{{and here comes september}}

When I woke up this morning and remembered that it is August 31st I got a little excited. Usually my morning routine consists of whining, groaning, getting back into bed after I shower (best. feeling. ever.), and general lack of glee. But today was different. I’m so excited for September. I’m not even sad for summer to end. This summer has been so overwhelming both personally and professionally that it’s almost as if it didn’t happen. I can’t tell you right now what I did for my birthday in June. The trips to the beach were so few that it hurts my heart. But it came, and it went, it was wonderful, but now it’s time for September.

September will be even more intense then this fast-flying summer. We have two planned events every weekend. Seriously – a quick run down:

Weekend 1: Melissa and Chris’s wedding on Saturday // Fly to Virginia on Sunday to go to the Tech v. Boise State game Labor Day night

Weekend 2: Saturday BC football game // Sunday Patriots game

Weekend 3: Saturday Rascal Flatts Concert // Sunday Red Sox game with the McFamily

Weekend 4: Maria and Steve’s Weddding Weekend (which starts on Thursday and should be amazingness! Did you see how cute the bridesmaid dress is?! http://yfrog.com/3u891lj YAY!)

And yup. That is September. I’m excited. I’m overwhelmed. But all-in-all September is going to be a great month, I can feel it. I’m trying to think of ways to document the craziness. Obviously here would be a good place and through photos of course — but I’m trying to think of a good way to remember the 8th month of marriage – the month that was so full of fun that we don’t want to forget it. Any ideas?

{i am a flasher}

Yup. That’s right you googling creepers. I am a flasher. Don’t get too excited this post has no photos., as I am definitely not the Mardi Gras “give me some beads” kind of flasher. Or even the male variety that liked to hang around the running paths near my college. (Don’t worry, I never saw them but there were ‘bulletins’ all the time warning of the flashers.) I’m a flasher of the there-is-a-cop-up-ahead-slow-the-heck-down(!!) variety.

Yesterday after work I decided to take the windy back roads to make my way home. I only take this route when I know that I don’t want to talk on the phone because there is no cell phone service for about 15 minutes. These are the days I want my windows down and to be blasting some music and singing right along with it. So I was making my way down the road, probably traveling a solid 10 mph over the speed limit {oh stop it, don’t pretend like you don’t do this too!} singing along as happy as a clam. Then I saw a jogger coming towards me and I of course slowed down and drifted out of his way a little bit  while turned the volume down on my radio. I was slightly embarrassed, slightly annoyed that this jogger had interrupted me and Katy Perry rocking out to California Girls. Then something funny happened — he started flailing his arms at me and so I slowed down as I approached thinking to myself:  “GOSH I already slowed DOWN!” Then he nicely hollered into my window — “there’s a cop up ahead!” — with a smile and a wave.

Wow, did I ever feel like a jerk. What a nice guy. Just jogging along doing his thing while at the same time saving my speeding self from getting a ticket. So of course when a car approached me from the other direction just a few hundred yards from said policeman, I gave a little flash with my lights. I don’t know if this is legal, but I do know that it is right. Helping a fellow joy-rider from getting a ticket made me happy as the person gave me a quick wave and a smile and I could see their break lights as they drove by. Another soul saved.

{{we’re having a party}}

Woo! Our big summer bash is only two weeks away now, which means my crazy anal self is planning every single detail! It seems like we are going to have a BIG showing and I am so excited for it. We invited about 80 people and so far we have 64 confirmed and a few “most likely” — the invitee list ranges from 2 weeks old (Greg’s cousin’s newborn twins) to two 95-year-olds (my grandfather and Greg’s grandmother!) — so we literally have ALL ages coming and it’s hard to think of/ plan activities for everyone. I’m writing my current to do / to buy list here so I remember the first  big party we threw at our house and how it all came together.

The Meal

• Meatballs (my mom is bringing in slow cooker)
• Pulled Pork (Greg’s mom is bringing in slow cooker)
• Chicken Tenders & Sauces
• Mini Sandwiches (Ham, Turkey, Roast Beef & cheeses)

The Apps

• Mexican Dip
• Buffalo Dip
• Artichoke Dip (looking for a recipe?)
• Fruit Kebobs
• Keilbasa & Pineapple
• Pasta Salad
• Chips / Pretzels / Popcorn / Peanuts (in the shells like at baseball games!)
• *Also will have a few hot dogs and hamburgers for kids and/or anyone else who doesn’t like the other stuff, but I’m sorry – who wouldn’t?!*

The Desserts

• Funfetti Cupcakes
• Hoodsie cups (if you don’t know what these are, then you aren’t from New England, google it – they are amazing)
• Klondike Bars
• Popcicles / Fudgecicles
• Two people also offered to bring desserts

The Drinks

• Beer
• Wine
• Soda
• Water
• Juice Boxes

The Fun for the Adults

• Bag Toss
• Horse Shoe
• Whiffle Ball

The Fun for the Kids

• Bubbles
• Chalk
• Balls of many shapes and sizes

Must also buy

• Flowers
• Balloons
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray

I am sure I am forgetting things — please help me out so I’m not scrambling the day before!

WOAH! That is insane. I am so excited about it though! WOOOOHOOO!!!!!

PS – My computer bought the farm on Friday afternoon and I am waiting til this weekend to go buy my new computer because it is tax free weekend here in Mass – but I’m SO happy to say I am getting a Mac!!!!!

{{honeymoon – here we go}}

One thing we’ve done on all of our vacations so far is to keep a journal of what we do while we are there. I think we do this for three reasons:

1) I have a bad memory

2) I have a bad memory but take a lot of photos and want to know where I am in each of the photos

3) To have something to look back on and remember our vacations (aka, I have a bad memory)

So I’ll be letting you in on some bits and pieces from the journal to help guide you through our honeymoon in Kauai! Apologies in advance that it is all a bit of a run on sentence but we just tried to write down as much as we could as quickly as we could.

——-

So our adventure began on a very snowy day in Boston at the Seaport Hotel in the honeymoon suite. We had said goodbye and thank you to both of our parents as well as many of our guests at the very yummy brunch. Then, it happened, Greg checked on our flight — on no — three hour delay. Quick – what to do – call Kerry, maid-of-honor extraordinaire who thankfully waited a few minutes for us to throw our bags together. We stuffed into her little red Jetta along with the leftovers from the cupcake tower and the well utilized “bathroom baskets” that she was taking home with her.  That stuff along with all of our luggage and our very tired feet made the ten minute drive to Newton seem much longer then usual.
But alas – our slightly rough start had a bright spot – an email from MKD photography with a slideshow link already?! Could it be?! We lugged our bags inside and spent the next 20 minutes in awe. Who could have imagined they would not only take such beautiful photos but also turn them over so quickly! Many words come to mind when thinking about the photos but we’ll stick with amazing for now.

Needless to say the flight was delayed a total of five hours when all was said and done. No one else at the wedding was delayed more than an hour – go figure. Colleen and I slept most of the flight and arrived at 1:35am San Fransisco time. We rushed to the hotel in San Fran (sans luggage, a story for another day) and got 4 hours of solid sleep.
Flight #2 was delayed as well, so we did what we do best, go to the bar, read, complain, and enjoy the airport terminal.

Mimosa at the airport, so so tired.

Always a Hokie, no matter where he is

Our flight took off at 12:30PM (3 hours late) and we were finally on our way to beatiful Kauai. We had a nice flight and landed in heaven around 3:15 PM Hawaii time.

Thankfully our bodies and luggage (there may have been a little “our luggage made it” dance at the baggage carousel) arrived – only to be way-laid by rain, yes rain, in Kauai, where it only rains 10 inches a year. We got to Hertz and decided to make this vacation really ours – and we switched our rental car to a new four door Jeep – it is awesome. We drove that bad boy directly to the Waiohai and slipped into something a little more Hawaiian (remember, no luggage in San Fran – we were still wearing the same clothes we left the Seaport in, thankfully I had flip flops, not so for Mr. Campbell) and headed to dinner.

The most important part of dinner

We ate a very quick, but very delicious dinner just down the road at Keoki’s Paradise. Colleen was being open and even ate Asian wings (new husband was quite happy with the change of heart) Some fun Hawaiian music played in the background but all we could do was think about sleeping so off to bed we went.

Woke up early the next morning to catch the sunrise since our bodies were still on east coast time …

sunrise

Early early morning self portrait

This actually wasn't staged, love this photo

Greg’s parents and brother had strongly suggested this location for a beautiful sunrise … too bad we didn’t figure out until it was too late that the sun rises on the other side of the island during the winter … it was gorgeous none the less.