Its Official!!!!!

As i'm sure you've all heard by now, Cameron and I are officially engaged! He proposed last night. :) And here's "the story" that you've all been waiting for!!!

We had planned on going to DC this last weekend to attend the temple and to scope out the area. It was a good trip - we hung out with his Aunt Irene and her family, went to the temple and the American Indian Museum and drove around the DC area a lot.

Sunday we got back to Philly around 5:30 and had planned on making dinner at about 6:15. So I was relaxing a little bit before we had to start dinner when Cameron randomly said "I'm really hyper! Lets do something!".

So I said, "You wanna play Dr. Mario?"

"No... Not that"

"Uno?" I said.

"Okay!" Then as he opened up the closet to get Uno out "... hey, lets do the puzzle instead."

REWIND....

On our first date we bought a puzzle at walmart. Apparently it was his plan to use it to get a couple more dates out of me. The puzzle ended up being SO hard because its entirely the same pale blue color. It was on his side table for two months before he decided to give up and destroy it. A little while later we took it back out and with a LOT of determination and patience we finished it (It was then glued together and it hangs on my bedroom wall). We then got another puzzle that we thought would be a lot easier... one with more patterns in it. We thought wrong. This next puzzle is of an Indian man with TOO MUCH pattern and it was even harder than the first. So we have slowly worked on this puzzle the last 7 months. Slowly giving up....

SO when he suggested the puzzle I was shocked!

"Really????? OKAY!"

We pull it out and unroll it (it had been in a puzzle roll-up thing) and start trying to put in some pieces.

Cameron asked me to get the box out of the closet so he could look at the picture on the box. I realized that there were some pieces left in the box so I pulled them out. They were all in a plastic baggie....

I looked at the baggie full of pieces and can see one piece with yellow paper taped to it and with letters on it. I instantly knew what was up - before this point I had no idea he had the ring already. It was supposed to arrive about a week and a half later. I was SHOCKED! I was like "what?" "are you serious?" "Oh my gosh" over and over. I even asked "do you have it? you have the ring already??".

So we dumped out the pieces and searched for the eight pieces of the puzzle with the yellow paper on it. After finding them all and putting them together this was the end product...

When I looked up he was on his knee. :)

And here it is....

The ring! Sorry the photo quality is bad. I'll take better pics later.

Oh, and of course, I said YES! :)

I really should wait 'til tomorrow...

BUT if i do, i'll put it off AGAIN.

Why tomorrow, you ask? Because it would make an even two months from my last post.

Yeah, I know. I'm getting really bad at consistently posting... so, here's an update on all that has happened these past (almost) two wonderful months. :) :) :)

Palmyra for the Hill Cumorah Pageant. It was a lot different than I remember from when I saw it as a 6 years old... but so are a lot of things. On the same trip we went to Niagra Falls and did the "Cave of the Winds Tour"where they give you a poncho and water shoes. It was really wet! But so fun. :)

I went to Utah to see Kelly and Nate (or as i like to call them Nelly) get hitched! The wedding was beautiful and it was fun to see some old friends.

Cameron had to go to Washington D.C. on business for the week so on friday, I took the Chinatown bus down and met him there. We had dinner at a good BBQ place and headed back to his Aunt Irene's house. The saturday was full of an early morning bike ride on the Potomic, a visit to the Zoo, lunch at Ben's (a famous restaurant in DC that bill Cosby and Obama eat at for free) , a long afternoon nap, the Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday and a quick stop at the Washington DC temple on the way home.

Our next adventure was to Boston. It was so fun! We did the Freedom Trail which is a red line painted on the sidewalk that takes you to all the historical sites in the city - including where the Boston Massacre occurred and Bunker Hill (the picture is me in front of the Paul Revere statue). We also went camping and rode bikes in Cape Cod. We (but mostly I) wanted to go to Martha's Vineyard but it didn't quite pan out.

Also, Cameron bought a bunny! His name is Hendrix. He is a Netherland Dwarf and is so cute and friendly. We are trying to box train him. Also, we're working on his lap sitting skills.

Last but not least, yesterday we went to the most beautiful gardens i've been to! the Longwood Gardens. They have old fountains, lakes, a HUGE greenhouse and meadows. The flowers and plants were beautiful! Here are a few of my favorite pictures I took. :)

There's grass on the door... crazy!

There is your update! Stayed tuned for more of our exciting adventures.

PS. We also went to a philly's game somewhere in there... we have twinner shirts. :)

The kind of thing that only happens in movies...

I really wish I had a picture of this moment. I REALLY do. But it all happened so fast and the only thing I could do for a while was laugh to myself... So you're gonna have to put two and two together yourself.

Picture this... 

My boyfriend Cameron and I went to NYC for my birthday (which was amazing, btw). We planned things that we wanted to see in the city and used the subway system to get around. We were doing great at navigating our way around...we had a map and everything. At one point we were planning to get off at a stop near Columbus Circle. 

So there we were. Just sitting there. Looking at the map. When I faintly hear the next stop being announced over the intercom. But I didn't quite register that we were planning on getting off there. When the subway stopped. I looked up and thought. Oh, I think this is our stop. So I say to Cameron... "I think this is our stop". Then I get up and rush off of the subway. I knew Cameron was right behind me, so I wasn't worried, but as I was stepping off onto the platform I felt my ankle narrowly escape being squished by the doors. As i turned around, this was all I saw...

with Cameron on the inside saying "OH NO!!" (At least I think thats what he was saying... all I could see was his mouth moving because he was inside and I was outside)

He was looking out of this....

and me looking like this...

with his face like this...

I watched the subway pull away and Cameron's face get smaller and smaller. All I could do was laugh. It happened so quick. Thank goodness for cell phones or we might have never found each other. It is called the BIG Apple for a reason.

Fifty Seven Days

Its been fifty seven (57) days since my last post. I have gotten a lot of requests to blog lately (mom, aunt kristina, the few of you who actually reads this thing) SO i thought i'd finally do an update... It only took me 57 days....

Where i've been and who i've seen since my last post:

Me and my roommate Shanelle fostered some kittens from the local PAWS shelter. They were SUPER cute but we soon came to find out that they gave us reject kittens.
LEX: he is a "twisted kitty" which means his arm is crooked and he walks on his wrist
DARLA: Cutest kitten ever but has a severe heart murmer and a short life expectancy.
SARGE: Has the letter "M" on his forehead. I just have to feel sorry for the guy...

I had my FIRST visitor. It was such the surprise!!! Barratt Edgington from Orem, Ut. stopped in to see me on his way up to Connecticut for his job at NBC. I gave him a little tour of downtown and even showed him my favorite spot in the city... The Reading Termial Market!

Then I got my SECOND visitor...Kyle Barnett from NYC. We were good friends back in college (am I old enough to say that?!) and now he's going to law school at Columbia. He came to visit me after finals were over for the semester. When he was here, we went to Valley Forge

And the art museum...

Both were AMAZING!

One of the coolest things that i've done lately is go to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. The beach was good, but the best thing was to explore some of the sites that North Carolina has to offer. We went to Roanoke Island and saw the place where the first English baby was born in America, we roamed through some Elizabethan Gardens that are there in honor of these people and we stood in the place where the Wright Brothers had their first flight. Oh, and the company wasn't so bad either. ;)

This is getting too long...
ok
my first horse race was not as exciting as I was hoping.

and last but not least.....

WILD ANIMAL SAFARI at six flags great adventure.
The animals just walk right up to your car! AMAZING!

I missed a lot of things but hopefully you can get a little idea about what my life is like out here on the east coast. I LOVE IT! :)

The best weekend!

I went to Washington DC this weekend for the first time since I was a little kid. It was amazing! The first day we went to the Air and Space Museum (so did everyone else it seemed...it was SO crowded!). Then we went to the Holocaust Museum. That was so sad to see, but life changing! Then we walked around Georgetown and did a little shopping and saw some fireworks shooting off over the Lincoln Memorial while we stood on a bridge that went over the Potomac River (amazing). The next morning, we woke before the sun rose to go to an Easter Sunrise Service at the Lincoln Memorial. We sat on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial while we watched the sun rise over the Washington Monument. The choir sung Easter songs and we even got to sing along at some points. It was magical! Here is the sun rising...

This was probably my favorite part of the trip.

Then we went home and went back to sleep, woke up and went to church and then took a scenic drive through Alexandria. A walk in the park was next and then back to the house for dying some easter eggs and a delicious dinner. After we were so stuffed, we watched a few minutes of golf and then got in the car to head back to Philly (aka home sweet home).

We had one quick stop at the Washington DC temple. It was chilly but SO BEAUTIFUL! I never noticed before but there is a stained glass window running down the whole side of the temple. If you can't picture it, here is a picture:

Cool huh? I like it. Anyway, those are my adventures! Many more are coming. :)

Never a dull moment!

OK. So I know its been forever since i've blogged. Sorry. I've had some technical difficulties. First I lost the battery charger for my camera and now I can't find the cord to transfer pictures! UGH! Well, you'll just have to imagine what happened tome this past month... Sorry. I'll put in some substitute visual aids to help the imagining impaired.

FIRST! I went to Washington DC.  I went there once when I was a little but I don't remember much of it. Actually, I didn't really go this time. I went to the Washington DC Temple. Which was SO cool. Obviously. :)

The next weekend .... I WENT TO NYC for the first time! It was so cool! I went shopping in China Town. SOOOO sketchy! They lead you into these hidden rooms to show you "Gucci" and "Prada" bags and while you go in they lock like 5 doors behind you. Then they wont let you leave until they radio up to see if the coast is clear. Those knock-off bags are NOT worth that. We also went to Central Park, saw the Statue of Liberty from a distance, walked through Time Square, ate a $3 cupcake (also not worth it) and saw the Brooklyn Bridge. Oh! and riding the subway was a blast!!! I definitely have to go back soon so I can see more of NYC!!!

I've also seen a lot more of Philadelphia. Just from driving around and stuff. I keep seeing these awesome places to go, but instead of actually going, I just write them down to go to later. But in reality I just forget about them.... someday i'll remember to go to all of them.

Ok thats a lie. There was this ONE place that I've wanted to go to for a while now and I actually went this weekend. Its called the Wissahickon River trail. It is super close to my house and I pass it every time I go anywhere.  So this sunday, me and my roommates decided that it was the perfect day to go on a sunday walk. I suggested that we go on the Wissahickon because I haven't been on it yet. So we went. 

We actually drove a little ways to where the cool part of the trail is so that we wouldn't have to walk too far. We were walking and loving the weather and the trees and the river. Our destination was a statue in the middle of the forrest. It was about a 15 minute walk there. So as we were walking, it started getting a little windy... then it got a lot windy. We were almost to the statue so we decided to just make it to the statue and then turn around and go back. As soon as we sat down to enjoy the sunset by the statue, we saw lightning. GASP! with wide eyes, we looked at each other, jumped up and scrambled down the mountain. 

As we were walking fast through the forest, we felt it start to sprinkle.

Then start to rain.

Then start to pour.

Then start to Hail!

We were still a good distance from the parking lot and all we could think to do was to run as fast as we could though the forrest.

There was a river of water and hail underneath our feet as we ran up the hill to the parking lot.

The hail was the size of a nickel and was hitting us all over. I tried to look up but there was just a sheet of water and hail. 

SO we just kept running. and running. and running through the water and the hail.

We finally made it up to the parking lot and under this covering and I felt like I was going to pass out. But instead I threw up in a near by trash can. We then walked to the car and by the time we drove away, the rain was gone and the sun was coming out. RANDOM! and CRAZY!

So those are my adventures in philly lately. I really just want to blog about my awesome roommates every time because they are awesome and hilarious... but they would probably kill me in my sleep...

Also, if you've made it this far into my FOREVER long blog. CONGRATS! you win. :)

My Humble Abode

I found a place to live! I am moving in with a couple girls from my singles ward  (Shannelle and Nanette) and its gonna be so fun! 

Its in a row house in the neighborhood of Manayunk (Man- ee- yunk). The name Manayunk comes from the Native American word that means "come to drink". I think they named it that because its right next to the Schukyll River. But in recent years it has become a hot spot for college kids to come and party on the weekend. I'm making this place sound bad. Its really just this cool part of Philadelphia that the younger, hipper crowd appreciates. This is mainstreet where everyone comes to eat and "stuff" on the weekends. 

Its not that great of a picture but this is main street in Manayunk and it has all these cute little shops and restaurants and lights on the trees. I'm excited for the summer to go strolling down the streets. :)

Because we're moving in this week, me and one of my roommates (Nanette)  bought mattresses at Macy's the Department store and brought them to our new home. This is Nanette carrying in one of our mattresses. We had a really hard time getting the box springs up the stairs to our room and may or may not have made a huge hole in the wall..... We were laughing the whole night. 

The house has a basement and a backyard. Also it has this creepy cellar thing below the basement. Shannelles' s boyfriend tried to go down there but all the stairs broke. We already have plans to decorate the non creepy part of the house and have a garden in the back.