Flirting with the OR/WA border...

Just a little map to show my progress in the "Run Across America" challenge. I'm not 100% sure it's the exact route used originally, but close enough? I've gone 224.6 miles and am now in/around Roosevelt, WA (which there are apparently two of, by the way, this is the one in Klickitat County). I'm just about halfway across Washington/Oregon and will cross over into Idaho next. It'll be a long way to Idaho, but it'll be really exciting to hit a new state. Less than 400 miles (finally) until I hit Nike Level Blue. Green is a huge level (I think it's like 470 miles? ) but I'm chugging right along.

Stephen and I went up to Tahoe on Saturday and booked the bakery and semi-finalized plans with the florist. She's going to send me the estimate and if needed, we can change things. But she's got the basic idea. It was really nice. There was a light snow fall and all of our vendors are super nice. And they all have deposits paid so that's a big load off our shoulders.

While we were up there, we also saw some adorable mountain houses... of death!! Check out these ridiculous icicles!!

Because this must be documented for history...

Winner of the best possible stamp to use on a wedding response card.
Especially when it's a "regrets!"

Must have been the ONE envelope we missed to pre-stamp.

HAHAHA

February

February already and I couldn't be more excited. 75 days until we get married :)

We're headed up to Tahoe this weekend to finalize plans with the florist and meet with the bakery. We've secured the dj, so after this weekend all of the big stuff is booked. That's a nice weight off. We've been getting a somewhat steady stream of response cards since we sent the invitations out. We've got 49 wedding guests confirmed so far :) We have received some "regrets," but that's totally understandable. I'm just happy that the people who are coming are coming.

Stephen has Valentine's Day off :) Not sure what we'll do, but it sounds lovely to have the day together.

Stephen and I are going to Colorado the last weekend in February to visit his family. I'm very excited. I haven't seen them since we got engaged, so it's been long overdue. It'll be a quick turn around, but should be a nice visit.

Running Update:
Since 4.10.09: 218.10 miles :)

Booyah!

Today was a big day run-wise. I was really annoyed that the rain was going to literally rain on my parade, but thankfully there was a break in the storm for Stephen and I to get a run in. We ran 4.64 miles- just over the amount needed to push me past 200 miles :) My legs hate me, but I was not going to let a week of rain keep me from my short term goal. Take that, nature. You can't stop me when I get my mind set to it. I'm so lucky to have Stephen there to celebrate with afterward and to continually keep me going. Plus he's really handsome when he runs :)

Totals:
Since 4.10.09: 200.03 miles
Since 10.20.09: 105.54 miles

We went up to Tahoe yesterday and stopped by the bakery we're planning to use and met with the DJ we're going to book. We have an appointment to meet with the baker February 6th and will hopefully meet with the florist that day as well. The DJ is awesome- very knowledgeable, honest, and British. His accent is awesome and he already knows about the Vitamin String Quartet- he has like a dozen of their songs on his computer already. Based on his Facebook pictures, it really looks like he throws a good party. Looks like we're pretty set on the big things.

We mailed out our invitations on Friday, so local people have already received them and everyone else should be getting them in the next couple days! I'm excited to start getting responses back.

Stephen and I are getting married 3 months from today :) 90 short (hopefully) days until I get to be Mrs. Rabon. I'm getting really excited about getting to see family that I haven't seen in a while and spending time with close friends. It's going to be awesome. And a week in Hawaii with Stephen... I can't wait.

Book Club went on a field trip to Borders today and picked our next book: Julie and Julia. I've already read about half of it. There are definitely some differences from the movie, but I'm enjoying it. I'm also looking forward to our next meeting- we always talk about way more than just the books and there's Del Taco involved usually. To quote Ina Garten, "How bad could that be?"

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to my few devoted readers :) New Year's is particularly special to me as it is the day that Stephen and I had our first kiss and started the relationship I have with my future husband. You can see in the above picture the recreations of our midnight kisses from 2007 and this year. It's interesting to see how we've changed physically (my hair was so long!) as well as to think of how much deeper our relationship has become and how much more I love him each and every day. We'll be going out to Cheesecake Factory tonight for dinner like we did last year :) I love him so much. And you know the best part?

WE GET MARRIED THIS YEAR!!!
That's pretty much my new favorite phrase now that it's 2010.

We rang in the New Year with Sandi & Chris, Nikki & Aaron, and Carmen over at the Ady/Glass Compound. We played Wii Sports Resort and Progressive Rummy, as well as enjoying some Asti and Bean Dip (The Truth- because chips just can't handle it).

Despite the fact that I have still been unable to kick this cough I've had since right before Christmas, I went for a run today. It was just one of those things where I just had to start the new year off right. So, I went and ran a couple miles around my neighborhood. It felt good. It felt right. I just had to do it. I've taken too much time off for this cold and I just can't keep being sedentary. If I do, it increases the chances that running won't stick. And it has to stick. I've quit after 3 months before and I refuse to do it again. I don't do New Year's resolutions, but if I did, this would probably be it.

So, beginning 2010, here are my totals:

Since 4.10.09: 173.23 miles
Since 10.20.09: 78.79 miles

Here's to a year full of love, laughter, running, and a new adventure for Stephen and I :)

Christmas 2009

This Christmas was our last one as an unmarried couple!! :) Next Christmas we will be married for 8 months already. How exciting is that?!? And we've already got a few Christmas decorations- our two reindeer and our snowman army (okay, so there are 4 of them) and some big pretty silver and white snowflakes I got before Mervyn's closed. I'm so excited to decorate our own place and our own tree and start our own Christmas traditions. It's so exciting!!

And, for more excitingness... Friday is our 3 year anniversary! I just love him so much and I am so blessed to have been able to call him mine for three years (almost).

I spent a long time sorting my iPhoto library today and finding a lot of old photos that I hadn't looked at in a long time. A ton of fun memories and good times. A lot has changed over the years but it's great to be able to look back and see where I've been (both in terms of places and mentally/emotionally/physically/etc). I still need to go through and delete some photos that made sense at the time but no longer do, but it is much more organized now. I look forward to filling it with wedding photos and photos of our first place and eventually some day our kids... :)

Green at last, green at last, thank God Almighty, I am green at last :)

In case the title didn't give it away, I finally reached Nike Level Green!! The last 15 miles seemed to drag out forever (and having to take 3-day breaks because of the rain didn't help) but I have finally reached 155 miles on my NikePlus shoes/sensor. I was so excited and love the new Mini background!

Only 462 miles until I reach Nike Level Blue! Crazy to think about but I'm running so often now that I'm sure it will come sooner than I'd have thought a long time back. I'm trying to do two days on and one day off, but sometimes life gets in the way (mainly because of my work schedule and the sun going down not being compatible right now). I've run Monday-Thursday this week to make sure I got in those last few miles to green and to allow for a night off with friends tomorrow night. Stephen, Sandi, Chris and BWW? Heck yes!

Totals:
Since October 20: 64.91 miles
Since April 10: 159.32 miles (not bad for taking July 24- October 20 off...)

Christmas is a week from tomorrow, which is crazy! December has just flown by and I feel like I haven't had a moment to take it all in. My birthday (which was only a week ago as of yesterday) feels like it was a month ago. Work has been busy with the 3rd graders choosing their instruments this week and Christmas programs in Early Education. Looking forward to 3 day work weeks the next two weeks :)

I've been reading "The Year of Living Biblically" by A.J. Jacobs. It's pretty funny. I really like the outsider looking in perspective. I really enjoyed "The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at Liberty" by Kevin Roose so I am excited to see how this one ends and how the experience and immersion in the Bible changes Mr. Jacobs.

Stephen and I will celebrate three wonderful years together two weeks from tomorrow. He's so incredible and I am so lucky to have him. He gives me more reasons every single day to love him and be thankful for him. We've been counting down the days to our wedding by reading the Psalms backwards from 150. It's so awesome having that time together as he tucks me in for the night and he reads them to me. We read those and the daily Proverb. It's so wonderful to have a man like Stephen as my future husband :)

Speaking of which, I've been trying on the new last name a bit lately. As in (to Sandi) "Is it just the Adys and Rabons going to BWW or are the Glasses coming too?" I rather like it :) Plus it's like a million times easier than "Is it just the Adys and Padilla/Rabon faction going to BWW..." I can't wait until it's official. (Then I can change my blog title to "Quote the Rabon" officially too!)