Pictures!

Pictures are now online folks! Just go to: http://www.pictage.com/760758

Feel free to make a folder of your favorites! I have yet to make mine, but I will! We are using one of these for our "Save the Dates" so let me know if you have any suggestions.

Mom and Dad left today; they were up here for a quick getaway. We had a great dinner at Cinzetti's Friday night, a tour of where I work today, and my friend Katie showed us around her beautiful mansion. I'm tired and have to work the next 3 days, but it's worth it to be home for Thanksgiving in a few days.

Enjoy the pics!

Update!

We have been so busy for the month of October that although we've done so much, it feels like we haven't accomplished a thing around the house or for wedding planning.

I'll start with today, since I feel like I'm ready to drop dead with all my baking. Yes, I said baking. I started my day with an early morning (8:30am) Barre Intensity class. It was tiring, yet refreshing. I just love how those workouts make me feel-so extremely sore, but so empowering to know what your body can handle.

After my workout, I made a quick stop at the grocery store then went home. I ate a quick after-workout snack/breakfast, then into the kitchen I went! I made up, like, 4 dozen of Jana's famous Chocolate Chip Crunch cookies. About 2 hours later, I had finished baking/cooling/sampling all of the cookies and thought I should take them to Alex's work, mainly so I couldn't eat them all :) So then I showered and made the 30 minute trek up North, only to find Alex on the run and eating a HiBoy hamburger and some onion rings. Uggh. So basically I got to drop the cookies off, sit in a chair for about 20 minutes watching Alex scarf his lunch and return emails, and came home. Sweeet.

So now I'm home, have a sink full of dishes and not an ounce of energy to do them. Alex will be home late tonight so who really cares if I get them done in a timely manner, or if I even have a dinner tonight. Bahh.

One of our adventures over the last month was having our engagement pictures taken this last weekend by Dan and Brenda Kliewer. We went back to McPherson for this and had them taken out at "The Farm," just ?north? of McPherson. The farm is where Alex's dad, "Bags," grew up. It was old, rustic and the weather was absolutely perfect. There were tons of old cars and farm equipment, too, that we got to pose with. Brenda said she was maybe gonna have them ready for us on Sunday before we left, but no such luck. So she is planning on sending us a jump drive with all the pictures, copyrights and all. I am chomping at the bit to get them in the mail! I'm ready to see them and pick out our save the dates! I'll be sure and post some of them, but I think they will be also available to view online at some point. Keep an eye on Dan and Brenda's website for the pictures!

Ok, I'm exhausted. I think I'm gonna lay down for a bit. I really am gonna *try *to start keeping this thing more up to date! So check back more often!

Website!

Just wanted to let you all know that the wedding website it up and running! It's not finished yet and more will be added as the planning continues, but if you're interested, here it is:
http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/EmilyFast&AlexKoehn

Please sign the guest book if you visit!

More posts to come soon. I know I know, I'm behind. :)

Laugh It Up

So I was at work on Saturday and we were rather *slow.* (I say this with hesitancy because it is NEVER slow at work and we all are extremely superstitious, so we wouldn't want to ruin any good luck coming our way.) Michelle, one of the nurses who used to be full time on our floor but is now considered a "float" nurse, was saying how her ear was hurting. So we pulled out the otoscope to start examining each other's ear canals. It was discovered (and confirmed a previous "diagnosis") that I have a lot of wax buildup in my ears. I blame it on my sinuses, but that's another post. So we started talking about ear candles, and I piped in that I had bought some, but hadn't had a chance to use them yet-something I obviously need to do! And yes, I have used them before. A doctor-in-training just so happened to be standing there listening to our conversation, and looked at me and said "I suppose you use a neti-pot too." I said absolutely! So then our conversation evolved and everyone was poking fun at me for being the "homeopathic, naturopathic girl." It's fine, I'm really getting used to being "that girl" that they all poke fun at about *trying* to be healthy and as all-natural as possible. Hey, we'll just see who's laughing when they're the ones that are sickly and western medicine can't help them! Well actually I probably wouldn't be laughing, I be the one to offer the different alternative :) Then they will thank me for making their lives better, even if my practices were "weird." haha

Anyway, I just thought I share that quick tidbit of work "fun." In other news, we are all fine and dandy. Alex just finished his inventory month at work and is very glad it's over. According to his documentation, he worked just under 100 hours last week. He amazes me with his work habits and the fact that he never complains about it. I don't know how he does it. We are hoping that his boss comes through with the bonus that he's been speaking of for a year now, and it's looking as though he should get a substantial raise, as well. I am so proud of him and am glad that I'm marrying someone with such a strong work ethic!

I have been well, also. I've been continuing my weekly NAET treatments and have seen incredible results. I feel my body is continuing to get stronger and stronger in so many ways. I have also started attending a few new workout classes at a place called Fusion Fitness. The studio itself is literally just down the road from me and the classes are unbelievable. They vary from class to class, but the "Fusion Lite" class that we (as in my friend Maura and I) have mostly frequented is a mix of pilates, yoga, ballet and calisthenics. It is essentially a non-stop one hour class of everything from push-ups to weight lifting to downward-facing-dogs to ballet moves on a bar to sit-ups with a ball. It is one of those classes that you leave wondering if you can make it down the stairs to the parking lot! Check out more info about the classes, etc at http://www.fusionfitnesskc.com I think I may have just found my newfound weekly (soon to be bi-weekly, once I get in better shape, that is) workouts! I'm also thinking that my 24 Hour Fitness membership may just go by the wayside. I don't think I can afford to do both! Any suggestions on what to do if I quit my gym? Any at-home-workout suggestions? Road workouts? DVD's? Tell me what you all do!

And of course wedding planning. Who can forget wedding planning! My best friend and maid of honor, Alyson Reimer, and I went dress shopping a few weeks ago, me fully expecting to browse around and have a day of relaxation. Turns out, I bought the dress of my dreams! It was completely unexpected and scary, but it is now one more thing checked off my list. And, I must say this it.is.gorgeous. The whole engagement and wedding planning is still so surreal to me, the fact that by this time next year, Alex and I will have already been newlyweds for almost 2 months! We also have our engagement pictures tentatively scheduled for October 31st, so we are pondering ideas as to where we may want those taken. Dan and Brenda Kliewer are doing our photography, so I know they will turn out beautiful! I can't wait!

Well, must go. I've got some packing to do for this upcoming weekend since I will be working the next few days. Thanks for visiting and don't forget to leave some comments! Have a great day!

Long Time, No Post!

My life has been an absolute whirlwind these days, hence the drought of posting. In a nutshell, here is what I've been doing:
-got engaged June 28, 2009
-started planning almost immediately; date set for July 10, 2010
-went home with the new fiance for a wonderful 4th of July weekend
-went home, again, for a dentist appointment and wedding planning
-worked on a few mini-projects around the house while Alex vacationed in New Orleans
-just returned home from my own vacation in Phoenix, Arizona
-while completing all of the above projects, I have somehow maintained my full-time position as a nurse at St. Luke's

The month of August is already set to bring in lots of activity. Alex is already headed into MHC's yearly inventory count, and I have a full calendar. I'm hoping that once September gets here we'll be able to kick back a little.

That's all I got for now. Will update more when I have the energy!

We're Gettin' Hitched!

On June 28, 2009 (it was a Sunday,) we had been finishing up putting on the last coat of paint in the spare bedroom. We had ran some errands, ate a dinner of 2-day old leftovers, and headed out for a walk with our two dogs, Jake and Jozie. It was a beautiful evening; no wind and not too hot. I had made a comment how it was a beautiful night, and Alex just smiled and kept on walking. He was being really quiet as we walked, holding hands and trying to keep up with the dogs.

About midway through the walk, Alex had mentioned how walking the dogs together is one of his favorite "mini-dates." Again, we kept right on walking, trying to keep up with the dogs. He had been looking around a lot it seemed like, and in the back my devious little mind, I was thinking "maybe he's looking for a place to propose?" But then the realistic side of my brain kicked in and said, "Nah, get that out of your head!" (Later, I found out that he actually was planning on proposing on our walk, but didn't find a "special" place to do it!)

So we finished up our walk and I headed into the spare bedroom to shut off the lights and close the window as we were getting ready for bed. Alex came in the room and I told him how the walls were looking really good and that it was finally looking like a real room again. He agreed, and came over to give me a hug. At that point he started saying how this was our first project together and how he wanted there to many more. I was completely naive, and replied "yeah, me too." After those words, I really have no idea anything he said. Next thing I knew, he was down on one knee, in the middle of the room with the paint cans and drop cloths, asking me to marry him! After I realized that this was for real and he really wasn't kidding, I finally said "yes!" He put the ring on my finger and I was incessantly crying, hugging and kissing him!! Finally after about 10 minutes of this, I looked down and actually saw this ring on my finger:



Then, I looked at Alex and said, "what do we do now?!" He said "we can call people tomorrow, I'm tired!" I said "absolutely not," and proceded to call/text everyone I knew!

We have set the date for July 10, 2010 at the First United Methodist Church in McPherson, KS. Please stay tuned as more of our wedding plans come together.

About the ring:
We had looked at rings back in March at a couple different "chain" jewelry stores around Kansas City. I found a couple I liked, but Alex said he wanted mine to be one-of-a-kind and have it made. I said whatever. We also decided that we would like to buy from somewhere local, instead of one of the chain stores so that we were getting the best bang for our buck, as well as better quality. So this ring was made by Scott's Diamond Design in Overland Park, KS and is a combination of all the rings that I picked out. It is just gorgeous! And I must say, it looks much better on my hand, but darnit, it is absolutely impossible to take a decent picture of it! So there it is. Lovely, isn't it?

Progress...

After a big fight about primer and one coat of paint later, here we are....

Minus the trim...

And window trim...

One more coat to go, plus trim...plus the closet...and we'll be done. And one wall that will just be trim color. THEN we'll be done. Whew.