vampires + love = addiction

Ryan's brother (deric) called me a 13 year old girl, but i don't care....i'm addicted to the new book series TWILIGHT.

after reading a chapter, it's hard to put the book down...

i don't want to ruin it for anyone, but i love the back of the book so i thought i'd share....

About three things I was absolutely positive.

First, Edward was a vampire.

Second, there was a part of him--

and I didn't know how dominant that part might be--

that thirsted for my blood.

And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably

in love with him.

mmmm...monkey bread

A couple weeks ago Ryan and I were bored and decided to make the delicious monkey bread dessert. We found all of the ingredients we needed at his house except for the biscuits, so we made a trip to the market.

(good thing for the internet and online recipes)

shake..shake..shake..

I was in charge of cutting the dough

my little monkey...

THE END RESULT!!

Wedding Updates

Wedding planning is going slowly but surely as always....our photographer Cassie had The 12 Days of Christmas, Holiday Giveaway this winter. On the Sixth Day of Christmas we were winners!!! We won a free 11x14 print. Thanks Cassie! :)

My aunt Paula makes wedding invitations and she let me borrow her book of "put together invitations" that I could look at for ideas. The binder was packed with sample invitations. Ryan and I have looked through it and we think we have decided on a layout. I'm excited and can't wait to have a few girls nights to make them all! Paula's daughter Tricia (my cousin) was back home with her husband Urs and their new little one Charlotte. I'm so glad we finally got to meet her! Here are a couple pictures of the cutie....

Last night we met with Msg. Mack. I don't know why but I was REALLY nervous? It turned out not to be bad at all! We got there and he filled out paperwork on us. Then he popped out a 164 question test, we each had to take separately. Some of the questions were funny and I wonder what Ryan answered. Like, "Does your future spouse always have to win?"...ahhah.....Ryan better said that he disagreed.....I just like to win. :) Our test results should be back in about 3 weeks and we will meet with him and go over the answers. He gave us information to look at as far as readings and guidelines for the wedding ceremony and then we were on our way......

.......164 more days.........

Christmas '08

This Christmas felt like it snuck up so fast. It was nice to get to spend time with family and friends that we haven't seen in awhile. Christmas morning Ryan came over like usual to open gifts with my family. My parents bought us a video camera! We were sooo thrilled because we have alot of important events coming up that we would love to capture and cherrish forever (idk... something like our wedding??/?) So this Christmas, I didn't get alot of pictures on my regular camera. We made it to many Christmas' that day. Here are some pictures of family, friends, christmas trees, and presents.......

Cousin's Dan and Mitch with Rhys and William

Deric's shelf to hold his records......I think we are going to ask for one next year :)

The Sweitzer men and their ladies.....

Elizabeth and Grace got a camera for Christmas and they have an abundance of pictures.....once I get them loaded on my computer I will share......Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Chicago Trip

William and I wanted to take a trip to Chicago together "just the two of us" before Christmas. So we both agreed on Tuesday (23rd). We decided that probably two days before and it was ridiculously hard to find cheap train tickets from Pontiac to Union Station. So we decided to do what Ryan and I usually do and drive to Westmont (where our cousins live) and hop on the train there.

It was so hard to wake up early, but we wanted to make a whole day of it. We were planning on making the 8:53 a.m. train from Westmont. We knew that wasn't going to happen when we weren't even close and it was a couple minutes 'til. So we decided we would take the next one which left at 9:49 a.m. We pulled into the parking lot a little after 9:30. We were getting more layers on (because of the snow) by the car when we heard a train coming and the lights were flashing at the station. We both freaked out and I looked at the time and it was 9:39. I asked William "Was the train coming at 9:49 or 9:39????" He's said "I don't know....RUN!" ahhaha......just picture us running through the parking lot, trying to finish getting our extra layers on and making it to the train.....once we got up there we realized the train was going the other way and didn't even stop at the station. We were right the whole time and we still had 10 min. until our train came. Dad called us while we were waiting for the train to see how things were going. William told him the embarrassing story and dad laughed and called us "Hillbillies" :)

The train came and we were finally on our way downtown!

We didn't really have a plan when we got there, we knew we wanted to make it to the Water Tower Place to shop and we wanted to see the big tree.

William in Macy's!


Us by the HUGE Christmas Tree! It really put me in the mood for Christmas Day......

Out of all places we could eat lunch, we ate at a McDonalds...but I will admit it was a pretty cool Mcy D's. There were two levels to the place and I told William to get us a window seat upstairs, while I waited for the food. When I came up to meet him...he had the BEST seat in the house!

Here are a few more pictures from the day.....we rode in a "free" trolley to get back to Union Station...which was really nice!

We had a REALLY fun day! William bought a new shirt and a shirt for Ryan for Christmas & I bought a new purse. We couldn't find much we wanted to buy, but it was just fun being together and walking around town.

Us on the train on our way back to the car.....

I'm Back!

So, I've been lazy with my posts recently, but we have been very busy finishing up school and moving home. I'm officially done with college (with the exception of my internship this spring)! I can't believe I won't be getting up for 8 o'clock classes and pulling all nighters to get my assignments done anymore. That sounds soooo nice :) I'm going to be doing my internship at the hospital in Pontiac. I will be there on Tuesday's and Thursday's. My supervisor is Eric Saxton who was a year older than me in high school. This internship is going to be a blast and Eric has told me I'm going to see alot! Ryan finished up at Kishwaukee College this semester and has received his Associates Degree. He will be attending ISU next fall.

These past couple of weeks home we have been kept very busy. Tyler had his big show at a venue in Chicago on December 6th. Ryan and I rode in a limo to Chicago with Judy and her friends. We all agreed that The Unemployed Architects were the best band there!

That night we had a 80's Bedazzle Bday Bash for my friends Kori (Dec. 10) and Chelsea (Dec. 23). We dressed up in 80's outfits topped with glitter and bright make-up! And yes we went out to the bars dressed up. We are all 80's children and I think our outfits were put together very well.

Tina skated around all night! She won "best outfit" for sure!!

Love this picture!

On the 13th, my best friend Kym Graduated from St. Francis Nursing School in Peoria. Ryan and I drove over there to watch the ceremony and celebrate with her and her family. She will be working at OSF in Pontiac as well. I know she is going to be a great and caring nurse. Way to go KYM!! Congrats!!!

After Kym's graduation we came home and took part in the Christmas Caroling my parents put on. Lots of family and friends came over and Grandma & Grandpa M. drove us around town in their motor home. We stopped at all the nursing homes in Pontiac along with Audrey (G-ma and G-pa M. neighbor), Aunt Helen (Pat and Lisa's aunt), and we crashed the business christmas party going on at the Elk's. My friend Dan met up with us at one of the nursing homes and couldn't believe this was the first time we put this party together. He said we looked like pro's and like we had done it before. I assured him this was our first Christmas Caroling party. It was funny to hear people in our group say "I think we are sounding better everytime!" I don't have any pictures to share, but Ashley took some which she will be posting soon.

Happy Birthday! / Happy Birthday!

Today is Ashley AND Zach's 21st Birthday!! How cool is it to share your birthday with your significant other!! Ashley is not only my cousin, but a third sister and my best friend! There are sooo many stories I could share about us growing up and some of the weird things we would do! I hope once I become a wife and mother I can be as GREAT as she is!

I am so happy she found such a loving and caring man to spend the rest of her life with. Zach's a keeper!

I love how funny and goofy these two can be.

I guess they were dancing in the kitchen...I love how the "man" is kissing the lady's hand, but the he's wearing a pink/furry dress!!

We both get soooo excited when the day comes to leave for Minnesota. Ashley and I both introduced our boyfriends to the lake the same summer (2005). Ryan loves to fish and this past summer Zach caught the fishing bug. They both have their own tackle boxes (thanks to grandpa!)

The guys helping grandpa with the garage roof.

Being goofy again.....but I think they both fit into the Meiner family well!

the LIFE

I tried looking up some old school pictures of these two, but this is all that I have on my computer. I think they'll do!! :)

One of my favorite memories of Zach is when he was holding Grace, while Ashley and I were showing him a stunt with Elizabeth. We were at a family get together at Ashley's and Grace was just a baby. He was such a sport when we asked him to hold a little baby and watch us do cheerleading....ahahha....we should have known then what a great father he would become!

I love Reagan's face in this picture....they had no idea I was taking it!

I was Ashley's Maid of Honor in her wedding and this coming summer she will by my Matron of Honor. She has been such a great help thus far, but I know in the next couple of months I will be bothering her 24-7! She came to cheer me on during my Running of the Bride's race....and look at the "not embarrassing at all" sign she made me! No, I really LOVED it!

Ashley is such a creative person. She is always doing my sister's hair when we meet up and I can't wait for her to have her own daughter. She will be the most stylish girl on the block :) Ashley also made Reagan's Halloween costume this year. He was a dog and looked soooo realistic! ahhaha....

Here are some more pictures from Tricia and Urs wedding.....

I had to put this picture up because I had no idea we took one together! I'm glad we did Zach!! :)

So I have been waiting for the perfect time to post these last two pictures...and today seems better than any.....

How studious! These were their senior photos, I believe, that were hanging up in the mall!! Reagan has the COOLEST parents!!!

Happy Birthday!!! We Love You Guys!!!