We’re engaged!!!

Hey everyone, if any of you haven’t heard yet, which I’m sure isn’t the case, Chris and I are engaged!!!  He popped the question last Tuesday evening and I said “Yes” (several times in fact).   We’re so excited!

It was definitely a surprise and really special.  I went over to his apartment so we could cook dinner and just flip channels.  Before I headed over there he said he was cleaning and vacuuming so I figured I’d just let myself in if he didn’t answer when I knocked.  Got to his apartment and no answer so I got out my key and let myself in.  When I walked through the door I was met by the warm glow of candle light in the entire living area of the apartment.  It was so nice.  I was apparently so shocked that he told me he had to come close the door behind me.  He started talking about our relationship and by that point I was already crying so honestly not sure exactly what he said.  Then he got down on one knee and asked “Will you marry me?”  I immediately cried even more and said yes a few times!

After that we kissed, then took some pictures, talked to our parents and went out to dinner at Bravo (one of our favorite Italian restuarants) to celebrate.  Eventhough we’d been talking about getting married for a while, he definitely surprised me with a great romantic proposal when I was least expecting it.

 

I passed another exam!

In late June I took another section of the licensing exam – Building Technology. It’s the longest of the three graphic sections of version 3.1. It was also the last section of version 3.1 that I was allowed to take now that everyone is being forced to transition to the new version 4.0.

After several weeks of timidly checking the mail I finally got my results yesterday. I PASSED!!!!! Yay!! That makes 4 sections passed and now I have to wait until the transition is complete with my file before I know how many sections of the new version I will need to take. At least now I’m pretty sure I’m about half way there.

 

Mid-year update

Wow, I was just checking my blog and noticed the last entry I posted was early last December when we got some awesome snow here in BR.  After seeing that, decided it was definitely time for an update.

Things are pretty good here in BR.  Christmas was really nice and the New Year started off well.  Things have actually still remained fairly busy at work, even considering the recent economy so that’s nice.

Chris started playing kickball this spring with a league here.  Yes, grown adults playing kickball – it’s sometimes hilarious to watch, but definitely fun to play.  The team didn’t have the greatest record this year, but won or tied a few games when it counted and got themselves into the tournament.

This summer we’re on a softball team too.  Our first game is this upcoming Sunday afternoon at the fields on Kenilworth adjacent to Pennington.  If anyone wants some entertainment they should definitely come out and watch.  We might not be the greatest, but we have fun and that’s all that matters.

Definitely one of the most exciting things all year just happened a few weeks ago.  My best friend Janice and her husband welcomed their third daughter – Rebecca Nicole!  I’m so excited for them and really excited that I get to go to North Carolina next weekend to visit everyone.  It will be a quick trip, but I’ll get to see several friends so it’ll be great.  I can’t wait!

This upcoming Tuesday, 7/21, will be a nerve-wracking day for me.  My dad will be having knee replacement surgery in Arkansas and I’ll be a nervous wreck because regretfully I won’t be able to be there for him and my mom.  I know it’s not a “life-threatening” surgery or anything, but he’s NEVER had any type of surgery before so he’s really nervous and I’m nervous for them both.  I know it will go well, but just wish I could be there.  After the surgery he’ll have a somewhat long recovery period – at least 6 weeks.  He’ll do fine I have no doubt, but I also just pray that he doesn’t drive my mom crazy, he he.

Well, that’s about it so far for my year up to this point.  So far 2009 has been a pretty decent year and looking forward to what the rest of it will bring.

 

Winter Wonderland

Woke up this morning to a phone call from Chris telling me we were having something called “thunder snow” and he warned that we might have icy road conditions too. By the time I finally crawled out of bed to see what was going on, I saw this beautiful sight and it only got better for a little while. By far the most snow (actually coming down) that I’ve ever personally seen in my life. I loved it!

 

Past few months

I know it’s been quite a while since I’ve actually posted anything, but to be honest things have been really busy the last few months and I’ve been slacking on the blog so here’s a brief update of what’s been going on.

At the very end of spring, Ashley and Kyle got married!!  It’s was such a special day and I’m so excited and happy for them!!! 

The first of June, Chris and I headed to NYC for a weekend to enjoy the city and watch a game at Yankee Stadium in it’s last year.  The trip was great, the Yankees won and we got to do a lot of fun things.  Only problem was, we weren’t able to stay long enough and regretfully, I lost my camera with all my great pictures on the plane on our way back to BR.  Oh well, guess that means we’ll just have to take another trip soon and thankfully Chris had gotten some fun pics as well.

   

After that my summer was spent trying to study for another crazy ARE test, then up to Michigan for one of Chris’s friends weddings.  It was so much fun to spend a weekend in Michigan and see where Chris grew up and honestly, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect! 

Of course, then we pretty much all know what happened next – that idiot Gustav came in and paid BR a serious visit.  It definitely wasn’t a pleasant experience and by far the worst hurricane I’ve ever been through, but God was definitely looking out for all my friends and family, because thankfully none of us had any bad damage and we all made it through ok (with the exception of Chris’s car – poor thing).  I was out of power for about 8 days, Chris was out about 10 and Ash and Kyle win the award for being out the longest – from Monday (day of the storm), until Friday of the following week! 

Since Gustav, things have gradually been getting back to normal.  I’ve been studying again and just finished taking MEP again.  Now I’m going to start concentrating on doing a few things around the house and looking forward to an upcoming trip in mid-November to visit Janice, Ben, Natalie, Rachel and Samantha and Jason.  I’m looking forward to it and can’t wait!

 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Hope everyone is wearing their green today and having a great St. Patrick’s Day so far.  This weekend, I got a chance to ride on the WBRZ float with Chris for Baton Rouge’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.  The weather was perfect and it was so much fun!  It was really fun to be on the other side of the parade for a change.  The best part was being able to spend time with Chris and also to throw fun things to people and see all their smiling faces.

 

Valentine’s Flowers

Yesterday Chris did really great and personally delivered these gorgeous roses to me at the office for Valentine’s Day!  I love them!  It’s extra special too because these are the first flowers I’ve ever received and they were on V-day!

 

 

Happy Valentine’s Day

Hope everyone has a great Valentine’s Day!  Also want to wish a special Happy Birthday to Samantha’s husband Jason and a get well real soon wish to Jenny’s husband Adam!

 

Another Year Older

Well, last Wednesday it officially happened.  I turned 31, but if anyone asks, I think I’ve decided to go backwards instead – so I’m now 29 .  Anyway, I had a great birthday.  Regretfully I had to work, but that night Chris took me to dinner at The Little Village in downtown BR.  It was really good and it’s such a cozy fun little place.  Friday night I celebrated again by having dinner with some friends and Chris at PF Changs and we all ate entirely too much.  The weekend was capped off by taking another A.R.E. exam, or I should say, retaking one.  Hopefully I passed MEP this time around.  We’ll see.  The great thing is, now I can actually rest my brain for a while and spend my weekends and nights doing something other than studying – Yay!

 

Lily Anna Ronquillo

This Saturday Chris and I were able to make it out to Mandeville and visit Jenny, Adam, Justin and the newest Ronquillo – Lily!  She’s so beautiful!  Here are a few pics.