one month to go...

in 31 short days i will no longer answer to emily meiner.....OMG! ....ok...i will probably still answer to it, but that won't be my name.....holy smokes, lots to do!!!!

WE GOT THE APARTMENT!!! We signed the lease last Friday and will be picking up the key next week! We (I mean, I) can't wait to start decorating!!!!! Yay, what a relief off the shoulders! As soon as we move in, we want everyone to visit!

....after reading over this post I realized every sentence ended with an exclamation point....that either means A. I've been a cheerleader all my life or B. I'm excited!

I Graduated!!!

I can't believe the time has finally come......NO MORE SCHOOL! Even tho I have gone through graduation, I don't think it will hit me until I have a "real life" job and I don't start school in the Fall. It's so exciting to be done and I'm proud of myself for getting through the past 18 years.

As Ashley would put it......my adoring fans.......

I DID IT!!!!

We were only allowed 10 tickets per graduate....and we all know that's barely enough for my family....so I bummed 4 tickets from my friend Sarah! That way my grandparents, aunt, and cousin could make it!

....you can kinda tell, but since it was soooooo windy my hair was all over the place, so ash is holding it back......secret tricks-of-the-trade


You don't have to tell the Meiner's twice to do a silly pose.....

We ended the night with a little pizza at Ryan and I's favorite spot......Pizza Villa....oh and look, Michael and Ash had tickets to the same thing AGAIN! how random?/? (I think it was a LeAnn Rimes concert about a year back)

quick....top and bottom teeth pic.....

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

So I'm finally seeing light shine through the clouds......I think we have a place to live!! WOO HOO!!

Actually I shouldn't speak too soon, we are in the middle of the application process and will know if we are approved by either tomorrow or Friday. I felt like we would never get to this point. We have been searching, and searching, AND SEARCHING. It seemed like every apartment we would decide on, was sold by the time we contacted the Landlord.

This happened to us again today after we decided on an apartment we walked through last week. We went to the Office to see if we could sign the lease and someone else was already on their way to sign. :( The guy was very nice about it and said that he had a place just open up on Rainbow Drive. We had previously seen apartments on this road and they were very small and not what we were looking for, but figured we didn't have anything to loose. On our way over there, I had tears because I was so upset that we were never going to find our "first" place.

We approached 2202 Rainbow Dr. and entered Apt. 1. To our surprise it was very spacious!!! Before looking further I asked again what the price was and what utilities were included. He said rent was $550 a month and water was paid. We were hoping to have more utilities included with that price. He followed by saying, "I would take 525 because I know your upset about the other apartment." We were surprised and gladly accepted that offer, then continued to look through the apartment. I still can't believe the room sizes in this apartment and was happy to see this place had a dishwasher! Because I have a hunch my small little Maytag's would be doing all the work....

At the end of our tour, Kevin (our tour guide), said you know what....I'll give it to you guys for $500. SOLD!!!!

Later Ryan thought it was pretty crazy he kept going down in price after we said we would probably take it for $525.....works for us :)

There is this silly thing called an application fee per person, which through this agency was $20. We didn't have much cash on us and only had enough for one fee and he said that was fine and he would just take that.......ya...that's right, he took off $50 on rent + only $20 instead of $40 for fees....he's getting married the month after us, so we pretty much bonded last week....either that or he noticed the eyeliner still on my cheek from crying about the first apartment!

So.....fingers crossed and lots of prayers will be said tonight!! And if approved we will have keys June 1st.....that way we can gradually move in before the wedding so when we get back from our Honeymoon everything will be complete. Yay!


Oh and one more youtube video before I go.......On this season of American Idol I have been in LOVE with Adam Lambert, but last season Jason Castro was my man! Here's one of my favorite's from Jason......you know me and boys with dreads...??....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2nRxKC-OyA&feature=related

First wanted to say HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!! Hope every mom out there had a fun and relaxing day with their families!

On another note......I GRADUATED!!! Yesterday was my last day as a Northern Illinois University student and my first day as a Northern Illinois University Alum. Can't believe it's all over and now I'm in the "real" world. Exciting and scary at the same time. It was awesome walking at my graduation and it was such a proud moment receiving my diploma. Woo Hoo!! Pictures to come.....

Also, wanted to share this video with everyone....I don't usually watch Dancing With the Stars, but was shown this dance and L-O-V-E-D it!!!!!! Pay attention to the girl in the black/yellow (wish I had her strength) and make sure to watch it all the way to the end......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ1iT4cs1xE&feature=PlayList&p=8CDB0BDD73DB9C77&index=43

..........hope that link works (never posted one before, I'll get better at it...hang in there with me).....I think I'm going to surprise Ryan and rent the Free Educational movie at work that teaches you how to dance (ballroom, salsa, and more) He'll be thrilled!

One quick thing before I go......Wanted to say Congratulations to my Cousin Kristie and Friend Christie who both recently got Engaged!!! So happy for the both of you!

15 - Love

Team Sweitzer/Meiner Vs. Team Clark/Meiner.......

Kearstyn, Michael, Ryan and I played double's in tennis the other night. We had such a fun time.....Ryan and I tried to take it easy on them.

This picture was an attempt at a heart.....use your imagination!

This was Kearstyn first time ever playing tennis and I think she did pretty well! They both are going to need ALOT of practice if they think they will be able to beat Ryan and I sometime. :)

Grace's Special Day

On May 3rd, Grace received the sacrament of Holy Communion....and...it was her 8th Birthday!! She looked so pretty in her white first communion dress and "face framer" veil. And if you know Grace, then you know she is the Queen of Fashion. So picking out her dress and veil was something she has looked forward to and turned out to be a big deal! We first hit up The Dwelling Place in Bloomington because that's where we found Elizabeth's dress a couple years ago. Grace was making faces of disgust as we shopped the ONE rack they had. Mom and I tried to get her to stop with the faces because the man was standing right there. Luckily, someone else came into the store, which helped us escape. I believe Grace's first words out of the store were "that's Ridiculous! They only had 1 rack!" ahhaahha.......So the search continued......

We loved the dress she wore last weekend! She looked like a little princess and a mature 8 year old.

She knows absolutely everything about being a girly, girl. From eye liner and fake nails to push-up bra's and wedged heels. She seriously is 8 going on 28. She could put together any outfit for any occasion.....with accessories and the perfect hair-do. If you don't match or have repeated an outfit, she'll know and tell you about it!

Today in church she informed me that the girl in line for communion bought her shirt at Maurice's. What 2nd grader would know that?

Grace is my little shadow. She follows me around everywhere I go and probably knows me better than I know myself. I tell her alot of stuff....which hopefully somethings she keeps to herself! Dad loves it when he calls my phone and asks if my shadow is right there. The answer is always "yes."

I love that she keeps me company in the bathroom while I take a shower. And if I would let her, she would LOVE to shave her legs!

Grace loves to hang up my clothes...(which I'm not complaining) She knows exactly how I like the hangers and could tell you how many black tank tops I own. And if they made "pumps" in a size 1 she would wear them everyday!

This year is her first year in softball. Her first game is tomorrow and I'm SO excited to go and watch. Oh and picking out her glove was another shopping experience with Grace. I wasn't there, but heard she was a little upset that her glove was going to be black and grey!.....how horrible....Dad probably hates doing that stuff now with his girls and not the boys. Can't wait to see her on the field.

Happy Birthday Grace!!! Love You!!!

Eggplant Infusion

This past Saturday was my brother Rhys' Junior Prom. Ahhh...I can't believe he's getting so old! His date was his childhood friend, Sydney Benning. They both went together to order Rhys' tux for the dance. I believe she brought her dress in, so they could match it to the color of the vest and tie. She wore a blueish-purpleish, strapless gown and the Eggplant Infusion color-swatch matched perfectly!

Mom, the girls and I went to DQ for lunch on Saturday when Rhys gave us "the call any girl on prom would hate to get." When the man called in his order, the lady on the other line heard FUCHSIA instead of INFUSION.......so, yes......the vest/tie were PINK! Everything turned out alright and his new vest and tie came in a little later in the day....so all was well and the couple looked great!

I love this picture!

I luckily got off work a little early and in enough time to book-it out to the Martin's and catch the end of the photoshoot. It was SO funny to see how the dress selection has changed since I was in high school. I remember being covered up to my chin and the dresses really didn't have much pizzazz. These ladies looked beautiful!


The purple one above was our favorite. The back was so unique and it fit her well!

And I will say, all of the guys cleaned up very well! I'm digging the mature/studious, hand in the pocket look.

This looks like a groom/best man photo.

(can you tell I've got wedding on the brain)

The Clan

Rhys with his proud sisters!

Oh to be young again!