Year Two {Am I Crazy!?!}

Remember THIS post?

We're going there this weekend.

Packing right now ... heading out early to spend the week with Jay's family.

Then ... the infamous trip.

Please {dear God!} ... wish me luck.

And pray that I DON'T almost die in another lightening storm.

Amen.

Freedom Is ...

... not paying an EXTRA $35 a month of top of an already HUGE Puget Sound Energy bill!

This being my 1st house, I had NO IDEA that an $11.25 PSE bill was super low.

For TWO YEARS I paid $11.25 per month.

Then it came back to bite me.

I got a bill for well over $2000 for back-pay.

My meter was broken.

I didn't know it.

I had nothing to reference the bill on.

How was I to know $11.25 was low?!?

Anyway, PSE was super cool about cutting my bill down.

I sucked up my anger and frustration.

And I've been paying PSE an extra $35 a month.

For it seems FOREVER.

That extra $35 felt SO HUGE every month, just because of the principal of the issue.

I felt they were in the wrong.

Though I DO acknowledge that I used the energy.

Hmmm ... tricky one.

This was my 1st month after all the debt was paid off.

And DANG ... it feels good!

Danny Boy Blue & Sissy Pissy

I love my little brother so much.

At my wedding ....

Amy couldn't resist our colors together. Once Danny put his turquoise zippie on, she said, "Get out on the dock THIS instant!"



I love you Danny Boy Blue.

xoxo

The Circle Of Trust

A few more pictures that I love ...

Everyone stood around us in a circle while we got married.

You could call it the Circle Of Trust. :)


At the end of our ceremony, our families put their hands on us as Mike led us in prayer.

This was very powerful and moving.

I've said this before ... but I bawled like a baby.

And here is some evidence ...

Rainbow Princess Barbie

I missed church last week.

Every time I do ... I regret it.

Watch this video, and allow yourself some time to think about how you view yourself.

And then think about how God views you.

I know I am.

Burning Barbie from Overlake Christian Church on Vimeo.

TOMS SHOES

I got my TOMS shoes in the mail yesterday ...

Grab yourself a pair HERE.

For every pair you buy, TOMS donates a pair to a child in need.

Flower Petals

Jay and I love playing with our friend's son, Jadin.

Here we are tonight, teaching him how to blow a flower petal off his hand.

Don't mind the blow-torch that Jay is holding ... I'm SURE it's kid-friendly.

Classin' It Up

Jay and I classed it up a bit the other night and headed out to the Everett Speedway for some EXTREME NIGHT entertainment.

Enjoy (your welcome) ...

Wedding Announcements

Sending these in the mail soon ...

Wedding Out-Takes

So far, my favorite part of looking at my wedding pictures is laughing at the "out-take" pictures.

Can Jay & I NOT keep a straight/normal face!?!

Seriously!

Evidence #1 ...

Evidence #2 (typical) ...
So fun!

More to come

Cottage Lake Newspaper

Jay & I are famous.

SUPER famous ...

... if you ask the kids of Cottage Lake Elementary that is!

We were FRONT PAGE ya'll of the school newspaper that went out today.

Here is our article written by a 6th grade student:

The Stookeys

There is something very special about this year and many will remember it ... Yes, as many students have heard, Mr. Sookey and Ms. Diederichs (now Mrs. Stookey) got married! It started the day Mr. Stookey walked in for his job interview (for the record, this is NOT when we started dating, this is when we MET ... it was YEARS later that we started dating. And by 'many' years, I meant like 5.) Ms. Diederichs was the first person he met ...

Their wedding was June 6th at an undisclosed location but I will tell you that it took place by a lake. He proposed to her at Snoqualmie Falls on March 29th. The only people at the wedding were parents and siblings. There were only 18 people total!

Their favorite things to do together are watch Mariners games, go to Barnes and Noble, travel, put up holiday decorations, and play with their dog, Cooper. They love to watch the movie "Transformers" and are looking forward to the sequel.

Here is what Mrs. Stookey likes about Mr. Stookey: "We are best friends, family always comes first, he always has a good time, and I couldn't ask for more. And it doesn't hurt that he's handsome!" Here is what he likes about her, "She has a great personality, a great sense of humor, she is smart, fun and has a great smile." He also admires that she is devoted to good causes like helping children in Africa.

Their house is divided, he's a Cougar, and she's a Husky, enough said. All in all, they are perfect for each other.

Mommy & Lisa

Amy keeps teasing me by sending me a picture or two. (JK)

I love how my mom is looking at me in the picture.

We were hanging out while getting my make up done.

Do you notice her chef's jacket?

She's a chef after all!

Love you Mommy!

A Final Blessing

Besides the whole "I now pronounce you HUSBAND and WIFE" bit ... this was my 2nd favorite part of our wedding.

Oh shoot ... just remembered, I also really liked Jay's vows.

Okay ... this is my 3rd favorite part of my wedding.

The final blessing.

Mike led us in a final prayer, while our family laid their hands on us.

And prayed ...And I bawled like a baby.
(I know you're all shocked at this news)

We are loved.

And grateful.

Getting Ready

While I was getting my hair and makeup done for my wedding (shown below), my students were well taken care of by Jessie Owen.

When I got back to work on Monday morning, my desk was covered in handmade wedding cards that the kids had made me.

Throughout the day, Jessie asked the kids, "What do you think Ms. Diederichs is doing right now to get ready for her wedding?"

Here are some of their adorable responses:

• putting on lipstick
• making her hair the most beautiful ever
• getting a pillow for her ring
• shaving her legs
• putting on smell good spray
• getting a thing that goes on her leg that Mr. Stookey will take off (the pastor's kid said this, of course - a wedding pro!)
• buying wrist flowers
• putting black stuff on her eyelashes
• throwing flowers

I love them ...

Dive-Bomb-Kiss

Besides the fact that I have no chin in this picture ... I think it's super cute.

Jay tried to kiss me 1/2 way through the ceremony ... BEFORE Mike said, "You may kiss your bride."

In the picture, I'm trying to get away from his dive-bomb-kiss.
I love that he can't wait to kiss me. :)

Married

I got married last night!

Taken from my cell phone right after our ceremony ...

More pictures to come!

Super EVERYTHING!

I'm getting married in 2 days!

Here is what I look like on the outside: calm, cool, collected, sweet ...

And here is what I feel like on the inside: freaking out, super excited, can't wait, a million things swirling around in my head, wondering if I should change my vows in any way, wondering if I can lose 5 pounds in 2 days, wondering how I'll get my arms super toned by Saturday, can't stand to wait one more day to be Jay's wife.

Yipee for us!

Tomorrow is allergy shot, pedicures, manicures, tanning, family in town, family dinner at our house.

Saturday is WEDDING DAY!!!!!!

Super amped, super excited, super proud, super happy.

SUPER.

Lunch on White

No ... this isn't an opportunity to show you a picture of my boobs.

Look at my white shirt!

For the love of God!

Can I PLEASE have ONE day where I don't spill on myself!?!

And you wonder why I wear so much black!