So...finally you are hearing from me.
It was SO fantastic to be in NYC and see Katherine, Kristen and the rest of the gang. Rohan I can't express how many times we said that we wished you were there!! You are very missed. You and the whole family!!
So...I am sure you are waiting with batted breath to hear the incredible engagement story...Well it all happed in August...I will try to keep it brief and let the photo's describe the rest. But hell - there is a ton to say...
The month of August started off with a bang -- We bought a car!!!! Yep my first car...
Isn't she cute?! Her name is Stella and I love her!
Then it was my 39th Birthday -- can you believe it! Aaron made it a week to remember. Each day he would greet me with a homemade bound book that included hints of what would happen that night...of course I let my imagination go wild and thought...is this it...is he going to ask me...but it didn't happen then...
The week included...
Monday - movie with picnic in the park
Tuesday - more movie(s)Ice Age Three and Hangover -- great mix
Wednesday - Titanic exhibit / fancy lunch / fun dinner / cirque del sol
Thursday - He made a lovely dinner at home and had me dress to the "9's" for a surprise night on the town - all the upscale sheshe NYC/ LA bars you could go to here in Mpls...which I was surprised are many!
Friday Aaron blindfolded me for 3 hours (come on, it was relaxing) and we drove to a surprise location...my brothers in Duluth! They had the house decorated, wine ready and we had a mini party.
Saturday - Aaron drove to a beautiful lodge in Bayfield (in Northern Wisconsin) where the Apostle Islands are located. He had gotten us a lovely room that looked over the water. We went to an AMAZING meal at this 5 star restaurant called Wild Rice -- it was hidden in the woods.
Sunday we explored the woods and had a lovely drive home to Mpls
The first picture is mom and I at Cirque -- we wanted to fit in :) - I didn't want you to think that was my "night on the town" outfit...
Then the next weekend - we went for a lovely visit to the sailboat -- for Brinnon's maiden voyage. It was great and she had a fantastic time. Little did I know that weekend Aaron had asked my father's permission to ask me to marry him...SO my parents were in the loop the entire time!!! As were my Brother and Sister in Law.
THEN...it was off to NYC for a week long vacation and meeting friends frenzy. It was a blast and I think...but let me not speak for them...that Kristen and Kathy liked Aaron...ladies?
Thank you so much for hanging out -- thanks so much for the beautiful dinner Kathy!!!! We had so much fun hanging out with you, Albert and the kids -- and what an after dinner presentation! Oh - you will be happy to hear I finally sang in front of him! So tell the kids that next time they might be able to get a "Georgous" out of me!
We had a great time the whole time we were there -- here are a few pictures from the week -- the baby with squash on his face is sarah's boy August!
Ok - now I am finally on to the big day...it was on August 29th at 4:30pm. so as I mentioned BOTH my parents were in cahoots with the planning -- you know my Mom loved every minute of it! Anyway. After we got back from NYC on Thursday night we had plans to go to my parents boat on that Saturday. Little did I know what he had in store for me! Friday was a tough day and I was in the worst mood ever...I am surprised after surviving that day with me he still wanted to ask me!
Anyway we headed down on Saturday - all seemed normal to me. We got there and the wind was blowing pretty good so my mother said that Dad just wanted to beach by the point for dinner and we would go out later -- ok -- no clue there. So we got there and my Dad was really specific about where he wanted to beach - he had never been like that before -- I wound up in the water up to my knees helping him find the perfect area - little did I know that Aaron was sweating up on deck. We even ran aground at one point - boy oh boy did that make them nervous. So -- we finally got to the spot and mom said she was going to walk the dog and asked me if I wanted to go. I thought, sure, why not (later I heard she couldn't believe how simple it was).
So we go on a 30 minute walk -- she was acting a little strange but I STILL did not pick anything up. They really kept it under wraps well. So...we come around the bend and start wading into the water and I notice stuff up on the boat... I say...
"What is on the boat?"
Aaron yells back -- "oh nothing, just come up on board"
"...Are those flowers" I say...
"yeah, I just picked some on shore" he says back
I turn and look at shore...confused..."where?"
"Just get on the boat." my father interjects
As I hoist myself up on the boat I look up at Aaron -- There were flowers and candles all over and then he smile huge and pulls a small, white box from around his back.
"Wha, wha, wah..." I begin to babble
he gets on one knee...I think at that time I got down on both.
"Will you marry me."
I babble more, I cry, my mother cry's then says...
"you haven't said YES yet!"
"oh my god...YES, of course, YES"
It is all kind of a blur - but a beautiful one. He could not have choosen a better way to do it.
Before I new it my mother brought out two wine glasses with our names etched on them and a bottle of champagne. She then proceeded to set up a small table with a lace table cloth, my grandmothers CHINA and candles. We had steak, king crab and other delicious treats -- truly a meal to remember! It was all amazing - and lovely. I cry thinking about it. Here are a few pictures from the event -- a little out of order but at least finally shared:
So... that is the low down. We are now in the midsts of figuring out what it is - when it is - where it will be - and all those details. We believe we are heading towards a year from now - here in Mpls (so mark you calendars and get ready to book a flight) but we are still working out the details. Where ever it is --- you better all be there -- I know it might be hard but I would love to have you there.
Oh -- The ring -- Aaron actually got it at a gas station in Wisconsin on July 18th -- the weekend we did our first big road trip together. I actually pointed it out and said..."now thats a ring"...it is temporary...but I love it!
So to close out this extremely LONG entry. I will end it with a poem I wrote for Aaron in response to his asking me to Marry him...no reason why he shouldn't be wooed too:
It started in December.
Oh, a month to remember.
A monologue…
A Yule log…
A little dialogue.
Then came the big day.
A turn,
A glance,
Then…frozen in a trance…
What can I say…
The earth stood still that day.
Then about nineteen days later
It was boom, crash, blang, pitter patter
Our hearts melded, it couldn’t have been better.
Each day that went by I would smile and sigh
The content, the joy…my god am I high??!!
I was down there, you were up here
You were up here, I was down there.
Then came moving day
Off and away
Down the road a brand new way
Together hand and hand - we like it that way.
And then…on one fine day…
On the 29th of August at 4:30 to be exact
You got on your knee, it wasn’t an act.
You have set my heart a glow,
I love you from head to toe,
You are the man of my dreams…this I know,
So I will say YES again, and AGAIN, and NEVER say NO.
You are my husband to be
And I your wife
YES-SIREEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!
I miss all of you. And I just want you to know.....
I am happy. OH, so very happy.
