Week 35

Big things are happening! Well we've decided on a venue for the wedding (check out some pics below), and I'll find out tomorrow if we can book it for the date we've picked. I'll give more details when everything is finalized! Also in the past week I managed to make it to 3 bridal salons, in DC, MD and NY, and I ended up with two great dresses! What's a girl to do?!

Pat's good over in Iraq. Staying busy, dealing with my craziness well, and getting ready to come home soon! Even sooner then we planned! They've bumped him up again, so it looks like I'll be heading down to NC to meet him in just a few weeks! Jack and Winston are wonderful as usual. All in all that's pretty much it. It seems like a lot more when I'm dealing with it all, and not so much when I type it out, hah!

35 weeks down, 4 to go!

Week 34

Well Patrick made it back safe to Iraq. It took quite a while though, which I think was ok with him, hah! We said we weren't going to make any plans until he got back, but of course we couldn't wait. We have set a tentative date, we've picked a song, and we've picked save-the-dates (thank goodness for the internet!), and we're working on colors, and venues right now. I'm heading up to NYC next weekend with my mom and sister to go dress shopping! I can't wait! I don't think I mentioned that one of the first things I said to Patrick after the engagement started sinking in that night at Longwood Gardens was "I get to shop for a dress!" I can't wait to report back on how it goes!

Anyways, we're keeping ourselves busy enough that these last 8 weeks should fly by! I can't wait for him to be home for good. Now if we only had some place to live...

Marinarium and underwater pictures

school of fish (at the bottom of the picture) all around us getting ready to snorkel

jumping in!
Pat ready to snorkel

Pat jumping in
swimming with sharks...and stingrays...

me chasing a shark

Pat and I at the natural pool in the middle of the Caribbean

Pat snorkeling

professional pictures from Punta Cana

candid from our photoshoot on the beachfrom our photo session on the beach
with the monkey!

Pat and the monkey!

pictures from the Domincan Republic

at the swim up barthe resort's pool... biggest one in the Caribbean on our boat trip to the Marinarium (aquatic park)

dinner at the Oceana Restaurant at the resort
our balcony
our suite

pictures from the proposal

just after... in shock

Pat making phone calls because I couldn't talk without crying

showing off a little bit :)

close up... my baby did good!
@ Longwood Gardens

pictures from Iraq

Pat and Justin on base in Iraq!Pat's marine getting promoted by the Secretary of the Navy
Half of a Camel Spider Pat killed outside his building
An oasis on Pat's base

Pat's mustache (3 months in the making!)

Weeks 32 and 33

Sorry for not posting these past few weeks... they were probably the most exciting weeks of all! These past 2 weeks were spent with Patrick home on his 15 days of R&R leave. After much drama (I left my cell phone in DC) I met Pat in Atlanta. Our reunion made people cry (so we were told). We then headed back to MD for a few days and then it was off to Punta Cana! We spent 5 wonderful days there, relaxing and fully taking advantage of the all0inclusive resort. We even swam with sharks and stingrays!

After we got home from the Domincan Republic, we took a little trip up to Longwood Gardens (http://www.longwoodgardens.org/) where there was to be a fireworks show that night. We toured the gardens and just before the fireworks started Patrick proposed! I said yes, and now the wedding planning has begun!

Our next trip was down south to see my sister and her family, and Pat's sister and brother-in-law and his new neice! It was so exciting to be with Pat the first time he got to see Mackenzie! She is cuter then ever and she fell in love with her Uncle. My sister's kids were very excited to see the 2 of us as well; they showed us their new trampoline, their new puppy, and even put on a play for us!

Then we came home with only a few days left of leave and spent the rest at home with our families. We dropped Patrick off at the airport this morning, and I can't believe the 15 days are already over. Luckily, it will only be a few weeks left before he's home for good!

I would post pictures now but I just got home from work and I am totally exhausted. Check back tomorrow for tons of pictures from Iraq, Punta Cana, the proposal, etc!

33 weeks down... 9 to go!