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I'm starting this blog without a title; now that Pat is home I don't have a week number to post, and I really have to think of something that sounds NOT boring!

I'm writing from the hotel again. Same hotel, different room. We checked out last Thursday and headed home. We spent some time with my family, and Pat surprised his mom at school. She had no idea he was in town and he walked into her classroom in the middle of one of her classes! She was so surprised, and her students loved it because it got them out of taking a test that day!

Our weekend in MD was filled with lots of visiting with family and friends, but it seems that there is never enough time. Sunday night quickly came, and we had to leave to come back down to NC. We didn't get in until about 3 in the morning today! Very exhausting.

We're back in the same hotel, one because they have a military discount (!) and two because we still have no house. We found one we like enough and we have an appointment to go see it tomorrow afternoon. It's a cute little house that allows dogs without a really high deposit. Plus, it has a big fenced in backyard with a really high fence. Makes me feel better knowing that the dogs will have somewhere safe to play. Hopefully all goes well, but that house still isn't available until Nov. 1st. So we'll be in the hotel until Wednesday, when we will head BACK up to MD for the weekend, then hopefully be able to bring the dogs down and move in next Sunday!

My parents will finally be rid of the dogs (thanks so much for all your help this past year!) but they won't be totally rid of me. I'll be back and forth between NC and MD to be with Pat and the boys, and then home to work and plan the wedding.

Wedding plans are coming along nicely. We're working on making appointments with a photographer for engagement photos (sorry we're so difficult Melissa!) and meeting with the caterer to try and get something together that works for everyone. Also, I think we've made the final decision on stationery for everything, and favors too! Now if I could only decide on colors... I've got an appointment for next month at J.Crew to check out what they've got and hopefully there will be progress on that front!

That's all for now, not terribly exciting, but thanks for reading anyways! Hopefully the next post will be from a house and not a hotel! Still waiting on getting some pictures together from Iraq... so check back next week!

Week 38

I counted on the calendar and Pat was actually gone 39 weeks, but I can't figure out where I skipped one. But my OCD won't let me post this as week 39 because it would be a constant reminder that something wasn't quite right. Anyways, it doesn't matter because he's home now! For good! He got in yesterday, I went to pick him up at base last night. I had all kinds of help from his marines and their families trying to get me one base. I was going to follow the wife of one of his marines on to the base, since I don't have a military ID, so I met her at her house. She was so nice and has the cutest little girl that had a t-shirt and signs for her daddy! I ended up just riding with another one of his marines that came home a little bit early with the advanced party.

We got there and we waited and waited. It ended up being about 2 hours before they finally were dropped off at headquarters from the flight line. And let me tell you, it was a COLD 2 hours. I think it was colder last night then it was the night I dropped him off in January 9 long months ago. Funny thing about that, he left on Sunday Jan 18, and came home on Sunday Oct 18. Exactly 39 weeks, to the day. Anyways... now the fun begins!

We still don't have anywhere to live. I'm currently writing from the hotel we're staying in while we look for housing. Pat's at the base right now for post-deployment stuff, so when he gets back we're going to go drive around and see what we can find! It shouldn't be hard, about every other house here is for sale or for rent, and there are new subdivisions popping up EVERYwhere!

That's all for now... I can't believe I don't have to count down anymore! 39 weeks down, 0 to go! Check back soon for some more of Pat's pictures from Iraq!

Week 37

Well this last month has gone by so fast and I can't believe Pat's getting all ready to come home! I'm so excited! We've already made plans for me to drive his truck to NC and pick him up on base when he gets there. Unfortunately the house we like best isn't available until after he's slotted to come home, and since I can't stay at the BOQ, we'll be staying in a hotel for a few days after he gets back. But that's ok. Jack and Winston will be staying here in MD with Mimi and Bepa until everything gets settled.

Wedding things have fallen into place so well I was actually kind of bored this week. My mom and I met with a prospective caterer that we all seem to think is the best option. So check that one off the list. Next up, flowers, dj's, and seamstresses for alterations. Any suggestions?!

That's all for now... 37 whole weeks down and now just days to go!

Week 36

We are busy busy busy! This week we booked the venue! So it's official, we will be getting married at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (pictures in last week's post). We're all very excited! We got the last Saturday of the summer, thanks to a friend who changed her date to October. It's only a week earlier then when we were planning anyway. So everything worked out great, it was obviously meant to be :)

My mom and I are going to be doing some shopping for invitations this week. She said they have a whole bunch at DirectBuy for about 80¢ each! So we're going to head up there and look through their books. DirectBuy also has the Lenox china I love for half off! Very exciting! I've also picked out the bridesmaid's dresses. They're from j.crew and they're so cute I want them! No more dresses for me, two is enough.

Pat's very busy too, getting ready to close up shop and hand things off to the army and come home! It's so soon I can't believe it. What a change from before R&R when it was 7 months, this last month since R&R flew by! We found a house to rent that we both like. It's cheap, and cute, allows pets AND has a fenced in yard! And a washer and dryer so I won't have to cart laundry all over the place! Hooray! We'll be getting in touch with the realtor today hopefully.

Anyways, that's about all that we have going on... 36 weeks down... only 3 to go!