Still working on the plans!

So Jase and I are still diligently working on wedding plans and getting all buffed up to look good in our honeymoon in Mexico pictures!

I started a new diet this week and have already lost almost 3 lbs. Jay and I are both getting new road bicycles (and we are not dumb enough to buy the over $300- to $4k bikes.... Ours were both under $200. Go us). We have our CL purchased bowflex and we are keeping at it.

Today we went to visit the Ultimate Cheesecake Factory who we do plan to use for the Groom's cake! We picked the size and flavor that we... I mean he... liked the most (actually it WAS exquisitely delicious of course).

We also have proof that the invitations are being sent to me as we speak! Long story short: The company I ended up ordering from was not responding to my emails and it had been over a month since I ordered.... I wrote them a very professional and yet determined letter and let them know I expected to have a shipping confirmation or a refund by monday lunch time or I would be seeking an "more assertive action". I now have my shipping confirmation! Joy. I hate being hard. Ah well.

What else.... We also have a Bride's cake all picked out and ordered. We have my dress at the primary alterations redoing the sleeves and the bustle. We have a woman working on my circlet to make it just my own....

Things left to do:

Painting the barn

Decorating the trees

building the other half of the dance floor

building my other carriage body

Making the invitations

Booking the honeymoon-waiting to hear back from Jill's people on this one...

And unfortunately the photographer.. We had thought Jase's aunt might do this for us but since the first time we proposed it we have yet to hear back from her. So we might be looking for someone else to do the job.

So, not much left to do and all on schedule.

I took some really cute pics of our kiddos the other day, including Six who loves to play in the water! Enjoy,

Leonardo the Lionheart of Course

Serious Black aka Padfoot- laughing at something

Old man Sam, Still his same old happy self!

Strider was camera shy for this session!

The following is a flip-book progression of the typical way that Six enjoys the pond when it is hot and sticky.....

Project complete

So we finished (almost) the aquarium. I still have one more "top" to finish and then add some more fish next month when these guys are all settled in.

FYI- its very very hard to photograph a fish tank indoors! I will try to get some better photos when its brighter outside.

Current inhabitants: Gold, blue, and opaline gourami.

Tiger, yellow, koi, black, and lace wing angel fish.

A fancy featherfin catfish.

A giant ghost knife.

A ropefish

2 Brazilian puffer fish

A half beak gar-type fish.

Some zebra danios.

And one black neon.
I obviously included some example pictures just so you can see...
OH! And several species of live plants! Yay me!

In the process, the snakes also got their new home...

Wedding planning news:

We have our florist. Joyce Graham works from her home in North San Antonio and was so wonderful to deal with that we booked her right away. She has promised to make it beautiful and we know she can. The flowers will be browns, rusts, blues, and some very pretty roses!

Also we have lots of other accountrements gathered for decoration purposes and the dress is finally in! Hopefully this time it will be right enough that the local girls can alter it for relatively inexpensively.

Cake tasting should be this week sometime and tux selection will be Saturday.

The BIG project

As though Jason and I didn't have enough to do...

About a month and a half ago we purchased a HUGE aquarium. It started a very light color which matched no stick of furniture we have so we decided to refinish it. Lots and lots of work later its a very pretty cherry mahogany.

By the way, HUGE means 150 gallons.,..

This is the color of the wood before we started.

This is what happened after we chemically stripped and sanded the whole thing...

And more sanding pictures....

And finally some midstaining pics:








And last pictures so far: We've finished it and put it back together... Next clear water and then fish!

Pictures from the house

I have some new pics to post: Just thought I would share.

This one is of Sam and Leo. We jokingly call Leo "Bad Dog Leo" as he is always making the wrong decisions! I believe you can see in this loving photo of the two of them, Sam is whispering the things he SHOULD do. I would never beleive Sam would stear him wrong...

The next two are of the ninja cat: Boton. She is getting her full haircoat back from her shave job and you can see the lovely colored patches that make her so unique! Seal/tortoishell point snowshoe! Isn't she the cutest?! Except when she is jumping up on things, climbing the door jams and sharpening her claws on my jeans. While I am in them....

And finally the "new addition" (isn't there always?)

The Timneh African Grey came into the shelter with a sad sob story. He/She is a very nice bird and while she is in quarantine from the other birds at the moment, I think she/he will benefit from their company! Can't wait to introduce them. Birds are fun. You don't have to walk them or particularly take them out and love them IF you have a large place with lots of stimulation, good food, water and company. They do enjoy human company and all ours come out at least 3 evenings a week to sit with us.

Woofstock at Waterloo

For anyone who enjoys their dogs and likes to take them out into public, consider going to Austin on May 2nd!

http://www.woofstockatwaterloo.org/index.html

Ok, some of the picture highlights!

Thanks to Jill for taking them even though it was cold and wet!

And thanks to Jase for loving me enough to want to do all these "silly wedding things", and make it so obvious that you love me.