State Fair

Labor Day weekend was the last weekend of the annual sate Fair in Pueblo.

The State Fair hosts a horse show that weekend, and Jeb got to attend with his boss.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the State Fair.

I love:

The food

People watching, (Jeb’s boss said: “If you are ever feeling a bit down on yourself, just come to the state fair” and he is right, characters galore!)

The Vendors

The Food

Sugar loaded lemonade

The food

Usually the concerts but this year we didn’t attend one because the lineup was pretty poor.

The food

Oh and… deep fried pieces of heaven with generous amounts of powdered sugar on top.

This year, since Jeb was working from Thursday to Monday, I drove down between my work shifts to spend a few extra hours with him.

What I didn’t realize was that he was going to be extremely busy with all of the show horses.

So, I drove down after work on Thursday and Friday to catch the tail end of the horse show both days and to have a fair food dinner with my man.

My sister Lacy was kind enough to let us stay at her house all weekend, so we would head over to her place after all the horses were fed and taken care of for the night. (This was usually around 11:30 or 12.)

Both nights Jeb insisted we rent a movie to watch once we got to Lacy’s place, both nights his eyes were shut before the opening credits.

Jeb had to be at the fairgrounds by 6a.m. and I had to be at work by 7a.m. So, we were up bright and early by 5a.m. for a quick trip to the gas station for a coffee, and then I dropped him off and headed back up the hill for a few hours.

After two late nights and two early mornings, my 6 hour shift on Saturday seemed to take forever. Plus, Jeb’s parents, brother and brother’s girl friend were all down at the fair, so I was itching to get down there as fast as I could.

Tyler and Robyn decided to stay the night with us at Lacy’s Saturday night so when Jeb was finished working for the day the four of us walked around the fair and rode some rides.

I just love that the four of us can do things together.

Tyler’s girlfriend is such a sweet girl. She is so easy to get along with, and she fits right in with my sisters and me.

When you grow up with two sisters, (one 16 months younger than you) you learn to share everything.

I mean EVERYTHING.

And Robyn joined right in.

 Tyler and her hadn’t planned on staying in Pueblo overnight so neither of them had a change of clothes.

Lacy had a big t-shirt that she lent Tyler, and dressed Robyn in a whole outfit. (It’s also a plus when you are close to the same size as your sisters.)

I made breakfast for Lacy and her two room-mates on Sunday morning as a “thank you”, we had “monkey bread” and “green monster smoothies.”

We spent the morning finishing the movies that Jeb had rented the two nights before and getting ready to once again head over to the State Fair.

We walked around and watching different parts of the horse show, and indulging in some more lemonade and a few turkey legs 

Lacy Tyler and Robyn went back up to Westcliffe in the afternoon, so I soaked up some sun in the bleachers.

Jeb was given the night off so that we could get some real food into our bellies, not deep friend and smothered in butter. We went to Chili’s to split two appetizers and then over to Lacy’s so Jeb could catch a few extra hours of sleep.

Monday Lacy had class so Jeb woke me up before he had to leave and I spent my Labor Day watching the end of the Colorado State Fair Horse Show.

That evening we had to go our separate ways, back to Alamosa for my cowboy and back to Westcliffe for me.

The only thing that will make next year’s State Fair better is that my last name will be Stoltzfus and we will get to go to OUR home together.

Less than 320 days, but more than 9 months

While everyone is headed back to school, college and settling into their new routines I started to feel the real effects of Jeb not being as close as 20 minutes away.

I knew this was going to be hard,

I knew I would hate it,

I knew it would only make us stronger.

What I didn't know was how emotional I would become.

I cry almost daily and usually its after I get off the phone with Jeb for the night, until I fall asleep.

I am 20 years old for pete sake!

I cry myself to sleep like a big ol' baby.

I saw this saying on "pinterest" the other day, it said

"What if I can't find my big girl pants?"

... I seriously thought about re-making a sign for my door.

Pathetic I know.

So finally last night while looking at "pinterest" again I decided to get over it.

On Sunday our pastor (who I haven't heard preach since last spring) (Who puts life into perspective better than any pastor I have ever listened to) anyways he was talking about how in the Bible it says that "to those who are blessed with much, much is required"

And I started to think about my blessings,

* Jeb has been asked to stay on the ranch for at least the next 3 months as a hired hand and is still loving his work.

* My new Mondays and Tuesday are filled with baby talk, giggles, singing song and reading books over and over again, and quiet time for me to get other projects done.

* Wednesday nights I go and have dinner with Jeb's momma (who is also alone all week long because her husband (and Jeb's dad) works in Riffle)
   {For some reason whenever I explain Sam's work situation everyone assumes either:
      A. Sam and Gail are divorced
                          -or-
       B. Sam is Jeb's step-dad
      I am happy to report that neither is true!}

* Its fall. which means a few different things,
     A. Mornings are cool, and calm (to me that is so peaceful)
      B. Football season, this is the one time of the year that I see so much passion flow from my dad. Which has been very hard for me to watch lately because I think that most of the time my dad has more passion for the boys that play and the sport itself than the athletes participating. It breaks my heart over and over again.
 Its like all the times in high school after I lost a starting position or, we lost a game, I could always hold my tears in until I reached my dad's arms, then, open the flood gates cuz it was coming.
This year though, I feel like I should be strong for him and hold it together when so many times since football camp in July I have just wanted to run into his arms and bawl, for the two of us.

    C. My sweaty body is starting to cool off and relax, I'm so looking forward to sweatshirts and socks again, and not having to peel off my bra at night because I;m soaked with sweat (TMI???)

     D. September The month my parents and both sets of Grandparents were married.

                     My dad's parent's will be married 50 years on the 2nd, I'm in aww every time I think about it. It gives me great joy to think of spending the next 50 years with Jeb, and when I look at my grandparents I can only hope for what they have. For the last probably close to 6 or 7 years, my grandma has cared for my grandpa 24 -7. Without her he would have to be in a home because he is 100% dependant on her.
    That is so much to ask of a person, but not once have I heard or watched my grandma regret any bit of it. She married him 50 years ago and she meant for life.

                      Living at home is teaching me a lot. I watch and listen to my parents and learn from their marriage, they will be celebrating 22 years this year, which in this world is just as crazy as 50 years. I know it has not been easy for the two of them, but I have the confidence that they will be celebrating their 50th in about 28 years.

                        My mom's mom died before my mom was ever married, and I can only imagine how hard every September 2nd has been for my Grandpa has been since then. I burst into tears all over again every time I get an un-expected phone call from Jeb just because it is one of my biggest fears. I can not imagine him not here. So for my grandpa, I cry even harder.

[I'm crying as a write... gosh... I'm a big baby]

* Every time something with the wedding gets costly or stressful, something else comes about,
          EXAMPLES
A. We thought that July 7th was going to be the Saturday during one of the biggest summer festivals in Westcliffe, (which means absolutely NO hotel rooms) I was online last week, working on adding the festival's web page to our wedding web site as an attraction, when I saw they moved the dates to the following weekend.

B. Our photographer  has always wanted to shoot a wedding in Westcliffe, so he is cutting our cost by $400 dollars.

, at 1/2 the price.

All of those are just to name a few.

I know I have been blessed, and I need to start blessing other people in return.

And I also need to buck up and quit being a baby.

So here it is:
A. instead of just re-pinning good ideas on pinterest, I'm going to make an effort to actually do them.
B. Care packages to everyone I miss at least every 2 months
C. The weight seriously needs to come off and stay off, I am the only one in control of that.
D. Laugh more and Cry less (A lot less)

Plus, September is the last 2 digit month until my wedding, even though that means were only a quarter of the way there. (I survived a whole 3 months whats another 9 :)

And I think I have almost every one's Christmas presents already figured out! :)

Mayo, Mustard,and Catch-up

So I know I have been a stranger for far to long, but a lot  has been happening!
First of all

Jeb finally gave me my ring!
 I love it! Its exactly what I wanted!

Next, we celebrated my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary in Greeley and took some family pictures

and a few spur of the moment engagement pictures.

That's just a quick update, more to come later!

Best Week in Summer

My all time favorite weekend in the summer time is fair and rodeo weekend.
This year was no different, this year, was even better because Tyler (Jeb's brother) brought his new girlfriend Robyn to visit.

Along with Robyn visiting Jeb and my friend from NJC also came to visit.

These pictures were taken Saturday night on our way to the rodeo dance.

Karly and her best friend Sydney also joined us for a few spins on the dance floor.
Needless to say we had a blast!

I loved meeting Robyn. She is such a sweet girl, I can't wait to spend more time with her!

One Year

In 365 days (yesterday) I will be marrying my best friend.

I can't wait!

Glenwood

Last weekend we drove up to Glenwood where my aunt, uncle and grandpa live for a weekend visit. We met my other aunt and her two daughters (and families) there too.

The week leading up  to the little vacation I wasn't too stoaked to go. The plan was to leave Friday and stay until Monday. Which meant I wasn't going to get to see Jeb for a whole 14 days.

Imagine such a horrific thing! Sheesh!

But I decided to "get over it" 'cuz our whole family doesn't have much extra time to spend together anymore. One of the disadvantages to a growing family is more schedules to coordinate.

I ended up really enjoying the weekend.
Lots of laughter, food, conversations, and time together.

I am truly blessed to be apart of this family.

Some cousins aren't in this picture and they were sure missed.

My sisters and I had a blast with Leanne and Kati.

And their husbands and kids. So stinkin' cute those kiddos are!

I know I have said it before are I will probably say it a million times more but I am blessed.

Leanne and Kati have been a part of my life in so many ways. We may not be close in miles but they both have always put in the effort to be apart of whatever my sisters and I are doing.

We ended up making it home in time for me to squeeze in a quick visit with Jeb before he went back to work.

******OTHER NEWS!*****

Yesterday Tuesday June 21 I FINALLY passed the written cosmetology test, so as of 9:45am yesterday I am a licenced cosmetologist in the state of Colorado!

Job-Shmob

About a week ago I lost my summer cooking job at a local restaurant because the owners were having some court / rent issues and were forced to close. Mid prime time tourist season I might add. (Some people's idea of making money where we live is so irritating to me.) But, I only know the owner's side of the story. and I feel really bad for them. I can only imagine what it must feel like getting ready for your busy season and then BOOM! You are now closed!
 "Thank you don't come again!"

So, I have resolved to tackling my long and drawn out "DIY" List, that includes non wedding and wedding items alike.

I started making Jeb a quit for his dorm room last summer.
As you can tell I don't have much motivation.
But, as of earlier this week I have found the push I needed to finish it. I have 9 9" by 9" squares left to sew together then, I will actually start sewing the 63 different squares into what I hope turn out to be a quilt.

Although my Grandma is a wonderful teacher, (very patient and wise) I'm shakin' in my space boots.
I have never made anything this "grand" without her guiding my every step.

Wish me luck!

One of the wedding DIY projects I have finished is my "Planning Wall"

I'm pretty proud of how it turned out. Although its hard to see in this picture (I took it with my phone.) There are 3 calendars and "to do" lists below.

There are many more projects headed my way that I am so excited for. I have also been given opportunities to make some money doing random day jobs here and there which is nice until I can get back into a full time paid position.

I'm very lucky to be in this living situation. I have been raised to believe if you are able then, you should work. I know that I am blessed with not having to pay any bills besides my college loans and part of the wedding, and blessed to be able to spend my paychecks whenever they come on wedding items alone. But I need a job. To consume some of my time, to put some money in the bank, and to invest in my many projects to come this up coming year.