We just spent a fabulous night in Little Rock working on our invitations. They are going to look beautiful and it is all because of our friend Cathy who is doing them as a gift to us. I was blown away when she initially made her offer and continue to be so impressed with her. Having Cathy in our lives is such a gift, as I feel like all of the Little Rock families are. There is such a close friend network in LIttle Rock that I have been immediately accepted and loved right into just by being with Trevor. It is like a family and it is so beautiful. Most people miss the whole village rearing idea these days, but it definitely exists in Little Rock and it's a really great thing to see and to be a part of.

Also, on another note, I bought an ipod nano with my Christmas money. It comes with a free engraving and I had it engraved "Elly Bates" because really, that it is forever, and in so soon of a time. Strange, but almost painfully exciting.

Space Bible With Volume Lumps

Merry Christmas to those both on and off of our celestial space! Elly and I could not have imagined a more merry celebration than the one we enjoyed this year with our families and friends.

Your loyally engaged couple exchanged gifts on the eve of Christmas Eve. Elly gave me a great light jacket, a hand-knit scarf and warm hat, and a slide guitar that has consumed most of my time as of late. I gave Elly the first and second season of Art 21, which documents the work of contemporary artists, a 1973 printing of the Narnia series, and a tiered basket for our future home.

Christmas Eve, the Bates and Denny clans converged on J.D. China for a feast worthy of a mighty, "Wassail!". We took a stroll around the square and then back to the Denny home for carols and Elf.

The Burdens came to my parents home for Christmas. I was at the house early Christmas 'morn, then, after the economy-stimulating exchange of gifts, I went and swooped up Elly and brought her to the Bates' Christmas Dinner. We wassailed far into the night.

December 25th: BOXING DAY!!! The Denny's come to the Bates for a small continental breakfast when, SURPRISE, a family shower is thrown! Elly and I were so surprised and felt very blessed to be loved so much. There are a few less things to get on our registry now, so ATTN. ALL SHOPPERS: Save on Trevor and Elly's wedding gift by visiting any one of our registry sponsors and remember, our economy is in the can.

So I, Elly, hate to post, but I sort of made a deal with Trevor that we will alternate posting turns and I am up. I have to pleasure to say that our Save-the-Dates came in two days ago and they are beautiful. Trevor's best friend since second grade has a wonderful mother who is doing all of our invitation stuff as a gift to us. She really is so great (thanks Cathy!) Anyway, we will be collecting addresses and they should be in the mail before New Years... I haven't really thought about them too much at this point being how I am in the thick of finals, but in like two days I have a month to not have to worry about school at all.

I am obsessed with oncewed.com. It is a blog where pretty much really great original weddings are showcased. These weddings aren't the grand events that are in, say, the Wedding Planner, but they are funky, eclectic, and much more to Trev and my taste. We have gotten a lot of ideas from this site.

Trevor is really into picking the music for our wedding right now. It should be an interesting mix, but very much a representation of us-- the music maybe him more, but he is a vital part of "us."

I don't know how to add more things on to our blogsite, that is all a little bit beyond me, but I will ask Trevor to do it because we have more registries then just Crate and Barrel now. We are registerd at Bed Bath and Beyond, Pottery Barn, and Williams-Sonoma as well. I am sure that list will grow because it is still early in the game of pre-wedding bliss and we haven't found sheets to our liking yet, so just you all wait.

To end this post I will just say thank you all so much for anything and everything that you all have done for us, together or individually, I wouldn't be the person Trevor fell in love with had it not been for the influences other people made on my life and the same goes for him. So thank you, that is what we want our wedding to portray to you all, an intense gratitude.