WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!!!

I'm just so excited I can't handle it. Time is going by so slowly. Only a few more things left on my to do list (actually more than a few, like a lot) but we're checking them off. I cannot wait to marry my best friend!

He put a ring on it

Yes yes yes... I'M ENGAGED!!! to Brigham Tyler Heaps. We're getting married on the 28th of December, 2010 in the Salt Lake Temple. We're extremely busy with planning but so so excited!!

Saturday felt like any other normal day, yet I was unexplainably happy all day. I had been expecting a ring for over a week and... nothing. I would ask Brig every night, "So... what are we doing tonight?" His reply every time, "Wouldn't you like to know!" So of course I think it's happening that night, but nothing would ever come. So at about 4 p.m. Brig came over to my parent's house and we were watching TV (Spongebob of course, sooo grateful that we have similar tastes :).) We watched a few episodes, but I became bored and wanted to go do something! Being with Brig is always an adventure so I assumed he could think of a plan to do something fun, but he didn't really want to leave quite yet. I had a hunch that tonight was the night, but I didn't want to get my hopes up, so I brushed it off.

Finally, at about 5:30 6ish, he randomly says, "Ok we need to go." of course I ask where, of course he doesn't tell me. All he tells me is that we have to stop off at his house to get some stuff. I then assumed we were going somewhere up in the mountains and we needed to grab coats and such. So we get to his house, I get out of the car, totally oblivious, and he starts laughing. I asked him what was so funny, but didn't need a reply after what I saw next.

There was a pathway of candles leading to his back porch where we had first kissed, which was lit up with hundreds of candles. (I had somehow missed this as we parked and were walking down the driveway... I blame the car that was in the way.) There was a little table and an old pot belly wood-burning stove set up. It was a beautiful and warm night (well warm for Sundance in November). His mom brought us out a delicious pasta dinner. At this point I obviously knew it was coming, so I was a little nervous, but not as nervous as Brig :) It was silent for a little while and I asked Brig if he was nervous and he said, "yeah I'm pretty nervous" (I already knew that) and Brig doesn't get nervous very often. We finished dinner and frankly I was a little confused as to why it hadn't happened yet. There was a flashlight by his plate, and I was curious how that was going to be involved. He took me up the trail a bit behind his house and took the flashlight and shone it on an Aspen tree, which had the following words carved into it: "Will you marry me Lauren Brown?" He then got down on one knee and proposed!! All I could say was yes yes yes yes yes!! We then went inside, my parents came over and we had a toast and some pastries. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's still there, a week and a half later. That carving in the tree will always be there, just like Brig and I will always be together. I can't wait to marry my best friend!!

I am so incredibly lucky to gain Abi as a sister-in-law! Seriously. She is the sweetest ever and has been nothing but welcoming and accepting since day one.

Well... here she is! Brig did a pretty good job if I say so myself ;) it really is my dream ring!

President's Ball

Last Friday Brig and I attended the UVU President's Ball. His parents were kind enough to invite us and we had a wonderful time. David O. surprised us with a limo for transportation. We all dressed up fancy-like and had an amazing 6 course meal and danced on stage to Dick Losee's band playing Frank Sinatra. What an incredible and fun night!

Road Biking

I love road biking.

except for when i freeze.....

restoration project

This semester, Brig is taking a class on how to paint your own car (and he's getting school credit for it! so unfair). So, naturally he needed a car to paint, and instead of painting a firebird and racing stripes on my accord (I was all for that idea), he decided to take his grandpa's 1945 dodge job-rated pickup that was used for cherry picking in the Orem orchards and completely restore it. Brig's going to paint it a candy apple red, and because he's in an engine repair class as well, (I know, sounds like he's going to school to be a mechanic rather than a dentist...) he'll get the car running. It's going to be a lot of work, but it'll be a great restoration project. I'm super excited to see the process!!!

My life is so boring I have to post what my boyfriend is up to... pretty pathetic. That being said, I am really excited for this project and can't wait to see the finished product. More pics up soon.

Parking

For some reason, I have always had the worst luck with parking. Whether it be driving around the BYU parking lot for 30 minutes just trying to find a spot, getting a ticket for parking in a faculty lot (even though I was completely unaware it was a faculty lot), or getting a ticket from Provo city for parking in front of my own apartment because I was parked in front of an invisible fire hydrant (at least I swear it was invisible and appeared after I saw the ticket on my windshield), those darn Provo policemen seem to be out to get me. I think it's nigh time I start riding a bike.

Lake Powell

Powell with the Heaps: Best Labor Day weekend EVER. I was privileged enough to be invited to the Labor Day couples trip with Brig's parents and their friends and I had a blast. Even though I had a cold, I had so much fun. From paddle boarding to kayaking to tubing to wake surfing to even hiking a slot canyon, we did pretty much everything you can imagine. A big thank you goes to the Heaps for sharing their vacation with me!

Brig and I aboard a paddle board. Neither of us can make a normal face...sad.

THE most intense tubing I have ever experienced. Exerting all my effort to merely hold on so as to not skip across the water at 30 mph.

The following pictures are not altered in any way... yes I went canyoneering! I now have proof that I am not a complete wuss.

Were my feet dangling at this point? yes.

Yep that's me up top.

All in all, a very eventful but amazing trip! Definitely hope to go back soon. Ah Little Tahiti, while aboard you, life truly is one long, relaxing vacation.

Bangs

Well... I did it! yes I cut bangs! It's the first time I've had legit bangs since I was probably about 5. I'm still getting used to them, but I like them so far! Definitely different.

Before... (sorry i couldn't find a more recent picture)

And After!

BYU Parking

Oh BYU parking.... how I DESPISE you!! That is all.

New Blog!

Hello All! I have created a new blog, separate from my one describing my adventures in London. I hope to start this whole blogging business... we'll see how it goes :)