Weddingbee boards

Hi Everyone! I've been lurking for a while now, and after an hour of staring at the sneaky pic I took on my phone while BF and I were ring shopping a few weeks ago, I can't hold back! We have been talking engagement and wedding details since February. He even gave me the go-ahead to book the ceremony and reception sites. We met with the Priest a week after we picked out my ring, so things are very official. Kind of. Minus the ring. He figures that since we have the "big" things booked, there is less stress to have a long engagement. He wants to savor the "us" time we have before all the wedding madness begins, and I totally agree... it has been so nice to talk with him and leisurely get some details figured out. I've had six months to be excited since he unofficially proposed in February, and now I'm anxious to get this show on the road.

Here's what really escalated me to a new level of excitement this week:

1. Friday is our one year to the wedding mark. (08/20/11)

2. The fair starts this Saturday and we have a bunch of fun stuff planned, including paying the outrageous fee of $25 each for that crazy ride that only 2 people are allowed on at a time. You're in a cage/ball thing hooked up to two bungee cords that are like 50 feet in the air, and it slingshots you up into never never land. I'm so excited. Hopefully I don't puke or die!

3. Yesterday he asked me if a year would be sufficient time for me to find my wedding dress and plan the reception details. (Eeeeee!!! This weekend marks a year to our day!) and he's been making comments that seem odd... like, "We'll be on this ride together forever, Hun." He's sweet, but he generally doesn't make references to carnivals in our daily conversation. I'm suspicious. :)

Overall, I've been fairly good about not bugging him about the RING RING RING! ...but now I'm thinking about it daily, if not hourly. Of course I've imagined every way the proposal could happen, and I'm so excited to tell our families. I haven't told my friends, because I want it to be a fun surprise for everyone, and not have everyone breathe a sigh of relief and say, "FINALLY! She'll stop yapping about when she'll get that dang ring!" I know you ladies understand the process I'm going through, and I appreciate the opportunity this site gives to vent the anxiety!

I'd love to hear from those of you in the same situation or hear a funny story about your "waiting" period to take my mind off of the bling for two seconds! I've attached a picture of my soon to be sparkle minus the center stone. Hopefully I'll have an updated picture to post soon!

I agree, we know we're getting married and we're committed to each other. I think the part that really eats at me is that I can't tell my family, friends, and most importantly my mom. He asked me to keep it quiet until he can ask my dad and talk to my parents, since he's pretty traditional and wants to be respectful. I can understand that, and he's also promised to give me our own little proposal since its a special moment for a lot of girls. Having this proposal means that I can stop biting my tongue when an opportunity comes up to tell my friends or ask my mom a question. Its hard to keep secrets, and I'd like to be able to ask advice from the people closest to me.

Oh i totally feel you!!

My fiance and I were high school sweet hearts and I've wanted to marry him since senior year but I knew there wasn't a snowballs chance in hell it was going to happen before we graduated college. Last August, right before starting our senior years in college, we went on vacation together at the beach. We had a really romantic dinner and he told me he knew I was the one (i should hope so after 6 years! LOL) and that he was ready to start ring shopping. I was GIDDY... ecstatic... completely enthralled. He asked me not to make any annoucements until we had a ring and made it official so that people weren't asking "where's the ring" "when's it coming" etc. 

2 nights later we were walking along the board walk and came across this small little jewelry store called Majestic Jewels. We walked in just expecting to find costume jewelry and instead were greeted to a large glass case with black velvet and tons of vintage diamond rings. I was swooning. There before me was a ring so gorgeous it litterally took my breath away. I asked to see it and it fit my finger perfectly. I gave my fiance my best puppy dog eyes but he kept reminding me that we just started looking, it may not be the one, blah blah blah. I didn't push and we left.

About 2 weeks later, we were home in our apartment and I came across a small champagne ring box.... my mind said don't do it Cuppycake... but my fingers were quicker and I opened it... I sat there staring at the most gorgeous ring I have ever seen... he had bought my ring from the beach! I tried to keep it to myself but I was bursting at the seems and the second he got home I blurted out that I knew he had bought it. He laughed and said it was his own fault for not hiding it better but then let me know why he was withholding it. He had told his dad before vacation that he was going to bring up marriage and his dad had expressed that he really wanted him to wait until after he graduated from college to make any plans about a wedding (just for financial and stability purposes). He told me that he had promised his dad he would wait and we had to hold off until May to get officially engaged... it was only September!! I thought I was absolutley going to die. Im not a patient person anyway but this was unbarable. I ended up telling my mom and my 4 best friends less than a week later much to Mr.Cuppy's dismay. Then I started buying bridal magazines and visiting venues and gown shops- I wanted to be patient, I really did but it is just NOT in my nature. LOL by December Mr. Cuppycake had been defeated. He couldn't make me wait any longer so he wrapped up my ring and gave it to me as a Chistmas present on Christmas Eve. When I opened it I was so suprised and so happy to wear that ring and finally make it official.

Trust me girl I FEEL YOUR PAIN!!!! Hopefully your man doesn't make you wait 3 months like mine did!

Heres a pic of my gorgeous vintage engagement ring! It even has an asscher cut diamond! Swoooon <3

@Miss Cuppycake- I LOVE your ring! I laughed when you mentioned the puppy dog eyes, because I did the same thing. We went to a wonderful private jeweler downtown that my parents have always worked with, (so the ladies that work in there got all excited and went on turbo-must-find-perfect-ring mode) and I swore them to secrecy. I told my bf that I needed him to be in "best friend" mode for me that day so he'd be honest about what he liked and didn't like, because I really care about whether he likes my ring, and I also didn't want him to feel like he was at an all girl jewelry party. I definitely feel you on the venue calls and wedding magazines! I think one aspect of planning runs into others, and before long the wedding is coming together. I have tried really hard to keep my planning to the basics and not look too hard at dresses in magazines. I want the details to be special, especially since I'm going to have to inform my family that I already have some things booked. Where we live there are only about 3 options for large weddings, and I know we both have large families. One place had already booked up in April for our date, so I bit the bullet and made a decision. I can't imagine waiting all through college like you did! I think I got lucky on the timing of it all since we're both a few years out of college. I love that you are high school sweethearts!

@jo.lee- We talk colors and cakes too! I think its a lucky thing to have guys who are interested in details like that, or at least pretend to be. I have a lot of friends who get so frustrated with their guy not caring to have any input on the "girly stuff". The hard part about being so open about the wedding talk is trying to refrain from turning that to engagement talk and asking when it can be official. Kind of backwards I think, but at least its something! Are you happy with your decision to pick the ring out together and have those memories, or do you wish it was more of a surprise what the ring would look like?

@flutterbi- CONGRATULATIONS!! I've come across a few of your posts in all of my lurkiness, and I'm so happy you're official now! I can relate to the issue of keeping secrets when you're drinking! My bfs best friend got married last weekend, and he was the best man. All of my bfs sisters were there (he has 4). A couple of them I see more often always ask when we're gonna married, and I can generally shrug them off with some kind of joke or just say "tomorrow", then laugh. However, at the wedding... in between my twinges of "I wish this was us" and the jello shots, I mentioned that we've talked about it and I'll fill them in on details when they happen. Of course that fuels the fire, and I now get random texts from them telling me they can't wait for more news. Sigh. Neither can I girls, neither can I. Haha. That's exciting that you got to design your ring! Was he pretty involved in the process or did you call the shots? Do you have any shiny pictures of it to share? :)

Thanks for the responses girls, I really appreciate it. I know there's nothing that really makes waiting much easier, other than knowing it for sure WILL happen, which I'm grateful for. I'm glad he has been open with me about his intentions and we've talked about anything and everything.. except for when I can tell everyone!! Its exciting and exhausting all at the same time, and its nice to hear stories of similar situations. The best thing about it is that we can at least laugh at ourselves a little for how insane you can feel while trying to be patient and calm. We'd probably all be more calm if weddingbee was a place we could all stop by after work for an actual cocktail! *cheers!*

@MightySapphire: I'm glad I'm not the only one! I felt a little odd at first looking at venues without a ring, just because I can feel the glances toward my empty left finger. It helped that he came with me to look at a few because I felt like I had backup. In the end we ended up booking with a place where my accountant's wife is the events coordinator. Of course I got an email about a week later from the accountant telling me congrats. Erg. How awkward to say, "Thanks! But its not for publication yet, so SHHHH!!!!"

@ejs4y8: Thanks! I fell in love with it the second it went on my finger! I mentioned to him that I'd be okay with a plain solitaire for the engagement, then that setting as my wedding ring, since it appears to be 3 bands anyhow. Then I'd just pick an affordable gemstone to have set in the solitaire setting and use it as a right hand ring. Double bonus! I'm not sure which way he'll decide to go. Do you guys have any suggestions? (Not that I'd tell him to take it back if he showed up with the whole setting as my engagement ring!)

@DreamingBee: I'm borderline going nuts, which is why I think I decided to actually start posting here. I really hope this weekend is it, but I'm prepared for it to come and go without a ring. In May he mentioned that my birthday (Nov. 7) is the latest I'd have to wait, but since then he's mentioned quite a few times (a few after we'd had a couple drinks) that I'd officially be his fiance by the end of August. Ahem... Um. Yes... I believe the end of August has arrived. Proposal please? Must I beg? We're not getting any younger here. :)

The closer the weekend gets, the more I figure this weekend probably won't be the ring weekend and I won't be able to tell my family. :( He works out of town, so I see him on weekends or every other weekend. He hasn't had any time at all to get to the jewelry store. I know this because he's usually with me every second of the time he's back in town. He's a very clever guy, so he could already have it, but doubt it. I still have about 30% hope, but I'm reminding myself to just be excited that I'll get to have a fun weekend with him. Its such an odd feeling to know where we're getting married and when, but not be able to tell anyone. Tonight marks one year until our wedding rehearsal. I know we've got plenty of time, and I'm thankful that we've been planning so I don't run out of time, but it would be so nice to include the people I love. I know it'll happen soon, especially because he's promised me "soon" multiple times. I'm at that all too familiar point in the cycle where I'm trying to not think about proposals or wedding stuff. Tonight I'm just reminding myself that I have a very good problem. Its a blessing to have someone you love unconditionally to spend your life with.

@Loribeth: Thank you! I swear I've burned up a bit of my phone battery some days when I can't stop staring at it. Haha! I've done that staring at pictures of him too though, so I think that whole saying, "Take a picture, it'll last longer!" came to be because of people like me. :)

@KansasPrincess11: I just woke my dog up when I laughed at your shoe lace story. Last week when he was packing for work, he asked me to get a few asprin out of the side pocket of his work bag. I got a guilty excited snoopy feeling when I opened his bag, until I thought, "DUH! He wouldn't have asked you to look through his bag if anything sparkly was hiding in there!". I am definitely taking note of your "I wish" and forcing myself to not push him. I know we have plenty of time since the big stuff is booked, and the only thing driving me nuts is myself. He called just now to tell me goodnight and said, "A year from tomorrow I'm going to be kissing my wife." so I know I'm not the only one thinking about it on a daily (okay hourly, but that's probably just me) basis. Again, its so nice to know that I am one of many that are or have already been "patiently" waiting. AND YOU PICKED UP YOUR OWN RING FROM THE JEWELER! I probably would have put it on and made him chase me around the house to get it back if that had happened to me! :) Thank you for the kind words, and I am feeling a bit more upbeat. I mean c'mon, who doesn't love concerts and carnival rides?! :)

Well, update: no ring. I've been mildly depressed for the last 24 hours, so I couldn't put together a post that didn't result in a pity party. Don't worry guys, I snapped out of it. I have honestly been so good about not bringing anything ring related up to him, so I'm very proud of myself. Here's the irritating part: I got a text from him a few minutes ago that said, "I love you and your ring will be on your hand pretty soon." Hmmm... strange that he'd send me something to make me feel better when I haven't even told him I was bummed out. He left to go out of town for work yesterday morning, so its not like he even saw me moping around! The only answer I can come up with is that he's thinking about it constantly too, and he's got something planned for one of these next two weekends. This weekend is the second and final weekend of the fair, and next weekend there is a big family event at his parents' house. He has said multiple times that we'll be able to tell our families by the end of August or beginning of September. Well... we've got one weekend left in August. This is such torture. I responded to his text that he shouldn't get me excited if he doesn't want me acting like a little kid on a road trip asking, "Are we there yet?! (five second pause)... are we there yet?!" :)

Did you ladies have a good weekend?

@TinyTina: Maybe this weekend will be it for both of us! I swear, I'd be much more calm if he didn't tell me "soon" and give me times to look forward to! I'm sending sparkle vibes your way. :)

Such a hard wait. I too knew it was coming "soon" for awhile and every weekend we had a nice dinner or something planned I would get excited. Hope you enjoyed this weekend, and maybe have something sparkly on your left hand!

Oh I can't hardly wait to hear the update!!

UPDATE: ...still no ring. Sigh. I'm surprisingly upbeat about it today though. I think last weekend was my letdown weekend, and this time I had prepared myself for just a normal weekend. He only had Friday night and Saturday to spend with me, and had to leave on Sunday again for work, so I knew he hadn't had any time to go get the ring or plan anything.

Saturday we had to go to a wedding, but we had a few hours before we needed to start getting ready, so we took my dog to the park. This park is so pretty, it is right next to the elementary school I went to, and its very close to the church we'll be married in. We sat down in the gazebo and I mentioned to him that we'd be getting our wedding pictures taken here since the Catholic church is pretty on the inside but has no landscaping or pretty green areas to speak of. He got excited and we started matching his groomsmen to my bridesmaids and really talked about wedding details, including flowers and colors. He knows I've been planning, because he gave me the green light last spring when I was freaking out about running out of time. We set our date in February, so I have a lot done... more than he knows I have done, haha.

Then he brought up the ring. He used that dreaded "soon" word again. I had been so excited talking about wedding details and it all came to a halt when I heard that stupid word... soon. What in the hell does that mean anyways? Soon to some people may be a year, but soon to me means like next week. Erg. He even told me that he had been planning for August, but it has just been a busy month, so it'll have to be September. I told him I don't want to talk about the ring anymore at all until it is on my finger. I could tell that made him a little sad, and he said he's sorry he's been making me wait and that I've been having to keep a big secret from my mom. The part that makes me feel bad is that I know his reasons for making me wait are financial. He wants to put half down on the ring, and have it paid off by next spring. I told him its not even a big deal if I don't get the ring we picked out together. I just picked out one I liked and he loved it too so we decided on it. Its not like either of us are going to break the bank on this thing, we just haven't been saving like we should this summer. We went on a trip over the 4th of July and he was the best man in a wedding last month that ended up being pretty expensive. Anyway, while we were at the park we ended up talking pretty in depth about the wedding, and it was a pretty upbeat talk with just a few tinges of sad since I want to be patient and not pressure him, but I'm also feeling sooooo anxious. Then we had the wedding to go to (grrr)...

*sidenote: this girl who got married was a friend of mine in college. I introduced her to my friends and boyfriend at the time because she had just transferred and didn't know anyone. A year later I decided to move to Colorado to finish college. The boyfriend and I decided not to pursue anything long distance, but to remain friends. A week later I see on facebook that those two had started dating. They dated for a year and he broke her heart. Muaaahh haa haa. Fast forward not speaking for about 4 years, we'd both been out of college for a couple years and she started a photography business. I have a design degree and I started designing wedding albums with her. Neither of us ever brought up the ex boyfriend we had in common. I sarted dating my BF during all this, and she had a different one every week. Then she met the one she married on Saturday. The only things I had heard from her about him is that he's kind of clingy, his dad is very rich, and she can't stand to have him touch her. Then he proposed. She said yes. I ranted to my BF about how incredibly messed up it was.

So, the wedding on Saturday can only be described as an incredibly awkward affair. We left after the ceremony and skipped the reception. Rude, I know. I felt so weird introducing him as my boyfriend. I felt like everyone was married or married with babies, and here I was with my boyfriend after we mixed up a drink to chug in the car before the wedding to make it less painful. It was honestly way less miserable than I thought it would be, because it made me realize that these people were all so caught up in appearing perfect and happy. I like that Mr. Aberry and I still have fun and plan for our future, but it never gets too heavy between us.

After the wedding, our plan was to head to the fair, but it started raining. We met up with two of his sisters and his brother in law for supper instead. I have this really cool ring I wear on my left midde finger... I may attach a picture so you can see how cool it is! His sisters were sitting across from me, and one says really loud, "Let me see your ring!". His other sister started bouncing and squealed a little, but then realized we were talking about my boring middle finger ring. I looked over at Mr. Aberry and winked. He winked back, so I think that was a good sign. I was worried I'd look over there and see him drowning in a pile of sweat. After everyone settled down, his little sister says, "Damn, I got so excited cuz I thought he FINALLY got you a ring!". At least I have the sisters on my side. :)

He left Sunday morning and I cried. He promised me that its not always going to be this way and he's going to have a job in town within our first year of marriage. Yay! He also told me not to snoop around the phone records this week, because there just may be a call to the jewelry store. Um, if that's not an invitation to snoop, I don't know what is. I'm not going to do it though, that would only make me (more) obsessive.

To top the whole friggin weekend off, he calls me last night to tell me that his sister (he has 4 sisters) called and said she had a dream that we were planning a wedding for August and everyone knew but her, and she found out when we called her from Vegas to tell her that we were married. I told him she needs to dream about the winning Powerball numbers then give me a call. He says, "Little does she know that in about two weeks its all going to be out in the open!". Ummm... I did the math, and two weeks from now is a weekend that he'll be gone working. This weekend he gets to come home on Thursday night and doesn't have to leave until Tuesday, so I'm mildly suspicious since he'll have more time. He told me to plan something fun for Friday or Saturday since we have to go to his parents house on Sunday and stay through until Monday. This might be a good weekend, but I'm not betting on it. I'm a little numb to the excited feeling I used to get when he'd lead me on with the "soon" word. I feel like Cuba Gooding Jr. on Jerry Maguire shouting, "SHOW ME THE MONEY!"

Well, if that's not a play by play of my anticlimactic weekend, I don't know what is. Thanks to those of you who managed to get through it all without a few cups of coffee. If anything, the highlight of my weekeend was being able to drink some of our "apple pie" cocktail that we made for the wedding he was the best man in that I suffered through a few weeks ago. If anyone is looking for a good fall drink, or just something to make you less irritable when you look at your naked left ring finger, I'd recommend it. :)

I'm attaching a picture of the ring that caused the stir with his sisters at dinner on Saturday night, just because its a cool ring. :) I hope you guys had a good weekend!

@jo.lee: I agree, boys suck sometimes. How dare they make us wait?! :) I'm trying to be calm, breathe, and enjoy the knowledge that I WILL get married on Aug. 20, 2011... and I WILL have a ring to prove it... eventually. Sigh.

@DreamingBee: I know exactly what you mean about nudging the crazy off. Either that or I've waited myself out, and now I'm a wait-robot until it really is official. I think he's said every possible thing to get me excited and send me into another wedding planning frenzy... and now I'm tired. I am immune from "hints". The only thing left is to actually do it. I hope it happens soon... for all of us waiting. :)

Awww, stay strong and keep the crazy monster at bay. My FI kept saying to me "It's included in our homeowner's policy you know you're getting it!!!" which ... didn't help much :)  Keep updating us. 

I have good news and bad news.

The bad news: I am quickly losing control of my patient, controlled, non-obsessive, relaxed exterior in front of my BF.

BECAUSE......

The good news: I GET TO GO PICK OUT THE DIAMOND FOR MY ENGAGEMENT RING TOMORROW!!!!!!!

About five weeks ago, we picked out the band I wanted and they just set a diamond in the center to show me what it would look like with a stone. I fell in love instantly. I loved that diamond. Mr. Aberry told me that if I liked that one, that's what we'd get. About two weeks ago, I was in the jewelry store just to get my right hand ring cleaned and have the diamonds checked since its my grandmother's wedding set. The girl we're working with is a family friend, so I asked her about the diamond I loved. It had sold two days prior. Now, I'm not the type to cry over a bad haircut or be bratty enough to need one specific diamond OR ELSE, but I do admit that I was a bit let down. BF felt worse about it than I did I think, because he's said he's sorry about taking so long multiple times. Today during lunch, he called me and asked if I had any plans to stop by the jewelry store. I said no, but I could DEFINITELY make some time. He told me to go pick out a stone I want that is similar to the first diamond I loved. YAYYYYYY!!! I was taking a long lunch break with my mom and sister, so I couldn't even squeal and bounce up and down in my chair.

Here's my dilemma...

I want to ask him just how long this diamond is going to have to be waiting at the store, because I don't want to go fall in love all over again and A) make them hold it for very long and tie up their inventory... or B) come back to find that diamond #2 has also been sold. The logical side of me says that if he is telling me to pick out a diamond, he's damn close to sealing the deal. The irrational emotional side of me wants to grab him by the face and beg him to tell me how much longer I'm going to have to wait.

I told him earlier in the week that I'm making his favorite rib dinner on Thursday night when he gets back from his work trip. He suggested that I invite my parents over. Hmmm... I cook quite often and he has never suggested that we spend our first night back with each other... with my parents. I'm sure its nothing, and I'm reaching for something to look forward to, but still.

Overall, I'm excited. I'm more than excited, I can barely sit still. Even if we don't become "official" this weekend, I know its coming soon. It has to. I will lose my mind if it doesn't. You girls are the only thing keeping me sane these days since I don't talk to anyone about it. Everyone is expecting us to get engaged. Maybe I have a neon lady-in-waiting sign blinking on my forehead or something, because we get asked about marriage at least once a week. But still... I don't want to ruin the surprise for everyone. I don't want people feeling sorry for that poor girl who just wants more than anything to be engaged to her boyfriend. That makes me feel like I'm 12 years old. Close, I'm 25 for another 2 months, but sometimes I still feel like I'm 12.

Thank you for the opportunity to vent, and for giving the support I need to act as though this wait isn't driving me to drink. I appreciate your guys' input. I'm less agitated than I was a few weeks ago, mostly because I've been reminding myself that this is a good problem to have. I know we are getting married. I just REALLY REALLY want to share it with everyone. The sparkle factor helps too. I just wish it was on my hand! Haha. Honestly, I just want to savor my engagement, not spend half of it wishing I could talk about it. I'm afraid my dad is going to be a bit sad, because he and I are very close. I'm also afraid that my mom is going to be a bit let down that she couldn't pick out the venue with me. I just couldn't wait any longer because places were filling up. Hopefully she forgives me. I hope the rest of the wedding planning will overshadow that one decision she wasn't involved with. I'm sure it will all be fine.

Now, Mr. Aberry... WHEN is it going to happen? Maybe I should ask his sister since she had a random dream that we'd be getting married next August. Spooky. Let me know if any of you girls can predict the future because I'd appreciate a heads up. :)

Until then, I'm going to go diamond shopping. Poor me. :)

I agree with @DreamingBee, you are keeping it all in perspective!!  But, like my mother says, "if and when it's meant to be, it WILL be!!"  So, happy diamond shopping and best wishes for dinner and the coming weeks!!

Well... mission accomplished. I picked out the diamond I hope will be in my ring. The ball is in his court now. I've done everything I can possibly do to help him... and boy, it was soooo rough. Haha. :) Honestly I haven't been able to sit still all day. He even told me last night that he was thinking about talking to my dad over dinner tomorrow night, but he's not sure there will be any time since there will be a few people over here. He is also worried about asking my dad before he has the ring. I told him my dad doesn't care about a ring, he cares about my future and that I'm happy. I'm thinking he won't have enough time to get all the ring details figured out by this weekend, but I'm hoping he at least finds some time to talk to my dad. I'm going to have cocktails on hand tomorrow to help the communication flow. ;) Sneaky, I know. I'm cooking an applesauce cake tonight to keep myself busy. I've accepted the fact that there's nothing I can do to speed up this process, so I should at least try to relax and enjoy it. I'm currently feeling pretty anxious, but at least I'm trying.

Here's the result of my diamond mission today:

He said it will be this month... and before I left for work today, he said he was going to be "making a call today"!!! I'm so excited! But... he didn't ask my dad last night. Hm. Dangit. Dinner went well though and everyone had fun. My guess is that it won't happen until two weeks from now, because that's the next weekend he'll be back. He won't have any time this weekend because I only work until noon today, then we'll be together the whole time. Unless he wants me to come with... but I doubt it. Why is this so hard on my heart but exciting at the same time? Let's kill the waiting monster.

You know that scene in Beauty and the Beast where Gaston and his men are pouding down the door with a log to get the Beast? Let's do that... only with the green monster that DreamingBee posted a picture of. :)

Comment from him tonight: "We'll be talking pretty in depth about your ring this weekend, since my deadline is fast approaching."

After I picked the diamond, I mentioned to him that the jeweler doesn't typically keep a diamond on hold for more than a month. He said that's perfectly fine. It has been a week since the one month deadline was set. The last weekend he'll be in town this month is the 17th-20th. He's out of town working until then. That gives him this one weekend in September. We're going to a fun little town a week from Friday to celebrate his sister's birthday. I know he wouldn't do it on her birthday, but maybe that weekend? Dare I get excited?