More Videos of Autumn '08:

As I mentioned in my previous post "Goodbye Fall" I have additional video showing Anthony, Nathan, and Joel at the pumpkin farm.

Below is a video of Nathan riding one of the horses. He had a blast!



Look at the beautiful horse, the tail looks like real gold threads!




































Anthony and Joel could not wait to ride the horse either. None of them wanted the ride to end. Here's video of more horse riding:


"I rode the horsie!"


It's time to pick our pumpkins...


Horse drawn carriage ride! This is a long video, sorry! (I had to post it though, Mom just claimed she'd never ridden on a horse-drawn carriage... hehe - Love you Mom!)

[Too long, apparently... it wouldn't post - I tried!]

I'll add a pic later instead...

Goodbye Fall

It's Rolie Polie Joel-ie!
[Note: I'll soon be posting TONS of video and pics from the North family reunion, so stay tuned!]

Well, now that Autumn is coming to a close I thought I'd post some videos of our family outing in October. The place we usually go to is now only selling Christmas trees until they run out of those and close for good. I was very depressed to hear that our yearly tradition of picking pumpkins there was over. However, we went to a farm down the road from my parents house and had quite a good time.

There was horse riding, tons of great fall snacks and crafts, horse-pulled carriage rides, lots of farm animals to look at while your five year old son is lost... wha... wait, more on that later.

Here's some videos of the first thing the boys had to do - play in the giant vats of corn, wheat, and soybeans:

"Corn, corn, and more corn!" At least I think this one is the corn, I can't see from here! Is that soybean?? Not sure just, you'll have to watch and see if you can tell me...


Did you SEE that? My Dad playing with the pink bucket?!? Ha! I'm not sure who had more fun, him or the kids.



















Here's a free agent... I mean my hubby! (He loves when I call him that!
Er, "hubby" - not "free agent." hehe)



















{More later, I have an algebra quiz to work on...}

Stone Hill & Hermanhoff Wineries:

Matt & I went to the Stone Hill & Hermanhoff wineries with the Western employees at my office on Saturday. I had my first experience getting a tad toasted from wine. I found this really sweet "Pink Catawba" and after just a few glasses was already feeling the effects. I was glad we were headed back to the bus, but only then found out we were going to another winery - Hermanhoff! Once we arrived there a group of us went to a wine tasting and that was when I was really feeling loopy. Matt said that I acted fine, just became extremely talkative to anyone that would listen. Ha! I can't remember the last time I was even drunk, but it was nice to have a beautiful day out to enjoy myself and let loose a bit.

It was a long trip home in our touring bus that had an "out of order" restroom (even though our coordinator paid extra for a bathroom!) and a broken air conditioning unit. I think it was thirty or forty degrees cooler outside the bus. Fortunately for us, the bus made a stop at the Warrenton commuter parking lot where we got off. The rest of the gang had to ride all the way to our office in Saint Louis. I tried to tell them all to hike it to our house two miles up the road. hehe "We have a/c and two bathrooms!" Luckily, they didn't listen; we probably would have had several Western employees staying the night - and I'm not sure how they would have made it back to the office from there.

After we ran home for a bit, I called Mom and left her a VM telling her I was not in the condition to drive, but Matt could pick up the boys whenever she needed us to. Later, Matt was driving me to my parents. We passed the Strassenbash that was going on in Wright City on the way and I happily shouted to anyone we drove past, "Strassenbash... Woo!" (With both my feet resting on the outside window.) I think I shouted at a few other people we drove through town too, but I couldn't tell you what I said. Nothing vulgar or mean, I was a happy drunk... Ha!

I fell asleep on the couch later that evening. Matt was a great sport and put the boys to bed. I woke up at around Midnight. I got up, took a few Ibuprophen, and drank a glass of water before flopping into bed as it spun me to sleep.

Here's a few random videos of our day at the wineries. (I wish I would have taken more, but didn't generally think about it unless I was sitting down.) You can see them get a bit more wobbly as time goes on.

Do I hear wedding bells?

Guess where I am right now as this is being posted to the world wide web?

(*Ahem* Cue the music)

"dun-dun dahdun... dun-dun dahdun... Here comes the bride..."


Getting married! That's right... after ten long years it is finally happening. Right now!

***This is not a joke.... I repeat, this is not a joke....***

Friday, August 8th, 2008 at 2:15 pm

Matt and I are saying our vows, exchanging rings, and are becoming husband and wife.

(We intentionally kept it quiet.)

It's just us, the boys, and our immediate family members. So, say a little prayer for us.

However...

In one year - Saturday, August 8th, 2009 - we will renew our vows in the church and invite a larger group of friends and family to join us for the ceremony. So, mark that down in your calendars and make sure I have your updated mailing address.

I put Jessi in charge of the camera. She has pictures posted here.

I wish we could have everyone with us - but, that's what next year's ceremony is for.

We love you all,

~Sara & Matt Bequette~

My Precious

Well, for the past few years Matt and I have discussed marriage. We've been together for almost 10 years now. We have three wonderful boys. We love each other very much. We've both grown tremendously through it all. We've had the worst of times and the best of times.

If I had it all to do over again, I'd do things differently - that's for sure. I believe he'd say the same. We messed up the natural order of things.

I've always teased that we have to go on our honeymoon before we get married in order to keep our trend going. Most people get married, do the whole honeymoon thing, move in together, have kids, etc. Oh no, not us... [Completely backwards...]

But in all seriousness...

I truly believe we belong together. I don't think there's another soul alive that would put up with my quirks. Just as I don't think there's another soul alive who would tolerate all of Matt's. Sure, we drive each other insane at time's... But what couple doesn't? Right!?

When it's all said and done, we just work. In my eyes, marriage is about the commitment. The decision to never quit. We both agree that divorce is not an option. That's what's taken us so long to really make this step. It's obviously not something we tread lightly on.

Whenever we've brought up the subject of marriage Matt has always teased me saying,

"oh... she wants her precious"

I'm sure you recognize the infamous phrase from "Lord of the Rings." Well, I guess it sort of became our cute inside joke. He was always using that phrase on me.








Well, last night - I finally got it!


Below is a couple of pictures of my ring - I took them at lunch today.




















That's right, he PROPOSED! And I said yes!

Now, the next question - How'd he do it?

He purchased the ring over a week ago. With his swing shift schedule (alternating between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd shifts every week) it was going to be a while before we could plan a nice evening out. He said he wanted to go that route... the "big proposal." He just couldn't wait... so he just left the room last night and came back ready to pop the question.

It was a very sweet, private moment.

The rest is history...



Or the beginning...

Small wonders

After several weeks of my begging, church members dropping by, and our pastor calling personally ~~ Matt finally joined us for bible study and church on Sunday! Talk about answered prayer! It seems he enjoyed himself too, so I'll continue to pray for his return next Sunday. This Sunday will be pretty crucial. Two Sundays in a row; I think I can get him to go on a semi-regular basis. On the other hand, if he just doesn't feel up to going for whatever excuse that morning, I don't know when I'd get him to go back again. Everyone at church was so happy to see him and great about making him feel welcome, I'm hopeful he'll come back.

Our other mini-miracle (Is there such a thing?)...

Just before dozing off last night, Matt reached for my hand and... just held it. I was so shocked at this unusually tender act that I couldn't sleep. Just laid there with my hand resting in his, touched to the point of tears. (Still now my screen is growing quite blurry!) While this may seem insignificant to you, it is a huge deal to me. While Matt may have his sweet moments and something such as a hug is a very normal occurance by day... this sort of (ha!) sentimental act just doesn't occur.

Rather than being angered by the fact that this does not happen regulary. I'm happy that it's rare and therefore even more meaningful and special. Ladies, don't take those acts for granted. Rather, treasure them as I do ~ forever. ;o}