What's sparkly and is worn on your left hand??

Yep, you guessed it. We're engaged! I picked it out and knew that Phil bought it and was expecting it around the 1st week of September. So, when the 2nd, 3rd and 4th week of Sept. went by I started to wonder if the ring people had forgotten about us. Then finally, on the 14th of October I got my ring! We were getting ready to go eat at our friend's house and Phil casually (with a big grin) asked me if I'd like to take my ring. Yes!!! Of course I do! We didn't tell our friends, we made them spot it. Next it was the text to several friends and a trip to my parents. Now by trip I mean 2 blocks away :o) We have picked May 15 for the big day. We decided not to have a ceremony for more reasons than one. I am so glad, as this means a lot less stress! I found a casual wedding dress at www.target.com for $39.99 and I love it! So far in the planning we have found so many bargains and will be able to pull this thing off for less than $3,000. I have had a lot of fun planning and picking out decorations. I should have it all planned soon and will be able to sit back and wait.

Shelley Jenson took our engagement pictures last Saturday at Ward Meade Park in Topeka. They should be online soon and I can hardly wait! I think Phil actually smiled and he even told me that they were pretty painless. This is coming from a guy who HATES to have his picture taken. Our photographer was really easy-going and I think this helped.

That's all for now.

October has great things in store

We have a couple weekends to work and prepare for Oct. 17th and 18th. On the 17th our friend Mike is willing (and a little excited I think) to bring his trailer and his new demolition tool and help us tear out the old bathroom and bedroom to make it one big bedroom (our master BR). This will be followed by a trip to the dump with thousands of pounds of junk and then building a new closet in that room. Hopefully our sheetrockin buddy will be available soon after and we can get this room in working order. We are so lucky to have such great friends! This has saved us so much money. We've been able to trade electric work for our (more Phil than me) tile talent. Our plumber was a friend of my brothers and worked very cheap and then a few handy-men willing to dive into the destruction part. Both of our family's have rolled up their sleeves and helped as well.

On the 18th we're taking our annual pumpkin patch trip with the Tarbutton side (mom's side). We have found a great patch close to home that has a horse and trailer to haul us to the pumpkins. Grandma LOVES the horses and even gets to sit up front and lead them! After this we'll do a weiny roast. We can say we only do this because Grandma Donna makes us, but we all know we enjoy it. I love family traditions! I really hope our family traditions continue because my dear grandma has been diagnosed with Alzheimers. She has her good days, but on many days she gets confused and just isn't quite herself. She is also very hard of hearing, so this makes it more difficult for her to keep up at family events. She is an amazing woman! It is because of her that we do the bunny hop in the front drive every year at Easter and the 12 Days of Christmas-with actions, every year. She's a retired RN and they say nurses are the worst patients...THIS IS SO TRUE!

Happy Fall Ya'll!