Alabama + Graffiti

So, as of Thursday night, we have the time and place, and date of the wedding. I’m very proud of me and Bennett for jumping on this as quick as we could, and getting things ready before all the good dates are taken up.

We will be wed at Gabrella Manor at 7pm on July 27, 2009. It feels so weird saying that. Like I am actually getting married. I will be in a big white dress heading down the aisle toward my baby, probably crying my eyes out, and I will be married to Mr. Bennett James. The reality of all of it has yet to sink in. I actually bought the dress already, and a huge weight was lifted. It was the last time my mom would be able to come down, so even though I know I bought the dress a little early (on time according to all the books and website schedules), I knew I wanted my mom there when I bought it.

It’s so crazy to think about all of this, and even though I’m happy to have an actual wedding, I would be happy if it were just us two in an Elvis chapel in Vegas. I love him so so much, and I’m so glad that he wants to marry me.

Marry me. Ha. Sounds so weird.

So who didn’t know that wedding planning eventually stopped being fun and started being stressful? I mean it’s fun looking at dresses, and colors for the maids, and flowers and everything else. But it’s not fun figuring out the guest list, budget, where and when, who will marry us, on top of trying to make everyone happy.

Everyone so far has said, make yourself happy, don’t sell yourself short on your big day, blah blah. I am a little worried about the budget thing. One wouldn’t think that getting married in Birmingham, Alabama would be expensive, but we’re finding out that it will definitely cost an arm and a leg. Maybe all four.

We have semi-decided on a date: June 6, 2009. This is only tentative, as I’m sure it will change due to everything else that has to take place before picking a date. I keep thinking to myself that this is too much, and I just want to enjoy my time being engaged to Bennett, and I don’t want to think about all the stress (moving in two weeks, wedding planning, trying to get into grad school), and I just want to cuddle into bennett and watch movies forever.

So at least we have a kinda date. Yeah, that’s what we’ll call it for now, the kinda date. And the color pink. Oh yeah, Laura couldn’t have a wedding without the color pink.

So, as most of you people who read this already know, I am engaged. I have a fiancee. I can’t freakin believe it. I couldn’t be more happy than to be able to say I am going to marry Bennett.

I will, because some of you don’t know the whole story, retell it. I love this story. And everytime I think about it, I cry. SO hopefully, A. that will wear off, and B. I will try not to cry all over the keyboard.

So it was the fourth of july. Bennett knows that I love fireworks. He wanted to go someplace different than we went last year to watch the big show over Vulcan. So we go to some parking lot, and he goes off to get us some dinner. So as soon as we heard that it was the fireworks finale, he made me stand up. Then he got smack in front of me. And I’m like WTF, the fireworks. He was like, how are you going to make me come back to this every year? And I’m moving my head around trying to watch the fireworks, and I say, I’m your girlfriend, you have to. And then he said, “well how about if you’re my wife?” Got down on one knee, and just said “will you marry me?” No elaborate speeches, nothing. And it was perfect. Oh, it was so perfect. I’ve never been so happy to be with someone ever. I just wanted to tell the story to everyone. It was something that was incredibly special to me, and I wanted to share.

Thank you all for the congratulations. I will keep everyone posted on details as soon as I come off cloud nine to discuss them…

Sweet. I am so glad that my schedule allows me to be off on the fourth. But seriously, even if I wasn’t, there is no way that they would pay me time and a half to work it, so basically I was getting it off either way.

But there is only one more work day till my glorious weekend. I can’t wait. This has been a week to forget for sure. I can’t wait to hang out at the pool all day, and watch fireworks at night. I love fireworks. I made up a little song about them, and bennett doesn’t want me singing it anymore.

Really think about it; there are two days out of the year that fireworks are normal. There is New Year’s….and the 4th. There’s the occasional friday night braves game, or memorial day if you’re at the lake, but that’s it. So that is why I love fireworks so much. And last year they had smiley face ones, so I’m pretty excited about that.

Anyway other than that, just have to make it through one more day. And then it’s off to DC’s tomorrow night, and pool all day Friday.

Yay.

So it has been another fun filled Sunday at Oxmoor. This really is the least favorite of the places on Sunday. It’s supposed to be a relaxed, chilled-out day, but it never really is. And having foreign people scream in your face for doing your job is not really all that fun either. But I stood up for myself, and I was proud.

Friday was a blast. Went to Cajun Steamer for the first time, and their food was fantastic. Had some kind of shrimp thing that was super spicy. Ended up going back to DC’s for some drinks and chattime. The boys played cards, while C and I talked on her porch. They have the most awesome patio thing. It overlooks Birmingham, and has the magical power of making Birmingham look pretty. We talked forever, and when we finally decided to go check on the boys, it was 4 o clock in the morning.

Yesterday was kind of a lazy day. Stayed in our pajama’s pretty much all day; made our own pizza for dinner which was kinda cool. We’ve gotten into this habit of making a menu for the week; to save money. If we force ourselves to eat at home every night, then that saves us a ton of money. Last Friday was the first time we’d eaten out in awhile. It actually isn’t that hard to limit the fast food intake.

I have finally cracked the 10-minute mile. I am on my way to getting to try to do more than one mile in one sitting. Our goal for next year is to enter into a 5k, then maybe getting a little more challenge in the form of a 10k sometime thereafter. It’s the first time I’ve actually set a kind of “fitness” goal. Makes me feel all special.

Anyway, one hour left to go, and then I’m headed home. Thank God.