Thursday, July 29, 2004

Well I'm feeling a lot better, thanks for all the best wishes, I've spend the last few days in the house trying to get my strength back up. Plus the car was in the work shop getting repaired so we haven't really had the car to go anywhere. It's back now though, and they did a great job on the repairs. I've spend a lot of time working on my Website, I finally finished the Wedding section on my site. You can view that here so have a good read, and don't forget to sign our guest book hehe.

Today Clayton and I went to see
'I Robot' with Will Smith, I thought it was very good. A little bit freaky with all the Robots, it got you thinking if that's what the future will be like in 2053. I thought it was funny when Will Smith was all happy that he had his 2004 vintage sneakers. After that we went shopping, I want to decorate our bathroom. I found this lovely set from Target an Amethyst Butterfly Bath Collection I also bought their 3-pc. Bath Accessories Set and Bath Rug, and also some hand &  bath towels. The had a lovely wall border as well, which I bought, so my bathroom is going to be Amethyst Butterfly.

Tomorrow morning, I'm meeting with our photographer, yes you guessed it our pictures are ready. I so can't wait to see them, I'm going to ask if she has a computer CD for them if not I'll just scan a few and put them on our photo group. We are planning on going up to Silver Lake to go paddle boating in the afternoon, seeming we didn't get a chance to at the weekend. So that should be fun!

My Grandparents (my father's parents)  called on Tuesday which was really nice, I hadn't spoken with them since before the Wedding. They wanted to know all about the Wedding, as they weren't there, they were on vacation for 3wks so didn't get a chance to phone before. I also spoke to Sarah my eldest sister, she managed to get a long distance plan going. So it was nice to talk to her for a while.

In other news I finally finished my visa paper work for my Adjustment of Status, my visa expires August 3rd so I needed my paper work to be out before then. We send the whole package out yesterday and I just checked it arrived there safely too. So now I have to wait for the government to get moving and reply back which very well maybe the year 2053 hehe.


Sunday, July 25, 2004

Somehow our plans for the weekend were shot once again, Friday we were meant to go to Silver Lake Park to go paddle boating. But Clayton's work called for him to take an extra shift, and seeming we need the money he couldn't turn it down. So I went to the Mall with him for his 5hr shift, and just hang out there. I got some 'Thank you' cards for all our Wedding gifts, so I need to send those out soon. After Clayton finished work we went to his real estate office to have a few things notarized for the visa. After that we ended up just going home, as it was so warm they had forecasted 94 on Sat&Sun.

Friday night I started to get really ill, I felt tired, dizzy, really weak, and I ran a really high temperature. I suffered a really high fever all night long, and wasn't much better by the morning. I phoned my mother, as she's a Doctor's receptionist back in the UK, and knows a lot of stuff. She thought I had
'Heat Exhaustion' she told Clayton to put some water in a glass with some salt & sugar to get my sugar, salt levels back up. I had to drink about 4 glasses during the day and it tasted horrible. But it did the trick, I was a little better by the afternoon. I had spend all day in bed with an ice pack and the fan going full. Clayton had to call Marsha to cancel Sunday as he wasn't sure if I'd be better or not.

I'm a little better today, but we've stayed in all day just relaxing and watching tv. It's been quite scary, as I've never had that before, but I guess I'm just not used to the heat. I'm very fair as well, so I bet that didn't help much, I will have to be more careful if I go out in the heat from now on. Take loads of water, sunglasses and a sun hat etc.

Tomorrow the car is going into the shop so we won't have the car for about 3days. So I'll be in for the most of the next 3 days. Which is fine by me, as I need to get my strength back up.

Hope everyone is doing well, I just wanted to let everyone know what happened with me.

Thursday, July 22, 2004

Today has been an alright day, we left the house at 10am and made our way to Clayton's real estate office. Marsha the broker of the real estate office, is our Co-sponsor so we needed her to fill out paper work for us. Marsha is also a friend of ours and has been really supportive throughout our whole relationship and visa process. I'm getting together with her on Sunday to go Swimming, & boating, she wants to get together with me to get me out of the house. She just wants to be there for me, as she understands how hard it must be for me, after emigrating and being away from my family and friends. So it's nice to know that I have a surrogate mother.

After that Clayton went to the IRS to get printouts of the last 3yrs of his tax returns for the visa. That didn't take very long, then we were on the way to the County Office to get copies of our Marriage Certificate. We stopped at a Restaurant on the way, as we were so hungry. I had this huge burger and fries, and a chocolate mouse cake for desert that was to die for, and now I feel so fat. The county office was pretty easy, we walked in and our Certificate was on record this time. We had 3 copies all certified, we only needed one but I thought just in case. They were only $3 each so I thought I'd get a couple extra.

Wow today has been so warm, I think it's been in the late 80s today. They are forecasting 94 on Sunday so that'll be really nice when Marsha and I go boating. Clayton and I are going to Silver Lake Park tomorrow to Paddle boat on the lake, we are taking a picnic and everything so it shall be lovely.

We came home to find an answer phone message from Stef, it was so great to hear your voice girl. Clayton and I are going to meet up with her and Collin for a double date. It'll be so great to meet you both, so that's something to look forward too.

Well that's it from me, I'm gonna have a nice relaxing evening in front of the tv. Oh and I'm glad everyone likes the new layout, it took me ages to do hehe

Tuesday, July 20, 2004

New blog layout, I needed a change I thought it looked more summary what does everyone else think? I also added a countup clock to say how long Clayton and I have been married.
 
This past weekend has been pretty tough, Friday started off with me having a TD (tetanus diphtheria) shot. I needed the shot for the Immigration process, so that cost me $40 I just walked in their walk in clinic. Then we headed down to the County office to get a copy of our Marriage certificate, which apparently wasn't there. Laura our pastor said she would take our certificate to the county court office on the 7th the day after our Wedding, for it to be processed and filled. We waited in line for over 30mins to be told that there was no marriage certificate, so I thought great we aren't even legally married yet. I phoned Laura to double check that she handed it in and she was sure that it was handed in in person on the 7th. So it looks like the county office had lost or misplaced our Marriage certificate. We were given another Wedding certificate, in which we had to fill out all our info again and get 2 witnesses to sign as well as Laura to fill in part of the form. We had to come back Monday file the form, then we might actually be legally married.

We left the county office all tired & hungry so we went to have food. After that we headed home, but unfortunately we ended up having a car accident. As we were pulling off in the left lane, the cars infront had a backup of only a little, the cars didn't go forward enough in time and we ended up side swiping another car. I was a little bit shaken because it all happened on my side, I had the window wide open and all the glass went flying in. Luckily no one was hurt, and that's the main thing. We pulled off too the side with the other vehicle, they were Italian and didn't speak any English. So it was quite hard to have a conversation with them. A third vehicle pulled off which was their translator and he didn't speak that much English ether. The police were called, so we had to wait for all that fun stuff, the police lady said it was Clayton's fault regardless. Luckily they didn't issue any ticket for him, I think he was punished enough with the price of the repairs. It's gonna cost $505 to repair everything, the right fender needs to be replaced as well as some work on the bumper.

Saturday we didn't do much, Clayton tried to get some quotes for the car but most places we're closed on a Saturday. Sunday Clayton worked all day, so I spend the day cleaning and such. Monday we spend the day looking around for estimates for the car, after that we went to Clayton's real estate office to pay some bills and talk with Marsha our co-sponsor for the visa. I haven't done much today, Clayton worked till 5:30pm I worked on my visa forms and information. I need to file for my adjustment of status by August 3rd so not long.

Oh I did get a call from Laura our Pastor, and guess what? Yeap she found our Marriage certificate. She must have turned in the wrong set of forms, because she found ours Monday morning while filling. We have to go down on Thursday, to get a copy of our certificate.

Oh one last thing Happy Birthday Mum I hope you had a great day, and I wish I could be there.


Thursday, July 15, 2004

It's been a while, sorry I haven't had a chance to update ya all. I've been very busy with my family and then the aftermath of the Wedding hehe. My Family flew back to the UK on Tuesday, that has been an emotional time for me saying goodbye to them. They arrived safely in the UK and are still suffering from Jet Lag. It was great to have them all here, we took them sight seeing all over Washington.

We've been having a lazy week, Clayton has this week off. So it's nice just to take a time out and be together. No rest for the wicked though, I've been getting my paper work together for my Adjustment of Status.

Thanks again for all the Congratulations and best wishes, I can't believe we've been married little over a week and a half now. It feels like a dream, it all went by so quick. The Wedding day, was gone in a flash no pun intended hehe the photographer did a great job but most of the day was pictures. I'm hoping to update my Wedding section of my site in the next week, so once that's done I'll let ya all know and you can have a good read of the Wedding Day. I can't believe after nearly 4yrs of being in an Online Long Distance Relationship, we are here together as husband & wife. It's so surreal, I feel so blessed and loved.

I added more pictures to our MSN Group there's about 50 pictures of the Wedding in there. If you aren't a Member, please sign up but be aware I won't accept blank applications. Please let us know who you are when you join.

Tomorrow we are driving to the County court house to get copies of our Marriage certificate, for my Adjustment of Status paper work. We're making a day of it, and going shopping yay.

Friday, July 09, 2004


Aww the happy couple Clayton & Natalie. Posted by Hello


Emily (Bridesmaid) left Sarah (Maid Of Honor) Middle Elosie (Bridesmaid) Right.  Posted by Hello



Natalie feeding the wedding cake to Clayton. Posted by Hello

Thursday, July 08, 2004

I'm now a married woman, Tuesday July 6th was the most incredible day of my life. I married my best friend, lover and soul mate, the day was so special. Everything went really well like clockwork, the Flowers were stunning the Cake was breathtaking the food was delicious. All my close family & friends were there, making it even more special. The bridesmaids were gorgeous, the mother of the bride was blooming. And the groom well, what can I say he looked very cute in his tux. Everyone said the bride was stunning, breathtaking. I was a very photogenic bride, according to all my guests.

I just wanted to let you all know that the day went really well, it was a very emotional day for Clayton and I. But we got through it without a problem, everything was just lovely and so perfect.

Thank you all so much for the Congratulations and the e cards wishing us well. It means so much to us, having so many happy thoughts and best wishes for the future. We have loads of photos, the photographer took some beautiful shots, but they won't be available for 2-3 weeks. I am waiting for Sarah the maide of honor to get back to the UK and upload her digital pictures for me to post them here. As soon as I get a single picture I'll post it here for everyone to see I promise.

But I just wanted to let everyone know the day was just perfect.