Alright, I wasn't gonna, but here it goes...

So, I don't have to tell you that I haven't been blogging.  That is obvious.

My excuse: Life got busy and I wasn't feeling it.

I changed jobs, moved houses, and started a new career path that requires studying again. If you know me, you know that I am not a good studier.  Tom is having a hard time understanding this.

I am studying to be get certified to teach middle school (preferably) or high school math.  A dream of mine I've been playing with for a while.

I think God sent me a signal when I was laid off again. That makes twice in 2 years. Yay me!  So, his messgae?  "Do what you want to be doing, quit waiting for divine intervention"  So, I enrolled in a certification program and (if all goes according to plan) I will be certified in February and out on the job hunt to land a teaching position, and then live happily ever after.

I have to share, today is a pretty yucky day outside, and work is a little slow, but Scotch is snuggled up on my desk, so it makes it all better! Yep, I get to bring the puppy to work sometimes.  This is his fourth visit.  He is such a good puppy.  He just sleeps all day curled up in a ball tucked into a beach towel on the edge of my desk.

Yep, that's him in a brightly colored beach towel.  He was neutered yesterday, so he got to escape home and his playful brothers to come and sleep all day.  Tough life.  Everyone here LOVES him.  With a face like that it is hard to see why not. :)

Wedding planning is going well.  Just have a few more loose ends to wrap up. And then it is counting down for 5 more months. I hate waiting.  I'm so ready.

On the wedding note, Kerry my BFF from college is coming in town to spend the long with me and we are going to go see Bridesmaids with my two sisters.  3 of the 6 ladies will be in tow to go bond over a silly movie.  Should be a good time. Can't wait for best friend weekend!  Plus, I took tomorrow off to spend some time with Angi before her summer is over so fast. Shenanigans are planned around the city.  Including gelato at the place down the street from our house on Grand.  Yum!

Well, back to loving my little puppy and time for lunch!

2011 - A big year

Well, so long 2010. I had no idea when you started that it was gonna be such a wonderful ride.

Memorable things that happened in 2010:

Started the year out with a move back to STL from Springfield/Ozark
Got settled in my new job and apartment
Met the love of my life, Tom
Got engaged
Tom moved in (to our tiny 2-bedroom apartment)
Started planning the wedding
Welcomed a new nephew into the world, Broderick Thomas Stockmann on Dec. 3rd (Tom's side)
Celebrated our first Christmas together
Welcomed our second new nephew into the world (5 weeks early) on Christmas night [okay, he came on the 26th at 4 AM... so it still felt like Christmas] Andrew Joseph Hoormann

About to spend our first New Year's together

Plans for 2011:

Have Tom land the job at Ladue (fingers crossed that happens soon)
Buy a house (preferably in St. Charles)
Get married
Honeymoon
Enjoy wedded bliss
Start planning for babies :o)

A Christmas Miracle

So, Christmas Eve was a night full of fun and frivolity, and a little too much snow on a little too big hill after church.  But, we made it to Stephanie's in one piece (and several others made it to their homes thanks to Tom and his master pushing skills).

Christmas Eve with the Marischen clan was super fun watching the little kids open their presents and the older kids bicker and tease each other.  What's Christmas with out sibling rivalries? 

Christmas Eve was a joy.  After too much food, too much wine, and WAY too many cookies - we trekked home.  To sleep a few winks, snuggle our doggies and then head to my mom's for Christmas breakfast and WAY too many presents. (not that my wardrobe is complaining).

All went as usual. All opened their gifts, all ate too much of my mom's delicious French Toast concoction, all packed up and headed out to tackle the rest of their Christmas day.  We headed home to shower, change and leave again for Tom's mom's house. (Lots of people and lots of bailey's for me) It wasn't until around 9 PM that things got a little different than a usual Christmas.

I got a call on my cell phone from my little sister.  I was holding my nephew Brody so I didn't answer. She called again, immediately.  Still holding the baby, I ignored it.  It rang again - Tom came to my rescue and answered it. He said "what?! Really?! Okay, here's Jess"  I was like "WHAT? what is it?!" Well, apparently my sister's water had broken just after Christmas dinner and they were off to the hospital. 5 weeks early!

We, stayed at Tom's mom's until about 11:00 or so, headed home (I'm wired by this point waiting for news) Lissa and Dan get to the hospital, she is 3cm. They get her tucked in, Angi goes to there house to let their dog out and get things prepped. At 3AM Lissa is at 4cm and gets her epidural. They promise her it will be a cm an hour and to try to relax.  An hour later the doctor comes in, she is 8cm!! They decide to wait a little while and they will practice pushing.  The nurse says "Okay, we will tell you when the next contraction comes, let's practice 3 pushes and then I'll get the doctor"  Lissa says okay, and they do a practice push "STOP!" the nurse says... I'll get the doctor.  One push he was out, two pushes the after birth and at 3:57 AM we have a baby boy!

Andrew Joseph Hoormann is 6 lbs 1 oz and 19.5 inches long and perfect! 5 weeks early, but everyone is healthy and happy. 

Congrats to the new little family. :o)  It was a Christmas miracle and a big surprise.

Christmas Exercise

Does wrapping Christmas presents for several hours count as exercise?  My back and legs are sore.... it should count.

:o)

Merry Christmas all!  3 more days.


326 more days until we're Mr. and Mrs. Marischen!

Off to a good start

Feeling good.  I 'worked out' twice yesterday.  I put it in quotes as everyone's version of 'working out' is different.  Mine were not intense, I didn't get to a good sweat (mostly cuz I tried my best to stay cool and not sweat at work - lol).  I get a little hot.

But, 2 sessions of 20 minutes on the treadmill had me feeling good yesterday.  I have my tennis shoes here again today (or as my family calls them... tennies)

Here's to a good start.

Holding myself accountable

Okay, so I am going to be one of those brides that makes a weight-loss goal for the wedding.  Well, for the wedding and for life. As, when I found the wonderful Mr. Tom Marischen - I also found 10 new pounds. Yay!

So, my goal is to eat smart (especially during the holidays) and workout regularly to lose the 10 lbs and maybe 5 more.  I am starting today.

I brought my tennis shoes to work with me and on my lunch I will be going to the basement to the gym (yes, we have one that I have never used... trust me I feel the shame). I plan on walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes of my hour lunch to get the ball rolling and start losing my rolls. :o)

I am going to try to keep you updated on how this all goes - the holiday season may make posts even fewer and farther between, but I will do my best.

I have written down today's number (no I am not sharing) and will let you know the results of next Monday's change.

Here's to a slimmer bride. :o)

Bridal to-do's

Completed

Date: Check
Dress: Check
Reception Hall: Check
Church: Check
Flowers: Check
Bridesmaid Dresses: Check
DJ: Check
Priest: Check [we are going with an outside Priest, the church's Priest is on retreat our wedding day]
Cake design and baker: Check
Photographer: Check
Maid/Matron of Honor, Bridesmaids, Best Man, Groomsmen, Flower Girls, Ring Bearers, Ushers: Check
Selected Save the Dates, Invitations: Check

Things left to do:

Engagement Photos
Wedding Ceremony Music
Readers
Finish Marriage Prep Classes
Make table runners
Limo
Order Invites/Save the Dates
Finalize guest list
Honeymoon location selection
Think of a clever way to prevent strippers from showing up at the groom's bachelor party

I am sure there are tons more on the "left to do" list but my brain is hurting trying to think of them all. For the 2 months we have been engaged, I think we have tackled an impressive amount.  I look forward to being married and not having to plan so much. :o)