5 Years Out

A couple of weeks ago, I had an absolute blast reminiscing during my five year college reunion.  FIVE. YEARS.

I seriously can remember graduation day like it was yesterday.... so I can't even begin to believe that it's been five years.

I'm not sure how you celebrate your college reunions... but at my alma mater, we celebrate by acting like freshman (or seniors?) again, moving into the dorms, and spend the whole weekend drinking, chatting, and eating.

It. was. wonderful.

We got to wander around campus, meet women who were attending their twentieth, thirtieth, and even a woman who was at her EIGHTY year college reunion.  WHAT.  (Yes, that would make her approximately 102 years old.)

Even 10 years after I first set foot on campus as a prospective student... I was blown away at how beautiful campus is.

We got to go up in that bell tower pictured (above)... and took the pic below.  You could see for miles all around!

I didn't take too many pictures because I was so busy laughing and chatting and drinking wine.  :)

We had time in the weekend to sneak in a bridal shower for the bride-to-be among us - she had NO idea it was happening, so that was a fun surprise!

I'm glad I got one pic of the former senior year roommates... I can still vividly remember laying on the floor late at night, pretending to do homework.

And I'm so glad we snapped a group shot after church on Sunday morning.  The time goes way, wayy too fast.

How has it been 5 years?

While I can't believe it's been FIVE years since I set foot on campus as a student... I have since met and married the love of my life... and lived SO much since then.

But when we're all together and laughing and hanging in an ancient dorm room - I think I would go back in a heartbeat. 

SMC Forever.

Catchup: The Godmother

A few weeks before my wedding, I attended the baptism of my goddaughter, Julia.  And I'm just now getting around to seeing the pictures I took that day.  Is that pathetic?  I believe so.

Anyway, I found a couple of pics I loved, so I had to share them here.  Don't want to forget such an awesome day!!

 This is as close to a cute pic of me and the special girl of the day... I was having a rough hair day. 

 

Luckily, I was having a much better hair day a month later.

 

A Bright Light

Every once and a while, I realize that I never paint a full picture of my life on the blog.  It's just too difficult, and each day has so many highs and lows - nobody wants to read allllll about that. 

But I did leave out one major, happiness-inducing thing that's happening in my life this Sunday.  I'm almost so excited about it I can barely type! 

This Sunday, my goddaughter will be baptized.

That's right - I'm going to be a godmother!  I couldn't be any more shocked or surprised than you are.

I got a phone call at work a couple of weeks ago - which freaked me out, I only usually get phone calls in life-or-death emergencies, so I excused myself to take the call.  It had been a weird day already, and I was bracing for the worst.

My friend, sensing my panic, told me that everything was great but she needed to ask me something.  She stared to talk and I promptly burst into tears and got SO excited.  Apparently so excited that she needed me to clarify whether or not I would actually be sweet Julia's godmother. 

And so, this Sunday, I will witness my sweet goddaughter be baptized into the Catholic Church. 

I can tell that she and I were meant to be godmother and goddaughter... I mean, hello, look at our style choices!

I commented on facebook that I wanted a big-girl size of her outfit... but lo and behold, I already had one.

I basically don't know anything about this godmothering business, and I honestly didn't think I would ever be anyone's godmother. 

She already has a crucifix to hang on her bedroom wall, so I'm thinking of getting her a special cross necklace - the school symbol of Saint Mary's - a French Cross. 

Unfortunately, I probably can't get one in time - so I may just pick up some children's bible stories books to gift her in the meantime.

Anything else I need to know about being a godmother?

I'm seriously just thrilled to pieces. 

Perfect Wedding Weekend

Oh my, I feel like I have so many things to catch up on! 

This past weekend, Mr. RH and I traveled north to South Bend for (another!) amazing wedding weekend.  The last time we had a wedding weekend there was almost two years ago - and we were newly dating and (I was!) nervous.  He met my friends for the first time, and I think things went pretty well.

Two years later, and we are 88 days away from our own wedding day.  Yikes!

I took over 800 mostly-blurry pictures, and wish I had had time to take about 800 more.  Why do the most-anticipated weekends go SO DANG FAST?

Ok, I could go on for pages, but nobody has time for that.  A few snaps from the weekend...

 

The Gorgeous Chapel

The Bride Coming Down the Aisle

I hope I look that happy on my wedding day!

The Happy Couple

Finally Married!!

Of course, I couldn't resist a little photo shoot at the most gorgeous place on my former campus... and I'm so glad I didn't.  Some of my most favorite new pics, EVER!

 Love love love love.

I'm a lucky girl! 

We then mosey-ed on over to the reception, where I was once again blown away by how gorgeous everything was, and by how stunning and perfect the bride looked.

 

I can't even get over her veil or her dress.  The pressure's on!

Traditional Saint Mary's Picture

In my belly!

All in all, it was a STUNNING wedding weekend, and I wish it could have lasted twice as long as it did.  I was sad before we even left the reception that it was already over!

That being said... I am definitely feeling the heat of having my wedding follow such a gorgeous ceremony and reception so closely.  

Every wedding is different, and it's not a competition... but dang, it's a lot to live up to!

88 Days!  No pressure!

I Hate The Club

I really don't want to "go here" with my post this morning, but I can't.  I can't not go.

It was almost 7 pm, I was sitting at the desk at work, when the news popped up on my phone. 

One of my college friends had just lost her father.  Her father, one of the most outgoing, funny, kind, and warmhearted people I can ever remember meeting.

I was, at the moment I got the text, having a conversation with my coworker, loudly and through a doorway.  I don't remember stopping talking - but I must have, and I can only remember seeing stars and feeling like I was going to faint.

Immediately, all the old thoughts came rushing back from November 2007, when my mom died.  I know that, generally, nothing really felt "real" for about a month after that. 

Completely irrationally, I felt like my friends all turned their eyes, from hundreds of miles away, on me.  I suddenly feel like the expert member of the Dead Parents Club, which is totally irrational.  Nor has anyone asked me anything.  It just feels that way.

I know that we can't live forever.  And that people in my friends' lives probably pass away every day and I'm not even aware of it. 

Damnit, it sucks.  I kept tossing and turning all night and trying to hold back the ugly cry, because the ugly cry makes my nose stuffy and I really needed the sleep. 

I remember, back when my mom died, many of my college friends showed up to the funeral.  A couple of my professors did as well, which was a big deal since I lived about 2 hours away from campus.

I was really shocked. 

The funeral will probably be held in a town about 9 hours away by car.  And a huge part of me wants to get my butt in the car and drive.  Because she's in the club.  And it sucks.

I really wish I had opened my eyes this morning and still been the only member of the club.

Windy City Weekend

I am back from a bachelorette weekend in the Windy City... and it feels like my brain got swept up with all the rain and gloom in the big city this weekend.

It was a fun and interesting weekend, and I am so exhausted this morning that Mr. RH was up and out the door across town before I even opened my eyes.  Role reversal!

Though the bachelorette party was for my college friends, I actually brought my high school friends along for the ride.  We had an appointment to try on bridesmaids dresses, and we actually all crashed the bachelorette party together.  It was a great weekend.

The bachelorette party involved driving a party bus all around Chicago and generally wreaking havoc on some well-loved tourist spots.

Also, the photos from this weekend are proof that I really should NOT have skipped the spray tan before I left for Chicago, no matter how tired and lazy I was feeling.

The Future Mrs. and I

Homegirl Bridesmaids rocking out on the Party Trolley

Standard Bachelorette Party Fare

Me and Some of my Bridesmaids at "The Bean"

My Girls at Wrigley Field

Just Hugging it Out and Laugh/Crying in a Bar.  NBD.

Other notable things we did this weekend included a fun dinner at Untitled, a prohibition-themed restaurant in Chicago.  The wall of booze and the fun little library ladder used to retrieve them were my favorite parts.

I guilt-tripped my ladies into a breakfast at Yolk.  Had to wait a bit for food but I can't get enough red velvet french toast, although I wish I could get it as a side instead of a main course to avoid the resulting sugar crash.

Found a wall of socks at Nordstrom Rack that had Mr. RH written all over them but I resisted temptation and didn't buy them all. 

And found a nice knockoff-ring for next time my engagement ring needs to go to the shop.  Everybody needs a backup, right?  I left this one at the store, but I'm feeling like that was a poor decision.

Also worth noting - I had my nails painted for the first time since August when we got engaged.  I did them myself cause I feel bad splurging on a manicure... and man I love having my nails painted.  LOVE!

So that's what was happening up in the Windy City this weekend.  I may need a few days to recover from the excitement and the loss of an hour to daylight savings time.

Happy Monday!!

Oh Yeah. Pennsylvania.

Lo so many weeks ago (you know, 2 weeks), I drove my butt to Pennsylvania with some friends to meet the newest edition to our college family.  There are many babies on the way right now, but Ruth was the first - and I was beyond excited to meet her.  I woke up at 4 am on the day we drove out and I was practically shaking with excitement.

We had been warned in advanced that Ruth was a fusser.  And while she may have screamed a scream or two, especially while we were torturing her with amateur outfit changes and diaper wiping... she was such a good baby.

So sweet and really alert, Ruth was fascinated by all her aunts getting all up in her face all. the. dang. time.

Unfortunately, I really didn't take advantage of awesome photo conditions on our first morning together, so I only had a tiny photo shoot with sweet Ruth... luckily, I'm trying to schedule another one sometime in April.

Plus, there will be a couple more babies in the college family by June!

And now, for your ovarian pleasure, meet Ruth.

Why the torture, ladies?  Hey, I kinda like this lamb, she's soft.

I love that little tongue in her mouth... like she's up to no good.  I'm sure she'll be there soon enough.

 I love hats.  Not.

She was soo sweet and perfect at 7 weeks old.  I can't believe she'll be 4 months when I see her in April. 

WEEP.

Left My Heart in Pennsylvania

As I mentioned last week, I traveled many hours to Pennsylvania this weekend to visit the sweet baby of my college roommate (the first of three incoming deliveries among my group of friends).

You guys. 

She is so, so perfect.  I think I have much, MUCH more to say on the subject... but I will leave it at this today: babies are literally the best thing in the whole world.

Especially when they are my friends' babies so I can maintain my sweet, swinging single lifestyle.  :)

Happy Monday, don't work too hard!

Rolling the Vehicular Dice

So, I have a new problem in my life.  You see, there are 221 days until my wedding and I would say that I am the opposite of "in shape."  Therefore, I have pulled out my old friend Jillian Michaels and her 30 Day Shred... I hate it.

So, while I've been doing well with the working out - it SERIOUSLY compromises my motivation to blog.  Which sucks, because even though my blog has become useless wedding trivia.... I've been really into it lately!

So, please forgive me as I try to get back into the groove.  It's hard!

--------------------------------------

So, on Friday, I'm jetting off to Pennsylvania.  I get to go meet sweet baby Ruth, baby girl of my college roommate. 

I'm so excited I can't even tell you.

However.

My car, Miss Daisy, is 6 years old this year.  We had a pesky little issue with a nail in her tire, once upon a time, but otherwise, she's the most perfect, healthy 6 year old baby Jetta I've ever had.  (And also the only one).

I just rolled over 60k miles, and I kept feeling like I should send Daisy for a checkup.  I called the dealership and they told me that a standard checkup - not including any repairs that might need to happen - was $400. 

And then I passed out cold.

Apparently the joys of vehicle ownership have not yet fully sunk into my head yet.

My dad has decided it would be smartest to rent a car to drive from Indy to Pennsylvania, thus resulting in a much smaller chance of him having to drive to Ohio and pick up a few former college roomies.

I have decided that costs too much money and we should just take our chances of Daisy becoming a traitor midway through the Ohio tollroad.

Anybody ever been on a road trip and had car problems?  It's my nightmare.

Anybody want to pack my bags?  I'm sure I only need like 18 outfits for a three-day weekend.

Happy Tuesday.

College Babies

So, my college friends have apparently established themselves into real life.  Myself... well, I don't know what the heck I'm doing.  However, some of my friends must because I have three sets of pregnant college friends.

Scratch that, make it two sets.

On Wednesday, December 26th, after a MONTH of waiting to find out of my friends were welcoming a baby boy or girl into the world (longest month EVER)...

Ruth Margaret entered the world at a perfect 7 pounds, 1 ounce.

I'm devastated that it will probably be at least a couple of months before I can make it out to Pennsylvania to see her... but I'm thrilled she's here and I can't wait to meet her.

I must say... how is it possible that I have friends that have babies and it's not even 16-and-pregnant style?!  Are we seriously that old?

Apparently so.

Welcome to the world, baby Ruth!!