With All Hallow’s Eve making an appearance tomorrow, Bryan and I got in the mood by carving some of our very own Jack o Lanterns.  Here are some pictures, as well as the history behind this tradition.  Enjoy!

Bryan cutting a hole in the top!

He chose a skull cut-out

I opted for a tombstone

Our finished products!

Roasting Pumpkin Seeds!

The History of the Jack o’Lantern:

The story of the Jack o’Lantern comes from Irish folklore. Jack was a crafty farmer who tricked the Devil into climbing a tall tree. When the Devil reached the highest branch, Jack carved a large cross in the trunk, making it impossible for the Devil to climb down. In exchange for help getting out of the tree, the Devil promised never to tempt Jack with evil again. When Jack died, he was turned away from Heaven for his sins and turned away from Hell because of his trickery. Condemned to wander the Earth without rest, Jack carved out one of his turnips, took an ember from the devil, and used it for a lantern to light his way. He became known as “Jack of the Lantern.”

In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o’lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack o’lanterns. (History.com)

I think its unfortunate that our site has been overrun with spam comments. Perhaps Bryan can make them go away??

And no, we haven’t died. We’re still here, and I promise to get better at updating on a timely basis. I mean, come on! We have soooo much going on right now planning for this wedding! Might as well share it all!

– Chelle

Bryan and I have great news – we’re getting MARRIED!!!  It’s been nearly two weeks since he popped the question, and I figured we might as well share the news!

The date is December 18th, 2010, so mark your calendars! Here’s our wedding website on theknot.com:

Look out for more info to come!!

This is the newest addition to our menagerie – meet sweet Sadie!

Snuggle Bugs

"This is my comfy spot!"

Stealing my markers

Take THAT!

Playing UNDER Lucky

Full of P & V

. . . so stay tuned for many cute photos. 

I’m finally posting, yay!

Its been two weeks since Bryan moved in, and today we celebrated our TWO YEAR anniversary.  That’s right.  We’ve been attached at the hip now for 730 days, officially.  So, Bryan told me to meet him at an address in downtown Austin.  We eneded up meeting at a little Italian restaurant called Vespaeio, which was absolutely dee-lish!  I really do recommend it if you’re looking for a new twist on Italian.  We also walked South Congress afterward and got to listen to lots of live music, all thanks to SXSW.    We realy enjoyed listening to Matt the Electrician, which were having a show at the Caritas of Austin Soup Drive.  Also got serenaded by a homeless man with a guitar who made up a song about Bryan and I.  He made us kiss.  It was bueno.

In other news, we get the keys to the house on Saturday!  I’m very excited, but still have three exams to get through next week before we move.  :/  So. . . .

Until next time!

…someone should really put some news up on this site. 

… is a dirty three letter word.

We’re already a month into the new year, and with it, comes the joy and stress of everyday life.  So far 2009 has been pretty good for the both of us – Bryan’s still enjoying his job, and I’m loving the new lab I am rotating through.  Dr. Bedford’s a histone man – that is, he focuses on the proteins that DNA is wrapped around when its not being ‘read’ by the cell.  The people in the lab are awesome, and even though my project has been stuck on dead center now for almost a month, I am learning a lot and genuinely enjoying the lab.  Though anything is better than last sememster’s experience, I really think I could call this one my home, if Bedford wants me. 

I’m also starting to enjoy the Austin area this semester, which is really good news.  Going out with friends, even if they’re the same people I see all day at work has become a source of joy for me, and I have started looking at places in Austin to live!  I cannot wait to move – I am really starting to like my excursions into the city, and can’t wait to live there.  While Bastrop is convenient, Austin is awesome. 

But like I said, 2009 hasn’t been all that generous. The distance has been wearing on the both of us this month, what with my crazy class load, and Bryan’s endless drives to come visit.  He mentioned the other day that in the past 3 months he’s put 6,000 miles on his mustang.  That’s a feat, I don’t care what you say.  And I feel bad because I am tied down to Bastrop.  Its hell to try and move all of my study materials for two days, let me tell you.  I am also to the point that I have to come into the lab every weekend in order to keep my project rolling.  So, between the two, my weekend Waco trips have become very numbered.  As in zero this year.  Ouch.  I need to work on that.

Hopefully February will be a much better month than the last for Bryan and I.  We have Valentine’s day, our anniversary (next month its the big 2.0!) and someone’s turning 23.  Not going to say who, or when.  But I am hopeful that we should have enough time to work on what’s been stretching thin lately.  Namely, us.