We Made It One Year; and other Catchin' Up Da Blog items.

Adventures in Baby-sitting

Micah's Gift for Mom and Dad

In early February Katie and I had the wonderful opportunity of watching our good friends (The Hosies) little boy Micah. Unfortunately it was due to a complicated pre-mature delivery of their beautiful girl Vivian that led to us having him over so often. The Hosies showed incredible courage and strength as they struggled to nurse Vivian into a stable condition. I had never seen something so fragile, and so small fight so hard. Often times while we were visiting Vivian in the hospital her computer would go off in an alarm signifying some aspect of her health dropping. As a non-parent it was pretty terrifying to watch but Scott and Steph were always by her side whenever they could be. During February and March we took Micah everywhere during our three hour play dates. We even took him to a pottery painting store in Littleton so he could make a gift for Mom and Dad while they looked after his baby sister. It took all of February and March until they were able to bring Vivian home under stable conditions in April.

Happy Anniversary - "The First Year is the Hardest... Right?"

You know it's a fancy restaurant when they write in Chocolate Cursive.

The Golden Hotel gave us a deal when we chose them as the location for our reception. As part of the package we were able to go back and enjoy a free room on the house. Not that we really needed to but it was fun to not have to make the bed or clean up after ourselves. We enjoyed the evening and took the chance to evaluate our previous year of marriage. It was nice to finally unwind in a way that we hadn't the chance to before. We hit the hay relatively early considering Golden practically closes down by 7:00.

Katie and I have a fascination with Antiquing, but I should elaborate. We never buy, there isn't any fun in wasting our money on old junk but there is a lot to looking at them. We consider it a mini-museum and usually without fee except for the disgruntled looks of the clerks who watch us wander into every corner of their cluttered stores and leave empty-handed. We decided to travel up to Idaho Springs and then make our way off the mountain hitting every store on the way...

Nothing says old like racist porcelain dolls.

Our adventure continued as we made our way into Denver and went to the Armadillo Antique Mall. This place was the biggest collection of old-timey knick-knacks I've ever seen and there is no possible way to barter anything down. Rows and Rows of locked-glass cases surrounded the entire each one is bought by a different client who is allowed to place their antiques for sale. The place had everything from entire cases dedicated to old Michael Jackson memorabilia to Nazi Medals and Propaganda. It took us almost two hours to get through everything and even then I didn't feel like I had explored all items for vicarious ownership. It was fun hanging out with my wife, looking at things that both of us could find some joy in, and generally educating ourselves thanks to 20th Century hoarders, but only someone who gets paid to sort through all the junk could find more enjoyment out of it than a few hours. We headed back home to collect our one year anniversary cake and head over to Katie's parents to celebrate with family.

The Happiest Place on Earth

Quick Question: Where does a young couple WITHOUT children go for a late vacation? That's right! DISNEY WORLD!

How do we always end up wearing matching shirts?

In all honesty Katie and I had been planning a trip to Florida for a while, originally intending to go with my family but the finances and schedules could never quite match up. Instead we went with one of my managers from work and his wife. Considering we got engaged at Disney Land in California we felt it was poetic justice to spend our belated one-year anniversary there. We spent six days in the parks themselves without a care in the world. We mastered the art of Fast Passes, learned the correct routes through some of the busiest sections of each park and rode every single ride (many multiple times). There is also a certain craze we may or may not have spent far too much money on. Disney has a new fascination with pin trading. Each cast member is required to trade with you no matter what. We started off with some pretty generic pins and ended up trading our way to some of the best pins you just couldn't buy anymore.

Oh Toy Story Mania... the stories we could tell.

By far our favorite ride was Toy Story Mania, a Disney Land original we had discovered two years earlier. The ride would often run out of Fast Passes by noon but we found a loop hole in order to ride it several times. We took a two hour Time Share tour early one morning and managed to get access to a card that allowed us five fast passes each to any ride effective immediately. Using this strategy we actually rode Toy Story mania five times in one day. Being the dorks we are we also wore big red "Happy Anniversary" buttons which actually got us a few perks in the park.

Katie's Favorite Disney Movie.

As much fun as Disney World is, something was lacking. We rode everything we could, went Christmas shopping, and ate at all the restaurants we had planned to, but after six days there just wasn't a whole lot left. In fact on our last full day we mostly just walked around, holding hands, and looking around at everything (and of course pin trading along the way). Both of us agree however that our favorite location was not Disney World but Disney Land in California. While the magic was prevalent in Disney World some of the servers we had, some of the crew members we encountered, and generally all the people in the parks had an aura of rudeness to them. It really took away from the fun getaway we had been planning since we had gotten married. Despite the few speed bumps along the way however we still managed to make the most of our trip, and felt completely satisfied. Someday we might return but probably not to Florida. I'm sure our posterity won't care either way... after all it's Disney.

Bring Them Home

No we aren't related.

Before we left for Disney World, my brother Andy came to live with us for a month. His family had been living in Georgia for two years too long and Andy had finally managed to transfer to Colorado and back home with the whole family. He had to start a bit earlier and his wife Sarah and their five girls had to stay behind in Georgia getting all the affairs in order and packing the house while he worked. When we returned from Disney World we put Andy on a plane and would be joining him just ten days later as we helped the family move across the country. 

The mandatory Temple Picture. Ask Katie.

When we first arrived Andy was deathly ill but we still had some work to do finishing up the house. Despite a fairly good night's rest Andy still was not feeling well and our first day of driving was a long twelve hour day. After the first two hours Andy's condition worsened and I could not allow him to drive (despite his natural McLean stubbornness to do so). The trek could have been shortened to only a few days but we extended our road trip to five days in order to take the McLean girls along a bit of a historical trip. We stopped in many locations including Nauvoo, Carthage Jail, and Winter Quarters. Something to understand about my brother and his family, they eat very well, and I don't mean big portions I mean real food. Andy and Sarah are super organic, eating only fresh veggies, fruit and meat. Therefore all our choices to eat were well raved restaurants, unique cuisine, and surprisingly really affordable. Our days were long but fun and we all got some quality bonding time. At last we arrived in Colorado, and unpacked the truck. Andy, Sarah and the girls were finally home.

Joseph and Hyrum in Nauvoo.

Katie and Sarah outside the Nauvoo Temple.

Caught Up Da Blog

Yes, you read that right. This was the last bit of big news that we have had. So after beginning this blog way back in 2010 and forgetting religiously to update it I can finally say that we have finally caught up. That's it! All the important stuff I care to write about our lives is finally all over the web for anyone to read... oh crap what have I done? Well here we go, hopefully this can be maintained a little bit closer and provide for those who actually read it a better glimpse into our busy lives, as they change and we move forward. Cus after all...

There’s a great, big, beautiful tomorrow
Shining at the end of every day
There’s a great, big, beautiful tomorrow
And tomorrow’s just a dream away

Seeya real soon, with Love;

Kenny and Katie 

Varsity, Zoo Lights, and the Holidays of 2011 (Catching Up Da' Blog!)

As time would always have it, yet again the blogsphere got left behind in the wake of our ever moving life. As such I regret to announce that it is with heavy heart that I again attempt to catch up by listing off the various adventures we have encountered since last you saw us... which was nearly a year ago. Never the less I must continue for those select few who actually care to read the blog... and if nothing else it gives me something to do on these cool summer nights.

Thanksgiving in Georgia - November 2011

August starting approaching us very quickly shortly after our Honeymoon in August of 2011. We had barely gotten home and unloaded our bags when we started looking for more teaching jobs for Katie. The month rolled on hoping beyond hope that maybe we might find something by the beginning of the School Year or at the very least the end of August. When the hopes ran dry and all else failed Katie decided to go and interview with a Bank... and she got the job. Changing careers for her might have been one of the greater things that happened. On top of the awesome benefits we both get to enjoy now, Katie found herself at home a lot more during the nights then when she had been teaching. Surprisingly enough the salary she began making at the bank was on par if not greater then her short life as a teacher.

September hit us with little remembrance other then the desire for Katie to use her new time off she had acquired at her new job. We decided to go out to Atlanta in November to visit my brother, his wife and their five girls. We got ourselves loaded up, landed, rode the Marta into town and had a blast visiting and hardly relaxing as we played along with the girls and caught up on important conversations with my brother and his wife. 

Remember those friends we made on the cruise ship? They just so happened to live in Georgia and made it a special visit to come into the city of Atlanta and drive us around. It was very entertaining, hearing the stories of these couples and their place in the history of Atlanta. We saw all the landmarks, all the sights, and on one off-handed occasion accidentally crossed the wrong side of the tracks and wound up in a very depressing and shabby part of town. 

Cartersville, Georgia... Don't ask me how we got here.

We ate at a local spot known as the Varsity, an acclaimed and honored restaurant just up the road from Georgia Tech. I want to apologize for any and all who might have eaten at this restaurant and found yourself enjoying it. The food was horrendous! I'm not talking stomach-able. The fries were slippery with grease, the food processed beyond any original animal recognition. Even the soda was flat and jejune. Luckily after our date with the "Old-Timers" we made it back to my brother's house and enjoyed sandwiches instead.

Welcome to Marketing... Wanna buy a Coke now?

Aside from hanging out with family, Katie and I also took the opportunity to explore the World of Coke in Atlanta. While obviously playing up to the ideals of Americana via Caffeinated Beverages the place was pretty cool. After watching a video about the magic of Coca-Cola, they then take you into a large room with multiple side rooms. One such takes you into the art of Marketing including foreign ads, athlete sponsored ads, and general Coca-Cola wall-art. Another room leads you through a mock bottling facility, and another into a theater where you can watch thirty minutes of Coca-Cola commercials. In the end it was worth the time at least to get a chance to see all the things that have come out of the company for nearly 100 years. It was a huge part of the American identity back in them days, and even today. Oh Coke... how can I ever quit you...

The Newlywed Christmas - December 2011

Ho! Ho! Ho! Good luck sleeping tonight!!

Buying gifts for your three older brothers, and two younger sisters is hard enough. Add getting married on top of that and suddenly you are buying for a whole new set of Brothers and Sisters. Our first Christmas together official began when we returned home from our Thanksgiving trip in Georgia. After being dropped off by Katie's father we raced upstairs and were blinded by a sudden light glaring from our back porch. When upon further investigation we found that our apartment had not been left alone despite promises that nothing would have happened to it. Instead we find the culprit, a cartoon Santa flying a single rider plane through the sky with a flag waving behind him with the insignia: Merry Christmas. The whole thing was on a timer and was great for a laugh during the dismal December nights but after coming home to Neon Illuminated Darkness night after night the thing quickly got old and was unplugged except for the few days leading up to the actual holiday.

Don't let that smile fool you, I'm really crying.

Katie found a new project during December as well. We had bought a sewing machine with some of the generous gift money that was given to us for our wedding. During the entire month of December my mother had been attempting to get Katie and I to attend Church with them on Christmas Morning (as it fell on a Sunday). Katie kept going through the month hearing this request over and over and suddenly got an idea... an awful idea... The Katie got a wonderful, awful idea. She decided to make matching Christmas Vests for us to wear to Church with my parents. According to her philosophy "If we are going, at least we can embarrass them somehow." Katie's plan worked, and while perhaps not causing quite the scene she was hoping for at least the Christmas Vests were talked about for a few weeks if not more. We actually received quite a few compliments and Katie was asked several times on how she went about making the vests to begin with. 

Another Christmas here and gone, the only difference was this was our first as an official family. The month was ended with good will and cheer for all and of course the tradition of Denver Zoo Lights. 2011 was a good year for both of us. We got married, enjoyed a cruise together, changed careers, visited family in Georgia and new friends, and made it back in time to slow down and enjoy each other.

Klondike and Snow... still in our Neon hearts.

It's Christmas! Can we go back to bed now...

Join us next time for the exciting conclusion of... Catching Up Da' Blog!

Wedding Bells, Honeymoons, and Other Adventures.

April 30th 2011

This is the day that will be immortalized in the hearts and minds of Katie and I, as well as our families. A day of tears, and joy, of laughter and joining together in body and mind. It also happens to be the last day I can remember having my sanity. For whatever reasons (and there are many) Katie and I have not been able to keep up with the blog even though we have sat down together many times to discuss what we want to make public to the interwebs. The following is a game of catch-up, which I play all too often, but one that might help close the gates of what happened to that crazy kooky couple since April, our many adventures, and what we have planned. It is also a written commitment to each other, and more importantly to myself to continuely keep an open journal of what is happening with our lives... aren't you all lucky that you get to read my diary?

The following segment will be laid out with each topic of importance over these past six months set in a bold font over each important event... enjoy.

Going to the Chapel

Beasts.

The Morning of the Wedding was a breath of fresh air for both of us, it was a morning we had planned out well in advance and on this particular morning I was surrounded by my closest friends and groomsmen. Scott Hebert, Britt Johnson, and my Best-Man Mike Brown woke up early enough with me as we began the adventure of the day by having breakfast at IHOP. The beautiful irony of the whole situation occurs when walking through the doors to be seated Katie's bridesmaids and few family are walking out. I had missed seeing my bride early by 5 minutes, at an undisclosed IHOP, two separate plans activated an hour apart. Great minds think alike.

After our breakfast and quick cleaning up we proceeded to the Church to prepare, dress in our tuxes, and take pictures before the ceremony. Walking up the stairs to find my fiance (at the time) adorned in her beautiful dress, hair done wonderfully by our good friend Rebecca, and her beautiful dress was quite a shock. Not to sound repetative of many other grooms who find their wives to be knockouts but she was stunning. The ceremony was to take place after we took pictures so for me it was really a fantastic sneak peek. 

Mom, if you cry, then all the boys are gonna cry
Hold it together.

It didn't help when she walked down the aisle though. Somehow being surrounded by friends and family and yet seeing your fiance walk down the aisle in all her glory with the docile tones of the organ blaring up your spine, call me sentimental but the tears began peeking.

Thank goodness for friends, Mike managed to record the whole ceremony which is good, because I don't remember a single word that was uttered by anyone but my wife, and the few good choice words of our Pastor Doug. I can remember counting my steps, trying very hard to not trip my bride, recalling the words I was to speak over and over in my head, and of course our surprise calla lilies delivery to our mothers.

The remainder of the ceremony went as planned. The license signed and shipped off to the Government because nothing gets past Big Brother. After a few more laughs Katie and I got into the Stratus, and took off a cool 20 minutes after everyone else had left for the reception hall.

We took a few more photos outside and then we were greeted with herald applause. The ceremony and niceties over. The party was just beginning.

The festivities were in full motion by the time we arrived which meant many "Thank You's" "Good to See You's" "Glad You Could Come". I don't say that to be rude, as if we just spouted off the phrases at random to anyone who glanced at us, it was such a chaotic feeling. Here we were, newlyweds, at our own reception. The only one you get (or should have leastways) and I'm getting pulled around for a hug here, or a handshake there, while Katie is being whisked off and fawned over by her college friends. It is disorienting to say the least. We were so happy to see so many people there, and to talk to so many people, but like a long week without sleep sometimes all you can remember is the grogginess. 

That is not to say we don't remember everything. Our Bridal Party was beautiful at each delivering heartfelt and wonderful speeches in our honor. Each had a different theme that seemed to cover everything about our friendships and more importantly about Katie's Personality. Scott and Britt even pitched in to buy me my own wagon in remembrance, which I'm sorry to say is still in the box behind our couch.

Pinky still in the grip of promises... broken promises...

After the speeches, or before, who knows when... Anyway, we cut the cake. I tell you this despite the obvious conclusion but Katie and I cut a piece of cake. Apparently we cut it into thirds. We each took a piece, twirled pinkies and promised we would play nice. My understanding of the agreement was to play nice for the entirety of the cake, not just two-thirds. Katie knew what she was doing and suddenly as if the inertia of being stared at wasn't enough for my face to be smeared in a constant blanket of blush and sweat my vision was blurred suddenly by white. She got me good.

The rest of the night is a blur. So many people came and congratulated us. Then almost as if all at once everyone was gone. The cleaning crew was coming to slowly pack things away and we were whisked off for one more round of pictures and then left to our own devices. April 30th 2011. The day I married my best friend, who also happens to be a pinky promise breaker. I love you babe.

The Only Friends We Made Are Old

We had to wait until June before we could take our honeymoon. Katie was in a teaching contract at the time and school wasn't out until May 31st. In fact our wedding took place over a weekend, so that on Monday Katie was back to work and our new life together was beginning. We had the honeymoon planned before we even had all the details of the wedding punched out. Both of us love to travel although Katie's Travel Log is much more extensive then my own. We both decided upon a cruise, but unlike any other pair of Twenty-Somethings, our cruise did not take us into the tropical lush lands of the Bahamas, or into the icy cool natural beauty of Alaska. No... we took a cruise up the North Eastern Coast of the US, and Canada... and it was a blast. 

We arrived in Baltimore and were picked up by Katie's cousin Chris. The Witsil's were very nice, picking us up from Baltimore and taking us to their home in Delaware to spend the night and offering to get us back to the port the next day when our boat would depart. We had planned on just getting a hotel and walking around Baltimore a day early but they insisted. It was nice to get to know some more of Katie's family that couldn't make it to the wedding and to get my fix of those crazy East Coastians. 

Katie is very proud of this picture for two
reasons; first she took it using a timer, second
the camera is standing on half an inch
of surface.

The Cruise was typical of any other cruise I'm sure. Fancy Dinners where you are fed ginormous amounts of food to the point of explosion. We had to very nice dinner mates we were assigned, and two others that we saw for dinner maybe twice on our nine nights. Our room was surprisingly spacious as well, and the motion of the ocean was hardly felt at all. Our ports included Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine; St. Johns, New Brunswick; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and a final stop on the way home to Boston. 

The pools were nice, and hardly ever crowded, but most importantly it was beautiful everywhere we went. On the days just before we would port the storm that was supposedly in town would blow out that morning. It was really a beautiful thing. 

The Entertainment wasn't shabby either. Only a few times did I cringe at some of the performers but for the most part it was a spectacular show... and at one point we were even in a show.

You see... Katie likes to volunteer for things. Not that she doesn't volunteer to be in front of a firing squad or anything like that but if it involves embarrassment, torture, or being put in the spotlight my wife enjoys the heck out of making me sweat. One particular night we went to an impromptu show called "Love and Marriage". They asked the audience for three volunteer couples. A Newlywed Couple, a Middle-Aged Couple, and Old Sweethearts. After going through a small audition we were chosen. I will not relive the audition... it is too painful... suffice it to say I was imitating King Kong, and Katie was Fay Wray. The show itself was not too disastrous (thank you techies for your big powerful bright lights that blind the audience from sight) until the second act. During this act I was invited off stage with the other men and the women were to answer questions about us. When I arrived back on stage everyone was laughing at me. I don't mean that in such the harsh way it sounds, what I mean is everyone was laughing at something my wife said about me. I sat down slightly perturbed that I was such a comic relief and not knowing why. I felt slightly like Andy Kaufman being bombarded with requests to do his famous Taxi Character, instead of telling or doing his own jokes. I didn't want to be laughed at, I didn't understand why people just laughed when they saw me... and then the question was asked: 

"Too late for an annulment?"

"Kenny, what do you think your wife said to the most annoying pet peeve you have?"... My mind went blank. I'm no perfectionist but I couldn't come up with a single pet peeve that would cause the audience (who has now doubled over with laughter) to stare and taunt in single fashion. I muttered: "I play too many video games?" Which of course is a stupid answer, there is no such thing as too many video games. The host of the show, Carly was her name-o, looked at me as if to say You really don't know do you? then she let the secret out of the bag... the big funny joke that I wasn't a part of. Katie had told everyone that I was a crop duster. Confused? So was everyone else in the room... Katie had to explain it to them as well. A crop duster is a nickname for someone who farts a lot and walks away from the stink... much like a crop dusting plane might hover low and squirt out a little over the crops, I would hover low in the hallways, let off a little chemical imbalance of my own, and then fly off to the horizon leaving the stench behind me and the world wondering how such a foul stench could be in such a nice ship. I no longer could use the elevator the entire trip. I had to let people pass me when we went walking through town. Every action from that game-show on was an action I took to clear up my good name. I was no crop duster... but no thanks to the "Love and Marriage" game show (and its several repeats throughout the ship's days) or my wife I was forever labeled as such. Thanks Honey...

The Cruise all in all was a blast. As you can tell by the pictures we visited a lot of places. Thanks to a generous wedding check we received we were able to take a tour in every city. This made the adventure much more enjoyable as we were meandering from one pointless tourist shop to another but we received a fair amount of history for each of our locations.

I know this looks like it belongs in a magazine
but she took it.

In Portland we saw much of the town, and ventured out learning the history about many of it's famous writers. Bar Harbor was an interesting location, but was mostly beautiful for the Acadia National Park. Canada was an interesting bag of tricks. For the same price we paid for Bar Harbor and Portland we were able to see so much of both Halifax and Saint Johns; Canada loves it's tourists and it's tours. 

The most lasting affect of the trip however was greeted to us right after the world knew my deep dark crop-dusting secret. Four of the sweetest people on the face of the earth met us at the bottom of the stairs. If they hadn't told me I would never have even remembered it, but we ate breakfast with them the first day of the cruise. Becky and Bob; Steve and Martha were the sweetest set of couples we could ever have met. After that day we were almost inseparable, often times joining them for dinner after all was said and done at our own table. We joined them on several occasions for what most people would assume a boring event of trivia at sea, but we made lots of conversations, connected at many different levels and exchange emails to this day. They live outside Atlanta, Georgia for a spell and might come up in a later blog, but you'll have to wait for that.

L to R: Me, Katie, Steve, Martha, Becky, Bob

We made it back to Baltimore with our minds full of the culture of Maine, Boston, and the East Coast of Canada. Other then our friends, and the locations Katie and I aren't quite sold on the cruise factor. We didn't really find that much enjoyment from sailing on end. The ports were a blast and easily the best part of the whole trip, so why spend time on a boat sailing around when you can just go to the port and spend the time there. We haven't given up on them however, we do want to plan a cruise in Europe with our favorite pals, Disney.

The Honeymoon isn't over there however. We were able to get a layover in Atlanta for a day and went to visit Andy, Sarah, and the girls. It was a blast even if we were slightly jet lagged over the whole affair. It was a short visit, and one that was painful because of the girls. When Dad doesn't get beat up because he is making dinner for everyone guess who gets that instead... oh yea... Uncle Pooken. 

Andy, Sarah and all the girls the morning we left.

The Summer of Fun Had Just Begun

Shortly after our Honeymoon we took a trip up to Breckenridge with our friends Scott, Stephanie, and Micah Hosie. Micah is the baby. We were invited by them to come climb Mount Quandary with them and we also brought Kim Butler along too. It was a beautiful day and apparently a very popular trail we had a good 100 people hiking with us. All of them made it to the top in one way shape or form somehow but the real impressive part was that Micah made it all the way up there. Scott and Stephanie are big advocates of outdoor activities. After Stephanie delivered Micah one of the first questions she asked the doctor was how early could they take a child so young up a mountain. Apparently One-and-a-half is not too young. You go Micah.

Rather then bore you with descriptions I'll let these pictures speak for themselves. 

Part Two of our Summer coming soon... to a Blog near you!

This is Stephanie Hosie; He-Woman.

We made friends with a Goat!

The official U.S. Coast Seal of Approval

That John Denver was full of Crap Man.

We took our coats off just for this picture...
Appreciate it... APPRECIATE IT!

Peacefully made it to the bottom. Notice the flushed faces?

In So Many Words

Getting prepared for a wedding ceremony, a reception, a honeymoon, a place to live, the temptations of a puppy, a Christmas season, a "Finals" week, a New Year, constant struggle to find Katie a full time teaching job, working long nights at Red Robin, and a laptop breaking I'd say we've had a pretty good 2010 and are past the first few weeks of January with casual style.

We have been super busy, if you didn't read the text above, and if you did read the text above keep reading because I'mma bout to blow your mind. Let me first just remind everyone why Katie is so awesome. First, most Bridezilla's are overly obsessed with EVERYTHING wedding, that isn't to say that Katie doesn't have her moments but when I first proposed within weeks she had a battle plan. We had originally chosen the June to be the month we were to be married in, however do to lucky circumstances the Church we want to be married in (Abiding Hope Lutheran) happened to have an available weekend just after Easter but before the wonderful spring decorations were to be torn down. That said we adapted our wedding colors to match and coincide with the chapel decorations. This was in the first few weeks making us move our wedding date to April 30th, 2011.

The wedding plans moved along splendidly. The wedding dress was chosen and bought well before Thanksgiving, in fact it might have even been before Halloween. The Bridesmaids dresses are being made by Kathi Butler, whose two daughters Steph and Kim are also Katie's Bridesmaids.

The Reception Hall was suprisingly a very simple ordeal. After calling a handful of places in the local area and not too far from Abiding Hope we landed upon The Golden Hotel. The Bride's mother Anne helped us out a lot with this making it a place we won't regret. The space is perfect, and the food is delicious. Being in late April and praying for good weather we should also be able to use the balcony space as well as a small platform that runs along side a river just outside the hotel for photos.

We spent a very long afternoon into night process registering at Target and Bed Bath and Beyond. I warn you know to turn away with you don't like cynical responses and skip to the next paragraph. This has been your last warning. I found the entire process of registering insanely greedy. Now hear me out. You pop in your information and they give you a gun and tell you to have gifts for up to 3 times the amount of guests your expecting. I understand why this is necessary as far as giving a variety to people and not expecting everything on your list. However, I'm a pretty simple guy; give me a Yoo-Hoo, and a Hot Pocket and I'm good. The variety of things we registered for are great but I can't help but feel like I was on an old episode of Super Market Sweep, just scan EVERYTHING you might EVER possibly need. I suppose this is the same reason I don't play the Lotto, I just don't understand the necessity to having so much stuff, but I digress.

With all of these preparations, a few choice words, a couple of headaches, and a very scary shock to us both concerning Katie's credit score (which should be cleared up within weeks) we have had an exceptional wedding planning process, or rather Katie and Anne and Kathi have. As the Groom I knew it wasn't my place to stick my toe into a river of piranha ladies but now it is my turn. It is time to get some suits.

Invitations will be sent out shortly, we have just finished compiling our list of names and addresses and surprisingly we have everyone, good job slackers.

We love each and everyone of you guys and can't wait to see you there.

~Kenny

P.S. I love Katie :P

Engagement Picture Preview

Me and Katie were able to take pictures on Saturday for our Engagement. Other then having a blast and enjoying the beautiful Colorado weather it was really a nice time to bond with our old time friend and photographer Anya Semenoff (http://adventuresinthehouseofcards.wordpress.com/).  This is just one photo that she doesn't know I stole from her blog. This picture sums up a good portion of how the pictures will look. Katie being serious and beautiful and me being afraid and making faces at the camera.

Nancy Plowes, Disneyland Employee

     The alarm clock rang with ferocity so eccentric that Nancy Plowes thought perhaps she was still dreaming. Her head lay sideways against the soft cushioned pillow as one delirious eye glared at the red LED lights flashing an unnaturally early awake time. The sound spewing from the speakers caused her head to pound with a slow steady dull beat, the combination of too many cigarettes and too much booze with not enough sleep. She smacked the clock clear off the end table and turned over. The man sleeping next to her snored gently and it took her moments of immense concentration to finally piece together the events of last night. Her mind ran with images of a donkey, a rundown bar on the shady side of Anaheim, and 5 empty carafes still oozing the slushy remains of tequila and crushed ice cubes. The memory of it all caused her stomach to swoon as she sat herself upright on her crooked bed.

     “July…7^th?” She said out loud to the scattered clothing and drowsy companion that made up her tiny apartment bedroom. Nancy swung her legs out from the covers and placed her tender feet on the sharp remains of a broken ashtray completely filled with butts. The pain was tremendous but brief. At least the remaining alcohol in her system was still producing minor aid. She stood, gathered what composure she had, and sighed. The room was in complete disarray and her hair felt sticky with sweat. The horseshoe shaped toilet rug had replaced the calendar that once hung proudly from the bathroom door. The rug was missing almost all of its frayed carpeted wool. The missing twisted tuffs were super glued to the adjacent wall to spell the incoherent thank you message of a drunken patron.

     Nancy experienced her regular morning routine while dodging sleeping patrons, trash, broken bottles, clothing piles, dirty dishes, ashtrays, and cigarette butts. The coffee maker bubbled and churned out her morning tar as she quickly ate a piece of bread hardened by age. Her wrinkled powder blue dress sat awkwardly on her frame seeing as her uniform was originally tailored for her size 8 body which had now shrunk to a size 5 due to her new diet care of Joe Camel. Finally her coffee was ready, her smokes sat comfortable in the dress front pocket, and her smile was fitting, it was time for work in the Happiest Place on Earth.

     

NORMALLY I would continue to flesh out this story in a creative manner, but seeing as I must honor Katie as well as myself while telling our story I think it appropriate to just let you know about Nancy in good honest terms. The Blue Bayou restaurant sits next to the river that carries tourists across the magical land of the Pirates of the Caribbean. Me and Katie were lucky in our reservations to get a table next to this river. The setting is placed in New Orleans with lamps giving off just enough light to mood light the whole restaurant. Our waitress, Nancy, might have been one of the most overly cheerful people I had ever been served by. Her accent seemed like a mix between Marge Gunderson from Fargo and any wife south of Kentucky. Her eyes became huge at the mere mention of wanting an Arnold Palmer to drink. After the moment of proposal she came back with incredible ecstasy asking in great emotion "Did we just get engaged?!?!".

Anyone who is that fake cannot be so pure. Nancy "Plowes" has to be a chain smoking, constantly drunk, drug dealing woman with a dark hidden past, at least I think so...

             

The Engagement Story (according to him)

We begin, an August date in Southwest Plaza Mall. No good story really begins in the consumer-fest vicinity of a mall, let alone a dying one, but this one does begin there. A casual observer would have noticed a young couple strolling along, the woman with a plastic bag in the crook of her arm and the other wrapped against the hulking arm of her man. The observer, if still observing, would have then seen the unsuspected detour of the woman leading the man into a jewelry store. If the observer was truly perceptive they would have heard the woman shriek in delight at finding a ring that would be 'perfect' if only 'we were ready for that'. The creepier, previously known as the observer, would then have seen the man taking mental note of the exact ring, the interest rate plan, the specials, and the name of the store before the two love birds descended an escalator out of the shallow ruins of the mall. 

A few days later, the same hulking man came back, red in the face debating his current position. Armed with the woman's sister and brother the man reentered the same jewelry store, set up a payment plan, put down the federal reserve notes necessary and exited the store complete with the ring in a maroon box. 

The box inhabited several locations for the course of a modern pregnancy. A bookcase, a sock drawer, and the flannel shelf began their friendship with the box named Gordon's. As a few days would go by and the "Fruit of the Loom" got extra comfortable with the box it would find its newfound friendship torn away for a few moments as the man would stare at his prize, realize what it meant, and would then shut the lid, return the box to its new location, and close the drawer. Rinse, Lather and Repeat until July 3rd.

The sweaty musky suitcase must have been terrible for such a clean glittering ring. It had so much time to wait until its unveiling. It traveled from the foothills of Colorado, across the desert plains of Nevada, and into the smoggy windswept air of Los Angeles. The man never came to retrieve it. It was always tucked tightly into a pair of black workman socks. Every night the ring would listen to the laughter, the cute pillow talk, and the exhausted sighs of the two lovers wondering with each moment when it would become a part of their lives and not just an innocent bystander. 

July 7th 2010. She was showering, he was sweating. The ring felt the tension in the air. The man yanked the box out so fiercely that the lid almost flew open exposing the white gold band prematurely. A sweaty suitcase one moment, a lint-filled pocket the next. The woman came out of the bathroom, accused the man of wearing a terrible shirt, and made him change. 

The day felt long. The ring felt heavy in that pocket as if its already modest diamond had multiplied in size. Each moment seemed perfect for the ring's debut. Any minute now... any minute now... any...

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" the woman said, the ring could see the glint of the hanging lamp above her head. She looked frightened, amused, and happy all at once. It was strange look, and the ring knew instantly how the man could have loved someone like that. The man, in deep gulps asked " Will you marry me?" and received momentary silence as his answer. The ring was now fully exposed, the diamond reflecting the woman's astonished eyes. "Yes... yes... get up and kiss me". A tender embrace, warm laughter, and the ring was finally presented where it made friends with a wonderful digit.

Here ends the first volume of the tale of the Ring.