The Natural Effect

I've never really been the type of person growing up to fantasize about what my wedding would be like, or about the type of person who would be my knight in shining armor. In fact, the traits I thought they would be even for a moment while growing up are your typical tall, blond, and blue eyes scenario. It doesn't happen like that in the real world. Completely the wrong type to go for in my case. Like anything, it never really quite plays out like it does in your head. Sometimes it's much better.

What I do have is a tall, brown haired, green eyes, teddy-bear kind of guy who loves me and the kids to death as do we him. I can't picture my world without him in it. It required a risk to meet him which is another story but I'm so glad I took it.

We are having an outdoor wedding that is set for September of 2010. We are going to have horse and wagon for the entire guest list to be taken to the wedding ceremony and a horse and carriage for myself and two others. A rubber rodeo for fun (this is for the adults). There is a separate park for the kids to play in. There are lodges and camp sites for overnight accommodations. We will have campfires, singing and dancing, a meal in a saloon with your traditional apple pie and vanilla ice-cream for dessert.

Dinner set up is in a bit of a dark lodge so the table linen will be white but the luncheon napkins will be a pumpkin orange with a brown beverage napkin on top. The party favor is a clear box with brown and ivory chocolates. The box itself will have a touch of red ribbon for color. The center piece will have fall leaves and red berries surrounding 5 votive candles in clear holders. The candles themselves will be white to match the linen.

We are counting on the season to provide the color so not too many flowers for outside. I will have an ivory, A-line dress with a beautiful train that I hope and pray will take his breath away. The girls will be in a chocolate brown. My 2 year-old will be the flower girl but instead of petals we're going to supply her with leaves. I'm not sure yet if they will be silk or real. The typical white bouquet is going to be an arrangement of fall colors.

I wanted to stay somewhat on the natural side. I find the colors are bold yet subtle at the same time with a calming effect about them.

Our destination will have a background of trees with beautiful colors and there are a variety of destinations by water and in fields for the rest of the pictures. This is what we've planned and I say planned because the fees still have to be provided.

In the event it does rain.....which I really hope not, there is a back-up plan in which one of the lodges will be decorated to resemble the inside of a church with the lighting effects from a fireplace. In this case we will have flowers that will be more of a white/ivory color with only a hint of color so it wouldn't be so dark. Perhaps a tiger-lilly or two.

I grew up with parents who separated and I looked down on the concept of marriage when I was younger. I told myself I never would marry because it's only a piece of paper that made things more complicated. That was my impression. Needless to say I haven't had good experiences. I was very nervous initially which is a large part of why it's taken us this long to set the date. I thought I would be a basket case about this but the truth is I can't wait for the day I become his wife. There isn't a day that goes by that we can't wait to see each other and it's been almost 6 years we've been together. Holding hands, rubbing noses and all the stuff you think is cute in the beginning....it's still there which blows me away. I love him with all my heart. I feel like I'm the luckiest girl in the world.

Dazed and Kerfuffled

The alarm rings every morning between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m. My soon-to-be husband gets ready for work and wakes me with a gentle good morning and a kiss to let me know he's on his way out. Not a bad way to start the day. After my shower I help to get my two older kids ready for school and my toddler her breakfast, once she decides what that is going to be of course. When that's done, I sigh and relax and wonder " what to do now?"

Home life varies from day-to-day and person-to-person. I am a 36 year-old mom who is home everyday with and for her kids, a recent grad student who is searching for work on a regular basis, and a soon-to-be wife who doesnt' like to do housework ...but I do. I have three beautiful kids. My oldest daughter is 12, my son is nine, and my youngest daughter is two. Yes, there is a bit of a gap in the ages I know. My oldest daughter is a regular chatter box going through puberty (yeh for me - where's the rule book, somebody please tell me), and is very independant. My son is very emotional, has the biggest heart of any child I know, and is very into technology. Does the phrase "is there anybody in there" ring a bell? Lastly, my youngest is in her toddler years. That says it all I think as to how busy she can be. She can certainly fill my day.

My kids come home around lunch everyday for approximately one hour and then they're gone again. If the weather permits, I try to get out and go for a walk with my daughter who we've nicknamed "goose" or do some gardening. Something outside with her for the sake of some fresh air. When the weather doesn't agree, well, then I become the "dazed and kerfuffled". I honestly don't know what to do with myself when my days are repeated so often the same.

After school is mid-afternoon. What ever happened to 3:00 or 3:30 p.m? It's 2:05 and 2:35 p.m. now. The kids come home, tell me they have no homework and then, "ooops, I didn't realize I had this", or "I forgot this is due tomorrow".....hello. I've since come to realize it is necessary to check their bags and check in with the teacher even when it's not parent teacher.

Supper. "What would you like me to take out for supper sweetie?" He replies saying "What are you in the mood for, is there something in particular you'd like to have?" I reply saying "no, nothing special just hoping you might have some ideas." This is an almost daily conversation between my fiance and myself. Something so little as supper has become a " tired of the same ole thing". I like to spice things up as does he but it doesn't always work for the kids. Fussy eaters who very much like routine.

After supper things sort of wind down a bit. For the most part each of them have an extra curriclular activity at some point through the week to help keep them busy. They do their teeth, say good-night and don't let the bed bugs bite as we tuck them in. Then we wait two minutes before we hear "mom" or "dad, I forgot my drink." Lol. I can laugh at it now.

My fiance and I try to get some quality time in even to just snuggle and watch tv. With three kids it's not always easy. As I sit here and type this.

A new day is hopefully different.


So......"dazed and kerfuffled" when everyday is the same. Something has to change. I don't think too much routine is healthy.

Goodnight,

Bella