our past 2 weekends!

Well, it's been a couple weeks since I wrote on this. Things have been very busy for us it seems. The last 2 weekends have been packed with fun, family, and friendship! The weekend of the 23rd we had the BRAD PAISLEY concert (which was my present to matt for his b'day- yeah yeah yeah... i know it was back in April..... but i knew with the wedding coming up we probably wouldn't have wanted to spend the money on concert tickets so close to the wedding!). So Chuck Wicks and Jewel opened for Brad. They were pretty good, but i was just ready to hear and see BRAD!!!! And of course, he did an amazing job, just like last year!


LABOR DAY WEEKEND - This past weekend we had another fun filled couple of days. Friday night Matt and I went a little mini-date!!! It was nice to do that again. We first met with our DJ (Matt Rivard) at Monical's and went over some song choices/preferences and then we headed out to Lowe's and then to the movies!!!! We ended up seeing "Step Brothers." It was decent.... I love Will F.'s humor, but it was more of a renter than a theater movie. But either way.... my baby was happy because we went to see a movie and I got to spend time doing something with him that he loves!!!!


Then SATURDAY was another busy day! We had our 4th Shower (Nietfeldt Shower) at the Bennette Curtis House in Grant Park. It was a beautiful day out and the whole atmosphere of the Bennett Curtis house is just beautiful! (I wish I could go take photographs over there all the time... it would be a beautiful set up for senior photos or even engagement photos.... maybe i should look into that!)


But after the shower, we loaded up all of our stuff and prepared for the LONG TRIP back home... haha..... i mean the very quick trip home to unload all of the stuff into the extra room. We had a little time to recooperate.... matt took a nap, I organized some stuff (imagine that! haha) and then I (YES, JENNI) fell asleep to take a NAP! (I know it's a rare thing, but something just must have caught up to me and I need was so tired!). Then after we were a little rested it was time to head over to Bryan and Ash's house for their 2nd annual LABOR DAY PARTY!!!! We had some GREAT food and saw some people i haven't seen in long time. Good times!

Then it was onto SUNDAY. We went to church in the morning and after church we surprised Dad Hoekstra with FLYING LESSONS for his b'day present. He was definitely in shock and couldn't believe that it was going to happen in just a few hours! So we had a quick lunch and headed over to the Kankakee airport for his big adventure. Matt was able to go with Dad up the first time, and then when they came back after about 30 minutes.... the instructor said that he would take up some others for a couple of minutes if we wanted.... so Amy, me and IAN were able to go up there. Let's just say that was a HUGE HIGHLIGHT for Ian. Of course i was a little nervous having him sitting next to me, which not really knowing how he was going to react to flying... but he loved it. He just was soaking it all in and had a nice on his face whenever I looked at him! And so after that big adventure for the day... it was time to go home for a little while to re-cooperate again! Matt took a nap (surprise, surprise) and I got to do a little food preparation! Then it was off to Mom and Dad H's for a little b'day dinner for dad too! AND THAT WAS SUNDAY!!!!!!

And then there was MONDAY....(see I told you a LOT went on this weekend... it's not even over yet!!).... Then Monday was the THRESHERMAN's SHOW in Pontiac, IL. Matt really wanted to take Ian... so i wanted to tag along so that Ian could teach me about tractors & combines (you think I'm kidding? That kid could REALLY teach me a LOT about EVERYTHING FARMING!!) So, that was in the morning for a couple of hours and then we went to a couple's house from church for a "pool party!" That was a lot of fun. I haven't been swimming in a long time and that just makes me get more excited for HAWAII where we will be able to go swimming in the ocean and the pool and just be beach bums all day long!!!!!!!

Now onto something different....
On the job front for me... I am back to working 5 days a week. I will be taking some days off to get stuff done with Matt's house and with some dress fittings, but it's nice to know that I have something to go to everyday again. But we'll see how long that lasts! Matt is staying busy with work.... might even get pretty busy right before and after the wedding too!!! So, that is nice to know.

And with the wedding... we are getting closer.... only 6.5 weeks.... the RSVP's are due this Saturday and then we'll see what the next plan of action is... whether we need to start calling people or if it's not too many, then hold off for a little bit and wait it out a little bit... giving 'em a little more time.

Well, i think that's it for now.... I really should go to bed....

late nights = BAD HABIT!

i don't think i can ever go to bed early...............SHEESH.......

so, i know it's only technically only wednesday night.... but i am already looking forward to the weekend (i have been since last weekend! =\ ). for some reason.... weekends seems to just make me happy... i get to be with matt a lot more than during the week.... so, i really look forward to that!!!

this weekend, we get a break with showers, but we still have a busy, full weekend! friday night is a night with both set of 'rents at the mom & dad hoekstra's house and saturday night is the BRAD PAISLEY concert!!!!!!

for anyone that knows me pretty well, you know that i have lists.....and lists..... and a lot of 'em..... i probably write enough lists that i have everything i write on the list memorized and probably don't even have to write it down to remember..... but i have an ongoing list for the wedding but also my business stuff that has to be done before the wedding (so i can enjoy it and not be thinking of all the work i have to be doing)... so the business checklist is SLOWLY going down, but i keep telling myself i have a month...... 3 albums and wedding photos to get done...... AGH... NO PROBLEM! haha.... but here are some sample pages of some album pages i have design in the last couple of weeks/months..... there are a lot more... but these were easily accessible....

and my checklist for the wedding is going down actually.... WHAT? Surprising (but now that i say that.... tomorrow i will think of a lot more stuff i have to do... oh well.... such is life, right?)!!! i am starting to wrap some presents, trying to be creative and add a little "jenni" touch to 'em..... i ordered my headpiece/tierra (which who knew that it took a MONTH to get that in? good thing i ordered it now!!!).... and other little things that are "secret!!" i can't wait to get some more stuff done, but i'm sure if i start doing some of that stuff... it will be premature and i will have to re-do it..... so for now, i guess i just wait a little while!!! =)

hope you all have a good day/night/rest of the week!!

HOLY COW!

2 MONTHS and COUNTING!

AAAAHHHHHH!!!

It's hitting me that I have a LOT TO DO!!!

EEEEEEEKKK!!!!!

presents, pizza, and DORA

Well, another busy weekend has come and gone!

I can't believe how fast these weeks are just flying by! WOW.... pretty soon it will be the week before and I won't know where all the time went!

Well, we had the Derks shower on Saturday morning.... what a great time! My aunts put together a wonderful shower for Matt and I. They had black and white with a little bit of red decorations, matching the color scheme of the wedding! The cake was beautiful with our monogram on it!!!!! And we got a lot of great stuff!!! Thanks to everyone that came.... we greatly appreciate it!

(cake) (my handsome man & me)

(patti, me, & melissa)

(esther, me, & trish)

(shan, becky, me, & vicki)

(trying to figure out the white substance)

(yeah, he's weird!) (my pops!)

Then after the shower, it was time to bring all the goodies over to matts!!! As much as i love to organize stuff, I'm kinda ready to be done organizing and re-organizing the extra bedroom. I have stuff stuffed underneath the bed and stacked along the sides of the bed..... haha! But I plan on taking a day and opening everything, going through matt's old stuff and our new stuff and weeding out what we don't need of his old stuff and cleaning out the cabinets and then ORGANIZING again!!! YIPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait!!!!!!!!!

After organizing and resting a little bit... it was time to go out for pizza with Nicholas and Rachele. We went to Gino's East in Orland and then we went bowling. And I dont' want to GLOAT or anything, but I WON BOTH GAMES!!!!!!!!!!! Whoop Whoop!!! Haha... it was a fun night!!!

Then, Sunday (today) was our DORA b'day party for Mikayla (2) and Lydia (3).... it was nice to be with the fam again!

(I'm super excited! - Kyle)

So, that was our weekend in a nutshell..... hope everyone else had a great weekend too!

looking forward to this weekend....

SANFRATELLO's PIZZA.... YUMMMY!!!!!

Last night we went there with Matt's parents to book our rehearsal dinner! Man, it was good! I'm very excited that we found a place that will accommodate our decent sized group and we will get great tasting food!!! =) I know many people love Sanfratello's, but there is ONE PERSON in particular that LOOOOOVES their pizza and whenever she is in town has to eat there... so Aunt Jan... this... in a very small way, is for you too!!! Please eat as much Sanfratello's pizza as you can, because you're going to have to get your fill of it until the next time you come out!!! haha..... WE LOVE YOU and can't wait to see you and uncle randy again! =)

i'm so thankful that it is the weekend!!!! so far, i know it to be filled with "golf" (for matt), wrapping paper, tissue paper, boxes, girl talk, catching up, friends, family, organizing, unpacking, shopping, doing errands and much more!! I LOVE WEEKENDS LIKE THIS!!!!!

we have a lot going on this weekend, but we will still be able to spend some much needed (in my opinion, maybe not matt's) time together. saturday morning we have our DERKS shower... and i think it's safe to say, our biggest shower (good thing matt threw out his back this week, now me and my girls will have to show how strong we are with bringing presents to the car... haha!)

but then AFTER THE SHOWER, is the FUN PART.... bringing the stuff to matt's house, organizing it in the extra room and just "fantasizing" about where it will go/what to do with it, etc!!!!!!! Then Saturday night we have a pizza outing planned with our best man and his wife to GINO's EAST!!!! YUMMMY!!! (hey, nicholas, since i hear that you read our blog..... here is a little SHOUT OUT to you!!! haha).

Then Sunday, we have a DORA BIRTHDAY PARTY to go to for my niece's Mikayla & Lydia! Matt can't wait... he LOOOOOVES Dora.... but even more so, I think he likes BOOTS better! haha!

Hope you all have a great weekend.... just think, tomorrow, our wedding is 9 weeks away.... WHOA!!!!!

this goes out to the man i love...

matthew...

i can't thank you enough for loving me. 

you are my strength and comfort when i need it 

and you know me better than i sometimes know myself. 

i thank our faithful and amazing Lord for bringing us together every day!

i can't wait to be your wife and partner!

MUAH!

let the craziness begin.....

(pictures from the Faith Church shower: i really think that matt LOOOOVES to go to these showers... he is a great sport for dealing with all the women and GIRL stuff!)

so, this past saturday was the start of our EVERY SATURDAY until Sept 13 festivities!! =) Matt's church was kind enough to throw us a church shower! We got a LOT of GREAT THINGS! Some things included some personalized placemats, a wall shelf, cleaning supplies, car wash stuff, beach towels, and much more!!!!! i can't IMAGINE how our extra bedroom is going to look after the next couple of showers!!! SHEESH.... we are so blessed to have people who love us and want to help us start our new life together!!!!! so, THANK YOU EVERYONE!

next weekend is the DERKS shower and then we have a week off of showers, but we get to go to the BRAD PAISLEY CONCERT (i bought matt tickets for his b'day!)! other than wedding stuff, we have been busy working (or in my case, not really working at my "full time" job b/c we're super slow, but using that extra time to try to get caught up on my business stuff!!)