3 People + 2 Closets= Not enough space!

I am moving to Manhattan, Kansas in July. Don't get me wrong, I am so excited to be able to live in the same state as my fiance! (Finally!) But, now, we are faced with a dilema. Originally, and up until about 2 weeks ago, we did not think Elizabeth and I would be able to move for quite a while. Josh and I had picked out our new apartment, the nice 3 bedroom with the walk-in closets.



Last month was the deadline for Josh to extend/renew his current apartments lease. Given the fact we did not think we would be there until at the earliest September, Josh renewed through September. Now, Josh lives in a nice apartment, it is just a small two bedroom. We need a three bedroom initially, not just for the space for three people...but the closets! Josh has two closet apartment. He uses both closets already. Elizabeth has enough clothes for two closets...and I, well, I have enough to fill a small room. As you recall, this is a picture of just some of my clothes...

So, our dilema is do we break the lease and pay a bunch of money? Or, do we suck it up for a couple months stuffing Elizabeth and I into one room and cramming Josh into the other? I have found a few closet organization units that could come in handy!

Decisions, Decisions.

Ruby Red Slippers

Josh bought me my wedding shoes last weekend! We walked into a shoe store, it was like heaven...lots and lots of shoes! I tried on every pair of red heels they had. About 20 pairs later, I found them. They are BEAUTIFUL! Now, I guess I should find a dress.

April Winners

So many good times in April, So many blessings!

1) Josh came to Oregon to meet the whole family! (I always love having him here, and they approve!)


2) The whole family came home to Oregon for Easter and a "Meet the Boys" (aka, meet Josh and Ben) open house!



3) I got to meet my new Nephew Ben! (He is adorable! I love him so much!)


4) Fun Trip to Disneyland! (Really is one of the happiest places on Earth!)


5) Elizabeth turned 9! (I can't believe I have a 9 year old!)


6) Elizabeth and I went to Kansas to check out her new school and our new place! (Elizabeth has never been there, and she loved it!)

Something New and Something Blue

We know how much God loves us, and we put our trust in Him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.~~~~~1 John 4: 16-17

Church, Dress, Flowers, Venues, Cakes, Food, Music, Pictures...Garter, Shoes, Hair, Makeup....Guests, Gifts, Readings, Priest...

Though we haven't yet set a date, we have been thinking up many of the minor details of our Winter Wedding. We have started our research for reception ideas, but want to keep it simple.

Church: Check! We will be getting married at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Manhattan, Kansas.


Army Office Josh will be wearing his Army Dress Blues. (Attire pictures provided by Marlow White)

Josh's attire makes it easy to decide on wedding accent colors, Blue!

Josh and I have decided that we want something small, so our Guest list will be our family and GOOD NEWS LADIES, no bridesmaid dresses! Aside from Elizabeth, we won't be having a wedding party.

I have tried a few dresses, so far I have 4 favorites...none of which are similar! I have, of course, found potential shoes. Red Shoes. What else would Dorthy wear at her wedding in Kansas?

YES!

I said "YES!" Well...I eventually said "Yes!" After the laughing, crying and shaking calmed down...After the "No, wait! You have to ask my Dad!" was answered...I said "Yes!!!!"

I'm ENGAGED! Manhattan, Kansas. March 19, 2009. My First Time Golfing on a Golf Course. Hole Number Nine. Josh got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

I arrived in Kansas City the night before. We stayed in Kansas City for the night and the next morning Josh took me shopping at Legends 14. He bought me two new dresses and two new tops at BCBG, then we went home. When we got to the apartment he surprised me with a new set of PINK golf clubs.

They are BEAUTIFUL! He took me to the golf course and we hit balls and then we went out on the course to play 9 holes. I mainly watched so that I could learn about the game. Josh is a fantastic golfer! Well...he WAS doing fantastic...until Hole Number 9...

Last Hole of the game, his first shot off the tee...Not so great. He was nervous, but I wasn't sure what the problem was. Frankly, I still thought he was doing great! But, he said otherwise. After he putted the ball into the hole I decided I wanted to take a photograph, so I made him line up the ball with the hole and the putter, and his shoes....it was lovely. After the picture I went back to the golf cart because I was cold! I wrapped up in Josh's red wind breaker and he put his club in the bag. I turned to look behind the cart at him, and he wasn't there anymore! I turned to my side, and Josh was on one knee with a little brown wooden box.

My first thought was, "What in the world? A new Golf Tee? Golf Ball? What is in the Box?" Then he started talking! I was in shock, what was going on?! He opened the box and there was a GORGEOUS Diamond Ring! "Karen Irene Lyons....will you marry me?" I started shaking, crying, laughing.... then I said "No, wait! You have to ask my Dad!" He told me he already had.

Josh loves Golf. Josh Loves Me. I love Josh...Therefore, I am learning to Golf! It is really very enjoyable and I am excited that it gives us more time to spend together. Golf is a part of my life now (even more so that he ingrained it into our relationship by proposing on the course)!

I am so excited about my future with him. I'm so Blessed and so Happy!

Shopaholics Anonymous

"You know that thing when you see someone cute and he smiles and your heart kind of goes like warm butter sliding down hot toast? Well that's what it's like when I see a store. Only it's better."-Rebecca Bloomwood

In February I went to visit Josh in Kansas and he took me to the Shopaholic Movie. Before the movie we went and looked at the apartment we will be living in when I move. The place is absolutely lovely, and I was so excited to see, in person, my favorite part...WALK IN CLOSETS. The man who gave us the tour of our future abode noted there is a seperate "storage" area in the bedroom also, he called it the "shoe closet." I was so excited, my bedroom was going to have a shoe closet for all of my pumps, sandals, boots, peeptoes...then I opened it. Only five shelves...Only about a foot deep...I would need another "shoe closet." After looking into the walk in closet, and coming to the realization that the other two bedroom closets were not for my use...I became a little discouraged.

Then, the movie. This is when I had my Ah-Ha moment. I either needed to rent another 12x14 room in a seperate apartment for the rest of my clothes and shoes, OR I needed to do a little spring cleaning in the clothes and shoe department. The movie inspired me to go through my clothes.

The next weekend, I cleaned. I sorted. I boxed, bagged, donated, sold and threw away. I was motivated! And then, after a little mourning the loss of...I felt accomplished. This is something that definitely needed to happen in order to move and have room for my daughter and Josh.

Here are the 13 pairs I got rid of...Elizabeth's comment was "Mom, you still have over 50 pairs!"

Here are the Clothes I got rid of:

Here is the finished result, (minus the clothes that are in the laundry and those in my dresser).

Then, when it was all finished, I rewarded myself afterward with a cute pair of Clogs.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Guinness. Corned Beef and Cabbage. Bagpipes, Leprechauns, Wearing Green....But my favorite part of the St. Patrick's Day tradition is making my daughter breakfast in the morning and packing her school lunch!

I woke her up this morning and helped her get ready for school...No Green in her school uniform, but a Green Shammrock Scrunchie, a Green Necklace and a Green Bracelet complete the outfit perfectly! No Pinching will be happening today!

We were running a little behind so I told her to run downstairs and make breakfast. A few minutes later I came down and she was sitting at the table with a glass of juice. I asked her where her breakfast was...she answered (in a very pathetic sounding voice) "I was really hoping I could have green eggs and ham for breakfast." How could I forget?! So, scrambled eggs, chopped ham, a little green food coloring and Voilà! Green Eggs and Ham.

For her "surprise" St. Patrick's Day Lunch I made her a green egg salad sandwich, green shammrock cookies, broccoli (also green), green grapes, green jello and a green apple juice box...complete with a Shammrock Napkin.

My pot of gold is making her happy.