looking forward to making lots of great memories with my family this summer. Oh - so where is the wedding? Let's end on a good note. My favorite eatery in Downtown Disney - Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen! They are giving us the Parlor room and the balcony for the event. It's within about a block of Disneyland and should make for a fun way to spend the weekend! Sean and I have a little bit of history there. We went there during his California visit a couple years ago for lunch and LOVED it. Hope all of you enjoy it as well.

And another Date Bites the Dust!

Well, we found out last night that the October 18th, 2012 date is out. "And another one bites the dust..."  Sean will be underway again over October of this year, but we should be able to do it shortly afterwards - sometime in the spring of 2013.
  Yes, it'll still be in Disney World! Who knows? By then, maybe we'll be able to afford some special treats for our (very patient) friends and family!
  Much love -
 Jaime and Sean

Honeymoon? CHECK!

So after MUCH debate, we decided on a honeymoon that makes both of us happy.

A 7 day cruise on the Disney Fantasy - a new cruise ship that is taking to the seas March 2012. The cruise will take us to several islands in the Caribbean. The cruise leaves the Sunday after the wedding (October 20th), and we'll be adding some goodies to the registry this week. Since we pretty much have everything that a household would require (and this is a destination wedding - so we don't want to haul gifts everywhere or worry about shipping), we're requesting that anyone who wants to get us a gift - use the honeymoon registry.

Next week's tasks? Finishing the Guest List and getting the Save the Dates out!

Snow Day!

Click here to check out a short video of Sean and Clydas playing "Catch" with a snowball!

"So, what did you finally decide on for Bridesmaids Dresses?"

Having been asked this question several times - I went and bought some of the fabric for the dresses. Yes, they are PRINT. The wedding isn't necessarily a "stuffy" sort of formal event, and every wonderful woman standing up for us has a different body type and comfort level. So instead of picking out one "dress", there are 3 dresses available in this fabric. I suggest going to Alfred Angelo and trying the dresses on in person to get any idea of what length, neckline, ect. works best for you!

Dresses are in the green (clover and creme) color! I grabbed a swath of the black and white for a possible crafting idea.

While we're very excited to have a date, it's challenging to do much on the amount of sleep that's going on over here. See, I work days, and Sean is working nights right now. Which means we get about 2 waking hours together/day - and I'm usually working during one and a half of them. But we'll get over this hump! We make small decision whenever we have time to chat and move forward! Look forward to official "Save The Dates!" coming out next month!

The Pet Took Over This Post

Clydas decided I haven't shared enough of HIS news lately, so he pretty much decided to high jack this post.

In case you didn't know, my dog is a bit on the... unique side. I mean, every animal is unique, but Clydas came with his own very unique personality - as any Boxer owner knows.

One of Clydas' greatest (and most recently discovered) quirks - is that he never needs to be brushed. And he never needs to be brushed, because he has a special relationship with the Dirt Devil (see above video).

Clydas and I also had a new adventure together today. We woke up at 9am this morning to SNOW! There was 1/2 an inch on the ground and it was actually snowing! Now, this may not seem like a bit deal to many of you readers, but it's a big deal to us! Clydas and I have seen snow before. We've visited it when it's been on the ground for days, but today was our first experience enjoying freshly fallen snow. It was a big, big hit with me. Hopefully Clydas will get more into it tomorrow.

BIG BIG NEWS! WE HAVE A DATE!

It's official! We have a wedding date now! Wahoo! That is, unless the Navy throws us a curve ball last minute, but let's focus on what know, aye?

I'm so excited to get to work on Save The Dates, invitations, and all the other pre and post wedding events! We're making it a weekend of fun, so feel free to stay as long, or as short, as you like!

Mark your Calendars for October 18th, 2012 at Shades of Green in Florida! Hen/Stag and rehearsal will be 1-2 days before the wedding.
Ladies, that means you should HAVE your dresses in your hot little hands by the end of September. That means altered, fitted, whatever, so I'd suggest ordering around June just to be sure everything goes smoothly. (You will be getting a care package upon arriving which will include a pashmina.) (Ladies, keep in mind you get a discount when you mention that I'm an Alfred Angelo bride!)

Since Sean has duty tonight, I'll be spending the evening tweaking "save the date" cards, and looking at some order of ceremony goodies and options that are out there.

Just thought I'd share the good news!

Vows, Ceremonies, and More

I haven't updated this blog in so long! It's about time. Actually, it's OVERDUE! I was hoping to post photos of Sean's homecoming, but we're not sure when that is currently, and I've been assured that cameras are certainly not allowed. So there won't be any pictures of coming fresh from the can...er... sub. ;) But I'll be sure to let you all know when he's home safe.

But in other news - we've asked a very dear friend of mine, Jonathon Rossal, to officiate our ceremony. He's been a friend of mine for several years, and life has seen us play important roles in major turning points in each other's lives. It seemed only right that he be involved, and, since I met him through theater, I trust his public speaking skills. Though we're both very busy and don't often chat, he very quickly became like a brother to me. I sang at HIS wedding last year - and did he pick a winner! His wife is a woman who's drive to better the world and make a difference matches his own, and who's beauty inside and out will continue to enhance his life. Seriously, a perfect match, and I can't wait to get to know them better as a couple.

The Newly Wed Rossals, June 2011, Yosemite California

It takes a good friend to be willing to stand up and do this for us, so I want to make sure he's as well prepared as he can be. So here comes the fun part (well, at least for Sean and I), building our ceremony. While Sean is away, I've been doing research on different types of family wedding ceremonies and celebrations of lifetime love and commitment. I'm excited to see what we come up with, as there are so many ideas out there. We're not quite a conventional couple (nothing about a military life is conventional - every day is a new adaptation), so this shouldn't be a conventional ceremony. We've written our vows, so we have some place to start, but we're looking at doing something like a wine box tradition, a hand ceremony, or something else all together that blends it all together.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what we come up with. Which tradition will touch us and be a part of our lives and memories forever? 

That's the fun part!

Happy New Year!