More in-depth...

So much is going on, it's hard to keep track of it all!

We are moving into our new two-bedroom, two-bath apartment at Argyle Place on Friday, July 14, with a huge move-in day on Sunday, July 16. It is this cozy apartment complex in northeast Hickory with a pool and walking trails. I think it's only a few miles from Lake Hickory, and it's a few miles down the road from Lenoir-Rhyne College. Our unit (as the landlady said on the phone yesterday), faces the woods, so we get afternoon sun and less view of the neighbors. It's on the second floor, so it has higher ceilings. (Very exciting).

Queen's coworker Ruth has a litter of kittens in her one-bedroom apartment in Ballantyne and needs to find homes. She offered to keep them until we had our new apartment, and even get their first set of shots if we wanted them. We went to see them and they are PRECIOUS!

There were two boys and a girl. The girl was all gray, and one boy was gray with white spots. My favorite was a black and white boy. Brad and I will be the proud mommy and daddy of the two boys, whom he named "Rocky" and "Smalls" (the boxer and the kid from "The Sandlot" for those of you not in the know). They are still small, and will need a lot. I've never been truly responsible for any pets (unless you could my fish Petunia and Ol Yeller), so things like vet visits and litter boxes will be a new experience.

Nonetheless, very exciting.

Brad and I booked our DJ for the reception. We are in the process of picking out songs to be played, since apparently we are really picky. Sheesh!

With that booking we now have all but one major reservation for the wedding. All that's left is the florist.

I've mentally checked out of work this week because I'm in eager anticipation of the upcoming bachelorette weekend in Charleston! Eight of us (that's right, and that's not all the girls either-Ashley isn't old enough to play with the big girls yet), will stay at the King Charles Inn and have a grand time!

Speaking of grand times, my Christmas present was fantastic! Brad promised he would take me to a theatre show for Christmas, but the next interesting show wasn't until June (now). What a great gift. We went to Morton's steak place in uptown Charlotte. I had lobster bisque as an appetizer (it was amazing). Then I had broiled salmon and split a baked potato with Brad. He had the NY strip steak. We ate entirely too much, then ate dessert! It was this chocolate cake with hot fudge inside, with a scoop of icecream on the side. It also had raspberries and a sprig of mint. DELICIOUS!

We cut it close, and had to go immediately to the theatre (it was only a few blocks away so we walked off some of our food coma). We sat in the mezzanine, which apparently means the first balcony. The show was great; much more entertaining than the movie version of "Chicago." We sat beside some guy who kept complaining that it wasn't visually interesting, since the set and actors were all black.

Brad was getting mad at him, and as soon as he got up for the intermission Brad whispered what a tool he was. I laughed really loud. oops.

I had a fantastic time, and I think Brad did too. It's so much fun to dress up and go on "grown up" dates.

OH! How could I forget...

We booked our honeymoon. It's a four-star, all-inclusive hotel in Puerto Vallarta. We'll leave for a 9 a.m. flight from Charlotte on Monday morning (yipes!), and return on Friday night. We got a fantastic deal on it, and our room overlooks the Gulf of Mexico. I even got Brad's wedding gift (about which I won't disclose any more information, since he may read my blog). If you want to know what it is, email me (jhines@hinesmedia.com) and I'll spill.

OK, enough with the updates. I'm going to fix up the images of the pages I'm doing at work and post them tomorrow (if I remember). I'll be sure to post photos of the new kittens, and the new apartment.

Thanks for reading! I didn't realize how widespread the blog was until I deleted the old one!