A Little Catch-up

Hello again! Gosh it has been a busy time for the Bonds this holiday season. It's amazing how much time has flown by since my last post. Let's see...since then I had an amazing reunion/vacation with some Morris family members in a beach house in the Outer Banks for Thanksgiving. I think the numbers were something like 34 people staying together in one big house! It was wonderful to be together during that time, and I'm already looking forward to getting together again in 2 years.

Over Christmas, I visited with the Belvin side of my family who all live right here near me. It was great to get together for a big lunch at my aunt's house. It was a last minute event, so I felt really lucky to be able to spend Christmas with my family since Ben, unfortunately, had duty over Christmas (and I was thinking up until then that I would be alone for our first Christmas together).

After the Christmas festivities, Ben and I flew into last-minute packing mode as we quickly jetted off on our first vacation since our honeymoon. We went to London and Ireland for a week to visit Ben's brother & his fiance as well as Ben's grandparents (and a few other of his extended family members I was fortunate enough to meet!) We have tons of pictures and I have been asked by lots of family members and friends to put them on here, so I will try to sift through them.

Ben and I had such a great time together on this trip. I was so excited to finally meet his grandparents. It was wonderful to stay with them in Ireland. We also had a blast in London--Ben went to high school there, so it was great to see a lot of the places he talks about going to back then. Not to mention my country-count is up to an impressive 8 countries. (Can you believe that?--7 countries in just 8 months!!) The country-count thing is an ongoing competition in the Bond family. I will probably never catch up to any of my in-laws...or even my husband...but I am glad to be apart of the travellin' fever! Let's be honest: if you're in the Navy, you gotta live it up to the fullest!

Here are a few of the London pictures (I will post Ireland tomorrow!):

British taxis all in a row


The Tube station


Tower of London


Shakespeare's Globe Theater


Me in Piccadilly Circus


I loved it that London's Christmas decorations were still up!




Just too cute.




Albert, Christian, and Ben---3 of the 4 Bond brothers


Ben and me in the classic telephone booth picture


A great view of the London Eye, Big Ben and Parliament


Westminster Abbey


Ben knocking on "Britain's oldest door" inside Westminster Abbey---the door was from the 1050's. That just boggles my mind how old that is!


Horse guard


Buckingham Palace




St. Paul's Cathedral


The view of London from the very top of St. Paul's Cathedral (yes we climbed all 500+ steps!)


Albert, Carrie, Christian, Ben, and me all counting down to the New Year on the Thames!


Fireworks off the London Eye


Guard outside the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London


Tower Bridge


London's Chinatown


Sherlock Holmes' house


Liverpool Street Station--I just thought it was really pretty

We're Back!

I am officially reporting to you as Mrs. Ben Bond!!!  

Isn't that exciting :)  Ben and I had such a fabulous wedding.  Everything was perfect and well worth all of the months of effort.  So many people were present to share such a wonderful time with us.  We are so blessed to have so many close friends and family.  A lot of them travelled a long way to be there for us.  

Our vendors really came through for us, too.  Ben Rasmussen, our photographer, was fabulous.  He's already published a few of our photos from the photobooth on his website and they are just hilarious.  I can't wait to see the rest of them!  

Jonathan Ross, the event planner at Fairfax Marriott of Fair Oaks, is highly recommended by my parents.  (They handled all details with the hotel.)  They said he was outstanding to work with and that he made everything much easier.  And I can tell you the hotel staff did an excellent job of actually putting on the reception.  (If you live in the Northern Virginia area, you should probably check these places out if you're putting on a big event.)

Diane over at Burke Florist created some AMAZING bouquets for me and the girls.  They were exactly what I wanted and just so beautiful.  It's too bad flowers don't last very long, but at least we have the pictures.

  

And Wanda of Wanda's Cakes created the most beautiful cake I've ever seen.  I couldn't have been more pleased with the way everything turned out.  

Just wanted to give everyone a quick note that we're back and had such a wonderful time both at the wedding and on the honeymoon!!  (St. Barths was AMAZING.  I will give more details and pictures in the next few days!!  As well as some more wedding pictures, as I get them!)  For now, my husband and I are hanging out in Blacksburg for 2 weeks until we finally move to VA Beach (well, he's working and I'm packing up).  I hope everyone has a great day!

Funny Story

Ben came to pick me up on campus (around 8AM) after my last final so I wouldn't have to wait for the bus. We came back to his house and I napped while he wrote his paper. Let me preface this by saying that I almost never talk in my sleep. I'm more of a tosser/turner...all night....but no talking. That's creepy. Katherine always used to be a talker in her sleep. Not sure if she still does it, I will have to ask Shon (haha). Anyway, once I woke up (around 2:30PM, mind you!!) Ben started laughing. I said "Why are you laughing?" And he said, "While you were sleeping you said the funniest thing.....you said:
-"Why would you do that?!"
-And Ben (thinking I might be awake) replied "DO What??"
-I replied: "Wear such an obscenity!!!"
HAHAHA. What can I say. A girl who lives by fashion also dreams about it too!

Finals are almost over!!

Things just don't settle down when you're this close do they?? I've been taking finals the last couple of days. Tomorrow is my last one....yayyy!!!! I can't believe we're graduating this Saturday :( VT was the best. I hope to come back to Blacksburg with Katherine & Shon and Holly & Arthur for many more football games...next time as an alumni!! So this week I've got to work on getting graduation necessities (like cap & gown, that sort of thing) and.......packing for our honeymoon!! Can you believe I'm already packing because I cannot. Most of my clothes are down here anyway so I've gotta pack a few of them up to take home with me this weekend! My goodness time has really flown by. I can still remember freshman year 4 years ago. At this time 4 years ago I was probably studying on the bridge with Ben....and now I'm getting ready to marry him. Cuteness, huh? I hope everyone is having a great Mother's Day!

Recent News

Blacksburg weather is just so unpredictable.

  

Yesterday it was in the 30's and snowing...in April.  Typical.  This weekend it's supposed to be in the high 60's.  No wonder I get sick so much!  I can't wait to move to a warmer climate soon....say....Virginia Beach?! 

 That's right, all this week Ben and I have been securing an apartment we found in VA Beach.  (Hence the non-posting) We're pretty friggin' excited!  Of course, it's not right next to the beach...but it's about 20  minutes away...which is a heck-of-a-lot closer than we are now (considering we're in the mountains).  We actually found a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom place which (because of a special deal they have) was a lot cheaper than some of the other apartments in the surrounding area.  I'm hoping that our family and friends will consider visiting us slash taking a vacation this summer in VA Beach (free room!) I know I already have 4 takers.  I never thought I would live near a beach...I guess it's true what they say--Join the Navy, See the World (....starting with Virginia Beach....)

Back to your regularly scheduled program

Here are a few pictures from Ring Dance this weekend.

Me, Ben, Arthur, and Holly.   The theme this year was "Hollywood" so it was perfect for Holly's Junior Year Ring Dance. 

Your two favorite people ;)  (Ben likes to pretend that he's the same height as me b/c he knows it annoys me.)

I just love bumping into Aicel everywhere on campus.

That's pretty much all the photos I took!  Can you believe that??  I have always been an OCD photographer (minus the talent) just because I love having photos.  They're good for record-keeping.  ;) But I guess this semester a lot of things have had to change in my life.  I have been so flipping busy 24/7!!  Maybe that's the reason for the occasional breakdown...hmmm makes sense.  

Well Ben and I went to Michael's Arts and Crafts store in search of vases for the reception.  The plan is that the bridesmaids will just put their bouquets in the vases once they arrive--because 1) that's a huge money saver and 2) the girls won't want to lug them around anyway once they're dancing and 3) the bouquets are going to be gor-geous.  Just imagine a large bunch of  blue hydrangeas with the stems wrapped in ribbons and pearls.  WOW can't wait :)  But anyway here are the lucky vases!  I was originally looking for a more rectangular-shaped kind but these were the perfect size and I think they'll be pretty anyway.  

And here's where I got the idea:

Ben and I have quite a few busy weekends coming up.  I'm gonna list all the Saturdays coming up between now and the wedding.  See if you can believe this:

(4/4)--THIS weekend

(4/11)--we're going to get our marriage license

(4/18)--2 term papers due the next week!!

(4/25)--is my bridal portrait (by my lovely sister, of course!!)

(5/2)--is Holly's 21st birthday

(5/9)--final exams!!

(5/16)--Ben & I graduate and Ben is commissioned the previous day

(5/23)--holy crap it's the WEDDING

NOW you can possibly see why I've been having such major breakdowns lately.  Usually I get really stressed out and get really nervous (not about anything in particular, just shaken up) then Ben calms me down and I'm okay the next day.   You know, just the norm.  Okay now I have to go fold some laundry.

Engagement Anniversary

Sorry I haven't been posting much lately.  It's been a weird week.  Just wanted to let you know something:

One year ago from Sunday (today) at 10pm...Ben asked me to marry him!

How exciting!  I can't believe we've already been engaged for a year!  Here's the actual video of the proposal a few of my friends took.  You can't hear much...and the lighting at the Ring Dance was kind of dark, but I'm sure you can imagine what was said.  I love Ben so much :)  Do you know what he said to me the other day?  I was feeling down about myself and he said "Caroline, I fell in love with you the way that you are.  I don't want you to change."  Toooo sweet!

Just another 54 days....

2 months.

2 months from right now 

I will be getting my hair done...

...and getting prepared to marry the most wonderful man ever...

...and imagining him waiting for me in his white uniform at the end of the aisle...

...and trying not to cry so I don't mess up my makeup.  

Finally Spring

Happy 1st day of Spring!!!

Guess what we did today!?  We mailed the first batch of invitations!!! Yay!!

Update on the giveaway:  I just realized I never put an ending date on it...but I'm gonna go ahead and end it today.  Thanks for so much interest, ladies!!!  Best Part:  ALL THREE ladies are winners!!  How cool is that?!  

Hope everyone has a Beautiful Day!!

My To-Do List

1) Finish this paper due in 4 hours.  --I just love/hate leaving things for the last minute.

2) Find out which ship Ben will get by the end of the day --Basically this information will determine our life together over the next couple of years, including when he will and will not be home

3) Continue researching apartments in the Norfolk area.  Hopefully find a reasonably-priced 2Bedroom with Washer/Dryer in a nice neighborhood so I don't feel scared to go outside when Ben is away. 

4) Get wedding invitations ready to go out--including stuffing, stamping, addressing--the works.  

5) Research graduation ceremony plans

6) Read for tomorrow's class

Ridiculous.

Already back at school.

 I got a lot of things done over spring break--but I was very sad to see it go.  I never even had time to relax.  On another topic, didn't Allison do a GREAT job on my blog facelift???? I'm just in love with it.

P.S. Another thing I'm in love with (besides Ben): my dress!!!  Went to the fitting this week; seriously, every time I put it on I feel amazing.

P.P.S. Went to see "He's Just Not That Into You" with Holly and Ben last night--great movie.  Really funny.  Just don't go see it if you've broken up recently.

busy bride

Wow the past couple of days have really flown by. On Saturday we had my bridal shower (hosted by my wonderful neighbors) and later my bachelorette party (hosted by my wonderful sister), so that was quite a day. My sister already has pictures up on her blog! Ben's 23rd birthday was on Monday so it was nice to have dinner with his family and celebrate the day my wonderful fiance was born :) Tomorrow we're meeting with my pastor, with our cake lady, and with our photographer--so as you can see I haven't even had time to catch up with my favorite bloggers! I'm hoping to get back on here after this week. Hopefully I'll be a little more productive with wedding stuff (i.e. invitations!!! gotta get them together & addressed) in the second half of this week. I will definitely catch up with everyone. Thanks so much for all the sweet comments and encouragements throughout the week! Y'all are awesome.

BOO

So Ben and I have been looking at apartments to visit sometime soon (we're pretty sure we know where we'll be stationed--but I'll make that announcement when it's final). We're moving pretty soon after we get back from the honeymoon, so we've really gotta take care of this soon. After searching for a while, we finally got to liking a particular one--seems like it's in a relatively good neighborhood. It's a typical starter-apartment (basically just a cleaner college apartment) except the rooms are a good size and there are 2 walk-in closets. I know. Two! (And as young as Ben and I are, we both sure have acquired a TON of clothes in our young lives. I'm particularly surprised at him: he has THIRTEEN pairs of jeans. I only have four. But I'm going to work on that this weekend. wink.) So needless to say those two walk-in closets would be well used and greatly needed.
However
today, upon further inspection, I notice that the website says: "laundry facility available". My heart fell. We will have to research further to see if any units come with a W/D...but unless that happens it looks like this one is not gonna be the one. (Call me crazy but there's no way I'm gonna be lugging mine & my husband's laundry all the way down the hall.)

You ask...I'll tell....

So here's what I'll have on my finger for the rest of my life:

I admit it. Ben spoils me :)

By the way.....

Ben and I rented Fireproof the other day and watched it with some friends.

(We went to Blockbuster and they only carried 5 copies...which were all sold out...and we eventually had to stalk the poor employee restocking the shelves.) But the point is, it's an amazing movie. (Even Ben liked it.) I'm thinking about buying it sometime soon. I completely recommend it.

To Do List:

1. Reorganize my life.

The last couple of weeks have been so crazy and full that my life has spun (almost) out of control. I've been so caught up in wedding planning and trying to get used to school work that I've completely missed out on opportunities to be a friend. So this week my goal is to set up a date to meet up with all my girlfriends (whether just two of us at a time or all together). I've really only been spending time with Ben--which, of course, I've enjoyed--but it'll be nice to get back together with some girls, too. Sometimes a girl just needs her friends around her.

P.S. Ben and I bought each other our wedding rings yesterday. Yay! So exciting.

My name is Caroline and I'm an aspiring barber.

I gave Ben another haircut last night. Not tryin to make myself look good or anything....but DANG i'm good at that. Maybe I should just forego the whole "elementary school teacher-thing" and just be a men's hair stylist. Ya. I can really see myself in a barber shop. Right.

Playing catch up

So I went home this weekend for a short visit. It's only been 2 weeks since I've been down here in Blacksburg for school, but it felt like I hadn't been home in a long time. I've been really stressed lately--I don't think I'll ever really get "on track" with both school and the wedding. So the last two weeks have basically felt like I had a huge concrete block on my shoulders. I would come home from class and almost cry because I didn't know what I needed to do--study or plan. So that was why I wasn't writing very much. I didn't really want to be a Debbie Downer. I'm not feeling any better in that aspect (yet), but I did want to get back on here and join the world again.

I finally got to meet my niece this weekend! She's now two weeks old and is truly one of the most beautiful babies I've ever seen. She'll just look at you while you're holding her in your arms. And she's so tiny!! I suppose she's rather tall for an infant but still so tiny! Her little fingers and little ears were so precious. I just loved the way she'd just stay quiet and grunt every once in a while in a cute little infant way. Tom and Julie are both in love with their little girl. It's been a difficult first two weeks for them, I'm sure, but it's easy to see how much they love her. I most likely won't get to see them for a couple of weeks due to my being at school, so (Tom and Julie) please feel free to keep me updated :)

I also made a trip to the public library while I was home so that I could cheat and check out a few of my "textbooks" instead of buying them (oh the joys of being an English major--please don't kid yourself I have to read 27 books this semester alone. I kid you not. Oh yeah and plan a wedding.) But anyway while I was rushing in to get the 2 books I knew they had, I passed the "New" section with all the library's newest books...and one particular book caught my eye. There was a picture on the front of a Navy man (in uniform of course) kissing his new bride.

The funny thing is the Navy man looks a LOT like my fiance. The title of the book: The Military Wedding. Did I pick the book up? No. I snatched it like I was in a race and took off to find my other books. I couldn't help but smile. These last couple of weeks have introduced all the many things I don't know about the military--so I was really beginning to worry about minute things that you can't find out in a general wedding planning book--like when is the sword arch performed?? Before or after the pictures?? Inside or outside the church?? With all guests present or without?? I found most of my answers in this little book. Believe me, for the next 110 days (or 3 months and 21 days) I am going to study this book like it is goin' out of style. Oh and by the way--the author specifically states that the book was written for civilian brides who are marrying military grooms--and the book was published around the time when I got engaged. Meant to be?? :)

3 random facts

1) First day of school is tomorrow!! I think I've got a little back-to-school nerves although I don't even know why--my schedule is way too easy this semester.

2) Ben helped me rearrange my room yesterday. I think it looks so nice and so much bigger. It's already nice to have a change of scenery for my last semester.

3) I'm waiting anxiously to hear of the safe arrival and delivery of my niece or nephew and also to hear that Tom and Julie are doing well. I know this is the most exciting moment of both of their lives and I can't wait to (hopefully) see them and meet the baby this weekend!! That child sure is stubborn though--(definitely takes after his/her father!!)--because it was due on Thursday and seeing as that didn't happen Julie's induction date was scheduled for this morning and the child just does not want to budge!!! It's okay...sometimes I like to sleep late too :)

A late night post

I have finished printing the invitations! What a job! I thought it would be easier because they came with a link to a website that had online templates--but of course that didn't work!! So I had to make my own templates--measuring how far from each side it printed on 8.5 x 11" paper--then taping each individual invitation onto the 8.5 x 11"--then running it through the printer hoping the printer wouldn't momentarily go crazy and eat the paper (which it did 3 times!!) It was a very intricate process, but I am glad (and proud) to say that it is finished. And quite a job well done. I'll show them on here later when I can figure out how to retouch the pictures (aka when I can get back on my own computer at school).

Speaking of school--I've only got a few more days until I go back! I'm excited (and sad) to go back for my last semester in college. I've got a lot on my plate this semester (finalizing graduate school applications--taking the GRE--finalizing wedding plans--working to get $$--oh yeah and keeping my grades up!) but hopefully I'll find a way to manage it. I'm just glad I got so much of the wedding planning done over break.

I'm also quite excited to see Ben again. We'll have been apart for 2 weeks and talked on the phone all the time (which is extremely surprising if you know either one of us--we're not big on phone-talking!), but I still missed him. I'm afraid I'm going to be such a terrible Navy wife--I can't even live without him for 2 weeks!!

It's 2009

And a Happy New Year to you all! (This only coming 5 days late.) Today is my favorite sister's birthday! Happy Birthday, Katherine! We had a birthday celebration for her with the whole family this past weekend, and it was really nice to spend the evening with everyone.

Tom and Julie are going to be parents pretty soon! I'm pretty excited to have a niece or nephew, and it's expected really any day now. Hopefully I'll get to meet him/her (my bets are on a girl!) before I go back to school in a few weeks.

Ben left today to go back to Bburg. He went back early for his job at school. He says he'll travel back up here either this weekend or the next, so I am already looking forward to seeing him again.

Wedding plans are coming along great. Almost everything is booked, so now it's off to the minute parts of the wedding. Right now we're debating on when to do the saber arch: immediately after the ceremony inside the church so all the guests will be sure to see it--or outside of the church (before or after pictures??). Has anyone been to a military wedding before? Any suggestions on that would be really helpful.

outside the church

inside the church

I hope y'all have already had a great first week in the new year.