Two Months in Under 10 Minutes.

Yeah, yeah, I'm horrible at keeping up with this thing.  The problem is, my life is either too boring to post anything (not really complaining, that's just how it is) OR my life is sooooo busy I don't have time to post!  What can I say, I live my life in extremes.  So here is an update on the last two months of my life.  I'm sure I'm going to forget something that happened, but I'll do my best to hit on all major events.

(1) In preparation for traveling to NC for Thanksgiving, I finished making my sister-in-law's Christmas presents, since she was the name I drew in our exchange.  Pictured below is just one of the 3 necklaces I made for her.

(2) This is probably the most important update.  I got engaged!  Less than 2 minutes after meeting my parents, L proposed and I said yes!!  He used my whole family for the proposal and I was blown away.  I couldn't get the video to upload here, so I am providing a link to the youtube version (skip to 1:30 for the good stuff!) Also I added a bunch of pictures taken by several photographers.  I can not thank my family enough for making this such a memorable event.

(3) I met my nephew for the first time!!  And L met both his future niece and nephew for the first time.  Not only did I get to meet Caleb, he rolled over for the first time in front of me!  I am truly a blessed aunt!

(4) My family hosted an engagement party for me!  Same night, another surprise!  We played get to know you games, riddle games, even the prizes were mini-games!  I'm honestly not sure I have met a game I didn't like.  It was a blast.  I really truly love how awesome my family is!

Building houses out of gum drops. 

Giving up. 

Throwing gum drops at each other. 

Becker stealing my man. 

Can't believe L said yes. 

A duel. 

Cutting the beautiful cake my sister made me! 

And stuffing it in each other's faces. 

(5) Thankfully I planned ahead and had an engagement photo shoot already set up... just in case ;D  You can check out those pictures on Stanton Photography's facebook page.  If you are ever looking for a photographer in the Raleigh area, definitely give her a call!  She is wonderful!!!

(6) L's old couch took a turn for the worst, so, we bought a new one!! I think it will go well with the gray walls in our future living room.

(7) We took a trip up to Leavenworth (which I have blogged about several times) after the first snow of the year.  We took a sleigh ride, saw some amazing Christmas lights and ate in an outdoor bar.  Definitely an adventure.  Pictures below!

Our friends Kevin and Shelly on the sleigh ride with us. 

(8) I finished my senior project.  Even though I'm still really not a fan of the group I had to work with, I managed a 98.  Not bad at all!

(9) I got lots of Christmas cards!  Thank you sooooo much if you sent me one! I absolutely love them!

(10) The 19th of December was a big day. Not only was it my sister's 22nd birthday, it is the day she got engaged (yay!) and the day I finally found an internship!!  Yay all around!!!

(11) I started making my save-the-dates.  Can't wait to send these out!

(12) Santa came early for me this year.  On the 22nd, L bought a car!  He bought it, but I'm the one who drives, so it's really for me!  Goodbye Expedition, hello Rogue!!  Ain't she perdy?

(13) The 23rd was L's Christmas present.  Tickets to the 49ers/Seahawks game!!  Even though L is a 49ers fan and the Seahawks stomped all over them, I think he enjoyed our seats. Definitely better than the view from our tv.  Even if it did rain all day!

(14) The 24th was Christmas at Jimmy and Megan's!  We had a blast with some great friends!

The Hosts

(15) Christmas was spent with our friends Kevin and Shelly.  We didn't take any pictures, but we had a blast with the Grays AND we ate some amazing smoked turkey!  All in all a great day!

All right, that's about it.  Told ya my life gets busy sometimes.  Thanks for reading!  Check back soon, hopefully I will be able to pull something interesting out of my everyday life.

Not Just a Prison in Kansas

Howdy y'all!  I know everyone and their brother has already expressed their incredulity at the fact that it's October, but I want to join the fray.  Wow, can you believe it's October already?!?!  Where did 2012 go?  

Aaanyway, I better start off this post by wishing my mother a very happy 37th birthday!  Don't question the age, just accept it.  Blogging on her birthday reminds me that 4 years ago I was doing the same thing, from Kenya!  Wow, talk about time flying. 

Okay, okay, I promise I will get to the meat of this post, just bear with me.  Leavenworth, a United States prison in Kansas.  While I might have the chance to tour that place someday (hopefully for the RIGHT reasons), I think it's atmosphere would be quite different from the Leavenworth I toured with my friends last weekend.  

I have actually posted about Leavenworth (the non-prison one) before when I took a tour with family in January 2011.  We trudged through snow and slush to visit shops and spend money I didn't have.  This time was much better weather wise... but I still don't have any money.  

We started the day late and only managed to catch a few shops before they closed, but have no fear, I still managed to spend L's money.  Our friends Kevin and Shelly made the trip with us and we all had a blast.  After the shops closed, we caught some live music, had a few drinks and played the most ridiculous game of ping pong you can imagine.  I must note though that I won.  

L's restaurant. 

The soon-to-be bride who collected hugs from all the men.  I promise, there was a real person there, this is just a depiction. 

Told ya. 

All in all, definitely worth the trip.  If you ever visit Washington, make sure to put this stop on your list!