Celebrating & Anticipating

Last week Jesse and I celebrated our birthdays. With Jesse's on the 13th and mine on the 14th, it looks like we'll always be doing this together for many years to come. This one was extra special since it's our first birthday together ever (have we mentioned yet that we've not known each other an entire year? It will be 11 months from our first acquaintance on December 22nd). We went to Stoneface Dolly's on recommendation by Jesse's cousin. A good choice!

some sort of oyster/chicken/sausage jamalya + beer

chicken with caramelized pear, sauteed veggies, brie cream sauce and mashed potatoes + ceaser

It's been nice to take moments out to do non-wedding things. It's amazing how easy it is to get into planning-stress mode and forget we like each other and why we are doing this! I'm mostly joking, but seriously, taking time to just celebrate and be us has been crucial.

Something really good that came up tonight: I finally finished calculating the expenses and we're under budget! Not by much, but we've still got some room to play with. What's more, we're under our ideal budget. We'd originally come up with an "ideal" and a "just in case" wedding financial plan. With MUCH thanks to our friends and family who so willingly are involving themselves, many trips to garage sales & St. Vincent de Paul's thrift store, many DIY projects and two very eagerly frugal Butroses, we were able to stick to something realistic.

Perhaps I shouldn't speak too soon, but after all the craziness, I think things will turn out just fine. Tonight I feel content as I anticipate the biggest party of our lives, and a life together ever after. I can't wait to marry Jesse Keith Butler!