Summer 2009

Now that Fall is just around the corner...I thought I'd post some highlights of the summer. My plethora of pictures on my computer are all over the place. So, I'm sure I'm missing some summer moments, but that's ok. We had a great summer!!! Even though, we didn't get what we had planned done, to the house - we'll get there this winter, when we can't go outside and play.

California Trip: In La Jolla with Neil, and of course, eating at In 'n Out

Vegas w/Brooke, Kobe & Isaiah for Eva & Tony's Reception. And finally meeting Baby Elsie

Erie Seawolves game with Adam. Cleveland Indians w/the boys

Spending time w/our baby doggie, Cali

No Doubt! Erin & I had the best day in Pittsburgh

At the Peninsula, flying a kite. Anniversary day, canoeing

Dog-sitting Sullivan & Peanut Butter Cup. Fantasy Football draft, playing Vanna

Lots of time spent w/Laura & Miss Evelyn

What's crazy is, all the time I have spent with my friend Autumn, I don't have any pictures of us together. Strange. I'll have to take care of that. We also spend a lot of time with the guys... but usually just sitting around. That's boring. Who wants pictures of that? :)
Over the weekend, Neil had to go up on top of the roof to do some patch work...or something. So, I joined him and brought my camera. There was a chill in the air, and I got extremely excited for Fall. The leaves are starting to change, and I just cannot wait. Soon, my braces will be off...well, I'm thinking like 3-5 months...but I'm sure I'll still take pictures like this:

Jon Beckman is back! + The Sounds

= one hell of a great weekend!

My weekends start on Thursdays, after work. So...Thursday, after work Neil, Sean and I headed to Corry to hang out with Laura for the night. It was the week of the Spartansburg Fair, so we thought we'd go & check it out. Laura is from this quaint little town, and has gone to this fair every year - since she was real young. I can see why. We parked the car at her parents house, walked 2 blocks & we were there. Who wouldn't go every night, every year when you live that close? We definitely didn't think we'd see anyone we knew - but guess what? We were wrong. Our friends Joy & Richard were there. It was so nice seeing them!!!! What was also great about this night was Laura informed us that Jon could possibly be home in just 2 or 3 days. So awesome!
After Neil filled his belly w/Fair food, and Laura got her Maple milkshake - we made our way home. It was a great night.

Adding to the weekend was the purchase of tickets for a concert in November. The Sounds! I was introduced to this band, easily less then a year ago...and I love them! It was a surprise to me, just hours before the No Doubt concert, that they were opening - and Erin & I just about jumped out of our skin hearing the news. I have been on their trail ever since just hoping they'd make there way back. And they are! Myself, along with Neil, Sean, and Sean's friend Nicole, will be driving to Cleveland on Nov. 2nd to see them. We are all so excited! The bonus is Neil is going. It's a Monday, and we all know Neil does not like to do stuff on School Nights. But with his new promise to be a better best friend to me - he agreed :) And I couldn't be happier. I just adore my husband, and I love, love, love having him by my side during events like this. It does help when he loves the band just as much as me...

9-11-01

I have probably blogged about where I was on September 11th, 2001 already - but for some reason...this year I literally have spent all day thinking about it. Not sure why.

I was 21, living in Ruidoso, New Mexico with the Carey family. I was woken up by my roomate Carrie and the youth pastors daughter - can't remember her name right now. It was my day off and I had plans to sleep in...but I'm a light sleeper & I heard whispering in the hallway, then my door opens. Carrie informs me that an airplane crashed in NY into one of the towers. I'm thinking: That's just nuts, how could someone miss that tall building? She tells me that the youth pastor (can't remember his name either!) and his wife are upstairs watching the news in the kitchen.... How strange. This news is really causing people to get together before 8 in the morning? I make my way upstairs so I can be apart of the commotion. I can still remember the smell of this house - new, dust, construction like smells...the house was in it's final stages of being built. I sit myself at the bar in one of their tall chairs and get myself caught up w/what's going on. I don't think I blinked for 10 straight minutes. Look at that plane - INSIDE the building - it was the craziest thing I've ever seen. Within 15 minutes or so of me sitting there, the 2nd plane crashes into the 2nd tower...this was no accident. Is this really happening? My mouth is dry & I can't swallow.
All day today I've been thinking about: "What did I do next?" I can't remember. I can't remember leaving the kitchen. I can't remember any conversations I had about it. Nothing. I am blank. What I slightly remember is - going to work the following Thursday, and talking to my co-workers about the events that took place 2 days prior. We had the radio on overhead, instead of music...for our benefit, as well as the customers... But I can't remember anything else.

14, 13, 12, 11,

10.
As of right now, I am officially a size 10. At the beginning of this year, I was a 14. Ridic. u. lous. And I'm preeeetty sure if I ate more healthy, I'd be at my goal weight by now. But I love food too much. I love it so much, that I put myself through pain. I hit the gym 4-5 times a week, and will literally kill myself... especially if I know good food is just around the corner. It doesn't make sense, I'm aware. But. Let's face it. Food is just too good. I have cut back on the snacking, controlled my portions, and don't drink soda but every couple of months or so... I'm doing better. :)

I was reading back on old posts, and man - did I have goals that I did not achieve. I was depressed over that for like 2 days. So, I'm over the goals. I'm just going to aim to be healthier. Maybe I'm meant to have curves. Whatever. I refuse to let myself get caught up in all the vanity that I'm capable of getting wrapped up in. I've been there. I'm from CA. Girls in CA, it's all they think about. That's why they're all bitchy - they don't eat. In Erie, it's not so bad... but, at the gym, I work out next to these snobby skinny girls who just look down on those that are over weight...it has been making me sick. Was I like that when I was strutting around in my size 3 jeans? Probably. I'm just 3 sizes away from fitting into my size 7s that have been hanging out in my closet. It may take me another year, but I don't care. I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing. I'm more happier this way.

Hi September, you're early

I love this month. September is the month that leads you right into the holiday season... the Hartmans have a gazillion birthday wishes to send off - which starts the holiday festivities. Am I ready? No. Disappointed in me? Yes. At the start of the summer, Neil and I vowed to be ahead of September. Let's purchase birthday cards early, let's get presents all ready to go... Then when Sept is done, we'll prep for Christmas. Welp. None of this happened. September is here, and well... not prepared. But moving forward...I am excited for the Fall season. The California girl in me is just itching to experience Fall to it's fullest again... I'm excited to pull out my Fall decor, and even more excited to purchase more! Yankee Candle is just calling my name, crying out for me to buy some sort of Pumpkin-Spice-Autumn-Candy-Corn smelly goodness. (I can smell it all now.) My 1st real "decorting" holiday in my own home. Feels good. (I know, I know...What about Valentines, St. Pattys, or 4th of July... I just didn't think about it, ok!?)

*Side Note* Summer was so humid, rainy, and miserable - I'm just ready for it to go away!

I also told Neil I'm going to master new dinner and dessert recipes. I'm pulling out every cookbook I have, along w/the plethora of cookbooks my mother-in-law has..and just start experimenting. I truly feel God blessed us with this home, to share with friends and family... and I want to start new traditions with them. When Neil and I dreamed about owning a home, we always invisioned friends sharing it with us...
Mmm. Hopefully I won't scare them away with my cooking....

Living Room Upgrade

As of right now, I have a bunch of framed photos hanging in my living room...on one wall. I have been on the hunt for a new inspiration to liven up the 4 walls in there, taking down what I've already nailed up. I'm so indecisive, it annoys the you-know-what out of me... Until I found this poster on allposters.com:
How awesome, right? I have decided I am going to use this as my muse. Which may lead to replacing my hand made curtains, but we'll talk about that later.

...I think it's back

...my mo-jo
I have been in a rut. But this past week, I think I'm starting to come around again....yay.

It all started when I went to Corry last week, and just had the best girl time with my friend Laura. I needed it. I was always accustomed to having Brooke by my side 35 hours a week, and then some, because we hung out outside of work as well. Which means, I had girl time 35+ hours a week. I light bulb went off about a week and a 1/2 ago that I haven't been able to just gab it up with someone. This is all sounding so silly, but I don't care. It's the truth. I need girl talk. And I don't mean gossiping. Just straight giggling, stress relieving, what-have-you-been-up-to GIRL chats. I left Corry that night feeling back to normal. Plus, that baby of hers - precious! Evelyn has her mom's good looks, and her dads bubbling personality - in my opinion. Laura seems to think she looks like Jon, but I beg to differ. She definitely has her mom's curly hair. Her constant question of "was-sat!" just melts my heart.

Let's speed this post up, FYI:
Friday date day with Neil - Breakfast, District 9 (soo good), grocery shopping

Saturday, JW practice, which lead into a Hartman grill out with the boys. (Also, story time with Sean. Instead of reading the suggested literature from him, he is now going to give me a 15 minute run down of these books. So much quicker, and he tells it so well.)

Sunday, Neil's NFL Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft. 6 hours. 12 guys. 12 Dynasty Teams. (Remember my job last year? I did it again, but triple the madness. oh and back pain.) Neil didn't make any "panic picks", but he still has one more draft to go...

Autumn and company hang out on Monday - baby Emma is getting so big!

Tuesday, movie night with the Hamps: Time Travelers Wife (I cried, duh)

Wednesday, another trip to Corry with Sean and Neil in tow...very fun night.

Which leads to today. I got up early to go to the gym for the 2nd morning in a row. I will continue to take my weight classes in the afternoons, but these morning workouts are pretty dang awesome. The emptiness is very desirable.
Neil officially started his school year with an "In Service" day. There was a meeting, and then he got his classroom situated. Same grade, same classroom...he's looking forward to his 2nd year.

Now, it's a Friday night - and I'm sitting here at the computer, in my house - alone. Let's hope my weekend doesn't continue like this sad, pathetic Friday night....

3 years as a metal mouth...

This picture freaks me out.
When Erin came up & around the corner w/the camera, my 1st instinct was to SMILE. Never before have I done that so willingly. I’ve always been self conscious about “are my teeth showing?”.
Behind that metal, is some major progress. As of Sept 11th they will have been on my teeth for 3 years. 3 years!!? Everyone was right, the time flew by! I spoke with Dr. Cardot at my last appointment and he is very hopeful that my “final stages” are just a couple months away. Both of my bicuspids (aka: fangs) came down, and are almost fully in place. Praise God!...is ALL I have to say about that.

Reason for the freak out? I’m literally shaking just thinking about my braces not being there. They’ve sort of been a comfort to me for the last 3 years. Not that I enjoy them, or the pain that goes along with them…I’ve just grown accustomed to them, and the fact I can hide behind them. It sounds strange, I know. I’ve been hiding behind my closed mouth smile my entire life. Sealed lips for a photo op, has now turned into a shiny metal grin – which I like hiding behind. Again, strange – I know. When the braces come off, I’ll have to adjust the way my mouth curves, and perfect the amount of teeth that should properly be showing…. The fact this is stressing me out, is sort of humorous. I’m ridiculous.

So many emotions are running through me right now. Anxious – check! Nervous – check! Excited – check! Denial – check! I need a break. I feel as if the last 3 years, I have been in a whirl wind of emotions. A lot of pain, physically & mentally...

So You Think You Can Dance?

JEANINE MASON

3 out of the 5 seasons that I've watched this show, I always pick out a favorite. Season 2 was Ivan, who didn't make it to the finale. Season 3 was Sabra, who ended up winning the whole thing. And this year, season 5 is Jeanine. (I didn't watch season 1 and 4)

I think she is amazing!!! And I hope she wins it all.

5 Year Anniversary

This last Friday, July 24th - Neil and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary. Over the years, we have had our ups and downs, but in the end we're there for each other. He is my best friend, and I love him oh so much!
This is one of my favorite photos from our wedding day:

Up close and personal, I know. But I just adore it. Not only was this day amazing for the both of us, the entire week was packed with memorable moments w/family & friends. The last 4 celebrated July 24th, I make a comment to Neil every time - "wasn't that entire week so fun?!" And we go back in time & just feel all warm & fuzzy inside. Everyone was just there for us, emotionally & physically.
Since we bought the house this year, and started budgeting our money more wisely through Dave Ramsey's budget guide - we chose to lay low this year, stay in town, save some money. Again, the brat that I am - it took me awhile to get used to that idea. I wanted to celebrate big, go out of town. We haven't had a non-family oriented trip since our honeymoon, and I am really in need of one. Maybe next year.
Neil planned the whole day: Cracker Barrel breakfast, canoeing in the lake, Sara's for lunch, movies, then dinner at Peppino's. As the day came near, we were CONSTANTLY on weather.com watching the storms come in. Would this day even be possible? Instead of my Tuesday thru Thursday work week - I worked Monday thru Wednesday, having Thursday off to hit up an amusement park in Pittsburgh called Kennywood. The rain threatened our entire drive there, and just a little bit while at the park. But the great thing about the dreary weather was, no lines! The longest we waited was 10 minutes. Neil unfortunately was getting light headed from the rides, so we didn't accomplish too much in the 5 hours we were there.
Friday morning we woke up to thunder & lightening. We were hesitant to even start our day. After my shower, I wished my husband of 5 years a "Happy Anniversary" and became super confident that we would have fun! THANK THE LORD, we did all that we wanted to!!!! Breakfast at Cracker Barrel was glorious as usual. (They had out their fall/Halloween stuff already, and I bought the cutest owl plates, owl stuffed pillow, and a coffee to match. eee!) We went home & dressed for canoeing. It was 73 degrees out...with 94% humidity. :) My hair is not so keen on humidity, but thanks to my Pureology Super Straight hair products, I was ok. The sun was shining, and that's all that mattered. We canoed, & had such a great time. It was very relaxing. Not that we could go very far in it - they had rules. Lame, right? It was fun regardless. Erie actually has an annual "Discover Presque Isle" every year, and it just happened to be this weekend! So, immediately after canoeing, we walked on over & checked out some of the vendors and mingled with the locals. There is a place right on presque isle that rents out bikes of all shapes and sizes. Neil only wanted to do it if they had the 2 seater beach cruisers (tandem bikes), and they did! It was a little rocky in the beginning...my sweet husband kept saying beforehand "Can you balance? Don't make us fall!!!" So sweet of him. Once we got the hang of it, it was very fun. I love being by the water, and the lake was absolutely beautiful today. The sidewalks are lined with trees and the cool breeze was so refreshing. Don't get me wrong, this whole bike ride experience was fun - but I'll never do it again. Single beach cruisers from now on!
After we brought the bikes back, we were hungry (all that paddling and peddling...) so we drove over to Sara's for lunch. A cold Coca-Cola sounded so refreshing to me, so I ordered that along w/a hot dog. We shared some curly fries, and Neil got a Coke float. As we were sitting there, we were discussing how there really aren't any movies we'd like to see - why not remain outside and take Cali to the park. So we did! She did very good training. :)
We then made our way home, and put ourselves together for our dinner date at Peppino's. This place was amazing!!! I ordered a steak, which might be the best thing I've tasted since my engagement dinner - which is still my favorite meal of all time (filet mignon). We were hesitant in ordering dessert because we could just go some where local & not pay so much. But when the waitress read the dessert menu & said "hazelnut cheesecake with chocolate syrup drizzled on top" I was sold. Neil said "I don't like hazelnut, I won't have any of it." But guess what? After I about went to heaven w/the 1st bite - I made him try it. I was right :) He loved it!!! And we both agreed it was worth the $8.
We didn't take too many photos of our adventurist day...I'm a little upset about it. But here are a few to enjoy:
Canoe


Our Tandem bicycle for 60 minutes:


Our princess on her way back home from playing in the park:

Today was one of the best days I've ever had.
Happy 5 years babe!!