back in business

Needless to say...we are back in Michigan...unfortunately, the weather in Michigan is not quite what I would call enjoyable. Yesterday it went from being 47 degrees to 17 degrees in a span of 3 hours. When I was driving home it was POURING rain. The roads were completely flooded. Well, once I got home it was POURING SNOW!!! All the water that had gathered on the roads has turned into ICE!! Complete ICE!! The good news is the snow day we got as a result. The bad news is the FRIGIDNESS that has come from the arctic "breeze."
Oh how I wish I was back in California...out where the sun is shining and my car isn't covered with snow and ice.

On the other hand...I started student teaching and absolutely LOVE my class!! My teacher is also amazing! So far, going to student teach is what is keeping me going. That and the fact that in about 140 days I am getting married to Dan, the most spectacular man ever!

In the end,

God is good, life is good, until tomorrow :)

fun and fancy free

Our time here in California is almost to an end. Times have been so extremely busy and exciting we have not been able to update this wonderful blog :) Basically since the last time I posted we have come into a new year, traveled to my dad's apartment in San Jose, celebrated Jeremy's 25th birthday, helped Jackie at school, went to IKEA, visited San Francisco, and Monterey, shopped in various malls and slept to our heart's content.
In all this we were also able to nail down a few more wedding details!! YAY!! ALL of my bridesmaids have their dresses, the caterers have been paid, the centerpieces have been designed, and rumor has it the honeymoon has been booked!!! Hopefully, things will go this smoothly when we return to Michigan.
And now it's time for a picture parade...

Happy 2008!

The birthday boy and his wife...
hahah love ya Jeremy and Jackie :)
Here's a better one:
We got lucky in this picture :)
the diver was right behind us!!

can you find the fish??
I think Jackie did!! Make sure you look closely at Jeremy's face
oh look! she's taller than an otter :)
God's beauty...

oh how I love the California coast

Jeremy and Jackie with the Lone Cypress
awww kissing by the cypress...That's my mom and dad for ya :)
In the end, we have had a most excellent time. Being in California has been so relaxing and incredibly fun! As much fun as this has been we must leave for snowy white Michigan on Monday where we get back to "real life." Dan will begin working as a substitute around the greater Grand Rapids while searching for a permanent teaching job. As for me, I begin student teaching in the 4th grade at Ada Christian Elementary. Life from here on out will be complete and utter chaos! But I am positive that through all this chaos we will find time to relax ;) HA!
Until next time...

Yosemite and more

Following Christmas, Dan and I traveled to Yosemite, CA with my parents and Justin. Dan had never been there and I hadn't been there during the winter in quite some time. For those of you who don't know, Yosemite is in the mountains which means that during the winter there is snow...and I thought I left that stuff in Michigan. Oh well it was still fun :)
Here are a few pictures that highlight the adventure...
me and Dan at the Valley overlook...I obviously was not paying attention...I kinda had to use the restroom and it was chilly :-D
Standing in front of the frozen Bridal Veil falls...notice the thick layer of ice on the path and how I am NOT standing on it
Bridal Veil...or at least what was left of Bridal Veil
This is what I like to refer to as Justin Falls :) rather ironic, I know...needless to say, his tush was pretty sore after
pretty, I know :) not only is Justin good at falling, he is also good at taking pictures
To end, here is the little snowman my dad made while everyone else was packing up the hotel room. It lasted until the lobby of the hotel, then the poor thing flew off the back. It was cute while it lasted :)

For New Years Eve, we will be hanging out with some of the coolest people I know-the Branderhorsts :) Then the next day Jeremy and Jackie return and Justin heads back to MI. After Justin leaves, our journey continues in San Jose and its various surrounding cities.

Until then-have a great rest of 2007
God Bless

Merry Christmas

For Christmas, I decided that I would start a blog with Dan to keep friends and family up-to-date on what is going on in our lives. So, here we are celebrating Christmas with my family in California-far from the frigidness of the Michigan snow :) Everything has been great! Just the other day, Justin convinced my dad to play our Wii!! Let me tell you, that was a very entertaining sight! Now, my dad plays with Justin all the time. Right now, he sticks to bowling; although, I think he tried baseball out earlier today as well. Come tomorrow, we will venture out to the beauty of Yosemite National Park. Dan has never been, so this should be quite an experience.

Here are a few pictures of our Wii adventures:
He takes position...
STRIKE!! on his first try at the Wii EVER!!!
Unfortunately, Justin was beaten by my dad...AND he lost his previous PRO status :( sorry bro ;)
and yes, you are seeing this correctly...my MOM even tried her hand at Wii bowling...she's really a closet pro bowler ;)

life at the DenOuden household has been oh so fun these past few days...we'll see what the next month entails...