Wedding Plans and dizzy days....

So this one won't be as "picturey" as the others, but it's more of an update on the life spectrum for Owen and I.
This last year brought a lot of learning, growing, getting closer, depression (financially), and new beginnings. With all the good bad or indifferent, we have made the best of what we can and just kept going forward. With Owen's job and my new one starting soon, we have finally begun to see the light at the end of this tunnel we call love. ;)
So the date has been set, the locations have been chosen and the places reserved. Now, we just have a list of I don't know, a million more things to decide and plan. ;) I've actually found some fun in planning this wedding on the budget we have. It's been a little challenging, but at the same time, I'm proud of some of the ideas I have come up with. They don't feel like "settling" even though it's affordable, which to me, is very important. I'm sure it will come faster than I can be ready for, but then again, this next week when I start my new job, is going to take forever, I can tell.
I'll be working at American Express in their admin department. I will be setting up new hires, creating user names and passwords, doing equipment inventory, and creating spreadsheets. I'll be working primarily with the Indians here on working visa's. The lady I will work for is extremely insane and very racist so that will be something to experience. heh.
My school is going well. My Interior Design instructor has been out of town for 2 weeks so this will be my first real week of class with her. I'm actually very excited to get going with this class and expand on my knowledge in this field. I love that the text book I bought that was way too expensive for my own good, has been more fun to read through than most magazines I buy for the pictures. I'm excited that I finally found something that doesn't really feel like work when I focus on it. It's more fun.
My other classes are good. I have a Communications class taught by a Nigerian who is one of the funniest guys I have met. I have another communications class, however, taught by a guy that strongly resembles Rocky on Frasier (the sports announcer guy). This class feels more like an AA meeting. I almost wanted to ask for a button at the end of class to prove I came. He's big on sitting us all in a circle while we reflect on sentences and their deeper meanings. He craves personal stories and how they have changed people's lives. I keep telling myself not to judge the forty women in there that take the class time to complain about their husbands that forgot to buy them a flower or the guys that whine about their nagging wives that make them pause their tivo to talk about their day. Think what you want about Owen, but I thank my stars I am with him every time I leave that class. I love being with a guy that talks to me as much as I talk to him, who genuinely cares about how I am doing, and who really is my best friend. Being with someone who loves to hear what you have to say or who likes to buy you a flower cause it occured to him one random day you would want some, is a serious blessing in my life I thought at one time would never be possible.
Owen is doing well, work work and more work mixed in with kids and playing Halo is pretty much his existance. Only, his X-box live account just expired so playing online is no longer in the cards for him as of late. He's sad, I'm trying to be sad about it. ;)
The kids are doing great! We have parent-teacher conferences for Jessica on Wednesday so I guess we will find out more then. Her last one came out with her doing wonderful with her reading skills and being polite in class. Mitchell just turned three and his potty training is proving to be almost complete. We still have a ways for the over-night potty training and what not, but during the day, he is a great little boy and tells us each time he has to go. We're extremely proud of him. Every day his speach gets more and more complex. He really is turning into a great kid.
Well that's all for us right now. Stay tuned and I'll update more soon.

Hearts to all!!!

Ready, Set, GO!!

So Mitchell is now Three. I can't believe he is so big. I met him when he was born and starting getting to know him when he was 1. Now he's freakin walking around telling me how things "really" are and yelling from the back seat of the car when the light is green cause it's time to go! (duh Crissy!!) heh. He has grown such leaps and bounds. For his birthday, we decided a more practical birthday was in order this year. We nailed it for Christmas and were a little stumped at what exactly to get for the birthday. But with some creativity, we came up with some great things he loves to play with and we took the kids to Incredible Pizza. The rides were awesome for the kids. We rode the go-carts. Jess and I smoked Owen and Mitchell's car!! Take that boys! We also played some racing video games and had lots of pizza. Jessica and Daddy battled it out on the airhockey table and then the kids finished up on a play place that I wish I had when I was a kid.
Mitchell really had a nice time when the family came over for cake and ice cream. He ran around playing with everyone and his new dragons. (the new fave).

An Unconventional Life

Alright, so I know it's about time I updated. I have millions of pictures from Christmas, New Years, and events since but I figure I should touch on the highlights since it's a New Year and time marches on.

Christmas was a bit different in my eyes than what one would call "traditional". I think somewhere inside each of us, we have a set of standards for how we wish to parent. Not all of us realize this truth, but it's there and exists for every type of parent out there (nuclear, divorced, step, etc).  Deep down, we all want to give our children everything we loved about our childhood and give them everything we didn't have including missed experiences, chances, or trust.

This year, was the "off year" of Christmas for our side. Each year Owen switches with his ex on who gets the kids over Christmas Eve Night to Christmas Morning. I have to say, it's just not the same. Yes, we get them for hours and they get to open presents and we do all the same traditions, but there is something special about seeing the kids' faces as they run out in the morning. Something exciting about watching them go to sleep the night before trying to hide from you that they are planning to stay up and catch Santa once you leave the room. Not being able to have that is admittedly sad. The kids are not missing anything and they are not deprived in any way as some may think, on the contrary actually. Having two of everything is bordering on the spoiled side of life :) But I have found that for us as the parents, it was a bit hard. Adjustments to the expectations we give life is normal I guess.

As far as Christmas went as a whole, it was very nice. Not traditional, as I said, but it was nice in our own way. The kids loved their gifts and had a great time familiarizing themselves with each new thing. Jessica loved her new keyboard and wouldn't step away from it almost all day. Mitchell tried to hold everything and bring it all with him everywhere he went. Simba (as big as Mitchell) was slung over his shoulder, egg (that hatched a dinosaur) was in one hand, "sharp tooth" that roared was in the other and his dinosaur slippers were on his feet ready to go.

After the week was through of playing with toys, spending time with friends and family, and partying a very happy "noon" year's party at the Natural History Museum, Jessica returned to school this week and life started to look forward for plans of the New Year.

Mitchell is finally to the point where I can say he is potty trained!! Yay! He is still in need of assistance with pants and wiping and such, as normal, but he is finally getting up and saying it's potty time frequently without any accidents. Gosh it's been a long road, but I'm happy he's clicked and is finally crossing over to such a big boy attitude.
On best friend news, Ashley had her baby!!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At her request, I am not going to post any pictures of her at the hospital, but I can say that her new little boy is beautiful. They named him Lincoln Peter Jensen. He was 6 pounds and healthy as can be. Will was probably the cutest big brother I have ever seen. He held Lincoln and kept saying he was "so cute" and kissed him on his head. Will is a great big brother and I'm excited to be close and see them grow up together. Jake and Ashley are home now with their new little one and breaking in the new life they have as a family of four.

Owen and I are now feeling the extreme pressures of Wedding planning. We have a spot for the reception, but the location for the ceremony is another story. 1. it's hard to find a place while it's winter death outside and picture it for the summer 2. everything is freaking expensive on a $0.00 budget 3. time is not something that is abundant these days. Hopefully, with prayers and hard work, this will all come together. :)
Recently I have interviewed at a few different places so that should play another factor in a lot happening during these next six months.
School starts this week. I have finally decided to take Interior Design as my major. I almost have my generals done for my associate's degree but I'm trying out Interior Design and seeing where that road takes me. I'm so excited to start it out and embark on this new challenge. Wish me luck!!!

Love you all!