Well my friends...

It's been a long year. I'd like to think I willed time to go faster :) Today I finally marry the man of my dreams and I've got to say...it's about FREAKIN TIME!!!! I mean seriously? I'm getting married. AAAAHHHHH!!!!!! Seriously, it's the day of and I still feel like it hasn't sunken in yet. We haven't left yet to go up to the property, but the sun is shining and I can tell this is going to be a glorious day :) I can't wait to get all dolled up :) put on my dress :) and dance the night away with my HUSBAND!!!!! :) I'm gonna haves me a husband :B (buck teeth.)

So anyway, short. sweet. to the point.

This is Shannon Pedersen signing off for the last time :)

.....as Shannon Pedersen.

Just clarifying.

Prayin for Sunny Days

to return to me. Take in the warmth of the solar rays. I'm not just seeing the gray skies in front of me. Prayin for sunny days!!!


That's exactly what Mike's and my friends, family and coworkers have been doing and will continue doing until Saturday. If there's any doubt in the power of prayer, take a look at this.






Just the other day both these sites were saying rainy with a high of 66 degrees. Now that, my friends, is a miracle if I've ever seen one :)

And so, just THREE DAYS LEFT BEFORE THE WEDDING!!!!

I'm at the point where sleep doesn't even come into consideration at night anymore :P I don't think I slept for more than an hour last night.

There's just so much to think about!! Not to mention that today was my last day at work until October!!!

I can't even begin to explain how I'm feeling right now. I'm so extremely excited even just for tomorrow because that is when we will really be kicking things into high gear. We are making homemade pizzas for our rehearsal dinner and those need to be made tomorrow (all ten of them!). I'm so excited. Even though I know a lot has gotten done, I don't feel like I've done anything. That and the fact that it all still feels so surreal to me. I don't think any of this will actually sink in until Friday when we're setting everything up. AAAAHHH!!!!!! this weekend couldn't be any more perfect :)

Peace out!!

3 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honey Sunny Money Moon

Lucy refference :)

Anyway, so even though I already posted a blog like ten minutes ago, this is my blog so I make the rules.......so there.

I thought I'd let you all know all about our awesome honeymoon we'll be on for the week after the wedding.

(This post will be riddled with pictures)

I'll start from the beginning.

Saturday, we will be leaving the reception around 930 or 10 and driving to our first stop, a Holiday Inn in Vancouver, WA. We didn't want to be driving for a long time, as car rides tend to make me super drowsy. This way we aren't as totally exhausted when we wake up early the next morning to head for Lebec, CA (or somewhere around there) where we will be staying Sunday night. The next morning we will continue our travels until we reach the beautiful SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA!!! And our most fabulous hotel....



The Hard Rock Hotel :) Not only will our hotel be absolutely incredible...

I mean look at this...


lobby


Hall of Fame


Lobby Bar


MaryJane's Coffee House


Pool Bar


Rock Spa


Rooftop pool


Hard Rock GIFT SHOP!!!

And best of all....OUR SWEET SUITE!!!

BEHOLD!


The Hard Rock Suite





I am so excited. Never in my life have I stayed at a luxery hotel in a luxurious suite. Of course I've also never been married. So this week will be a week of just relaxation and enjoying my shiny new husband :)

Anyway, during our stay at the amazing Hard Rock Hotel, we will be enjoying a few of the many wonders that make up San Diego. Including...



YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SO COMPLETELY EXCITED I AM TO GO HERE!!!!!!!!!


Mike also wants to try this



I've been surfing once. But that was in the calm not so shark infested waters of Indian Beach. And when I went, I couldn't get any father up than my knees cuz I have little toothpick arms and I'm not strong enough to push myself all the way up.

Then on Thursday, we will be leaving the beautiful Hard Rock Hotel (sad) and heading to...



HAPPY AGAIN!!!!!

That night, we will be sleeping the jeep, which will be fully equipped with tons of blankets in the back (seats down), a portable dvd player and the first three seasons of Good Eats :)

Friday we will start our journey back home, drive through the night and get home sometime Saturday. A day filled with prolly lots and lots of sleeping.

And that, my friends, will complete our pretty awesome honeymoon :)

I Don't Know What to Believe!!!

One of the things a bride worries most about in the somewhat unpredictable month of September is, obviously, the weather. Especially if she's having an outside wedding. Well, my friends, I'm at that point.

Obviously, I figure, no matter what, rain or shine, I'm marrying my wild man. No matter if there's a tornado, a flash flood, or a giant pimple on my nose, I'm marrying my wild man. Though...it would be nice if...it was nice. Therefore, I've been checking a couple weather sites periodically.

Well, my friends, I sit here, at this computer, a very confused bride.

Why am I so confused? Look for yourself.



weather.com



Accuweather.com

I'm really hoping accuweather is right. I mean, it would be so absolutely perfect weather. Sunny during the day and then during the reception would be a beautiful sunset, the few clouds there are turn pink and orange...*sigh*

We're praying. That's for sure.

Let There Be Light part II

So you all know we want light to be our theme for the reception.

Yesterday, Mike and I finished two big projects.

A little back story.

A while ago, Mike and I were up at the property lying in the grass in the reception sight, and Mike just kinda looked at me and said "You know what would look awesome?"

"Iono."

"A giant heart made of lights!"

......I said sure, if you can figure out how to do it. And guess what everyone, my wonderful wild man did just that.

BEHOLD!!!!!

and in case you can't tell, that's Mike and I standing behind the heart, in front of my two story house :P

It's pretty ginormous. And we're both so excited to put it up at the wedding :)

The second project we did....well you'll just have to see it :)

This is our wedding christmas tree :)

We made those balls by blowing up little water balloons and wrapping glue soaked string around them, then when they dried, we popped the balloons and the string stayed in place. Then we just gathered a bunch of branches left over from the arch and arranged them in this little square planter, added lights and TADA!!!!!!!

:)

In the words of my mother when she saw both of our creations, "This wedding is going to be magical"

And I couldn't agree more.

18 days!

Happy Birthday my Wonderful Wild man!

Today is a significant and special day in history. Today 24 years ago my wonderful wild man was brought into this world by his amazing parents! MY FUTURE IN LAWS!!! This is also a special and significant day because exactly three weeks from today will be OUR WEDDING DAY!!!!!!!

I can't believe how fast it is coming. I suppose I have something to do with that. There's no way this year has gone by in the same amount of time as the years before. I'm sure I somehow mentally sped up time. If I wasn't getting married in three weeks it would prolly still be like July or something :P

Anyway, a little update for you guys.

We FINALLY (almost) have the arch done. As in, we have it wired together. But I can't add the flowers to it till a few days before the wedding. I don't want them to get dirty or anything. We also added and finished more DIY decorations to our list. Decorations now include our tea light lanters, christmas lights, and now these strings of paper hearts, which are absolutely adorable and that my amazing best friend/MOH helped me with.

And we got the programs done! They are rather fantastic, if I do say so myself.

I'm so excited to see this all come together on the big day :)

Here's some pictures so you guys can see first hand just how awesome this wedding is going to be :)

Our almost finished arch and my dad :)



Our rad paper hearts sans string


Bella trying to help Jenny and I string the hearts together





And my bestest best girlfriend!