Engagements....that's what Mamma M is asking

Here is my amazing ring!

Mamma M  is doing different questions each day for Valentine's Day; and today's question is about Engagements!! Well I think my engagement story is the best of course, but what woman doesn't! Just because many of yall have already read my story I will do a semi short version...if you want the full version click here!

Chris and I always spend Labor Day weekend in Scottsdale, AZ. Actually he, his best friend, and father have been making this trip for a couple of years now. I was just lucky enough to join them the past 2 years. I get to enjoy a weekend laying by the pool being waited on....while they go out and golf, golf, golf. Our day was pretty normal: the guys took off to golf and I headed out for the pool. After they golfed we hung by the pool, got massages, and just enjoyed the day. Every thing seemed pretty normal. Later that evening we all took headed up to the main bar to enjoy happy hour before our Saturday night dinner at Mastros.

As always, I wanted to take pictures! Chris really loves this about me...so we headed down to the area were we took pictures the year before. It was lovely with the sunset just so!! I went to sit at the fountain and when I turned around Chris was down on one knee! I was in shock...is this really happening! I really couldn't believe it was true! He said, "Emily I have liked you since I met you in 2005. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?" I was so over joyed and couldn't stop crying! YES YES YES!!! After the proposal Chris' father and Z were waiting to take pictures with us. They of course knew the whole weekend what was going on!

again I don't love this picture...but it shows just how I really felt

the group right after the proposal

Then we were off to dinner. I was in shock stil; the whole drive there. We arrived at Mastros right on time for our reservation. As we walked in the waitress took us to our seat, I was following along or shall I say FLYING!!!! Then as the waitress pointed to the table she said, "Will this be okay?" As I look up I am amazed to see MY FAMILY!!! My mom, dad, sister, and brother-in-law are sitting right there at our table.

these are the faces I saw and love so much...

I couldn't believe what was going on, I mean my family was in Scottsdale at dinner with us! Everything seemed like a dream. I was overwhelmed at what amazing planning Chris did for this proposal. He coordinated with my whole family to ensure they would be there. He knew of all things, I would want my family there the moment it happened! I really am the luckiest girl in the world....only 137 more days!!

A Monday I can love!

Wow, normally I am not too excited about Mondays! I mean I don't think any one LOVES a Monday, but my consist of long school days. Also after the way last week went, with children puking all over me and the classroom, I was jazzed about how my Monday turned out!
First of all....all 24 students were back and no one threw up!!! That is a pretty awesome day right there if you ask me. I think that since the kids had Friday off, they all got over the bug that was going around. I was very thankful for that! The kids seemed to be pretty good today too. We had a great reading small group, and then were off to lunch.

OH HAPPY DAY! OH HAPPY DAY! No not for lunch time, believe me they had ??? what they call meatloaf??? Oh happy day because my goodies had come in. The Lion's Club was very generous to our school and donated some money for each teacher to use on thing in their classroom! Well of course I bought some AMAZING goodies!! Let's see I surveyed my room and well we really didn't need any new games, centers, or such. I still have some I bought from Lakeshore last summer that are waiting to be used.

However, we (as in I) was in need of some office supplies!! I heart office supplies more than any other person in the world!! No not staples, rubber bands, and such...the good ones!!! SHARPIES, SHARPIE PENS, and CHART TABLET SHARPIES!!! Also I got some amazing sticky notes, not just your normal ones but sentence strips. They cost a bit more so I thought since it was extra money for the classroom get something we don't normally use! Then I did a restock on erasers...you know the pink rectangular ones. I swear those kids eat them....no they just get eraser happy! ROCK ON our new supplies were in; and just in time. My retractable Sharpies that I bought last year have been dying majorly over the last week; so I was super jazzed the new ones arrived. My kids were too...the boys are tired of everything being done in pink or purple (the only 2 colors we had left). Also I was excited to have the chart tablet Sharpies. I have been dreaming of my order since I placed it a week ago! Yes, in case you couldn't tell I am ADDICTED to SHARPIES! Just ask my kids, everything is better in Sharpies.

After enjoying our new goodies, they day went pretty fast. Then to top things off we didn't have our normal meeting after school. That meant I could catch up on some paperwork and such. I took care of a wonder TELPAS test I had to have finished by Friday. CHECK that off my list!! Next I headed home to find that my MONDAY was getting even better!!! I had finally gotten my package in the mail that I have been waiting on. (Thanks to Kara!) Although Chris didn't think I needed this item, I truly believed I did. Plus I bought it as a token of my hard work moving, cleaning, and getting rid of things I no longer needed. (I know sounds funny to buy something for getting rid of stuff!)

It was my new wonderful, cute, super awesome hand made camera bag! Yes, I have the very nice one that Chris bought with the camera, however I wanted a little less bulky of one. Plus this one is super cute! How could I pass it up?

I really love the new bag, and funny thing is I think Chris kind of understands why I wanted it now. I mean it is not as bulky as the other bag. Also I can wear it across my body much easier. I LOVE IT. I wish I could say I found it on my own, but Kara actually found it a couple of weeks ago. Thankfully I saw it on her blog and still got my bag while they were on sale! If you have a Nikon SLR and want a nice bag for toting around town and such go check it out Janine King Designs. She also has cute computer sleeves and much more.

Here is the inside of my new bag...It holds my extra lens and camera very nicely. There are 2 pockets for lenses. I as of now only have 2 lenses, but I know this pocket will come in handy. I really do like it. Also I went for a little less "girly" of a pattern just in case Chris does ever carry the bag! I am sure he will be just thrilled too!!! If every MONDAY could be as wonderful as today that would make me the happiest girl in the WORLD!

My love for you may have been lost....

TARGET!!! I have always loved shopping at target. I mean it seems to be pleasant, clean, and calmer that wonderful WAL-MART. However, Chris and I had a bit of a different experience tonight. This causing my love for Target to go down. (Now I should preference this with I have had an issue before with Target in this area)

Tonight Chris and I were just running in quick to grab my prescription, as well as a few last minute Super Bowl items. We had picked up the prescription and were working our way back to eggs, when we had to stop of course on the pet isle. Here we came upon a elderly lady messing with the caned cat food. I looked at Chris very puzzled. Of course then I was interested in what she was doing. She stopped messing with the food while we were on the isle, so we turned the corner and watched from there. Well sure enough she was stuffing caned cat food into 3 Target plastic bags. She was covering the area with some puppy pads, but continued to clean the shelf out. I think Chris and I were a bit stunned that she was getting away with this because there was a girl restocking right on the end cap by her. Once she had her bags full she placed them into her cart and began to wander towards the door. Well we had to see if she was really trying to steal or just weird!

Sure enough she began to wander towards the produce entrance. Then as she started to head out, I ran over to the checker at #27 and inform her. She looks at the lady, flips on her light, and then says "well that's all I can do. It's too late now." What...everyone there just looks at her like really you are not going to try and stop her or call security. Then I run to the Starbucks girl who was not busy, she calls security. However, Chris and I have now watched as she has placed all the items into her car. Oh and that she had a young girl driving her...were in this together? They get in the car and took off!

Chris and I were just stunned that nothing was done about this. We continue to grab our few items and joke about how we should just walk out. I mean heck once you get to the door its too late...or so checker 27 says. Then on the way home I find it interest that the manger never even wanted to speak with us about this. I then decided to call up to the store and find out why that was. I mean I know they have cameras...but apparently they are not watched! I get the manager, Leigh, on the phone and explain the situation. She thanks us for our concern and tell us that security was working another case at the time. Yes the check out girl did as she was suppose to...just turn on her flashing light. Then I ask her how as a customer that is suppose to make me feel safe to shop there or that prices will remain the same. I mean if everyone is coming in and taking things as they wish wont their prices go up? Again she informs me that the security was busy and prices will not change. Also that a person like that will probably shop there again and be caught the next time. THEN she HUNG UP ON ME!! That's correct, hung the phone up on my.

Wow, really great customer service. Oh wait it is great customer service: I mean the lady came in for caned cat food and walked out with out paying a thing. What a wonderful policy Target has. Now you may wonder why this causes me to loose faith and love in Target. Well, years ago my sister and I were in a very nice Target, just like the one tonight, trying on some clothes. When we were finished I put my clothes on and began to walk out of the dressing room...Not ABBY!! She couldn't leave, why? Well one of the other customers trying on clothes had taken Abby's shirt she wore into the store! Yes, her pink gap shirt she wore into the store was STOLEN. Therefore leaving Abby with no shirt to wear...what did Target do! Well after many minutes of arguing with them they finally gave her a shirt. However, they did expect her to leave without a shirt, ARE YOU KIDDING ME! Therefore, 2 security issues down and I no longer think Target is really better than Wal-Mart.

I mean yes normally it is a calmer shopping experience. However, if it is no safer than Wal-mart I might just head that way. I do like Wal-Marts guaranteed LOWER PRICES! Plus Chris and I both know their checkers would had done something. As we were there last week and read all the "CODES" they could call and what they meant! Oh and by the way, I am sure that ladies cats are thrilled to be eating free for at least 3 weeks!

Rocking it at the FWSM!!

Well Chris and I have been watching the Fort Worth Science Museum as it began its remodel. We kinda of have been needing a good reason to go and visit. This weekend was our chance as we had Miss R and his mom visiting. Our choices for the weekends events were to go to the museum or the stock show. I can honestly say I was pleased with R's choice. It was very cold here...and the stock show didn't sound warm to me.

The new museum is AMAZING! When Abby and the kids lived here we went all the time. E use to love playing down stairs in the grocery store and water area! WOW oh WOW has that area changed. It is now much lager and the water area is now outside, which makes better sense! Since it is freezing cold here the water and Dino dig were closed. No worries though we had plenty to do anyhow. There is a whole new kids area with different rooms that cater to new inventions and fun crafts that the kids really loved. One of the favorites is an area were you create a coffee filter into a flying thing. Then you put it into an air tube and watch it fly away.

We also got to make our own kazoo...because after all yesterday was national kazoo day!  There are so many new fun things to do there. We were there about 3 hours and probably could have stayed longer.

R making her kazoo

Teri, Chris, and R

We made the best kazoos ever

I personally love the new CSI exhibit, you go around and try to solve the case! If you live in the area and have not been to the newly remodeled museum I really recommend that you go. Oh I kind of recommend that you wait til after the stock show, as parking is out of control. If you need a friend to join you, I will be glad to come (Chris and I are now members!). We felt it would be best since we have so many small people that visit!

I think this is the sweetest thing....holding her brothers hand!
can you tell I loved using my new camera too....

Visitors....

Winston, Chris, and I have been busy busy busy....we are getting ready for some fun visitors! Chris' mom and little sister are coming to town. YIPPEE!!! I personally have not seen either of them since May, so I am really jazzed. I am sure Miss R has grow at least a foot. Plus also I have not gotten to show off my new bling bling to Chris' mom.

Chris is so cute, he has been planning our weekend for a week now. Tonight and tomorrow they will be helping Chris' other little sister Whitney move apartments. However, we get them from Friday afternoon on. Winston knows something is up since I have been frantically opening and unpacking boxes from the move. He loves to play with Miss R, they are the best of friends. Plus she wears him out like crazy mad, which make Chris and I pleased. I am going to try my best to take some great pictures with my new camera of Miss R, Chris, and his mom while they are here. I just feel a little bad for them since they are traveling all the way from Minnesota for warm weather, which we can not offer!

5 months from here!!!

Wow I can not believe that 5 months from today Chris and I will be saying "I DO". Not only will we be saying I DO, but we will be surrounded by all our amazing friends and family too. Everyone said that the time would fly when planning the wedding. Wow how they were right. I mean I still have a few odds and ends to finish up; but over all I think I have done a pretty good job of staying ahead of the time that is leaving me quickly.

Things I still MUST do:

• Pick the wedding invitation for real (I have many ideas)
• Finalize the back home party location (mark your calendar August 7th is what I am planning!!)
• Finalize bridesmaids dresses (again have an idea)
• Purchase a few things for the welcome bags (once we have a final number of guest)
• Purchase all my cute BEACH GEAR!

Really I am pretty happy that this is all I have LEFT to do! Well I mean that is all I can think of off the top of my head....I would have to get my wedding book to confirm, but I am to lazy today!

P.S. Side note here: but if you have not gotten your passport you need to do so. Abby ordered B's and it took less than 2 weeks to get back to him. Right now is the time! Also if you have not booked your room the deadline was extended til Feb 18th! View all the details on how to book your room on our wedding website, under travel! Can't wait to see y'all there!!!

Crazy....

the weather that is....I mean what is going on? The weather has been so random lately not just here in DFW area but all around the world. Just yesterday I was sitting at dinner with on of my friends little girls. She looked out the window and noticed that the sky was a bit dark and wind blowing around like crazy. Then she looked at her father and asked, "Daddy are we going to have a tornado tonight?" We all kind of looked at her a bit crazy and said, "NO". That is when I then made a statement I MUST TAKE BACK TONIGHT. "Kat, tornadoes don't normally happen in January it is more of a spring thing."

This morning of course when I woke up, as probably with you too, you heard that Haiti had another after shock....I mean how much can those people take. Thinking to my self really what is going on with this crazy weather. Then today after school I went to get my hair cut ( I HEART KAMERON!!!) and then to happy hour with a friend. When a weather alert comes over the radio and what do you know, "Tornado Warning" I had to stop right then and there and say are you stinking kidding me. I have just lied to a sweet little 8 year old girl....A tornado in January, well sure enough there was a "strong" storm that hit a little east of us. I just am amazed that we can be below freezing for 2 plus weeks, now in the 70s with tornadoes. Wonder what tomorrows weather will bring? Oh and Kat, sorry I was wrong....tornadoes do hit in January.

Moving forward hurts!!!

Day one of moving...I was still happy! lol

Or maybe I should just say MOVING, HURTS a lot. Needless to say I have spent my entire 3 day weekend doing something I DISLIKE MOST in life!!! MOVING!!! MOVING!!! MOVING!!! Yes much to my mother dismay, I am posting this post, I am sure to hear about it later...not for the fact that it is about moving, but more about moving into Chris'.

I spent all day and night Saturday at my house putting all things that belong to me in boxes and such. I also spent many moments revisiting wonderful memories. Then was saddened by the fact that my whole life for the past 6 years or so will now live in STORAGE!!! I keep telling Chris how sad this makes me, but he seems to not understand... I will explain why later! After a very busy Saturday night, I headed "home" to grab some shut eye before the big move on Sunday.

Sunday's plan WAS to go grab the moving truck, load up all my belonging, and then head to the storage unit to unload. All this was to be done by about 1 so Chris could grab the end of the Cowboys game. Did you notice how I said WAS?  This is the way our actual day went:

• 9:00 arrive to rent truck!
• 10:30 leave with truck (computer systems down, causing us to have a very hard time getting our already rented on line truck)
• 10:50-12:20ish loading truck with all of my life!
• 12:30 arrive at storage unit
• 12:45 realize the unit I purchased on Jan 1st has a lock on it
• 1:15 new unit give to me, now to unload
• 1:50ish lunch....then off for one more load
• 2:10 loading truck with the final stuff
• 3:00 unload at storage
• 4:00 unload final thing that I took to Chris' at house
• 5:00 RETURN the truck
• 5:45 left truck rental place and headed home

Do you see the many issues that we came across? I mean, I should have know when we had such a hard time renting the truck that morning that things were going to be rough! Not just rough on our bodies, I can't even count the bruises and cuts I have, but rough all around! Poor, sweet, wonderful, amazing Chris made it through the move with only a few dirty words and such! He was a trooper even with all the hold ups.

Now lets discuss the difference between how guys move and us women! I of course LOVE all my things...Chris, he likes his things but would get rid of them and just buy new easily. When I came to terms with moving into Chris' house I had to start fighting my fight for MY things. I mean Chris too has now lived on his own for 6 years...so together we both have fully furnished houses. Thus making moving in together hard. However, I knew I would have to fight for a few of my most loved items. The items I fought for were:

• my bed: it is much better than his guest bed, but we kept his mattress
• my dresser that my grandpa redid for me...it in no way fits into the decor of the house, but he is letting me keep it for our next place, so it lives in storage for now only NOW!
• my other nice dresser...it came from my mom's good friend's father. I got to bring it to the house!!
• all my AMAZING RED KITCHEN AID appliances....well this one was easy as he likes to cook
• my fiesta dishes, these will be the ones we use for everyday eating now and after the wedding
• of course my clothes and shoes
• a few picture frames and decorative items too....but not to much because we don't have much room

poor Bob her room has been taken over

and of course I had to bring all of Little Bear's toys to the new house!

Now keep in mind these are only the things I got to take to the HOUSE!!! The rest as you read earlier went to storage for our future home or what ever. This is where Chris finally realized why I am the mess I am I think. At first we were just loading up the major things like beds, couches, washer, and drier and such...then it got to the little things. The 20 questions began here: Why do you need to keep thins? Can't we just buy another one if we need it? How will you use this? Blah, blah, blah. Of course for each item I would have my reason for moving it on to storage. Then he got smart....and the questions changed. As he was carrying out this very cute old step ladder/stool my mom gave me......Okay why is this sentimental to you? What value has this added to your life? Who is this from your mom, grandpa.....? You see this comes from his work back ground I think; the way he changed up his approach as he could see I was a bit defensive. I mean who isn't defensive about someone wanting to throw out all their things, when he has a whole house of his things!!!

Long story short, it hurts me to have to move all my items into a very nice state of the art storage unit! (of course I picked the best for my things) However, I know that one day we will have my things back and can merge them with OUR soon to be new things....in our soon to be new house! As I told Chris yesterday, "When I am sad about my things I will just run over here and sit in my unit for a while." He laughed very hard at that, but knows I will do it! Oh and then today when he wanted me to take a few things to good will...I got the oh but my best friends, mom's, sister may have given that to me so I hate to get rid of it! He thinks he is so funny, but what is funny is guys just see belongs as stuff. Women see them as memories, happiness, and much more! Apartment life is not for me anymore, now to unpack the things I snuck in while Chris was at work today!!!

I didn't plan for this.....

Okay I am pretty sure no one in the world was able to plan for what happened today in Haiti, a magnitude 7 earthquake. You never could plan for such a horrific event I guess. However when WEDDING planning you try to think of it all. I mean some were horrified that I would plan a beach side wedding in June, a hurricane month. However, I did some research to find out where hurricanes typically hit. The Dominican Republic is not high on the list of hurricane locations, well the Punta Cana side of DR isn't. Also when we visited the site I did some more research. They did claim that hurricanes were pretty rare in that area.

You can imagine my concern when I came home from school to see the news of the earthquake. I couldn't believe such a thing...all those poor people and their lives destroyed. How tragic this must before them. Then they began reports of the after shocks and possible tsunamis. Oh heavens that is when it occurred to me that the resort is very close to this location. I mean never in my wedding planning did I even think about the idea of an earthquake or tsunami could take out my wedding. I mean heck I thought I had covered it all.

Today was just another day that people, or I , realize that no matter how prepared you are for life it can change in an instant. Yes my wedding will still take place on the beautiful beach I visited in November. Yes, the resort is still standing just as it was when I visited....However, others will be morning loss of not only their belongings, but family, and friends too. These things that happen really make you stand back and think about what is important and if you value it daily. I am thankful that I can still have my dream wedding, but heart broken for the people there. Our prayers will be with the people of Haiti as they have suffered a magnificent loss today!

Wedding Dress and Home Party!!

(My mom made this rock for Chris and I! It is one of the rocks from the spot where Chris proposed to me....one of my favorite Christmas gifts!)

I am so excited....my wedding dress is in! My wonderful bridesmaid Julie and best good friend Alison and I took off after school on Thursday to go see it. I was so shocked, because they said it would take at least 13 weeks to get in. Therefore I figured late February for sure, so you can imagine how surprised I was when they called.

I couldn't wait to put on MY ACTUAL DRESS, you know not the stores. I mean since I found the dress the smallest size they had in store was a 10. You can only imagine how many clips it took to look right. Again, why I was so happy to have my correct size 2 dress! I slipped in it on very carefully; and then got all strapped in. AHHHH it was AMAZING, WONDERFUL, and GORGEOUS just as I remembered! The girls loved it too (which is the best part!). Now of course due to my wonderful height I will have to have some alterations...but just a few!

Now Chris and I are currently trying to figure out an amazing location for our HOME TOWN party after the wedding. Since not all our friends and family will be able to attend the wedding in the Dominican, we want to have a small celebration back home. I have come up with a few choices, but Chris is making this a bit hard! Therefore if you live in our area and know a great location I am OPEN for suggestions. We want somewhere:

• That is pretty without a lot of decorating!


• Can hold about 100 to 125


• Great food and adult beverages!!


• Where we can dance the night away

I really don't think that is TOO much to ask for, right? Okay maybe a bit, but let me know if you have any ideas. The more the merrier....plus I would like to have this narrowed down by the end of the month. The final details are starting to come together, only 167 days til the wedding!