Gardening?!

So I've been meaning to blog about our little home in the country down the gravel lane for a while. We absolutely love it here. Especially Daniel... he sits out on the front porch all the time, especially while the sun is setting and watches the deer come out in the bean field right across from our house. 

I took this photo a couple weeks ago, I should put a new one up because now I have all my cute fall decorations out with mums, pumpkins, and gourds such. :) 

The front of the house...such a plain jane ranch. But perfect for us!

Our backyard

Another view of the backyard. 

 See the cute little cows in the background? We've had fun watching them! There were two little calves born this spring and it's been kind of fun to see them be born and grow. :) I wouldn't mind having cows near my backyard, but man I am sure thankful Daniel is not a farmer. :)

Did you see the weed patch in our yard? Yes... that was supposed to be my garden. This spring I got all inspired and was sure I wanted to have a garden with lots of fresh produce. It was full of weeds(AND trees!) to start with so we cleared it out this spring. But then my mom said I could just learn/observe with her garden and have some of her produce. I decided to do that, and just plant melons and easy stuff in my garden. Well... the summer flew by and got busier and busier and I am so glad we didn't try to have a garden. I barely had time to cook and do housework, none the less garden in the evenings! We got behind with the weeds, and the poor melons got choked and our produce was pretty much zero.

So this is what our garden looked like from a summer of not weeding...what a mess!

So yes, gardening was not for me this year. I am so embarrassed by our weed patch though... so last Saturday Daniel pulled out all of the trees that seem to quickly grow! Then he mowed the entire thing down and burned some of it. I'm not sure when we will have a garden... It's just not something I can do right now with working full time! I just have to accept I can't do everything. But I hope to have one someday in the future! :) 

Oh and I quickly found out, so many people have an over abundance of produce and I was able to receive a lot from them!! :) 

I hope to post pictures from the inside of our house soon, for those who haven't been here before!

Phew!

Phew! Is how I feel today...it was a busy weekend...just trying to recover from it tonight! :) Thursday night Kendra hung out with me. Friday after work Marisa L and I went out to eat at Monicals and hung out at our house since Daniel was at work. It's a great time to catch up with friends when Daniel's working!

Saturday morning, bright and early we ran the Pumpkin Festival 10K(6.2 miles). Poor Daniel only got 3 hours of sleep, but still did great with the run! We didn't run together...he's way faster than, so I let him go on his own. :) I ran by myself which I really didn't mind... I had my ipod and I was good! The race started a half an hour late because of an accident on the route. It was a beautiful morning though... We were actually freezing while we waited! The last 2 miles or so, Mark & Kristin F came up behind me..which was perfect. I kept up with them, and ran the last 2 miles faster than I probably would've if I was by myself. This was my second 10K and it went much better than the first! I was so glad there was some improvement.

So thankful Daniel motivates me so much to run!

These 2 stooges ran it together

 Saturday morning we didn't stay for the Pumpkin Parade...first year in a long time(maybe ever) that I missed it! We went home and relaxed a bit before I went to church to get stuff ready. We served lunch on Sunday with Les & Judy L.. So Saturday afternoon I went and picked stuff up and set tables. I also stopped at Elisabeth's for a bit to see her as a darling housewife. :)
Saturday night we went out to eat with my parents....then they came back to our house for dessert. Troy & Ellie were in town, so they stopped by to eat dessert and chat for awhile. It was nice.... we kind of kicked them out early so we could go to bed though. :)

Sunday went fine.... serving lunch was a little stressful but not too bad. I just have to get used to the way Roanoke does it. I definitely learned alot, and it was nice to serve with someone so I wasn't all on my own. But being in the kitchen from 7:30am-2pm is just exhausting.
Sunday night we went to Daniel's parents to celebrate August/September birthday's. It started out as a cookout until we got rained out.

Sweet little Asher turned 1

I love how so many people are piled on this foot rest.

The newlyweds :)

That's all the pictures I took...my battery died. It was a nice evening, and I can't believe I wasn't more tired. We left in good time though... We BOTH needed to go to bed since Daniel had been lacking sleep for the weekend!
So today has been a day of recovery... which meant a long day at work!

Labor Day

Labor Day was a much needed day.... we got to sleep in, go on a run, and make a delicious breakfast. I got a lot of stuff around the house done which is always a good feeling. Later in the afternoon, we went and shot trap with Fred, Jodi, & Letty. I was sort of planning on just watching.... but that's not what ended up happening. :) 

Brothers

I've never shot a gun before in my life... I was a little nervous. I was scared of the gun kicking back at my shoulder. I know, I'm kind of wimpy... But, I shot a semi-automatic, 20 gauge shotgun, and those don't kick as much. (See how much I learned?! :)

Me with a gun, a scary thought, I know...

Daniel was so patient as he taught me!

 The most exciting thing was I actually shot a clay! So next time I try, I should do better since I know how to load and aim. Oh, and by the way, the kick doesn't hurt bad at all.... my other arm was sore the next day from holding the heavy gun up for so long. :)

Jodi did awesome!

It was such a beautiful and relaxing evening outside. Miss Letty just sat on her chair the whole time and didn't mind the noise at all! We went back to Fred & Jodi's later in the evening and grilled hamburgers and played games. It was a fun evening.... Daniel might make me into a hunter yet! :) So excited I know how to shoot and load a gun now. :) 

Elisabeth & Evan

Labor Day weekend was Elisabeth & Evan's wedding. It was a busy few days, but it was so wonderful. Such good bonding time with all the family, and lots of tears of joy. :) I will try to just give the important details of the weekend.

Last dress fitting!

All of the bridesmaids were in charge of finding their own dresses. Elisabeth wanted different shades of pink, and different styles. After trying to order stuff online, and looking in the stores, I decided to have Deanna make mine since she's made all of the dresses I've worn in weddings. Mary and Elisabeth had their dresses made there too. 

Friday night after work I went straight to the fellowship hall to help... Daniel was working, so I was all theirs! :)

Aunt Lisa and I making 9 Chocolate Bavarian Torts! We made a good team!

And Elisabeth pretending she's helping....

...but she was REALLY doing this. 

Saturday morning pictures were bright and early! It was so hot though, it was a good thing we did it so early! Any later and we would've really looked like a sweat mess!

Sweet little Letty with the Bride.

Evan's Family

Fred & Jodi's family is growing! One coming in Nov!

One of my favorite things about the weekend was that Daniel & I were in the wedding together and even got to walk together. Daniel has definitely been Elisabeth's "protective older brother." 

So cute. I love Daniel & Elisabeth's relationship! Typical brother that teases/tortures, but so much love too!

Michael, Gabe & Shiloh looking adorable in their bow ties and suspenders!

This looks like Evan & Elisabeth's family... so cute, and so natural!

Mom & her daughters

Robert & Mary--such a special couple!

The original Leman family

They are such a dashing couple

Shiloh Daniel(his middle name!) & Daniel :)

Groomsmen

First good friends, now brother-in-laws!

Leman kids with their spouses

After pictures we had a delicious lunch at Larry & Lori's. It was so nice to get out of the heat... we were all starting to look pretty sweaty by the end! We went home after, and I took a 2.5 hour nap. :)

Something about the weekend, was that it was hot, hot, hot....pictures were hot, and when we went to the church for rehearsal, the air wasn't on. It was so stuffy and hot! On Sunday church was still hot. Standing by the stairs waiting to walk in, we all started sweating again (at least I did! :). Apparently they didn't turn the air on soon enough that weekend so it got behind. And with all of the guests, the air really couldn't catch up. 

The rehearsal dinner was at the fellowship hall. Such a lovely evening.

Marisa & Elisabeth- Cousins & best friends

The baby's coming soon! I can't wait! :) 

The rehearsal is always so neat. Sometimes I dread talking in front of everyone, just because I always get super emotional. But it is so neat to hear everyone talk about the couple... parents, brothers, sisters, and friends telling memories. Reflecting on the past... anytime I reflect on anything I tend to get emotional. I was perfectly fine while everyone was talking, until Daniel talked. It made me tear up so much... he said the sweetest things. Then it was my turn... so I was little emotional at that point. :)
Just an idea of what I was feeling this weekend....I have only known Elisabeth for a little over a year, and I wish I would've known her my entire life. She is such a good example to me. We can have serious conversation, but also way too much fun! I feel like I can tell and ask her anything, and I know she feels the same way. I am going to miss her so much in Roanoke... she made it easier to switch churches. During her proposal and engagement we have gotten even closer, because now we have more in common. :) She was sad when Daniel moved out and got married because they were so close. I am so glad she has a husband now that will be there for her and she can rely on, an answer to prayer!

Sunday morning Evan, Daniel, and some other friends went dove hunting before church. Silly idea if you ask me, but whatever men! :) I went to the fellowship hall early and helped make some food, and got ready with the rest of the bridesmaids. FYI, some of these pictures are from Aunt Susie on facebook.. I couldn't resist not copying them, she has a really good camera.

Ready for church!

I love this picture... Susie was doing Marisa's hair, while Marisa's rocking Susie's baby Marie. :)

We went back to the fellowship hall after morning church to get our dresses on.

Maid of Honor zipping up the bride. :)

Jodi & I.... such a special sister-in-law to me!

Bridesmaids!

We went to church and they promised to be true and faithful until death. Such an amazing commitment.

 I have to say the most touching and favorite moment of the weekend was right before we walked down the aisle. Mom L gathered all of us bridesmaids around in a circle and prayed for each and everyone of us, and our relationship with Elisabeth. She prayed for herself as a mom, for Elisabeth & Evan, and for the ministers who were having the service. It brought us all to tears, and it was just a very touching moment. So I may have walked down the aisle with some redish eyes. :) 

They are sweet, so perfect for each other!

I feel like our wedding was just yesterday!

Looking forward to so many more memories with them!

The fellowship hall  was absolutely freezing... but that's what our husbands suit coats are for!

I am going to get all sentimental for a minute.... it dawned on me a couple of times this past weekend how I wouldn't have even been AT this wedding, nonetheless, IN it with my husband if I wouldn't have married Daniel. The weekend made me so thankful and feel so blessed by the family I married into.

Daniel's group of cousins around the same age

People get Aunt Susie & Mary mixed up alot...I never saw it until this picture!

Marisa and I get along pretty well :)

This picture is so sweet. I love how they are both so into the conversation... I love Grandma Knapp. She has the cutest giggle!

Punch pourers!

Pretty food table

These centerpieces were SO Elisabeth :)

Typical Gabe :)

Such a sweet photo.

They are so happy together!!

Off they go... And lived happily ever after!

Then there was the lovely clean up.... Mom L could only take so many people talking to her, so I began to help take charge with clean up.

The picture A. Susie captured of me! 

We were at the fellowship hall pretty late cleaning up... and there were so. many. flowers.... we didn't know what to do with them all! I have a lot of them drying... I'm going to do some pretty/creative thing with them. :) We got home around 7 that night. Daniel & I both slept for 12 hours that night...9-9. I was so thankful to have the Monday off for Labor Day. More on Labor Day to come....

But to wrap this post up, I am so incredibly blessed and so are Evan & Elisabeth! It has been so neat to watch God work in Elisabeth's life as she follows God's will! I love you both SO much!!