Megan + Brandan

My sister is engaged!

And you better believe I took pictures.

Brandan casually asked me about a week before if I would take pictures of Megan and him in Seattle. He wanted to propose on the waterfront, you see.

So we all packed up and drove to Seattle. I swear Megan knew something was about to go down. Especially when she wore the pretty new dress Brandan had just bought her "for no reason." It was 30 degrees that day. She claims she did not.

We all ate lunch together downtown and I casually remarked that the sun was getting pretty low and I really wanted some pictures of the sunset along the water. I'm smooth.

Forrest and I lagged behind as we walked closer to the pier and then once we were in position, I gave Brandan a cool thumbs up. Or maybe a nod. I'm not sure which, but it was cool and it was casual.

Then the man of the hour sank down onto one knee and pulled out the perfect ring for Megan. Seriously, theeeee ring.

The picture above is one of my favorites. She was completely shocked (in a good way). Everybody knew?

Aaaand here's the ring

  

  

Cutest couple, right?

I've only met Brandan twice due to living across an ocean for his entire relationship with my dear sister, but he's hands down the best man for Megan. They're both kind of weirdos, you see. The only thing that I have against him is that he doesn't appreciate a cute hedgehog like Pendleton; but I guess that's Megan's problem.

Forrest and Brandan bonded this past week over their mutual love of food and making fun of me and I guess that's okay as long as I can make fun of him back (and always win). I always really hoped that the men Megan and I married would like each other and unless one (or both) of them is a really good actor, it looks like we did it, Meg! We both picked us some winners. 

Despite, or perhaps because of, their mutual weirdness and in spite of his aversion to tiny pets, Megan and Brandan are a perfect match. They're both tall, have curly hair, and are freakishly smart. Brandan's hair is only curly when he grows it out.

Welcome to the family, Brandan!

All about hedgehogs!

I told my sister that I would write a post today. Actually I told her Monday but then I got a little distracted by more important things like knitting a baby hedgehog(!) and a few technical difficulties. And all of a sudden it's Thursday and I haven't posted in two weeks or something.

So here's your post, Megan!

My sister has her very own baby hedgehog named Pendleton. I'm not actually sure if he's still a baby or not because we only have a Skype relationship and I have banned her from letting him talk to me. Pendleton is not really one for conversation as it turns out and when he's around, my sister and I have a hard time carrying on a conversation as well. Because all we do is awwwww and watch him snuffle his way across the floor with his cute little nose. As would anyone who has a heart. It kills me when she puts his tiny face up to the camera.

So I knitted another pair of socks this weekend and then I decided that I was really tired of knitting socks. Socks get very tiresome after a while. Especially when they are only for other people and never meant to be cozy on my own feet. I do all the work and I have all the cold toes and how is that fair, exactly?

SO! Along came a new woolly baby hedgehog. His name is Stewart. Or Stewie for short. Forrest named him. I thought Stewart was a good name for a hedgehog as well. It just fits. I can't say that I'm proud of the amount of time I spent awwwing over this cute little hog. And I may or may not have made him sniff Forrest's arm or exclaim, "He's just so cuuuuuute!" more times than I care to remember. I'm kind of a sentimental knitter I guess? And it's not like I'm going to start knitting ornamental rabbits with clothing or anything. There is a line.

Here are some pictures of Stewart.

I can't wait for the part when I send him to my sister so that she can take a picture of our two hedgehogs being best friends. And I guess that Stewie can live with her so that he won't be lonely without Pendleton. You know.

There's nothing worse than a lonely hedgehog.

Happy Birthday, M!

This is my favorite little sister, Megan. Today she is 20! 

This is the most recent picture I have of the two of us and it is six months old. I don't know about you, Meg, but that is way too old for me.

Megan and I are exactly the same and completely opposite. Simultaneously. She's the prettiest, smartest, and snarkiest lady I know. And she's not a teenager anymore. I'm pretty sure you know what you mean to me, but just in case you don't, you should remember how I let you borrow my favorite shoes even though I know that your big feet stretch them out. If that's not true love, I don't know what is.

Welcome to your twenties, Meg! Happy birthday and I can't wait to see you in a month or two (I hope!). Next year we'll spend it together and it will be the best.

Is 'Journaling' Even a Word?

My sister gave me this cute little journal for Christmas. I'm not very good at keeping a journal. I've had the same green flowered diary since I was 13 and I'm pretty sure it isn't even halfway full. I decided to get a new one a year or two ago because who wants to write current entries alongside embarrassing adolescent ramblings? Not this mature woman. So, I bought a beautiful red leather diary that I would be proud to write in. How many times have I sat down to record my thoughts and dreams? Exactly two.

I have always considered my photos as a sort of visual journal so actually writing things down hasn't been as much of a priority. I've recently come to the realization that, try as I might, I can't remember all the little day to day things that I so easily take for granted. I tell myself all the time that someday when we are nestled safely back in the states, I will really want to remember what it was like to live in the UK. Not just the big trips or even the day outings, but the details of what it's like to drive 60 mph on the insanely curvy roads that are only wide enough for one car and the seven lane roundabouts and the way that any house newer than 600 years old fails to impress me anymore. I don't want to forget how much I simultaneously love and hate living here.  All I want is to be back in the comfort of America where I can go to one store instead of four to find everything I need, but I can't quiet the huge part of me that will miss being able to visit a castle on the weekends or hop on a plane and be in Europe in an hour. I love looking at the travel boards on Pinterest and being able to plan our next trip based on what I see. I don't want that to end and I definitely don't want to forget what it was like.

This journal is exactly what I need. It asks me a different question every day and has room for five responses. I will fill it out over the course of five years. I have really started to look forward to ending my day with a couple of quiet minutes in which I enter a thoughtful sentence or two to answer the surprisingly relevant questions. I'm hoping that this book will get me into the habit of writing and I will actually remember to write real journal entries.

 

Thank you, sweet sister, for the kind gift. 

Concerning Oxford

My sister is here! I have only seen her once in the last 18 months so this has been a highly anticipated visit. I made her a gnome hat as a welcoming gift. I also made one for myself so we would match like when we were small. People thought we were twins back then. 

Forrest was glad to see her too.

We ventured to Oxford to see J. R. R. Tolkien's grave and various houses he lived in and churches he attended before we watched The Hobbit.

Even though I'm not Catholic, I've always wanted to light a candle in a big cathedral. So I did. 

We ate at the famous Eagle and Child for lunch in order to fulfill Rachel's lifelong dream. She's kind of obsessed with old J.R.R.

More adventures to come!