Where did August go?

Recent happenings with Justin and Emily: This weekend flew by with the Salmon Classic fishing tournament, a bbq with friends, and ANOTHER wedding! Justin and my dad partook in the fishing tournament- with no fish caught. Two whole days of miserable fishing conditions (rain and wind) only to turn up empty-handed!! It's a bummer but they did win a couple door prizes. Better luck next year!
Friday night we spent the evening with our friends Kim and Adam. We had a cookout, and enjoyed the last gasp of summer with them for the night. Justin and I also asked both Kim and Adam to be our bridesmaid/groomsman!!! I made a photo collage for Kim--all the memories we've had over the past 3 years, captured in a frame :) Justin pulled Adam aside when I wasn't around and asked him to be his groomsman. Adam is SO excited! I think our wedding party is going to be a great group of FUN!
We attended our 4th and FINAL wedding last night! Justin's former neighbors the Verschaeve's youngest son was married. It was a fun reception-pink and green, and lots of dancing! We enjoyed seeing old friends and chatting with the Verschaeve family. A good way to end the summer...officially. Next weekend is already Labor Day!! Where has summer gone?!
In other news: Justin and I looked at 7 more houses this past week.....only to find 2 we really liked. We found a fabulous house on South Lake Leelanau road that we hope to put an offer on this week! I am so OVER the entire house hunting process. I hate going into all these homes already knowing in my gut I won't like it. There is a certain "feel" I get when entering a home....and some just don't have it. I trust my gut, and Justin thankfully agrees with it. We hope to be homeowners within the next 2 months.
Justin starts school tomorrow at Davenport for his fall semester!! I begin my counseling course in Grand Rapids on the 14th. It will be a looooong 15 weeks of traveling each Monday. BUT this means I am VERY close to finishing my Masters!! Amen. I feel as though our lives continue to get busier as each day passes. School, work, house hunting, wedding planning, budgeting for everything, etc. We are living in the moment, but finding joy at the end of each day :)

A week in pictures- Montana Trip!

This photo was out of order----My college friend Megan and I at Old Chicago!
Sarah, Me, Megan and I posing at our booth at dinner. Megan and Sarah came to TC to visit me this summer. It's always fun to hang with these girlies!
Justin and his college friends: John, Clay, and Rob. We all went out to dinner on our last night in MT for a big feast. We'll miss these guys!
Last week Justin and I took a 6-day trip back to our "montana roots". We stayed in Bozeman for the majority of the trip, and Lavina for one night (for a wedding). There are many pictures in this post so please bear with us :) The above photo is from our first night in MT at our favorite pizza place- Colombo's. This place was right down the street from our house, and we often had dinners here.
Each time we go to Bozeman I have to walk the campus...just to say hello! It is always beautiful but always under construction. Many new building have gone up since I have been gone (2 years now!).
There's a first time for everything: we rented a car together! Now that we're old enough to rent cars, we did for this trip and it was a lifesaver! Kia's are not my favorite, but this little one sure did the job!
I went to lunch with my college friend Kami on our first day in Bozeman. We ate at this cute new place called WeeBee's. We sat on the rooftop patio and this was the view.....i love the mountains!
Here we are after enjoying a delicious BBQ pizza! (Me, Kami)
Justin took me up to Hyalite Reservoir (since I had never been in the summer). It was gorgeous and was the perfect Montana day. Sunny and clear!
This picture doesn't do Hyalite any justice...but it captures many reasons why we love Montana.
I think I just might frame this photo someday. The expanse you see when standing here is breathtaking!
We got to experience Music on Main while in Bozeman. Here is Justin with Rob (his former college rommate and friend) Rob was kind enough to provide his home for us to stay while we were visiting!
Another thing I love about Montana is that you can see all sorts of weather coming in before it hits you. A storm was brewing aver the mountains on this gray evening. The cloud formations are spectacular.
Justin and I went to dinner (and drinks) with Kami and her boyfriend Trent. It was a really good time hanging out with them! We ended up here at the Cat's Paw (a local sports bar).
It was raining pretty hard before we got to the Cat's Paw (thus, Justin's wet shirt). But we enjoyed the company of friends and 200 TV's :)
On Saturday August 15th our friend Levi was married here- at his ranch home in Lavina! This was the setting for his wedding. A simple Montana home wedding.
Justin is here with his good college buddies: Cory & Daron. Daron works for a radio station in Billings, MT. Cory is an entrepreneur currently living in L.A., but traveling all over the world. They all met while attending MSU.
Levi and Ann saying their vows! The wedding ceremony took place on Levi's back porch!
Here we are right after the wedding. As far as you can see...Levi's family owns all the land. 37,000 acres to be exact! Truly big sky country.
Rob, Justin, and Cory...you don't see these guys ALL dressed up very often, so pictures were necessary!
Justin and Levi- Justin met Levi freshman year at MSU. A friendship 7 years in the making! Justin was SO happy to be reunited with all his college buddies.
This was their wedding cake- very delicious too I might add. Levi's family owns the 2nd largest sheep ranch in Montana. Wowzers!
Walking to the barn for their reception! Probably the shortest distance I have traveled between wedding and reception!
This is where the reception was held- in the sheep barn! It was so classic, and so "western". We loved it!!
People parked everywhere for the wedding. It was so informal, and so refreshing. Everyone is family here!
Daron and Justin- Daron was the DJ for the wedding and did a fabulous job!
If you look closely you can see Justin and I dancing!
Daron's facial expressions are priceless :)


I stepped behind the DJ mixer boards to snap this shot with Daron. He's such a hilarious person, we love him!
This group shot sums up the night. Great friends, good food, and lots of laughter. It was one of the best nights Justin and I have had in a long time.
Peering inside the reception barn, it was all lit up. It was a cozy, hometown Montana wedding! Yeehaw!

Update of the month!

I have been slacking on the "news" part of my blog by posting mostly pictures- so I will update you now on what's been happening in our world as of late.
Justin and I have been house hunting vigorously for the past few weeks. We have been approved at every bank we've gone to for loans. We hired a Realtor from Greenridge Realty here in town (recommended by my uncle Bob who is a Realtor as well). Her name is Hannah and so far she has been very good at what she does. Very down to earth, and knows that we want something affordable. After all, the houses selling right now are priced well......and at a rate we can afford. We've probably seen over 12 houses by now- put an offer on one (battled with him a little too) that didn't go through because the seller would only take TOP dollar. It was a perfect house, but it was not meant to be. We have yet to place an offer on another. I am learning that this process is sort of like bartering, only more stressful. I have learned a lot about mortgages, insurance, foreclosures (do NOT go for one of these), and closing costs (WOW). We are still on the hunt!! Determined to score our $8k by the end of the year (tax incentive). It feels very cool to be going through this very "grown up" process. Justin and I are so excited to be new homeowners before the end of the year!
Summer classes are OVER!!! This means I now have only my counseling practicum to do this fall- one day a week in Grand Rapids for 15 weeks. I am counseling court-mandated clients. Missing one day of work a week won't hurt me too much- plus I'm gaining so much great experience doing what I've been going to school for! Justin began his schooling at Davenport University in July! He is taking online courses until Fall semester. He will then be in the classroom at the University Center(where i've been going) all year. He is projecting one year of schooling to be finished FOR GOOD! Whoo hoo!!
Wedding planning has been slow lately....but it has just picked up again! While my sister Lindsey was home for 2 weeks we looked at invitations. No trying on of dresses just yet. Somehow my ice cream, cotton candy, and hot dog binges haven't been helpful with keeping my "girlish" figure. I shall begin the search this fall. We are planning a "girls trip" to SEATTLE for thanksgiving this year!!!! Mom, me, Lindsey, and barb (Justin's mom) will be hitting the town for 4 days in search of wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and mother of the groom wear. We are SO excited! I have yet to book a photographer (an annoyance of mine currently). We are studying the guest list (adding and subtracting people), planning the menus for the rehearsal dinner and reception. It' s so much fun!
As most of you know my sister Lindsey was home for 2 weeks. She hadn't been home for 9 months! It was great having her here....and being sisters again :) We did SO much in 2 weeks. Farmers market, boating, fishing, Moomer's ice cream...a lot, Friday Night Lives, eating out ALOT, sunning, grilling out......you name it. It's easier saying goodbye this time because she and Rob will be back for GOOD in October.
Until next week....I will say goodbye. I will be posting many Montana pictures because Justin and I are going on a 6-day vacation to Bozeman tomorrow! We are attending a good friends wedding in Lavina on a sheep ranch. Yeehaw! It will be great to see old friends and get back to our "roots". Each time we go back, the "bug" becomes more evident in us....it is definitely our home away from home.

Lindsey's 2 week visit (cont)

Also on Lindsey's list was a night of fishing with dad and the boys! Linds and I watched the sunset and chatted while the boys intently watched the poles.
A night at Moomer's! Always a summer favorite of ours. We're leaning into dad in this photo...maybe too much ice cream? :) I enjoyed coffee-toffee while linds and dad noshed on chocolate peanut butter chunk.
I manned the front seat of the boat while the guys fished.
Linds and I enjoyed the sun on our faces :) Its always nice being on the water, anytime of day as long as there is sun!
Linds caught her FIRST salmon!! 16lb female. Justin was very proud because she caught it on HIS lure that he had made by hand earlier that day! So exciting! The fishing has been pretty slow this summer so it was awesome to catch one! Linds was pretty happy...then very regretful after the fish was landed- poor fishie! It was so good having her home....she and Rob will be back in October for good :)

Lindsey's 2 week visit!

Lindsey was home for 2 weeks, and we sure crammed A LOT into the days. We made sure we did all things "summer" while she was here. Dinners out, visiting with family, boating, fishing, grilling out, ice cream runs etc. Above is a photo from the "girls lunch" day we had with my Auntie Bay (accross from me), Allison (8mos preggers!), Auntie Cyn, and their cousin Susan. We ate at Hana for lunch- delicious!
This was taken immediately following the 5k we ran in Elk Rapids on August 1st! It was fun having just us girls participate!
Justin and I are posing for a dinner shot at The Dockside after a relaxing day on Torch!
Family shot! We scored a seat in the sun- dined on greasy burgers, fries and beverages!
This is what the restaurant looks like....boats are lined up along the dock. Boaters from the lake come in for dinner. Love this place!

Harbor Days/Torch Lake!

Each year we go to Elk Rapids Harbor Days. Home of the BEST fireworks you will ever see, great pizza, and the Harborun 5k. This year mom, Lindsey, me, and auntie Cyn did the 5k in the morning and spent the afternoon dining and shopping in Elk Rapids. It was a great race, though my time stayed the same. It sure was humid!! We get pizza from Chef Charles on this night, and dine on the grass before watching the fireworks. It's a great summertime tradition we've held for years.


We followed the weekend up with a day on Torch Lake! We rent a pontoon boat for the day each summer to lounge, eat, swim, and sunbathe on the sandbar! This was the beginning of a mass crowd of boats.
Unfortunately, this year was a chilly day which didn't allow for much sunbathing. I didn't get in the water once! It was a beautiful day though with good friends.
What better backdrop than this for a photo?! Torch Lake is near and dear to my heart. Growing up on boats and spending MANY hours on Torch as a kid keeps me coming back each summer.
This is the drop-off at Deepwater Point on Torch. We park the boat and jump into the 100+ feet deep water. The color is amazing! This year it wasn't too warm...but lots of us still made the plunge! After the boat ride we drove up to the Dockside (a greasy burger joint where you can pull your boat right up to the restaurant) for a delicious dinner and a gorgeous sunset. The weekend was complete. I love summer days. Happy August!