Gosh, it has been FOREVER since we wrote!
Sorry folks, life has been crazy.
Since then, let's see...

• we booked the Harbour Club (which you already knew if you linked from our website)
• Caleb's mom apparently booked the super secret rehearsal dinner
• we chose colors: orange and navy
• Meredith has been dress shopping several times, think she's found the [other] one
• we chose a bunch of bridesmaids dresses for the girls to pick from
• we chose flowergirl dresses Meredith's mom is supposedly willing to make
• Caleb has maybe narrowed down what the groomsmen are going to wear
• we have decided on a photographer we like (we just have to meet with them to make sure they come in under budget)
• we booked the pastor
  

and... I think that's it.

It's been an exciting time!
If you haven't seen it yet, we have posted some new cool stuff on the website, like our weddingmapper.com customized map, the option to suggest a song, and more. Check it out and make sure to bookmark it so we don't spend so much time on keeping a website updated for nothing!

Hmmm...

Caleb and I had a great weekend! We haven't been up the mountain in quite a while, and it is always both refreshing and somewhat of a whirlwind to head up the mountain - but ALWAYS a good time!
This particular weekend was the only weekend all month that I wasn't scheduled to work (though that may change) and conveniently coincided with Memaw's Surprise 80th Birthday Party at the church! The whole thing went off without a hitch and Memaw was thoroughly surprised (or so she says) even though two of her daughters called her in the same week for her party punch recipe.
Knowing we were headed up the mountain this wknd I urged Caleb to get in touch with his dad and paternal grandmother, since I hadn't seen them since just after Christmas and we weren't ure whether they had yet heard the big news. So we met them for lunch and the four of us had a good time chatting and catching up - not nearly as awkward as Caleb had anticipated.
Overall a good weekend.

Last week came some big news though: Caleb wrote my parents a FABULOUS email. I mean, he knew it was a good email, but had no idea it was THIS good! The next day my parents called me and let us know that the budget figure they could offer was, in fact, more than Caleb and I had asked for or anticipated! CHARLESTON, HERE WE COME!

So we are hoping that this coming weekend I will not have to work in order to go spend some time (more substantial amount of time) looking around Charleston, and perhaps meet my mom there, with or without small children. So much fun!

Fourth of July in Charleston

With wedding planning at a CRAZY point right now, Caleb and I spontaneously decided to go to Charleston for the fourth, provided I (and my coworkers) met our leasing goals and I had off from work.
We hit the road at 7am, and arrived in Charleston at Patriot's Point Naval and Maritime Museum aboard the USS Yorktown at nearly 11am. It was HOT! We were rushed onboard to meet with the woman in charge of event rentals, because we were tossing around the idea of a reception on board. We liked the fantail and loved the hangar, but like I said, it was HOT. Finding that the only air-conditioned room smelled like a hospital's cafeteria, we continued our search for the perfect venue. A cool place to visit, a neat museum, awesome place for their weekly boyscout camping trips, and a great place to see genuine military aircraft up close, but no longer a frontrunner in our race for the perfect venue.
We then went to the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon to sneak a peek at their Great Hall. It's pretty! This building is STEEPED in history: The British built it before the Revolutionary War. SC seceded from the Union here, and then later ratified the Constitution in the same room. George Washington threw a party in the Great Hall. We liked the Exchange a lot, although to get to the Great Hall you have to walk through a couple museum-esque informational displays, and I was not a huge fan of that. Still in the race though!
After lunch we had some time to pass until our 3:00 meeting at First Baptist Charleston, which we used to wander the area and scour for potential reception venues within walking distance. The gorgeous church was in the process of being set-up for a wedding the following day, and as we stood in the balcony we could almost see our bridal party up at the front, with Chloe and Eliese sitting on the left side of the steps, giggling and fussing with their dresses, with Jack and Dustin on the right side, itching in their formalwear. We could imagine the organ playing as I walk up the aisle. We could envision us walking back down the aisle, holding hands and glowing, having been pronounced "husband and wife". But we asked ourselves: is this church, where we will spend roughly 2.5 hours and our guests will spend under and hour, worth the incredible expense? We haven't yet decided...
After touring FBCharleston we headed over to the market, only to find most shops closing up early. Having picked up a map we found a restaurant on the bay and headed over there, only to find that it was their Grand Opening and they didn't have a table left! So we headed back into town and ate at the Southern Brewery, which was pretty good and had a fun atmosphere.
Anticipating fireworks, we went down to the Battery and walked around a little bit there, but then we heard the guy at the Yacht Club directing somebody else to the Waterfront Park. Taking the advice of a local, we found a great spot at the end of the dock in Waterfront Park, and settled in to listen to babies and dogs getting tired, families having fun, and the sound of boats' wakes lapping against the dock. We were able to see five or more different fireworks shows going on across the bay in Mount Pleasant while we waited for the fireworks show at Patriot's Point.
It was a fun day, and we learned a lot (one lesson learned: Charleston is not a daytrip).

This is all new to me...

The whole idea of blogging is something I have tried to stay away from... until now. People can find out WAY too much information about anybody on the internet. Just think: you update your status on Facebook and all of a sudden everybody can see what you're doing. Our engagement is so new to me, I expect it to be new to everyone else. On the contrary, my excitement to make a picture of the ring my profile pic on facebook ensured that everyone I have ever met and friended on facebook knows we are engaged.

So this whole blogging thing is new to me. And maybe this is where Caleb and I will post wedding updates as things are finalized. But maybe not.

Today is Monday, and I am procrastinating on my homework due tomorrow, but it's not yet 10 am. So I'm good for now.

And Wednesday I fly up to Jersey for a couple reasons: mainly because Emily is graduating high school, but also to talk to my parents face to face about that dreaded b-word: ...BUDGET.

As always, Caleb and I just ask that you keep us in your prayers. Right now things are good, but it is going to be a rough and exciting year ahead as I begin student teaching, Caleb finds out more from the police departments with which he has applied, we both find careers (as opposed to just jobs), and possibly move. Oh, AND plan a wedding.