Mele Kalikimaka!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

I hope you all have a very merry, wonderful, safe and happy Christmas.

ENGAGED!!!

Yes, it is true.
I would like to officially announce my engagement to Brandon!!!
Have I told you all yet how much I love this guy? Well, I do! I am so excited that it is finally official, I have proof, it is on my finger and it is absolutely beautiful!!!!
Brandon initially had a plan to propose at Winter Gardens A Glow at the botanical gardens. I have been bugging him for a while now to go and we had plans to go on Friday night, however the rain was falling and the plan was put off. No one wants to wander around a garden of lights in the rain. Saturday night we had plans with some of my friends I grew up with. We were having our annual Christmas party at Maaike's house. I'll post about that later...
When Brandon came over he just knocked on the door, I ran to open it and he asked me to hold something and got down on his knee... to tie his shoe. He's such a kidder and for those of you who love "the Office" like we do will remember an episode where Jim pulled the same thing on Pam. Silly man. I was rushing around gathering all the things I needed to bring with me and Brandon told me his mom made me some brownies (his mom makes the best brownies in the world, yes the whole world). He went out to the car to get them, when he came back in he said his mom was testing out a new recipe and I was suppose to tell her how I liked it. I was still gathering things around and he suggested that we take the brownies. Now I don't mind sharing and I don't need the extra calories, but these brownies are seriously delicious!!! I went to check out the brownies, closed the lid and Brandon was down on his knee again, this time say "You're marrying me". I just kind of rolled my eyes at him and he stood up and looked as confused as I was. Then he asked if I saw it, saw what?! This is when it started to click, I opened the brownies back up and there was the most beautiful ring!!! Then I asked him "Did you just tell me I was marrying you?" He was, just like when we first started dating and he informed me that we were officially dating. He's so funny, I love that he did that! I pulled it out and licked it off and made him do a do-over because I kind of missed it, this time he asked and of course I said YES!!!
Here are some pictures.
Enjoy!

Sorry if you have already seen some of these, just some of Brandon and I over the past year

The ring was not as noticeable in the brownies as the picture depicts, and they weren't half eaten when I got them either, I did that.

It has been an amazing, fun, exciting, awesome, wonderful year and I am looking forward to an eternity with this man!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Yes, I know Thanksgiving is good and gone and I should be singing my Christmas carols. I'll start after this post.

I don't have any pictures, I did have my camera and just didn't snap any. I should have so Brandon's sister could have some pics of the family enjoying the turkey.

Thanksgiving this year came a little early, lucky for me because I had to work on the actual Thanksgiving. Brandon's family celebrated on Sunday and my family joined them for a wonderful spread of food, fun, and family. It was delicious!!! I love Thanksgiving food!!! Love! Love! Love!! We enjoyed each others company for a while, Brandon took care of some business (another post) and then it was home to pack...

I'VE MOVED!!!

I suppose that should be in the heading too, but then I would have lost the element of surprise!

After some back and forth discussion and some attempts at dealing and a little bit of drama I decided it was time to get a place of "my own" (another post). The move date was moved up a week because of a situation so after Sunday Thanksgiving dinner my mom, friend Heidi and Brandon headed to my house and packed like maniacs. We made some great progress and everyone headed home to sleep, just to come back in the morning to finish packing and start moving. It took most of the day, and by nine o'clock that night I had everything moved out and into the new place, and only one casualty (a light fixture).
THANK YOU!!!
to everyone who helped pack and move and get furniture. I couldn't have done it without all of your help.
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!

The real Thanksgiving was a busy day at work (why don't these patients go home and eat turkey!?). However, the hospital feeds the employees who have to work on Thanksgiving and Christmas so I got a free meal and my dad joined me for Thanksgiving lunch, we were also joined by a couple of my co-workers and their families. It was a bit of a mod-podge Thanksgiving, but I enjoyed it and it was great to be joined by my dad. Brandon's family does movies and dinner out on Thanksgiving and they planned the second movie a little later so I could join them when I got off. Thank You!!! It was fun, we saw "Bolt", if you haven't seen it, check it out, it was really cute and hilarious!

side note: just so everyone knows, there is a guy on Jay Leno right now with a dark suit, blue shirt and tie and bright, bright red socks. Funny!

The holidays have started well and I am excited for more holiday excitement to ensue! I love this time of year. I have got to get my boxes cleaned out and thrown out so I can get some Christmas, Christmas going!!

Come on by and see the new place, it's not all put together yet, but you are all welcome, anytime!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!