Exploration has begun!

Well everyone, the famous Joaquim da Silva Fragoso has arrived!

He got here yesterday morning at 6am and was happy (not really...) to see a rainy airport upon his arrival. Hopefully it is a little sunny tomorrow at least so he realizes Chicago doesn't only rain. What a bummer of a summer...everyone pray for sunny skies on September 6th!

Yesterday was a whirlwind. I can't believe he only arrived a little over 24 hours ago because we have done SOOOO much since then. I went to work at 9am yesterday and left a bit early to go to the tasting for the caterer. (WOW - one of my only goals was to have impressive food at this wedding of ours and you better believe that I have achieved that goal. We were STUFFED because we couldn't stop eating! Joaquim still can't stop talking about it!) We got home from the tasting around 6 and dropped off some leftovers for my dad and my brother to have for dinner, then turned right back around and went out to the storage unit so Joaquim could know how to get in there. Of course, I promptly forgot which number it was, much to his disbelief. I know, I know...ridiculous. We found it and all is well. Then we took a few things, whatever fit in our trusty Camry, to our apartment and unpacked a bit. We do NOT have enough storage space. Shelves and/or portable drawers will soon have to be part of our lives. But until we get everything in, we won't know what the situation is, so in it all goes. There is a lot in my storage unit...how did I get so much STUFF? After all the apartment shuffling, we came back to my parents' house, and worked on paperwork for the greencard filing, and planned all of today's activities.

All of that travel was practice for Joaquim to take the car today and explore the area a bit! He was a bit reluctant, understandably so, but I promised him adequate mappage and that he could hang on to my cell phone (until we get him one tonight!) So he dropped me off at work this morning, and off he went! Thankfully he has a very handy sense of direction and at least is aware of when he is going the wrong way, so he has made a few turn-arounds today, but that's how you learn right? He has been very successful so far, with a trip to the apartment already under his belt, and he picked me up for lunch with our friend Yani. :) Now he's off to the storage unit and the apartment again...this afternoon after work I have my final dress fitting, then dinner, then the Verizon store, then seeing a potential $50 couch...oh my goodness.

Tomorrow we are going on a DATE, to see Harry Potter. :) it will be well worth it and I hope I don't sleep through the movie after all this running around!!

Butterflies and Heartburn

Maybe one causes the other...but having both at the same time is a bit distracting.

I feel like I could just jump out of my skin waiting for Joaquim right now. Thankfully I received the official word that he's in Sao Paulo...he came online and called me "aunt" on accident, which was quite charming, and then proceeded to ask for a website, tell me his aunt said that if she could send me a piece of chocolate cake with Joaquim, she would, but she can't...and then he said he had to go eat lunch. Ok, see you tomorrow.

So, I am the most antsy, jittery, sleepy, anxious girl ever right now. Thankfully I have something to do this evening, though it might not be the most fun I'll ever have in my life, and then will take a shower and a Tylenol PM, and off I go to bed, to wake up at 5:30 and be reunited with my looooooove! And after that, cinnamon rolls for breakfast. WHAT could be better?

I just need to get through today without twitching and jittering my excited self off a cliff...

Reuinited!

My fiancé arrives in two days. Less, in fact...something to the tune of 44 hours. Praise the Lord!

I'm sorry for not having updated much recently...pre-wedding life is chaotic. I can't wait to see everyone on the 6th, enjoying the fruits of my labors. My family has been super helpful...I truly wouldn't be alive at the moment if it weren't for them. And let's not forget my dear fiancé, Joaquim, who is currently scrambling and packing and saying goodbye to people, and will get on a bus for São Paulo in about 5 hours. Keep him in your prayers as he travels...his heart is doing well I believe. He is still excited to marry me, so this is good. :)

Last night I started planning our time in Hawaii...wow, we are going to be the coolest people. We got these Go Oahu passes for Wednesday and Thursday of our trip. They cost us $160 for two days, so we better use them! Basically we get free admission to far too many places, so we have to choose just a few. One of them will be a snorkeling adventure, which will probably really scare me. I don't like marine life or coral. However, how can you NOT go snorkeling? Get over it, Christine. There's also a tour called Grand Circle Island Tour, which is from 7am-4pm and takes you ALL OVER Oahu. That should be cool. And free. Well, not really since we already paid $160. But at least it's pre-paid. So it kind of feels free. I got a restaurant recommendation from my uncle, so our one big hoorah will be at a nice Italian place that is .3 miles from our hotel (google mapped it yeaaaa) and will have an ocean view table, with fireworks after sunset. I already bought a dress. It's great to think about this honeymoon business because at this point it is pulling us through the wedding. We are stress cases, though still in love, and quite tired because we can't sleep well. Last night I lay awake wondering if we would get plates so we could eat on something other than plastic.

After Joaquim's arrival, we will be really booking it...moving on Saturday...last minute details...tuxedo fittings...paperwork for his green card, which MUST be applied for by September 24th...his parents come on the 31st so they will be getting to know our new life...lots of shopping for groceries and things like toilet paper and dish soap...plus that whole wedding thing in 13 days. I think the whole business will be SO fun. But it will be crazy for two weeks!

So, pray for safe travel and for our sanity. Ah!