Engaged!

Today started like any other Sunday, waking up late and lazy and having a delicious breakfast (smoothies and peanut butter toast). Then we quickly packed up and left for an afternoon hike in Auburn at Hidden Falls Regional Park. We walked about forty minutes along the trail until we got to a beautiful secluded spot with trees all around, with a very convenient picnic table, where we took out and enjoyed our pasta salad, chocolate covered almonds, and sweet tea. After lunch we continued down to the falls, which were beautiful and also very crowded, so we didn't stay long.

Hidden Falls at the Overlook

We walked back to the main trail and then decided to hike the Pond Turtle Road towards the Seven Pools Loop and Vista Trail, where luckily we discovered there was hardly anyone around! We walked to the end of Pond Turtle and found a little vista overlook next to the river. We played in the river and attempted to skip rocks, and then went up a little hill and found a beautiful shady spot with some trees and flowers and a great view.

We sat down and enjoyed the scenery for a while, and had fun taking some pictures with Nick's fancy camera and the teeny tiny tripod. We had a hard time finding the right soft light but eventually got it right! It was set on a delay and took five pictures at a time. It was a beautiful day and was about three o'clock in the afternoon.

Nick set up the camera one last time to get a picture of us sitting down. He set the camera up and then walked back over to me, but instead of sitting, he got down on one knee and asked, "Will you marry me?"

Of course, the answer was YES! It came out "Duh!" first, of which I am not very proud of, but looking back is pretty funny. I said "Yes!" immediately after, so hopefully that fixes it. Nick just laughed.

Happy! 

Immediately after/during this photo, we were interrupted by a shirtless hippie hiker, who awkwardly asked to get past us on the trail. Poor guy! Now, we were still at the bottom of the trail, a good half hour away from the car, and I was so excited I practically ran up the first hill! We hiked up the rest of the way (all uphill!) holding sweaty hands and admiring my ring. I felt like shouting out at everyone we passed, "We're engaged! We just got engaged! LOOK!" and shoving my hand in their face so they could see what a beautiful ring Nick had custom designed for me. It even has my great-grandmother's (suspected) wedding ring melted into the gold, which makes it even more special.

Sparkly! My precious. ^_~

Once we reached the car, I called my house to see who was home, being very sneaky and casual about everything. My mom was running errands with Nanny, so we decided to surprise Nick's family first! We pulled into their driveway and they all came out of the house to greet us. Their first thought was that somethin was wrong, because we came up with no notice. We walked over to the deck and Nick told them we had a surprise for them. I held up my hand.

Their reaction was great! Nick's mom clapped both hands to her face and gasped, and they were all so surprised! They were also happy, which made me happy too, because I really love Nick's family. We spent about fifteen minutes there talking about how he asked, and when the wedding might be, and admiring my ring, and then his dad had to leave to pick up his grandparents from the airport (they just got back from Hawaii!) and so we left and drove to my parents house.

My mom was still out but would be coming back in about a half hour, and my dad had a member of his band "Close to You" (Carpenter's tribute band, they sound great!) over to practice, so I twisted my ring around so it looked like just a band and we pretended everything was normal. For over two hours, until the friend left.

IT WAS TORTURE.

It was pretty funny afterwards, though! I was dying to tell everyone and was having the hardest time keeping my hand from flinging out and accidentally giving it away. I kept my hand curled over and at my hip a lot, and spent the whole time my mom was back avoiding her. Last night we went out to the symphony with my parents, and my mom noticed that I had taken off my normal small diamond ring from when I was sixteen and was wearing a different costume ring. I knew she would notice this, so I had to stay far away! Nick and I took the dogs for a walk around the circle, and I spent a lot of time running around checking on the cats, and bringing in dog food, and looking at the flowers, and not talking to mom.

Today there was a solar eclipse! We poked a hole in paper with a pin and used it to cast the light from the solar eclipse onto another piece of paper. It was very cool, but also hard, because my mom was always there and I was so afraid she would see my ring and we would have to tell them then! I wanted it to be a big surprise.

After dinner the band friend left (I felt bad, I spent the whole time wanting him to leave instead of making him feel welcome) and we were sitting outside on the deck eating cantaloupe and mango and strawberries when I brought up our hike. Mom asked us how that went, and I said, oh, fine, you know, we saw the waterfall and then walked out to this beautiful secluded area by the river and Nick gave me this. And I held up my hand.

Mom and Dad just froze, and Dad asked, "What kind of ring is that?" and I said, "An engagement ring!" and then they kind of exploded and were like "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US!" and they got up and gave us hugs and were so excited and happy and it was so much fun! And Troy was on his computer and only paid attention at the part where mom and dad freaked out so he was like, rewind and tell the story again! So we did. 

Currently my mom has sent me about five different emails with wedding venues that look good, and is so, so excited. She has been watching wedding shows for a while since she knew Nick and I were serious. Now she has a reason to plan and be excited! She and dad I think are both very happy for us, and a little bit melancholy for when we were little kids and not getting married. Troy is kind of shocked and keeps saying "I feel old!", but is also being so sweet and happy for us. 

I called all my family and friends and shared the news and they are all so happy for us! Everyone loves Nick already so it was so great to tell them that we were making it official! It was really a very fun evening, and we appreciate everyone's congratulations and good wishes! 

Nick and I are very happy and kind of overwhelmed right now. Tomorrow we are driving back up to Auburn to tell his grandma in person and to drive to my Nanny's and see her in person. I have some more calls to make and then will post it on facebook to let everyone know. 

I feel so very lucky and extremely happy right now! 

Happy Happy Happy!

Today we celebrated my birthday, my brother's birthday, and my boyfriend's birthday by eating dinner at my parent's house with my Nanny and my brother's girlfriend. We ate Vera Cruz tomatoes and baked potato and applesauce, with carrot cake for dessert! So yummy.

So now I am 23! I still feel the same. And my little brother is 20! He is all grown up. I'm sorry, buddy, but I still see you as a little boy who needs bossing. I'll try to work on that. ^_~

My parents just bought a 3D TV and we watched a 3D movie on it with our funny 3D glasses. It was really cool! Now we are home and relaxing before bed.

I have had such a great day. Nick woke me up by making waffles with chocolate chips, and then making me study for my last final (that part wasn't so great). I took my final (I think I did well!) and then came back for a few hours that I just spent with Nick. Then I drove to Olive Garden to have a luncheon given by the Board of Trustees for the teachers at the school I work at. It was just lovely, and really thoughtful of them to do. The director of the school stood up and said really nice things about all of us, and handed us cards with a bonus in them! He said that all the children love me and that the parents and even the teachers stop in to tell him that they like the way I teach. That was really, really nice to hear and I appreciate them so much! I really love my job. Also amazing is the Christmas presents that the parents give the teachers! I have received two armfuls of presents! Starbucks cards, candles, a beautiful Christmas mug, cookies, chocolates, candies, a little purse, a leather paper holder, a beautiful bookmark, numerous lovely cards, and so much more. There are really wonderful people at this school. ^_^

Here's to a great year! It's off to a great start.

My Boyfriend's Foot Is On My Shoulder Like a Silent Stinky Angel

He really is a sad thing when he isn't feeling well, which is why I'm allowing it. I would like to note, however, that he is only about two days behind me in the same cold, and he's getting much more sympathy than I received. Poor thing. 

Oh, there's so much that's happened, and so much that has stayed the same. Let's see. Nick and I both are now 22, which is exciting but kind of a letdown after turning 21 and being allowed to drink. What are we allowed to do at 22 that we couldn't do before? Say we're a year older, I suppose. 

Presents! Presents happened, they were lovely. We had birthdays and then Christmas, and now I can't think of anything else that we either need or want. (Lies. There's always more want.) Our kitchen is not wonderfully full of all kinds of gadgets. Which is good for us, but bad for my waistline. 

We spent hours opening these presents. It was fabulous!

Santa wrote my cousin Adam a letter, complete with sparkly snowflakes and a Rudolph. Santa likes sparkles. Katie likes sparkles. ^_-

It was a good Christmas. We returned via the sardinemobile and were happy to be home . . . and then promptly fell sick with a cold, which returns me to my poor sick boyfriend and his feet. 

We both felt kind of icky and so stayed home for New Years Eve. 

(TANGENT: Have you seen that How I Met Your Mother episode where the group of friends goes out to a club and they explain the differences between singles and couples? About how singles move around and get drinks and talk, but couples are so exhausted by the very act of leaving the house that they find a seat and stay there? That's now Nick and I are. We are a couple of old fogies living in 22-year-old bodies.)

(TANGENTY TANGENT: Barney's quote from HIMYM "When I'm sick I just stop being sick and be awesome instead. True story.") (I love that guy.) 

ANYWAYS, SO, Nick and I stayed in and made spinach mushroom cheese ravioli's with our new kitchen aid and the new ravioli maker and they were DELICIOUS and then I made peach bellini's (frozen peaches, champagne, peach liquor, YUM) and then we watched Star Wars IV and smooched at midnight. 

Time for the requisite New Year's Resolution List! 

1) I will complete 500 miles this year! And do 30 minutes of exercise a day!

2) My mom and I will lose 2lbs a month (minimum) until we reach our goal weights! We will then maintain them. Yay!

3) Clean, clean, clean. Do not let apartment get explody again. 

4) Spend more time with boyfriend and less time on computer. 

5) Be happy and healthy and not let my stomach take over like it did for awhile there. 

PS: My boyfriend's resolution this year was to kiss me more. I think I'm gonna like 2011. ^_^

Happy New Year!!!

Quick Update

I taught computer class all by my self today, and by December will be teaching it completely! I'll go into that later. Suffice to say, it was fun, and awesome, and I wanna do it again. 

I substitute kindergarten tomorrow. Which means I have to get up early. Ugh. 

Went out with my coworker friends today, laughed a lot. Fun!

Our apartment is messy. 

I love my boyfriend. 

This weekend will be busy. 

I really, truly, seriously for-reals this time must study for my incompletes. 

Mwah!

Someone's Rain Dance Paid Off

Today was the first rainy day of the season in Sacramento, and we celebrated by stuffing sugar cookies and cocoa in our faces and using the excuse of "listening to the rain" to lounge all day and essentially do nothing. (Amended: Nick did some homework.) 

Happy, happy day!

Seafood Birthday Dinner!

Every year for Nick's dad's birthday we go out to a delicious restaurant. This year we went to Rudy's Hideaway in Sacramento. 

THE BEST. LOBSTER RAVIOLI. IN THE WORLD. 

We started off with escargot and some crab-stuffed mushrooms. Oh, and of course our bread. Then our soup's arrived: a lobster bisque for me and clam chowder for Nick. Mine was mildly spicy and full of lobster, soooo good! Nick's clam chowder was amazing as well. Then there was the noodle course: a delicious red/cinnamon/cocoa? meat sauce spooned over hollow noodles. Then our entrees arrived: I had the lobset ravioli which had huge pieces of lobster stuffed inside with the richest cream sauce imaginable. Nick had crab-stuffed salmon, as did his mom, Clair had the children's prime rib and french fries, and his dad had a 1.5 pound lobster tail. It was all AMAZING. For dessert there was creme brulee and mudpies and chocolate mousse. 

I am so stuffed I cannot move, so stuffed I debated the relief of unbuttoning my pants at the table versus the embarrassment it would cause. 

So delicious, so yummy, thank you Nick's dad! Happy birthday! 

Lucky Phone Call

I'm feeling very lucky right now!

Yesterday I gave my classmate my contact information so she could pass it along to her boss who is looking for after-school workers to help teach and corral students. I felt so lucky just that the opportunity presented itself, and really appreciated her offer even if it didn't work out.

Today the principal called and invited me to an interview this Monday! If all goes well I will start right after the meeting. It is not a big job, just two to three hours daily for four to five days a week, but I'm so excited to start working again, especially since I will be in a teaching environment! It's even a private school!

Happy happy happy day!

Apartment Living

For ten days now I've been living with Nick in the city. What can I say? I love it!

I do miss my family, but I've seen them a few times already, and since it's only a 45-50 minute drive I suspect I will see them quite a bit. Just yesterday Troy and I met up with Dad near his work and we all had lunch! (Sushi, mmm! Also, a historical moment, since Troy ate a sushi roll piece and declared it okay!) So while I miss them, and do miss my boys Io and Oz, (and my last foster baby Billy, whom my wonderful mom is taking care of!) I'm so excited to be on our own. I do feel sad for Clair, Nick's nine year old sister. She wrote him the sweetest note (with glitter!) about how much she missed him, and it made my heart break a little bit. I don't know what to do about it yet.

So! Adventures in apartment living!

First, our brand-spankin' new microwave broke after two days of use. Apparently the "Minute Plus" button is just there to taunt you, and if you actually press it everything just stops working. It's not the big a deal (yet) because it has a complete warranty and there are service centers all near us. (The benefit of city-living! Everything is so close!) But now it is taking up space in our pantry until I get around to calling them.

Second, we are right on the levy for the American River. Which means that 35 miles of bike trails and walking paths are right outside our door. It's fabulous. We went for a bike ride last night after dinner (of pasta! dinner of college champions!) and the weather was cool and lovely, it was so fun! Especially with Nick making fun of me for wobbling around on my mom's bike. ^_-

Third, we have fleas. Yes. I will that sink in. Much like a flea sinking into warm skin, searching for blood, hopping around, making you itch, and EW! The first flea I noticed the day after we moved in, when I was sitting on the rug futzing with some wires or something for Nick. There was a black speck and I picked it up and then promptly fell over and died of horror. I was pretty certain it was a flea but opted to go with DENIAL, because Denial Land is where happiness lives. A few days later I found three more and Denial Land became Panic Land, resulting in a visit with the manager who gave me a flea bomb and a promise to get Pest Control back out to spray. The flea bomb worked for a day or two but I found TWO fleas on me last night, ZOMGSHOWERRIGHTNOW. Pest control should be coming very soon. Very, very soon.

Fourth, we have no internet. Comcast is the only option for internet so we called them last Monday and made an appointment for a guy to come out on Friday. (Five days of no internet! Yuck!) Friday rolls around and we wait patiently during the two hour window when Mr. Comcast was supposed to show. Then I get a missed call on my cell (bad reception inside) and a voicemail saying Mr. Comcast was outside but no-one let him in and since we didn't answer the phone, we'll have to reschedule. Nick runs out to the gate but he's gone, and I call Comcast and talk to a girl who assures me that Mr. Comcast left way too fast and they'll get him back within the hour. Satisfied I go inside. It makes sense! We got ahold of Mr. Comcast right after he left. He can't have gotten far. Well. The hour passes and nada. I call again and talk to a very nice girl who checks with her supervisor and assures me that Mr. Comcast is on his way, should be there very soon. Still happy. Ten minutes later and I get a call from comcast dispatch. There's no way he's coming out, don't know what those girls were telling you, we have to reschedule. For a week from now.

We were pissed. Dispatch knew it. If Comcast weren't the only damn option we would've dropped them like a hot potato, but we were stuck. I grudgingly made the appointment and brushed off the apologies. Grrr.

Yesterday I talked to the Comcast rep for our complex and she managed to get us the appointment a whole 24 hours sooner. We get internet tomorrow between 2 and 4. If there is a mix-up again, I cannot promise that this blog will be child appropriate.

Fifth, Nick is getting me addicted to video games! Wario Ware (weirdest game ever), and MarioKart (I do still drive off the road) and some others. He just brought Metroid, the Other M, and I was fascinated by the movie-like story portions of it. It made me cry!

Sixth, blahdeblahblah. I'm happy. I like it there despite the fleas. I love living with Nick. I even like pasta five nights out of the week. Now what I would REALLY like is a whole day to enjoy having our apartment without having things to do! Ah, well. Maybe Saturday.

Packing

There are not words to express today. 

At least not words for polite company. 

^_-

To summarize: Packed. Lifted. Carried. Packed. Played tetris by fitting boxes and dressers and tables into a car. Brought Nellie-kitten to the park-and-ride and picked her back up after she was at PetCo to try to get adopted. Brought Billy-kitten to the veterinary because he has persistent diarrhea that is not going away with regular treatments. Tried to find a new foster home for babies. Failed. Ran out of kitten food. Drove to Nick's, ate delicious turkey chili and cornbread. Drove Nick to my house, watched Alice in Wonderland with Johnny Depp (amazing!) and made chewy chocolate chip cookies to bribe people to help us move tomorrow. Drove us back to his. Packed more. Drove home. Cleaned. 

WE MOVE TOMORROW HOLY CRAP. 

At nine tomorrow morning Nick and I will be at our apartment filling out paperwork and getting keys and giving them money. At ten or ten thirty our parents will show up with tightly packed trucks and SUV's. We will begin to move. Will probably get tired. I will offer cookies and beg them to keep lifting the heavy things so I don't have to. Katie will lift heavy things. Then eat a cookie or five. 

This time tomorrow night Nick and I will be in our first ever apartment. WHEEEEEEE!!! 

On the bright side . . .

We may have a couch! Nick found that his aunt's couch is available, it's hanging out at his grandma's house, and she doesn't want it there anymore! So we get it! It's apparently a large blue couch and we will go look at it soon. Yay! 

Happy!

Because my two bikinis from Victoria's Secret arrived today! A pink triangle bikini and a purple tanga bikini with a adorable top. I lurve them! Now I must continue my bikini body challenge to fit them properly. 

Also happy because we are watching Lost in Austen again and this movie cracks me up! 

Gotta Go . . .

Because I was gonna write about how I'm off Kapidex and going to try to get off of Lexapro but Nick is here! Yay! Adios!

All's Well that Ends Well

Mom is recovering nicely at home from her gallbladder surgery. I pester her hourly with questions on how she is feeling, what number is her pain, does she need more tea, what does she want to eat, does she need to nap, and how long it's been since she used her respirator breathe-y thing that prevents pneumonia.

She is still fatigued and tires easily but is in good spirits and feels so much better! She gets two weeks off of work and six weeks before she is fully recovered. Thank you so much to everyone who has asked how she's doing and sent love! She appreciates you guys very much. Me, too. :)

Finally

After nine months of stomach problems, insurance hold-ups, and a mis-mash of diagnoses, I finally saw a gastroenterologist on Thursday.

Brief History! Last June, right after the semester let out and I finished up some really hard classes, I got the flu. And got better. And got sick again. And got better. Ish. Not really. My doctor said I had gastritis, and said to take Prevacid for two weeks and I would be better. Nope. Fast-forward through months of continued taking of prevacid and then prilosec, feeling sort of better and then getting sick again, getting more and more freaked out about what is wrong with me. Go to the doctor again after losing 17 pounds, and get a diagnosis of acid reflux, heartburn, gastritis, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), and go home with some super awesome acid-suppressors and anxiety medication. Start to feel better. Gain 7 pounds, yay! Go to GI doctor!

So my GI doctor says that I have the classic symptoms of IBS and nervous stomach. He says to continue taking the Lexapro and the Kapidex, work on managing stress, and that he doesn't think I have anything to worry about.

Some interesting things that he brought up: that I have post-infectious IBS (triggered by the flu in June), and that I may outgrow it in 1-2 years! He mentioned like a four word thing I can't remember too, that is basically hypersensitivity of the stomach and intestines--so something that a normal person wouldn't even notice is uncomfortable for me. He said that he doesn't think I need an endoscopy (or colonoscopy, thank God! Not until I'm 50 or whatever) unless the endoscopy would give me peace of mind. I'm not doing it, I feel well enough that I'm not as paranoid as I used to be.

Let's hope that within another year or so my symptoms disappear completely! I would love to be normal again and not need to take medications anymore!

Bikini Body Challenge Update

GUESS WHO FITS A SIZE FOUR*, BITCHES!!!

*Applies to the only place I buy jeans: American Eagle Outfitters. Notice that I did not say that I actually bought the jeans because 1) I do not like the sausage-leg look and 2) I plan on not losing any more weight so therefore I am content with my size six jeans, which I just bought another pair of yesterday. But still, the fact that I fit the size four and could have bought them and not gotten grossed out looks? SCORE!

(I worked out today. Nick would only let me buy the size six if I started working out because otherwise he says I'll start gaining weight and the money would be wasted. Hurrah for 45 sweaty minutes!)

DONE!

I am officially done with my third semester at college!!!

(Jumping, shrieking, and happy dancing ensues)

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!


. . . Now I am going to go sleep for a month. Or until 7am, which is when I wake up for work. But whatever, because I AM DONE WITH MY THIRD SEMESTER OHMIGOD YAY!!!



Edward, fast asleep under the china hutch, with the heater vent next to him. He anticipated my need for sleep and BEAT ME TO IT. Darn adorable kittens.