Honeymoon and Pumpkins

Ok before I get too far behind, I've decided to skip wedding pictures until I get the ones Tom took (since those will be the most professional). And then I can pick the best ones to put up! Until then, I will put up some from the honeymoon and this weekend.

Two weeks after the wedding we left for our honeymoon in Maui, Hawaii. The flights weren't too bad, we were so excited nothing could bother us. We got up REALLY early to leave Oct 4th and were back on the 11th.

Maui was an amazing place. Our hotel was about a block from the beach and not far at all from fun little shops, tasty restaurants (varying in price and quality), and countless other beaches were just a short drive away.

It took us a while to get used to the idea that although the ocean LOOKS cold, its actually really warm! We swam and snorkeled every day, saw three sea turtles, tons of fish, and really crazy coral. We also made the drive to Hana, which is an event in and of itself. Lets just say I'm really glad Erik drove because that is the scariest road I've ever been on. It was well worth it though because we got to see an amazing waterfall after an awesome hike, and swim in the Seven Sacred Pools.

It was an amazing and memorable honeymoon to say the least!

Seven Sacred Pools

Obviously an amazing tree

400' waterfall

A bamboo forest!

Sunset

The splashing waves weren't really working for me

Much better for Erik

View from our balcony

And just to be totally updated, I'll rehash this weekend. Friday was Todd's birthday so we went to the Cheesecake Factory (delicious as usual). It was actually a joint birthday celebration since Jen's was on Monday. Happy Birthday, Jen and Todd!

Yesterday Kim came over and the three of us went to get pumpkins. It was pretty fun, except for the fact that the pumpkin "patch" was actually a pumpkin lot. I wanted to rip a pumpkin off the vine, but this is as close as we got.

We got home and Kim and I made delicous ginger cooks, Erik made dinner, and later we had mulled apple cider with whiskey. It was very tasty and left Kim and I very red faced. After that we met up with Sarah and Sobo at Todd's house and we all played Apples to Apples. That was quite entertaining and an all around good time.

Today Erik and I had a nice relaxing day around the house and took the dogs to the arboretum. There were TONS of people there, but the place is so huge it wasn't crowded. The trees were beautiful and the weather was perfect. A great weekend!

Corn maze

We made it out of the hay maze!

No, Kim is not actually that short

hay ride

Beautiful leaf at the arboretum

Onward!

The wedding saga continues: it is the weekend following the bachelorette party.

Erik's parents arrived on Friday (8 days before the wedding) and mom, Jenny, and Henry arrived Sunday. It was a good weekend, the calm before the storm. Come Monday, wedding preparations were in full swing!

Sewing, shopping, crafting, baking, errands, phone calls, manicures/pedicures, laughing, late nights, crying, swearing, forgetting to eat, organizing, flower arranging, you name a wedding related task and we probably did it.

The wedding was definitely a mix of DIY (do it yourself) and "oh just give up and buy it". As far as the actual week before the wedding, almost all the projects were DIY. We started by finishing up the favors (personalized tea bags) and creating the ceremony programs (thanks Jenny!).

Centerpiece fabric squares (x10) and a long table runner were sewn by my mom on the world's worst sewing machine (mine). Aunt Elaine arrived on Tuesday and helped with many things, and provided a car since I was too cheap to get a rental for the week (Erik was still working, and thus using the car).

The biggest and most daunting project was the cake. Well two cakes actually if you count the much smaller "groom's cake". They were baked on Wed-Thurs and put together on Friday by my mom and Aunt Elaine. Both turned out delicious and beautiful!

Meeka arrived on Thursday and helped a lot. Her moral and emotional support was much needed. I found out at the beginning of the week that my sister Maria would not be able to make it and later that my Aunt Gerrie and Uncle Jim would not be able to attend either. We all missed them very much. I know Maria enjoyed the piece of chocolate groom's cake I sent in the mail :)

Overall the week before the wedding went very smoothly and we easily got everything done (well putting together the bouquets on Friday night was a LITTLE stressful). There are few things more fun than not working for a week and getting to hang out with the favorite women in your life. It was a memorable week and yet another reason why a DIY wedding is so rewarding!

making various flavored and colored mints

Pow-wow in the kitchen

pedicures anyone?

Johanna and I mid-pedicure

Johanna getting her manicure

Dad arrived on Friday and was of course a Henry-hog

Making the bouquets

Kristin's is looking good!

There were flowers everywhere,
with Dendro right in the middle!

Jenny and Henry are making the programs

At least this day I remembered to take a shower

cake time!

Mom's nails look nice with chocolate cake

another project

good thing Kristin doesn't have allergies