I LOVE Halloween! I love costumes... I love candy...

and I love pumpkins!

I am lucky that my husband loves Halloween as much as I do. Yesterday we got to work on our costumes, (stay tuned for photos at the end of the month). I'll give you a quick taste of what's to come... ALICE IN WONDERLAND. I'm planning to be the Queen of Hearts and Mark is working on his Caterpillar costume. Our friends are working on their costumes too. The cast of characters includes the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter & of course Alice. We are accepting applications for a Cheshire Cat, a playing Card, and Tweedle Dee or Tweedle Dum (or both). Yesterday, we also put up some spooky purple lights and carved our pumpkins.

This is my Cat Pumpkin, notice the scary fangs.

This is Mark's Cyclopse, it reminds me of Monsters Inc.

* marriage = sharing *

I feel as though I have returned to preschool, learning a lesson about sharing toys or crayons with my fellow students. Instead, I am learning to share all sorts of things with my beloved husband. And it doesn't make it much easier to share just because I love him.

Things I have to share with my husband:

* the couch
* the remote control
* closet space
* chores (I think I'm ready to switch, I'll empty the trash & recycle, he can do the laundry!)
* socks (when aforementioned laundry has not been done in a timely manner.)
* Adidas sweat pants (I'm not sure we share anymore, he wears them all the time now.)
* space in the medicine cabinet
* the camera
* holidays with eachother's extended families
* the bed (why does it feel as though he is always sleeping in the middle?)
* a toothbrush (occasionally when we travel... its better than enduring the morning breath.)

But today my husband tried to make me share something new...
my contacts!
After my shower I went to put my contacts in so I could see the world clearly and to my surprise my contact case was EMPTY! This normally wouldn't be such a big deal, except I am now using my last pair of dispoasable contact lenses. I checked my eyes just to be sure I did not sleep in them last night. Then I found Mark's contact case.... low and behold his contacts were still there but he had already left for work. I called him to say he was "wearing my contact lenses".

M: "Are you sure?"
G: "Can you see clearly?"
M: "Well, do you need them?"
G: "YES, I need them. They are my last pair. Can you come home to return my contacts and put in your own?"

Thank you husband. What's mine is yours... except for my contacts!

* Wedding Photos *

Wedding Photos are here!

Check out the slideshow my photographer made...

www.rebeccastarkphotography.com/peoples

* Mrs. Peoples *

I am officially a married lady! Here are a few photos taken by friends.

The bouquets were absolutely beautiful! They were made by my friend Erin of Eadams Designs.

My Dad walking me down the aisle.

Becoming husband & wife!

My husband and I, toasting.


I'll post more when my photographer , Rebecca Stark, sends me her photos....

* showered with love *

Has it really been over two months since I've blogged?! I've been busy... doing lots of blog worthy things... making wedding invitations, painting our new place, playing some softball, working on wedding stuff... the list goes on and on, but that's not the title of this post.

On Sunday afternoon I was showered... with love and many beautiful gifts by some very wonderful and creative ladies. Margie Reber, Barbara Palla, Deb Tara and Kim Hill threw the most elegant tea party bridal shower at the Dream Inn for me! All the gals were there to celebrate with me. It started with a hat decorating station, 'cause what's a tea party without a fancy hat to wear. We sat at perfectly decorated tables each set with a different set of china and a teapot centerpiece with wild flowers. We played games, ate lunch and opened gifts. I am so blessed by my friends, family, co-workers, former bosses and housemates past & present. Thank you to ALL of the beautiful women in my life! Here are a few photos for your viewing pleasure.

The Lovely Hostesses

Margie Reber

Julie & Barbara Palla

Kim Hill & Deb Tara

Here's me as the "toilet paper bride"... my team won for best dress!

The Young Life Gals

Mamas & their Babies

Santa Barbara, Venice & Santa Monica

What a road trip! So much fun!

Brenda and I talked all the way from Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara where we stopped to lunch and shop. Then we hooked up the iPod and had a sing along until we reached Vicky's house in Venice. It was absolutely wonderful to see Vicky and Braden and stay in their new house. My little sister and brother were down for a spring break visit too. The weather was perfect.

On Sunday morning we went to the Santa Monica Farmer's Market,

we enjoyed the live bluegrass music and some killer breakfast burritos.

Let me introduce you to the newest member of the Richter family... MOLLY

The following picture is rarely seen (if ever before) occurance. Me snuggling with an animal...I'm allergic you see. But this is what happens after the dog gets a bath, I have a few glasses of wine and settle into a comfortable couch. My new furry friend.

Thank you Vicky!

* ROAD TRIP *

This weekend I am headed to Venice Beach with Brenda! We will stay with my sister Victoria and her husband Braden. We will drive my trusted Toyota Corolla with the windows down, we plan to rock out to a new iPod playlist that Brenda is making. We will stop at roadside attractions or fruit stands whenever it floats our boat, or whenever my bladder demands a stop. We will enjoy the sunshine, we will drink wine, we will do some shopping. We will people watch near muscle beach, we might even rent bikes. Stay tuned for tales of our adventures!