Kristen + Stephanie > Julie

My cousin Kristen and I are 2 days apart. We always used to have our birthday parties together when were growing up, and we always used to tease her because she was bald until she was like 10. Well ....as of last month she become way more mature than me and got married and she has way more beautiful hair than me. go figure.

and then there is my younger sister who is technically 3 years younger but in reality about 8 years older. She graduated {the same day Kristen got married} and is now an official grown-up real-life nurse! congratulations, my lovely younger/older sister. 

STL

So when I go out of town, which is a lot for work, I usually just like to work out, shower, eat dinner, talk to Morgan and CHILLLLL. {wow I don't even need to blog anymore, I just summed up my life in one sentence} 

When I went to St Louis for class, it was just a normal day in the life of out-of-town-Julie, except that week my friend Meredith {who used to work with me in Memphis and then moved to Chicago} was at the same exact class. So the three amigos {me, Pope and Mere} were reunited. 

We decided to celebrate and catch up over dinner at Mama Capizis at The Hill - delish. - and go to one of our coworkers ice hockey game. Lets just say thank goodness the food was good, because I've never wasted that much time watching grown men fall down.

Appreciative

{since this is my stand in journal and memory keeper}

Last night Morgan had to close at the gym - so I decided to work out up there and bring some dinner for the both of us to eat after I got done working out.

I was pretty beat since I've been sick all week, and thus it was the first time in a week I had worked out - my body was weak. But Morgan came by every so often to see how I was doing and encourage me

And so after I got through it we sat down in the office to eat our gourmet dinner {aka turkey sandwiches and chips} and we talked about the wedding, and church, and crazy people that work out at Germantown Center...and then there was a moment where there was nothing but silence and Morgan said my name, so I looked up from my gourmet chips {aka Lays} and he said "Julie, I appreciate you. I hope you know that"

and that, my friends, is the man I'm going to marry.

Wow.

Its been for-ev-er.

Sorry.

Lets recap.

Ok so lets see, since the last post

• I went to St. Louis for a class for work
• reunited with my old buddy Meredith who moved to Chicago and was attending the same class.
• Morg and I went to Auburn, AL to attend my cousin Kristen's wedding, and it was a blast.
• then it was CHRISTMAS!
• It was Morgan and I's first real Christmas together (last Christmas I was at my dad's in North Carolina) So we focused a lot on starting traditions together, and it was definitely my favorite part of the season.
• and then our friends Jenn and Levi got married on New Years Eve!
• we were particularly proud of this one since WE were the ones we introduced the happy couple!
• Morgan was able to attend the sealing and was one of Levi's groomsmen. It was beautiful!
• then of course, we went to NYC for VACAY!
• we went to the top of the empire state building, watched improv, walked through grand central station, went to the lego store, MoMA, Guggenheim, Museum of Natural History, enjoyed central park, saw lady liberty, went to ellis island, witnessed ground zero & the building of the freedom tower, ate lots of new york style pizza and drank lots of starbucks hot chocolate, shopped!, spent time with family eating, laughing and yes - gambling. and of course.. got engaged!
• THEN I flew to Kansas City, had a surprise engagement party, went to the Chiefs/Ravens playoff game, cried a little because they lost and then drove with my mom down to Arkansas
• And then - we came back to real life.
• And then - it was my birthday!

OK - now that I've got an outline to keep my accountable - I'll be slowly but surely be posting on each.

be patient though - i am planning a wedding. {!!!!}