Count Down...

The count down has begun! Time is flying. And my list making has begun in earnest. There is still so much I need to finish around the house to get ready for my little family. It is time to get organized!

Wedding plans are really starting to shape up! All of the big decisions have been made, temple is scheduled, dress has been purchased, reception location is found. Now it is time to plan a menu, make invitations, and decided on decorations.  It is such a busy time, but I couldn't be happier!

Dress... Check!

So, I am not going to post a picture {I don't want Jordan to see it yet!}, but last weekend I went to Utah to look for a wedding dress. Success!

Angela had researched and gave me a list of at least 8 different bridal shops between Provo and Salt Lake to visit. After calling to see where we could start without an appointment, we decided to go to Alysse's Bridal. But when we went to the store, they were gone. They had moved down the street. In their place was a new bridal store that we'd not known about. After looking at the dresses on the mannequins, we decide this was as good a place as any to start. Mom, Angela and I each picked out a few of our favorites, and I tried them ALL on. So fun! Every single dress fit, and fit well. Talk about making a girl feel good about herself! Since it was a busy Saturday, there were several other girls there trying on dresses at the same time, and they looked good in EVERY dress they tried on, too! We met the designer who designs all of the dresses! Impressive! It was only a matter of picking out the favorite and deciding which veil went with it. There was one dress in particular that I liked. It was just the style I'd been looking for. After trying it on again, I decided it was THE DRESS! Getting the dress so quickly made it possible for us to go find shoes to wear with my dress and engagement photo outfits, too!

What a wonderful whirlwind trip that was... finding a wedding dress, veil, petticoat, shoes, outfits, and visiting as many family members and friends as possible during the "long" weekend. I got to spend time with both sets of grandparents, Angela & Eric {And their cute dogs, I can call them cute can't I?}, Eric's brother Trevor, cousins Daniel and Aaron, BFF Shauna and my road trip companions Dad, Mom, and Philip. Good times!

Plans

So you would think that after a few weeks I would have some idea of what the wedding plans are. Nope. The last few weeks have been too busy. But in a good way. I got to spend time with Angela and Eric while they were in town. So fun! We took one afternoon with the girls... Mom, Angela, Stacey and Amanda and me. We went to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, got manicures, and went looking at wedding dresses.  My advice to future brides, try the revers order and go to the Cheesecake factory AFTER you try the dresses on. Even though I was really full after consuming my entire slice of dulce de leche cheesecake, I still had fun trying on several white dresses. Mom helped me get in and out of them and Amanda, Stacey and Angela provided delightful commentary. Stacey took notes and Angela snapped photos so I would remember what we all liked. I'm going to need to keep looking, but it was a great start. And very fun! Thanks for taking me!

The next day, Philip got home from his mission in Brazil! He is incredibly tan {Sort of... he has pretty serious tan lines from his collared, short sleeved, white shirts.}. He gets a bit of an accent when he talks about church things and his intonation is different, too. I think he grew a bit while he was gone, because he seems taller, but maybe it just seems that way.  It is so fun to have him back! He gave his report in Sacrament meeting on Sunday. He gave an excellent talk! Then we got together for the "after party" with the family, the Moores, and the Smyres at my place. Mom brought delicious food and we chatted until we thought the roads might be getting icy. But we spent plenty of time enjoying the company as well as Jordan's new beanbag chairs that he, dad, and Dan filled that night so we would have sufficient seating. What a great night!

Dreams do come true!

Christmas has always been a magical holiday for my family. It starts the day after Thanksgiving when we go to the mountains to find our Christmas tree and we celebrate all month! {We sometimes even celebrate into January, like this year, because Philip comes home from his mission next week! I'm so excited!} 

This Christmas was wonderful, too! Why? Well, under the Christmas tree at Jordan's house, there was a little box for me {It was in a gift bag so I had no idea what it was!}. In that little box there was something that I have been wanting for more years than I like to count. In that little box was the most beautiful ring I could ever imagine. It is perfect! And just as the ring he picked out for me was more than I could have ever hoped for, Jordan is my dream come true and then some! 

It is time to start planning!