Birthday!

It was my birthday yesterday, and since that's the most exciting thing that has happened in a while, I figured I'd write. Goodness. Has it really been since my engagement that I last wrote? Wow!

I'm really 27 now! That seems way too close to 30, which I never thought would come. It's been good though. Every year I like to think back at what I've done and learned over the year, and this past year has been wonderful.

Well, I am in school again...and I am so glad that this semester is almost over. They told us that this is the semester when they loose the most students from the program. I'm hoping that our class won't be loosing anyone. I really enjoy the people that I'm with every day. So, needless to say, I am happy with some of the C's I am getting. As long as I pass, I will feel blessed. I think I just have one more big test in each of my classes and then finals. So, I'm doing pretty well so far.

Vinnie was just able to come up for my birthday. I love seeing him. I wish I could every day. Although, it is kind of nice not having him as a distraction while I'm trying to study. We're able to see each other every 2 or 3 weeks. I'll be going down the Friday before Thanksgiving for a few days and then again the beginning of December for a formal dinner for his reserve unit.

Speaking of his reserve unit/army stuff, Vinnie got his new go-date for basic. He'll be shipping out of Jan 12, so he should be done the end of March. Then he'll be gone again in July for OCS, and then I'll have a little officer guy to marry. It'll be good though, I can go live in the place he bought while he's off at OCS. We're thinking our wedding will be either Sept 25 or Oct 9, but we'll see. Still not sure. I've decided to put off wedding planning till after I graduate so I can concentrate on school (I tried to do both and was getting pretty stressed out).

(this is a picture from today. I don't know why, but Vinnie thinks it's so funny to squish my lips together)

So, next up is finishing the semester and then having a wonderful month long break before I get into my last semester. I'm so excited to be so close. I can't wait to have a real job making grown-up money! I really wish that I had started this program much earlier. I feel like I could write a book on how to not plan your education. I'm glad I finally figured it out though!

Engaged!

So, Vinnie and I went to the OR coast for my family reunion (my parents/siblings). Obviously things went well....we got engaged on Saturday! We went down to Beverly Beach with the entire family. This first picture is out looking at tide pools. In the background you can see seals. It was a chilly day with a lot of wind, but the coast is great no matter what!

So, anyways....story...after looking at the tide pools, we walked over to the other side of the beach that was all sandy. The kids were all digging in the sand and playing in the very cold ocean and a shallow pool area. Lindsey (a niece) wanted to be buried in the sand, so we told her to start digging a hole to lay in and we'd cover her up. Vinnie wanted to go on a walk while we were waiting for Lindsey. So we started to walk along and found a bunch of drift wood....drift logs...and sat down. We were chatting for a bit and Vinnie came in front of me, on a knee, and told me how much he loves me and how important I am to him and asked me to marry him. Naturally I said yes....I'm already mid-planning, but it was such a great day and I'm so happy that we're engaged. Ah, I love this man!

These are pictures of the spot we sat down and Vinnie proposed...

This is my ring....very sparkly....

So, this is a picture that Michelle took. She, mom and Tami (I think) were standing there watching. Come to find out later that they were all waiting to see if we did get engaged. I'm not one for big group announcements, so when Lindsey came up to tell us that her hole was dug I figured I'd tell her and let her spill the beans. So I asked her if she wanted to hear a secret, she said, "eh" and ran away...

So, I ended up just hiding the ring waiting for an opportunity to just tell a few people at a time. A couple minutes after we showed up, we got sent to look for my dad and Stan (bro-in-law). We caught up to them, and we told them. Got back to the group and Michelle came over and asked how our walk was...."very nice" and showed her....Lindsey shows up, and says my ring looks like a crown...then dad brings mom over, hugs all around....

I was a little suspicious about Vinnie asking me before we went on the trip. His mom accidentally spilled the beans and said he was planning on asking me over the reunion, so he said he wasn't now, that he'd make a new plan, but I didn't all the way believe him. When we were stopped at Michelle's house on the way there I was gonna get something from his bag and he freaked out a little. Then on the day he proposed, I was reaching in his pocket while asking if he brought his camera and he freaked out a little then too...I was hoping it was coming, but I tried to be cool just in case it didn't happen, I didn't want to be disappointed. But, it did happen and I am very very happy and very much in love =)

Stupid Cat...

So, funny story...ish...

I'm on my way to OR for my family reunion, right? And we (Vinnie and I) stay the night at my sister, Michelle's. They have a cat, Pepper, who is seriously bi-polar. Now, Pepper is a pretty decent cat most of the time. She stays out of the way and sometimes can be very sweet. Her thing is she'll rub her head on your face and purr. I wouldn't mind so much, but her fur gets into my nose and mouth and it really irritates me. So, I was up in bed and she comes up and starts doing this...

So, I go to attempt to wipe fur from my face with a blanket and Pepper freaks out...she hisses and puts her ears back and meows all low. I freak out that she'll claw my face, so I throw her off the bed and make her leave the room.

(this just goes to show the nature of the cat...nice, then freaky mean)

On the way back from OR we stop again at Michelle's. Vinnie and I get there before the rest of the family. We walk in and I hear Pepper meowing from under the couch, it seriously sounded like she was stuck...not a happy meow... So, I go over and lift up that part of the couch and she runs out to the back door. So....Pepper wants out, eh? I open the door and she's not going out...I decide to wait a few more seconds before closing the door, and what does she do? The stupid cat turns on me, hissing and clawing and she attacks my foot....like REALLY attacks it...she clawed and bit me...hard....

Vinnie thought it was pretty funny while he was taking the pictures and laughed at me for having bandaids on...but still a couple days later...my foot is all pink and there's a little swelling and it aches...talk about a freaky cat! It is kinda funny though...

Ah....everything done

Finals ~ check

Pass classes ~ check

Clean apartment ~ check

Do laundry ~ check

Pack apartment ~ check

Make wedding DVD ~ check

Spell check "happily" ~ check

Massage/facial ~ check check check

....now just a little wedding day for Rachel and then move to Utah =D....almost check

It's just that....

Well, I am supposed to be working on a case study so I can present tomorrow morning, but Vinnie started talking about how he's doing this blog thing...and not to be out-done by my love, I had to do one too.

So, I got on here and then had to come up with some litte cutesy name for my blog, and oh you're gonna love this: almostadilsmack. Not that many will get this...pretty much just Vinnie, but it's because Vinnie has pretty much all of his names on games/the internet as dilsmack....and since we're thinking the whole marriage thing...almostadilsmack. At least he thought it was funny when I told him.

This past week I've  been trying to pack up my things. I'm living in an apartment right now and will be moving down to UT for the summer to be with Vinnie and then to Michelle's for my last year at college. It's amazing to see how much stuff I really do have. Oy! I hate moving. But, I am so so so excited to be down in UT with Vinnie. It's been over 6 months since I've seen him for a longer amout of time than a week and it will be so nice to see him on a constant basis. Now, that just brings a smile to my face.

We do have a good summer planned. Vinnie is looking for a house to buy right now, so I'm excited to do a little house hunting. We're planning on going to the OR coast for my family reunion (my parents and down). Which should be pretty fun. It's been awhile since I've been to the coast. We're getting some Lagoon season passes, so as long as we can have realitively the same work schedules, we should be good to go for the summer.

And then 2 semesters of school....and then a very lovely wedding....although, we're not really engaged...=/