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Pictures from the Engagment Weekend

First we went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport

They had a lot of really cool sculptures that were made out of recycled trash found in the ocean...and I even posed for some of them lol.

Then Brenna really liked the Jellyfish exhibit, and got some great pictures of them

Then we went to the otter exhibit and I started talking to this otter and he swam over to us and was looking at me...it was like an interaction between a master and a pet.  It was really cool!

This is when I started talking to him, and he swam over to where we were:

Then on the way to the hotel from the aquarium, I was eating some cheesits and scored some good luck points...not just a two still attached cheesits, but 4!!!

Then the next morning, which was Brenna's birthday, we took some pictures with her and her pink princess crown in front of various places...

At breakfast...

At the casino...(which we actually got yelled at for)(Oh yeah, and that's a Sex in the City slot machine lol)

And then at the bead store...

Then we went to the hotel room, got ready and then went to dinner.  I had the bellman lay rose petals in the room so that when we came back from dinner it looked like this...

The petals led to the balcony and into the bedroom and on the bed.  Brenna followed the pathway leading to the balcony.  Which looked like this...

I told her I had one more present for her and that she had to close her eyes.  I ran inside grabbed the ring, made sure her eyes were still closed and came back out onto the balcony, got down on one knee and asked her to marry me.  She said "Yes" and then I was all emotional and so smiley, and I opened the champagne to celebrate!

For those of you that have not seen Brenna's ring here it is...

The Story of Our Proposal...

     This is the story of how John proposed. It was my birthday weekend (and our 9 month-iversary) and we had decided to go to Lincoln City, OR and stay at the Inn At Spanish Head. This was a special place to us because, it was the first place we said, "I love you" and now, the place where we got engaged...but we'll get to that in a bit. 

      On our way to the hotel, we first went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium (SO cool by the way...). This was an amazing start to our weekend seeing as visiting museums and aquariums is one of my favorite things to do. We then checked into our hotel room where there was a bottle of champagne waiting for us. John knew of a good a pizza place called, Galucci's Pizza so we went, and it was delicious. 

    The next morning it was my birthday. Mary and Andrew had given me a card with a punch out 'princess crown' so, if I can figure out how to post pictures...that is why I'm wearing a beautiful pink crown on my head. :) We went to a breakfast joint called Pig N' Pancakes and then Root's bead shop..  John had decided that we needed an 'early dinner' so that we could come back to our hotel room and watch the sunset from our balcony (which I found out later was only the  half truth). So, we headed to Kyllo's for dinner and had an amazing view of the ocean. It was beautiful. The restaurant was pretty empty, seeing that it was only 3 in the afternoon. After dinner, we went to an antique store that John's mom had suggested...they had SO much! It took us about an hour to get through 1/4 of the store. We took a little drive around and stopped at a casino where I gambled for the first time ($20 bucks I- or should I say John- will never get back)

     When we got to the hotel, John and I went straight to our room and he opened the door for me. When I looked inside, there were rose petals EVERYWHERE! There was a trail leading from the front door to the deck (which had a beautiful view of the ocean) and then from the front door to the bedroom and all over the bed. I was speechless.  I automatically go out onto the deck- a) because there is a path leading me there and b) We just had dinner and it was a nice place to go and relax. Just listening to the sound of the ocean is so peaceful.  We had not been able to go onto the beach all weekend because of how stormy it was, so we took advantage of the deck. Anyways, John and I are standing there and he says, "hold on, I have one more gift for you but it's not wrapped..so close your eyes!." John runs inside and my eyes are closed. "No peeking," John yells from inside. Then I hear, "Brenna Christine," and my eyes open, John was on one knee and continues to say,"will you marry me?" and handed me a beautiful ring. Now, from then on it's a partial blur. I had to ask John about what I said in response because I was so in shock. According to him I said, "Of course I'll marry you!" and I remember handing the ring back to him and asking him to put it on me. From then on there were a lot of tears, hugs, "I love you's" and kisses. 

     John mentioned that I didn't really get a good look at the ring for a good 10-15 minutes. I explained that I was just so excited that I was going to be his wife, and that he was going to be my husband that I didn't put focus on the ring- just on him. But, when I did get a chance to look at the ring- I couldn't believe my eyes. I cannot imagine a more beautiful and perfect symbol of our love. It's just SO beautiful...and it's SO me. 

     After we were engaged we went inside and just sat on the couch and talked. I called my parents and sister and he called his family. We watched Pinocchio and drank the champagne...and ate some birthday cake. After the movie was over we were itching to get out of the apartment. I'm not sure why but, I think it's the excitement of it all, I just wanted to go outside and scream that we had just gotten engaged at the top of my lungs. Anyways, we went upstairs to the bar/restaurant area and got a drink and just looked at the ocean and relaxed. 

    On a side note, I have to mention this because it was the most amazing thing ever. When we were sitting in the bar area there was a man that had the most beautiful/glorious/curly/amazing mullet that I have ever seen. I mean, it's not everyday that you see a mullet, let alone an awesome one. We tried to be sneaky and take a picture, but it was too dark. Maybe next time...

Needless to say, it was a day full of such happiness and love- one that I will truly never forget.
   

The Story of How we Met...

Brenna and I met on a twist of fate.  It was totally by luck.  We met in an Anatomy class during the summer semester of 2010.  It was luck because Brenna as a Human Development major does not need and should not have even been in an anatomy class.   But yet there she was sitting with her back to me as I walked into room on the first day of class.   It wasn't until later that I found out that the only reason she took the class was because she had decided to plan her future as if she were single, no longer 'assuming' that marriage was definitely in the future.  She was going to become a nurse and possibly join the Navy...just to have a stable job and so that she could adopt a child in the future.   If she would have never gone down that path than we would have never met and I would be without the love of my life...which is a scary thought.  Anyways back to the story, so I walk into class...notice my future soul mate...and naturally sit in an open seat...at a different table lol.  The pace of the class was very fast and I didn't have time or the opportunity to talk to her until the following week.  There we were, both heading to our cars in the same parking lot at the same time...this was my chance.  I quickly think of a line that will initiate a nice little conversation, "So, are you ready for the test next week?"  This would for sure get her to reply and maybe we could even study for the test together...or so I thought.  Brenna replied, "Yeah, I think so. I'll be studying all weekend though."  "Me too." I replied. There was a slight pause and then she said, "Well, good luck with that." aaaaand walked away to her car.  Great...so my perfect conversation starter didn't work out as perfectly as it had in my mind.  We didn't talk again till the next week when I got up the courage to ask her, "So how'd you do on that test?"  Hahaha no I'm just kidding, I wasn't going down that route again.  No, we had an open lab where we could stay after class and get some help with the homework.  Everyone at my table had left, and everyone at Brenna's table was still there so I rolled my chair over there and said hello.  Next thing I know Brenna and I are the last ones at the table, talking having a good time, learning a lot.  Then when the teacher was about to leave we went to the library and studied/talked some more, then we got hungry and went out to eat.  Aaaaand there ya have it...ten months later we're happier than we've ever been...we're deeply in love...we're engaged...and you're reading about it in our blog. 

Getting to know you...

About twenty minutes after John proposed I started calling (ok...mostly texting...) friends and family. It was then that I realized that practically none of them have ever met him. The same goes for some of John's friends and family so, we decided to start this blog so that our loved ones can get to know us as individuals and as a couple! We'll try to update as much as possible with our experiences (both wedding planning and life in general).  We love you all and are excited to share our journey with you!