Is this real?!?

I'm getting married!!  It has only been official since Saturday afternoon (and it's Monday) but it still doesn't seem real.  He got some fun pictures on his camera but I don't have them yet so here's the ones from my phone.  

I'll fill ya in on the details of how he proposed later but here's what my journal from that night says,  

"Justin proposed!! I've been planning on and hoping for this for a while now but now that it's actually happened I can't believe it!  He wants to be with me forever!  I love him so much and everything about him!  I love how confident and comfortable he is with himself and everything, and his happy, smiley attitude always.  I love how he treats me, quite the gentleman in every way, but expects and appreciates respect as well as shows it.  He loves life and being a goof no matter who's around and doesn't take things too seriously unless they need to be.  I love that he makes me laugh at any time and that he loves the little things, like not tons of makeup and holding me close.  He loves the Lord and gospel and is very dedicated to it, and I love how often and easily we can talk about it.  I love how he loves me and looks forward to life together, a family in the future and following our dreams together.  I love him with all my heart, am amazed at how easily we fit and how easy it has been to fall and feel so right about him.  We're getting married!  He's really mine!  And he wants to marry me, as crazy as that is!  Woo hoo!"

BYU game in August

Didn't he do well?! :)

After proposal, don't think we've calmed down yet haha

 

 

 

Playing Mom

If you look at my posts it wouldn't seem like I've even left DC since there's only one in-between my last DC post and this one.  However, pay attention to the dates and you'll notice its been months.  However, I am back in my beloved DC area and playing Mom while my brother and his wife take a dream vaca to Maine. 

I've always loved being an aunt and figured the one thing that would top it would be to be a Mother to my own kids.  This week I kinda have a trial-run in that area, only not with my own of course.  Kayt, Ella and I will be together this week for longer than they've been away from their parents and than I've ever watched anyone on my own, ever.  Eeeee!  Nervous but super excited! 

It has been an adventure so far and will continue to be.  I have to admit that being a Mom, especially to a 2 and almost 5 year old, is pretty tiring and helps you understand patience in a whole new way.  Its definitely helped me see areas I need to improve on but I've also been pleasantly surprised to find how natural a lot of it comes to me.  It gives me hope that when the time does come for me to be a real mom, that I actually won't completely mess up my kids!  This has also helped me to see life in a new way.  To live as a toddler again... not the potty-training side but the constant energy and jokes really does make you smile and laugh a whole lot more.

 So far we've built forts, frosted and decorated cupcakes, had pajama-ramas, played in the park, ridden bikes, and painted finger and toenails just to name a few.  Ah...the hard life of the young ones :)  And that doesn't even include all of our cooking adventures on a daily basis.  We've had our ups, downs, and trials with locks, but the girls are troopers and so patient with me and we've got lots to look forward to in the next few days.


I just have to say that I love being an aunt!  There's nothing else like it.  I love how my nieces say my name, hearing their laughter and being able to pamper them.  I love how they ask me random questions about nothing in particular and some more thoughtful than you'd expect to come from such young ones, even over skype.  But, I tell you what, these aren't normal nieces, these are pretty special girls.  And I'm talking about all of them, not just Kayt and Ella.  I'm pretty blessed to have them all in my life.

(once again, stay tuned for pics)

"I LOVE LLIIIIFFFEE!!"

One bright sunshiny day a little girl and her Mom went shopping.  As they shopped the little one found some pretty white sandals that fit just right.  After buying the sandals she and her Mom rode home in the car.  They left "her mall," and passed "her temple," and with the sun shining in the windows and her new sandals on her feet swaying to her own beat she sang at the top her lungs, "I LOVE LLIIIIFFFEEE!!!!"

Obvious or not, this little girl was me, the "Sunshine Girl" according to my family, at probably 3 or 4 years old.  Now at 24 and driving myself home in the sunshine on this beautiful fall day, looking at "my mountains," and passing "my temple" I felt like singing it again. :)

Yes, I'm typically a happy person so maybe this shouldn't be out of the ordinary, but it is!  And it is because of everything combined and one thing by itself.  Yes, work is lots of fun and my promotion is going great.  Yes, I get to redeem my favorite aunt status with the Little Smith's this weekend and show my parents "my DC" after that (are you catching that I take things personally and make everything my own, haha).  Yes, my Grandpa Dye's going to work on my car with me to make it look all fab again.  The list could go on but the biggest thing is that I have an incredible man at my side, who it's looking like is promising to stay there forever! :) And I think he's serious, haha.  Yes, a lot has changed and I LOVE LIFE!! 

(my pictures won't upload for some reason so stay tuned).