Out with the homework, in with the wedding planning

MBA? Done and done! Had my last class last Tuesday and attended the MBA grad banquet last Thursday and while I was supposed to "graduate" yesterday, I decided A) I'm too cheap to buy the cap and gown and B) I don't really feel like sitting through 3 hours of blah blah. I did go to the SPU book store and buy a black tassel though, just for proof that I finished. Although I guess the diploma will be proof enough, once I get it in the mail.

Phil finished his quarter last week as well so we have been thoroughly enjoying our time off together. My Dad was up Friday for work so we went to Thai for dinner. Zab Thai in Everett is one of our favorites, although let's be honest, I don't think I've ever been to a Thai place that I didn't love. (Pssst...there's a coupon on that website!)

On Saturday Phil and I headed down to the Tacoma/Gig Harbor area to check out a few potential wedding venues with my Mom. Found one that I'm seriously considering. It's a little pricey though, and the "rain option" isn't all that great. We'll see. After that Phil and I headed to the Supermall in Auburn. We like to shop at the Banana Republic and Nordstrom Rack there because they seem to be less picked over than the ones up north. Then we went to Kirkland for dinner and found a great restaurant called Cactus. We both loved it and when I looked it up on the internet the next day I discovered we'd actually been to a Cactus before! There are 3 locations and we'd been to the one on Alki a couple years ago.

On Sunday, Mom and Dad headed up to our place and we took the ferry to Whidbey Island to check out their wedding venues.


We were pretty neutral about the venue we toured due to the risk of mosquitos, but we did happen upon a pretty tasty Chinese restaurant for lunch, called China City. We had planned on taking the Keystone ferry to Port Townsend and checking out a venue in Port Gamble, but the ferry was hours behind schedule due to the wind. So instead, we took a quick peek at the huge battlements at Fort Casey. You can tell from the picture below how windy it was (because no, my bangs don't usually look like that and I was actually having a pretty good hair day)!




After that we turned the car around and headed back the way we came. We ended up having to wait to get on the ferry back to Mukilteo for about an hour. Those of you who know Phil and his tolerance for waiting in line can imagine what a pleasant experience that was ;)

All in all, a fabulous weekend! I am so excited to be finished with school, although my mind is a bit thrown off by the lack of homework. Meh, I'll get used to it!

Engaged!

Phil and I are engaged!

While planning a February trip to Fairbanks, Alaska to visit my sister and her boyfriend, Phil got me very excited to see the Aurora Borealis. He started looking at the forecast in December and we purchased a wardrobe suitable for a winter explorer's sub-zero expedition so that we could brave the cold for a couple hours to watch the beautiful lights.

On the night of February 13th, Phil and I bundled up in our snow garb and drove 20 minutes outside the city, up to Ester Dome to escape the city lights so we could see the Aurora better. We found a pull out that had a path down to a clearing and this is what we saw...



Phil took some amazing pictures with his fancy camera as I stared in awe at the lights. After he was satisfied with his pictures, we lied down in the snow and watched the stars and the lights. After a while, we got a bit chilly so I got up and moved around a bit and Phil took some more pictures...



Though I think both of us could have watched the lights forever, it seemed we were both mentally preparing to head back to the car. We stood together to watch the lights for just a few more minutes. Phil kissed me, told me he loved me, then faster than I could realize what was about to happen, he got down on one knee, pulled out a beautiful ring, and asked me to marry him. I think my exact words were "Oh my God babe! Yes! Of course!!". And then he said "Let's see if we can get this on without dropping it in the snow." Yes, let's see if we can do that ;)

Then there was more hugging and kissing and picture taking. I kept needing to pause and put my hand in my pocket to warm it back up as Phil attempted to get a good shot of the ring on my hand. He must have been nervous...it took him a few tries to get the camera on the right setting.



And that is our wonderful engagement story!

We thoroughly enjoyed the rest of our visit in Alaska, pictures of which I will post some other time...when I have less homework I should be doing :)

Missoura

Here are some pictures from our recent trip to Missouri. Phil and I joined my parents there for a visit with my Great Aunts and Uncles. We had a great time, but hoo boy was it hot and humid! I didn't mind a bit when the pilot on our flight home reported gray skies and low 60's in Seattle :)

This is a view of Springfield as we flew in:


This is the sun setting across the street from Aunt Hannah and Uncle Kenneth's farm in Brighton:


Well I got me a fine wife I got me a fiddle, When the suns comin up I got cakes on the griddle, Life ain't nothin but a funny funny riddle, Thank God I'm a country boy!


Moo! My Uncle Kenneth's beloved cattle:


The big red barn on the Corbin's farm in Willard:


Got me a new boyfriend at Bass Pro:


Feeding the coi at the Japanese Walking Garden in Springfield:


The Showboat Branson Belle, ain't she a beauty?


My giddy aunts boarding the Branson Belle:


"Yes, de-ah, that's what I said...it's hotter than 700 hells in Missoura this aftah-noon and if someone doesn't bring me a refreshment I dare say I might faint"


"Lord above, I do declare I must have fainted on account of the heat!"


Aunt Hannah and Uncle Bud, my dear grandma's youngest siblings:


Great trip, wish we could have stayed longer!

Packing

The house closed on Friday and I have the key in my possession. The previous owner has until 9:00pm tonight to get the rest of her crap out, and then its all OURS! Well technically it's all Phil's, but he's being a sweetheart and sharing it with me :)

Phil is currently hiking with his college buddies in Yosemite. It's their third and final night camping in the wilderness...I bet they smell awesome.

Meanwhile, I'm alternating my time between finishing up the packing, and being addicted to my new favorite website/blog: http://www.dooce.com/. She's a stay-at-home-mom in Utah and describes motherhood in a very honest, somewhat profane way. Says what most moms are probably thinking but too afraid to admit, or too prude to talk about. And she has really flippin cute dogs.

As for the packing, it's almost done (really Phil!). I just have to tackle the kitchen, the laundry closet and pantry, and underneath my bed. And I need to buy some large garbage bags for all the towels and linens. Oh poop, gotta take down the window treatments too. Sigh...packing sucks.

Oh yeah, Spring quarter is officially over as of a week ago. Summer quarter starts next week :P Haven't got my final grades for Spring yet, but I'm pretty sure I got an A- in Project Mgmt. and...drumroll please...an A- or A in Finance! I got a 97% on my Finance Term paper, so if I did as well as I felt I did on the final exam, I totally rocked that class!

Besides school and moving, we're getting ready for a very busy summer with our family. We're going to Missouri at the end of this month to visit my Dad's side and then for the 4th of July we're heading down to my Aunt and Uncle's beach house in Lincoln City. Then Phil's Aunt and Uncle are coming sometime in July. My cousin is visiting with her baby in early August. We've got a couple weekend trips planned with friends as well. On the off-weekends I hope to get in some good hikes. There are still so many areas of Washington I want to explore...especially the Olympic peninsula.

Well I think I'm going to make the first of many trips to Wendy's this week for dinner. No plates = no cooking...perfect excuse for fast food. Don't worry though, I'll get the salad ;)

P.S. Pictures of new house to come later this week!