Snowman Season

I've been working a lot at Lutheran Social Services (53 hours last week!) and mostly the 3-11pm shift. I like the shift just fine, especially since Ceej and I can hang out during the days, but when I come home I am exhausted. One recent snowy night I pulled into my driveway to see this little guy, wavin' away. So cute! Ceej is quite the snowman maker (and fiance).

Baby Becker's Shower

This weekend my mom and I went to Hartford, Wisconsin for my cousin's baby shower. It was a lovely one! The shower was held at a great little coffee shop called Perc Place. Lindsay and Shane, the new parents, have been married for three years and are so excited about the arrival of their first little one. They'll be amazing parents!!
It was fun to spend time with my family this weekend! My maternal grandparents and aunts and uncles all live in Hartford, so I really don't get to see them very often.
I'm not a big cake-lover, but this one was to die for! Have you ever had a banana cake?! A M A Z I N G.
My mom and I stayed with my grandparents on Saturday night. Sunday morning, as I plopped down for breakfast about 3 minutes after rolling out of bed, my gramps (half) jokingly said, "Boy, you sure look rough in the mornings. Better shape up or you'll drive your husband away!" He's so adorable! Both of my grandparents are absolutely wonderful. I just love them so much!

Valentine's Day

This year we celebrate Valentine's day pretty low key. I had copied down a recipe for Mexican Lasagna, intending to make it for him, but I was trying to finish up my application to the occupational therapy program at the University of Minnesota (which, but the way, I did!), so he ended up cooking it for me. It turned out great! I've been feeling so domestic lately, copying down different recipes that will suit both of our tastes. This one was definitely a keeper! After our yummy dinner we watched Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice online, played scrabble, and then met my mom and step-dad out for a few games of pool and drinks at Rolly's. It was a nice mix of events. Ceej was bummed because he wasn't doing well at pool as he is highly competetive. I was surprisingly doing great, which is typically not the case. Anyway, it was a fun, relaxing evening. It's really exciting to think about the next 50 Valentine's days and how they'll differ. I can't wait to spend them with this guy!

Weekend in Madison

Ceej and I spent last weekend in Madison. We spent Friday with Dana, Tara and Tom at the Comedy Club on State. Lots of laughs, as always!! Then we went out for a bit. Dana and I had a dance-off -she won only because of her freakishly accurate memorization skills- and we all had a really great time.

Saturday night Ceej went out with Adam for a steak dinner, and I hung out with my roommates. It was so fun to be with the girls again! We had some wine and went to a (free Five Times August concert in the Rathskeller. Afterwards we met up with the two boys and spent the rest of the evening with them.
While walking home from the bars (a serious perk about living so close to State Street), my feet were absolutely freezing. Ceej graciously offerred to switch shoes with me, so he walked all the way home in my (well, Jamie's) heals! What a guy!

Overall it was a fantastic weekend! I really miss living with 6 other amazing girls, but I am happy at home to be with Ceej and having this time to prepare our hearts for marriage. It is so nice to say goodbye at the end of the night, knowing we will see eachother the next day! Although we have been together for a long time, I continue to learn new things about him and get more and more excited to be his wife everyday!

Random Update

I just realized that I haven't updated in a long time. My apologies go out to all of you blog-stalkers (being one myself, I feel your pain). Anyway, Ceej and I recently helped his sister, Natalie, celebrate her 6th Birthday! We had a great time at her party, and we also really enjoyed her gift from us: a trip to the movie theater to see "Marley and Me."

Other news: one of my closest friends, Jess, has just gotten married! She and her new hubby, Nate, started their marriage in Cozumel, Mexico last week. I ran into their new tan selves grocery shopping at Walmart, with their a cart filled to the brim with goodies for their new apartment. It made me excited to go grocery shopping for Ceej and I someday because grocery shopping is one of my favorite things to do (I am such a dork). Anyway, I'm so happy for them! The picture above is of Jess and I at her Bachelorette party, and the one below is of her sister at the party. Jess had to be handcuffed to "Mini Nate" (i.e., a blow up doll with a big picture of his face taped on the doll's head) and walk around all night. After dinner we went back to her house for gifts and her 2 year old little sister was infatuated with the doll. She kept looking at it and laughing and saying, "my Nate!" She even tried kissing him as he was just her size! It was so cute! (Jess gave me permission for posting this picture because she thought it was hilarious as well!)
The picture below is of Andy, Mandy, and us on one date night. We went for dinner at Red Lobster and then went to two small "hole in the wall" bars that none of us had been to before. It was really fun to try new places... especially the one with red carpeted walls (haha).Random news: I am currently job-less, although not for lack of trying! I'm filling out applications, but there isn't a whole lot out there. Luckily I've been able to pick up about 30 hours/week at Lutheran Social Services for the time being because they are short staffed. I know something will come up, so I just keep prayin' that God will let me know when he's ready for me to take something on. I'm also still working on my application to the University of Minnesota's Master of Occupational Therapy program, which is taking much longer than it should due to my amazing procrastination skills. Other than that, we're both happy and healthy. Wedding planning is in full swing and we are loving it! We haven't been too overwhelmed and it's just been really fun so far.