wedding song

So internets...I got engaged.

To my complete surprise and delight Aaron proposed on Saturday night. I mean, we've been dating forever (in the Mormon world), so it's not like a huge shocker to anyone I'm sure, but I still wasn't expecting it and I've still had butterflies in my tummy all of the 4 days since.

I thought I was going to dinner with Christopher, Tasha, Morgan and Tasha's dad...Aaron wasn't going to join us cus he was working. But when we got to the restaurant and the hostess walked us to a back room, Aaron was there on one knee with flowers in one hand and color samples in the other (color samples for the rocking chair I wanted instead of an engagement ring)! I don't remember what happened after that really except that I was crying and he was completely adorable.

You know, in a lot of ways Aaron and I couldn't be more different. We don't listen to the same music or read the same kind of books and he's usually dressed like a teenager while I'm usually dressed like a teenager's mom. But the last year or so has been a fantastic process of me realizing that that stuff just doesn't really matter. He's absolutely the best thing that has ever happened to me because regardless of the things that don't seem to match up, he and I still do match up. I know Aaron sees who I am and loves me and I know that I see who he is and love him. Our differences have helped both of us open up to new things and I love feeling safe and secure with who I am around him; Aaron has consistently been my shelter from the storm and it's like a deep breath to know he's mine forever. I'm so happy with the time we've spent together so far and all the things we've done and experiences we've had and it's the best feeling to know we get to keep moving forward together for the rest of our lives (well and also to know that he will give me beautiful, beautiful brown babies someday).

Another great feeling? To realize I now get to plan a great party for our friends and family and also buy a new party dress!

oh yeah

So I've jumped on the bandwagon and am doing that Mexican Indian running form where you basically run on your toes. It is awesome and feels so much better on my joints and I'm faster, so yay! Thanks Indians! The only catch is that starting it makes your calves consistently burn with a fiery burn that I didn't even know existed.

And since I live in a city where it's unsafe to breath the air outside, I'm mostly running on a treadmill for now. Usually I go to the gym on my lunch and watch a couple of home decorating shows on HGTV cus boy oh boy do I love makeovers! But yesterday I went after work and had the pleasure of spending 5 miles with this guy thanks to cable TV:

It had been a while, but you are still awesome old friend (do kids these days even know this movie exists?).

perfect weapon

Does anyone else forget when you buy stuff that models are waaaaay skinnier than you?

You won't fool me again jcrewdotcom!

(but don't worry, it still does look cute on me)

to west texas

In my years of knowing her, Naomi has always been a thoughtful and creative gift giver. I have received plants, earrings, personalized note cards as well as a "Mo Money, Mo Pizza" t-shirt and another one with President Obama riding a unicorn...all wonderful Naomi presents. And to my surprise and delight, she managed to top them all this Christmas.

Oh Panthers!

taken at all

So there are some things that happened in the last few weeks that aren't worth their own posts at this point, but are definitely worth smashing all together via photographs.

Like how much I loved taking a day to do Stacy's wedding flowers and wish everyday consisted of doing flowers.

Or how much I can't handle a baby in Christmas Eve monkey jammies playing with a robot toy (aren't boys the best?).

There was Logan being so mature that my mom's nativity scenes ended up X-rated.

And we finally had someone big enough/little enough to appreciate Mickey Mouse pancakes on Christmas!

Elizabeth made sure Aaron and I were a Book of Mormon apart from each other at all times during the break.

I watched White Christmas for the first time while taking down decorations in the middle of the day (it was delightful).

And I got lots of one-on-one aunt time with Morgan.

Plus I enjoyed New Year's Eve mullets

and serious New Year's Eve dancing.

And then of course there have been Snuggies,

more Snuggies,

and even more Snuggies scattered throughout all holiday activities.

straight shooter

Hey I don't work at all this week! And turns out I only blog at work (don't tell my work)! So I'm going to be gone from here mostly until next Monday I think.

However, I will leave you with a treat. The weekend before Christmas I went to Colorado Springs to visit Katie and drive back to Salt Lake for the holiday with her. We walked past this old timey photo place and talked about how when we were little we always wanted to do it, but knew with the cost and a crapload of kids, it wasn't going to happen for our family.

Best thing about being a grown-up? Being able to fulfill childhood dreams.

See you next week.

hot cookin'

Sometime in November Naomi shared a recipe for Cranberry Orange Scones on her Google Reader. I thought the recipe looked really good and in an uncharacteristic move I printed it, stopped at the store for ingredients, went home and baked. And I was successful! Because my scones looked like the picture scones (which is how you measure baking success right?)!

So I think I've made them like 5 times since then because I like to really pound into the ground a baked good that works for me. I made a bunch last night to give to my co-workers and they're so good and so easy and a nice holiday treat that isn't super sweet. And don't you just want to bake on snowy days anyway?


Cranberry Orange Scones Recipe via The Way The Cookie Crumbles
**I think the recipe makes more like 12 scones rather than 8