Settling In

Since we've been back, we've been pretty busy.

Nathan is back to work and settling in to that schedule. I spend my days here at the apartment unpacking, sorting, organizing, doing laundry, writing thank you's, cleaning, moving boxes...etc. 

 It's starting to feel like home, but it's still a disaster.  There are piles of random things that can't go anywhere until we get something else to put it in/on.  There are also piles of things I'm not sure what to do with, a pile of returns and duplicate gifts, and a few piles of things that will eventually just get shoved in a junk drawer when I give up on the idea that it might get organized.  :)

We spent the last two weekends back in Champaign.  There were baptisms two weekend ago and Ryan and Sarah's wedding this past weekend. 

Nathan was in the wedding so, we got to go for Saturday's pictures, rehearsal, and rehearsal dinner. They booked us a room at the I-Hotel, so we got to stay at yet another very fancy place. 

I got to watch them take pictures :)

very pretty

and yes, they played on the playground :) 

haha :)

decorating the car on Sunday

simple and sweet

So, Ryan and Sarah are married. :) 

Fun times.

In Christ

~Michelle

Honeymoon- Riviera Maya

After we walked out of the reception, got shot at with a squirt gun (and shot back), and drove away littering sticky-notes... we made it to our apartment.  I began cleaning the car off while Nathan finished packing. 
Loren and Rita showed up with our furniture just as we were leaving for the farm. At the farm we hosed down my car and drove away. And realized we had forgotten something. So, we drove back to the farm.  We were just on the road again when we realized we once again had forgotten something. So, back to the farm it was. :)
We finally got on the road around 6. 

Anyway. So, the honeymoon:

We went to the Ocean Maya Royale Hotel in Riviera Maya. (Click here to see a map) It was beautiful.

our resort (picture taken from the internet)

the hotel area was beautiful

the beach

amazing Italian restaurant 

yum. :)

Parasailing

back on the boat

our resort

beach beds are awesome :)

beautiful view

the pools

beach beds

:)

:):)

the lobby was huge

and beautiful

our flight home

a farewell sunset 

 I loved the sun, the sand, parasailing, laying out, swimming, and eating. :)  I would totally recommend going "all inclusive." It was so nice not having to worry about anything. :)

That's pretty much it.  It was a very relaxing week. :)

In Christ
~Michelle

the wedding weekend

Well, we're married, and we're back from our honeymoon. 

The wedding weekend of craziness started on Friday.  Nathan and I took some of our wedding pictures at Luthy Botanical Gardens in Peoria.  I think they turned out really well and they go with my garden-y theme. :)

:) yay for conservatories

Friday evening we went over to the fellowship hall to eat pizza and start setting up.  The family showed up in full force- Ed and Peggy even came. :)

 Saturday morning, early the entire wedding party headed over to Glen Oak park for pictures. Here are some of the snap shots from my camera:

despite the fact that eyes aren't open, some aren't looking at the camera, 

and strange facial expressions...I kinda like this picture. :)

little miss and her adorable pink dress :)

the bridesmaids  :) 

love.this.picture.

hanging around

the guys hanging around

groomsmen 

sisters...dare I say friends.

almost done :)

So, after pictures we had a few hours to kill. I went over to the fellowship hall again and helped put flowers around. 

I had so much fun. 

Eee. I love flowers :)

bell jars

lanterns :)

:)

pictures of parents and grandparents

and for the record- I had this idea before pinterest

Eee :)

Later that afternoon we went to the rehearsal. I barely made it down the aisle the first time, I was laughing so hard.  But, I managed to hold it together and we were able to do it successfully the second time. 

And then we headed off to the rehearsal dinner.  There was great food, great people, and really sweet things said. 

core-4 once again :)

...and spouses 

And then, the big day. 
Sunday, we got married. :)

Sunday morning, at church, I realized that I had locked my dress in a room at the condos, I had left the keys to that room at home, and we had locked our house.  Thankfully, Paul was willing to drive to our house, break in, and bring the keys back.  I didn't hear much of the morning service at all until I had those keys in my hand. 
The relief I got when I had them, lasted me the rest of the day, and I never really did get nervous about the wedding.  While we were changing at the condos, my bridesmaids were the ones getting nervous. :)

I walked down the aisle without laughing, listened to the service, stood and kneeled at the proper times, and walked out of church...married. 

Everyone always asks how it feels to be married. It doesn't. There was no great change, no emotional happening, no burst of colors...suddenly we were married.  Oh, I'm happy. :) But, I haven't changed. I've just taken another step in life, and my brain is still adjusting to the fact that I'm married. Weird.  That's how it feels to be married. :)

Surprisingly, I was able to enjoy my reception nearly all the way til the end. :) 

friends :)

I loved being able to see everyone who came. But, I got tired of smiling, of hearing the same stock phrases, having people constantly taking my picture, and standing.  By the end I wanted to eat and leave...sigh. I tried to remain pleasant and patient but there are only so many nice ways to say "we're leaving" before you actually say "we're leaving."
tehe. anyway...

Jenny snuck me a water gun because one of my cousins had brought his.  So when we walked out the door I was prepared :)

Thank you Jenny :) tehe

look familiar? 

it should: 

It must be a Wyss thing or something :)

Well, once again thanks to Jenny, my car was decorated beautifully. But, we did leave a trail of sticky notes all the way back to Eureka. 

So, we are now officially wed. :)

And, we feel incredibly blessed by the number of friends and family who came. God has given us an amazing support system. :)

In Christ

~Michelle

the last week

This is/has been the last week of my single life.  Crazy!
And, it has been crazy.  

We got our apartment Sunday afternoon.  :) 

Monday, Kandace, Carli, Cliff, my mom and I cleaned the apartment. Monday, afternoon I started moving in. That evening Troy, Trent, and Clayton came over and helped us move the big stuff.

Kendra came that night and helped wash and put away all of our kitchen stuff. 

Tuesday and Wednesday was more of the same. Cleaning, packing, packing for the honeymoon, shopping, wedding planning, and moving. 

Today, I rode with Nathan down to Champaign in his work truck and drove his car home. Jenny came over after lunch and we went through my room and moved my entire closet over to the apartment. Cecily joined in on the packing too.

looking hilarious in heels and a VS bag...tehe she's such a girl :)

  Jenny helped me finish making my veil and did other wedding-y type stuff while I mowed the yard. 

And...for a bit of humor... I locked my keys in my car.  I have a spare set of keys, thank goodness,  which are at my apartment. But, my apartment keys are on the key chain that is locked in my car. sigh. :) So, I'm waiting on Nathan to get back from Champaign with his keys.

Three more days. yikes. :)

You probably won't be hearing from me until after the wedding.

In Christ
~Michelle