A week of travels...

It is funny how Chet and I didn't really go on many trips this summer... but this fall we are headed off to all sorts of places! So far, we have each made sepearate trips to Montana (due to work schedules). I went for Sharilyn's wedding and Chet just went this last weekend for his annual hunting trip with his family! As I type this, he is driving home from his adventure with the men of his family to the Snowy Mountains in central Montana where he helped track and hunt, and possily shot something other than a target. :) In just two days from now, we will then be on our way to Atlanta to meet baby Jakin and hang out with Debbie and Steve for an extended weekend. Whew... this is more traveling than we are used to in the middle of school!

We are super excited to meet baby Jakin and see Atlanta with Debbie and Steve. I think one of our goals this year before I get overwhelmed by a new job (and start a family) is to travel as much as possible. So far, I think we are making some definite progress. Montana, Montana, Atlanta, Montana, Chicago/Notre Dame, Europe... all places we will be within the next 8 months. It is sometimes hard for me to be one of the few people who is not starting a family right now, though Chet and I don't feel that the timing is quite right for us yet. I'm hoping that traveling and having fun will help delay that desire a little longer and we will look back and be thankful for the adventures we have had together before starting a whole new wonderful adventure. But, sometimes I look at people who have started families and feel that they have things "more together" than I do, and they have this precious little person to love and show the world... which I don't. I suppose this is a natural part of life... but it is hard to sort out all these feelings.

In the mean time, I look forward to holding all of the babies and kids in my life, even if they aren't mine! Jakin looks like a cutie so there will be lots of snuggling to do this weekend! Oh, and we are going to love being with Debbie and Steve too and traveling to be with them... they really shouldn't live so far away. :)

I LOVE Fall!

The past week was a lovely start to the fall, one of my favorite seasons. There is something so comforting about the cooler weather, a warm house, the tasty fall foods and heading toward the holidays. As I sit here, it is raining outside and I don't mind one bit! Our grass after a long, dry summer is turning from brown to green and I am able to stay inside today catching up on projects and homework. I may be saying the complete opposite after a couple months of rain, but there is something refreshing about it right now.

Last week, I headed out to Montana on a brief end of the week trip with my parents to go to my cousin Sharilyn's wedding. Chet had to work most of the days that we were out there so ended up staying home and I got to do my first road trip with my parents in years! We actually had a blast and got to put the first road trip miles on their new Prius. I must admit that I didn't actually help with the driving (I didn't want to break their pretty new car!) but they didn't seem to mind. We got hooked into a book on CD I had gotten from the library... and made pretty good time to Western Montana.

The wedding was beautiful! It was on a Thursday night but a lot of our family was able to be there. Not only was it nice to catch up, it was just a relaxed, happy occasion. There are some weddings where you are just so happy for the couple and can see how right it is for them to be together... this was one of those weddings. It was also a blast to see cousins, aunts and uncles I haven't seen in over a year. All of us girl cousins were at the wedding (though we don't have an official picture of it)... but, as you can see below, we are a good looking bunch of Gessamans! Here are some pictures from the wedding.

After picking up from the reception, what did we walk out to find? Lovely falling snow... in the beginning of October! By the end of the night, there was probably about 6 inches or so... and it was making the roads pretty slick. It was wet snow, more like Washington snow than normal Montana snow. It made it feel like much later in the year, but it was so beautiful. In a way, it was a little fun blessing which made the trip even more special! Here are some pictures of the night of the snow and then fall snow pictures the next day.

On Friday night, we stayed with Judy and enjoyed a soup and bread type visit and lots of visiting. I adore the fact that my parents love Chet's parents so much... and treasure the time they get to be together like they have been friends forever. My mom and Judy just had so much to catch up about! I suppose I always expected and hoped for my husband's parents to get along so well with my family because my grandparents had been that way for my parents. Yet, as I have watched friends get married, I realize that this doesn't always happen. This is definitely a blessing in mine and Chet's lives!

My parents dropped me off at home on Saturday night and Chet and I immediately went to dinner and a concert with friends! Needless to say, I was quite exhausted by the time my head hit the pillow.

Sunday was a fun day with friends... we went to the pumpkin patch! I can't imagine a more fall type thing to do and it was a perfect day! After being in the snow only days prior, we went out to South 47 Farm in sunshine and 50 degree weather. Sam, Faith and I had this idea during one of our small groups and we managed to get two of our three husbands along for the ride. Though we didn't do a corn maze, we picked out more unique pumpkins and explored the farm. I am thankful for these precious friends... they are the best! Here are some pictures from that afternoon.

Now, as I'm finishing this post, the rain is absolutely pouring down! It is definitely a good day to stay inside today and catch up on life. Did I mention that I love fall?

Back to School!

So, classes start tomorrow and I'm not sure I'm ready to go back! I enjoyed having a little over a month to relax and catch up on life. Now it is back to studying and working on my master's project. I am glad that I am in school but sometimes it is hard to be motivated.

On the plus side, though this is the first day of classes, I get to go away this weekend already! I am headed out to Montana for my cousin Sharilyn's wedding. Unfortunately, Chet has to work so he won't be able to go with us, but it should be fun go out there with my mom and dad. We are taking their new Prius (aka the car that is far to computer-like!). I haven't seen much of my dad's side of the family for the last few years so it will be good to catch up. We are also going to visit for a bit with Chet's mom and probably stay the night with her in Missoula. I think it will be a fun trip! Can't wait to leave on Wednesday!

It will also be nice to escape our fruit fly infested house. I left tomatoes out on the counter and bred a huge swarm of fruit flies. Currently, we have bowls of beer and vinegar out in counters and tables trying to attract the flies and make them drown. We've been having pretty good success (so far)! Hopefully they'll all be gone by tomorrow.

For now,

Brianne