Alright, I know i have been very bad about blogging lately. life has been busy busy busy and normally, i blog at work, but i haven't had time to do that, or anything else really. So here it is. I'm making time.

Christmas was amazing this year, as many of you know. I had to split my first Christmas with Josh and his family. It was actually really hard for me. As an Erickson who is stuck solid in my traditions, i was very weary about breaking my yearly routine. But we decided to do Christmas eve at Josh's parents' place with his grandparents and family. We went to Church,then came home to eat a delicious fillet Mignon meal followed by gift opening and chatter. We had a great time together. josh and I went home, then had our first Christmas morning together as a "family". Next Christmas will be our real first Christmas as a real family..but whatever. That morning we had brownies for breakfast and then showered, packed up the gifts and headed down to grans for the yearly festivities. it was so amazing to have every person there. i LOVE my family! After a day at Grans, we headed home to ma and pa's house for more gift opening, drinks, snacks, and laughs. we had a great time.

My two kitties were spoiled rotten this year at Christmas. They have no idea how much people love them. They just concern themselves with the next fight they're going to have, and how they might get into the utility room so that they can crawl up into the ceiling...the great unknown. little sh*ts! They recently got their little claws taken out. for the first week they were on pain medication that made Mac so loopy and almost paranoid. It was strange. we lowered his dosage a little and that seemed to help, but he was really lethargic and paranoid. cat narcotics. ha!! anyway, they are doing just fine and they took their surgery like pros. they're all cuddly and sweet now, and they can't jump and cling to my waist when i'm standing near the bed anymore. (we called them spider cats) little sweeties.

Wedding planning has resumed. I got a little discouraged for a while there. I couldn't find the right dress in the right color and i was just convinced that my beautiful bridesmaids would have to walk down the aisle in their roos. no one wants that...how embarrassing! But i found it. i found the dress and all of the girls seem to like it. then again, maybe they're just doing to me what all bridesmaids do to the bride. "Oh, It's really pretty! i like the color and the style" when they really hate it. haha. oh i hope no one HATES it. i guess they don't have to like it a ton, but i really hope no one hates it. :( i think they'll all be beautiful in it. By the way, all 5 of them agreed to be in my wedding, so now that i have confirmation from all of them, i feel a little more excited.

I met with a couple of florists yesterday. I know now exactly what i want. and i'm pumped. i don't know that my mom is really going to think it's what i should have, but it's what i want. so i'm excited about it! hehe. Pine cones look ok in bridal bouquets, right?

Let's see, my desk was moved down to another floor at work a few weeks ago. It's a completely different set up now. It's very different, but i like it, actually. i feel less like i'm in a cube, and more like i've for my own private office with the door always open. there is only one other person i can see from where i sit, and it's ok by me, i like Kanye. (Danielle West..Kanye West. get it? he's a musician/rapper...) Anyway...that's something different.

I'm getting used to living in Plymouth. I think recently i've started to realize that home is where my heart is, not something that is easily accessible to my parents and close to my brother and Kate, necessarily. It's where the love of my life lives and where we have a home together. it's where we will build our lives and our future family. No matter how far out of the way that might be for mom and dad, or jamey and kate, my home is going to be somewhere that I love. somewhere that i feel safe, and somewhere that we can afford together. It's getting easier for me to let go of the things i always thought i would HAVE to have in my life. I don't HAVE to live 5 minutes from my brother. (he'd probably prefer that) and i don't HAVE to live only and hour and a half away from mom and dad...so what if it ends up being 2 hours? If Josh and I are happy..then that's what matters. I'm going to stop trying to convenience everyone else..and just build my life, going forward, with Joshua. and i'm excited about that.

enough of that...Josh started Grad school last week. On Mondays and Wednesdays, i'll be a Grad School widow. Lucky for me, i have a personal trainer appointment every wednesday night, so that'll get me out of the house. I love being home alone though. I actually look forward to monday and wednesday nights! :D shhhh..don't tell josh. he's got a lot of reading that he has to do, and i know he doesn't love that part of it, but i think he's excited to be back in school again. it gives him something to do and something to challenge his mind. Me, i'm content knowing what i know...however, maybe someday i'll go back to get more schooling in something. that is, if i have to have a job for the rest of my life. uuuuuuugh.

Well, i know there aren't any pictures, but just know that things are going well for me...i've been busy growing up and learning new things every day. Trying to get fit and eat a healthier diet. (thank you Gina's Skinny Taste! i LOVE her and her recipes). I look forward to the family vacation down to Mexico, coming up in 3 weeks. (i can't believe it!) and i'm trying to learn how to actually care enough to clean the house. ugh, i hate cleaning. :)

Well, i'll end this now. and then try to blog more often. It's really been a while and i don't like that. promise i'll do better. Hope you're all well. Sorry i made you sit here forever and then i didn't give you any pics to see. next time i'll have pics. I promise.

I'm out. xo