Heaven

Today, I feel like I had a small taste of heaven....

Almost every summer of my childhood my family drove 16+ hours in our minivan to spend at least a week around Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My dad is one of 7 and his entire family is up this way. I always LOVE our trips to Wisconsin, which consist of family, brats (sausages... not young, annoying children), Milwaukee custard, Friday fish fries, the lake, and amazing weather (with very little humidity)!

Tonight we gathered together with several of my aunts and uncles for fish fry at a restaurant near my grandparents' home. We just talked, shared stories, laughed, and ate amazing fried fish. Afterward, we drove to Mickey's, a custard place near my grandparents' house, and indulged in amazing, rich frozen custard.... YUM!! (If you are lucky enough to live near a Milwaukee Frozen Custard place in the Herndon/Sterling/Ashburn area, you must go and try for yourself!)

I always love traveling to Wisconsin and when several of our families gather together over a big meal. There is so much joy is such meetings. It is what I picture heaven will be like... sharing food, stories, and laughter with people you love. I can't wait.

Blue Hole

Blue hole did happen and it was fun, amazing, and slightly scary (not in a terrible way)! Anyways, Jonathan has all the pictures... so, I'll update on this in a couple weeks when I finally get moved into the new apartment!

What do you do with an extra 48 hours in Cville?

So, Jonathan and I were supposed to pack up and move from Charlottesville yesterday.... well, we are still here. About a month ago, we placed an order to rent a Uhaul truck to help us move our things, and a car trailer to bring Jon's car (so he could drive back to Cville to work one more week). However, a wonderful friend of ours offered to come with us and help us move, and he could drive Jon's car. Thus, about two weeks ago, Jonathan called Uhaul to cancel the car trailer. BUT we found out Thursday evening that they decided to cancel our entire rental order!! Thanks, Uhaul.

With only 12 hours before our planned move, we were unable to find a truck for Friday. With today being the first of the month, we were also unable to find a truck for today. However, Pensky came through and has a truck for us tomorrow morning, 8am. Praise, God!

With all of this said, Jonathan and have I found ourselves with an extra 48 hours in Charlottesville. After moving & cramming all of Jonathan's stuff into my apartment (thanks for your flexibility, Stacey!), we decided to go out for wings and a movie with my roomate, Stacey, her boyfriend, Jeff, and our friend Chip. It was good fun to eat as many boneless buffalo wings as possible and then just vegge in a movie theater.

After the movie, the night was still young. Jon and I picked up a few sodas from Giant and decided to go for a drive. We hopped on 64 West and just drove. After about 30 minutes of driving on 64, we figured we were half-way to Harrisonburg and in the mood for ice cream... vuala we had a mission! So, we drove to 81 North and into Harrisonburg, grabbed a couple of cones at Dairy Queen, and headed back to Cville. Mission complete.

It was awesome! We had the music turned off and just talked the entire time. We talked about a great variety of things: God & faith, music, childhood memories, and puberty experiences to name a few. This spontaneous trip just reminded me how amazing it is to be in love with my best friend. I cannot wait for all of the spontaneous adventures we will embark on in our life together as husband and wife! =)

So, that was the first 24hrs.... currently, the next will entail sleeping in for Jonathan (who is still fast asleep in my living room) and a trip to Blue Hole, a swimming hole near the Shenandoah National Park. More updates later!

Note To Self:

If you are only renting a place for one year, don't paint a wall a dark color, like chocolate brown. Priming and painting the wall back to white is not fun.

<3 Alison

Gentleman In Training

I have been babysitting 4-year-old twins this summer, a boy and a girl, and the little boy has started the cutest routine with me the past couple of weeks. A least a couple times a week he insists on walking me out to my car, borrowing my key to unlock the door, returning my key, and after I sit in the car he closes the door for me. It is too adorable!

Despite the ups and downs I have had with these children this summer, he makes my heart melt every time!

Laura's Wedding!!

My good friend Laura married her high school sweetheart, Drew, this past Saturday! I have known Laura for as long as I can remember and I got to know Drew in high school and during college. I was also very fortunate to be in Italy the same time as Laura and Drew & when Drew proposed two years ago.

Laura & I in Sienna several days after their engagement (I believe that I originally stole this picture from Laura =] )

Laura and Drew had the most AMAZING wedding! The weather was perfect, Laura was absolutely gorgeous, and the ceremony and reception were beautiful. Not to mention their DJ was great and we were dancing the whole night. It was awesome!

Katie & I during cocktail-hour.

Laura & Drew's first dance!

Father-Daughter dance... and you can see how beautiful Laura looked!

During the last dance, everyone gathered around Laura & Drew and started blowing bubbles. It was too perfect!

Congratulations, Laura and Drew!

100 Days!!!

Today is a very exciting day!! Today marks 100 days on our wedding countdown! Jonathan and I are beyond excited that our wedding day is drawing nearer. God has been so good to us in the past few weeks with jobs, apartments, and other life details. It has been so amazing to see the daily details of our future married life start to fall in place.

We are so excited to start counting down the double digits! =) Yay!

Playing on the beach in Trinidad a couple days before our engagement.

Engaged!!! January 7, 2009.

My graduation, May 17, 2009.

Bridal shower at the Hansen's house, June 14, 2009.

Goofing off with our new pot holders. 0=)

Crystal Houses, where we will start our married life together!