The Proposal

Saturday July 11 was probably the best day of my life up to this point! I could keep this post short or I could give all the details...I'm going to give all the details! The day started like any other Saturday. Ben's niece Becca got baptized so we went to that at 4:00.  My family went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house then we all met for dinner at Little America. Ben and I got there first and were lucky enough to see President Monson and his wife walking in. Ben asked him how he was and he said I'm doing just right. I thought that was cute. After dinner I asked Jess to take some pictures of Ben and me around Little America. Neither of us love having our pictures taken so we don't have nearly enough pictures together.  After dinner we went to my house and chatted with my family. Earlier in the week Ben told me he ran into a friend who wanted to meet me but was leaving on Sunday so we had to go visit Saturday night. He said he wanted to go later in the evening so we didn't have to stay too long. So about 8:30 we left my house. As we were driving Ben said he needed to call and tell them we were on our way. (He really called Jess). They said they weren't home yet but we could go up on the hill on their property and hang out and wait. Their son just happened to have some stuff set up from the night before with his girlfriend. So we drove up the dirt road to the top of Bountiful. When we got there Ben told me to close my eyes so he could see what was set up. When I opened my eyes there was a big bean bag with rose petals all over it. I said wow that's pretty great this stayed so nice over night! I was TOTALLY oblivious to what was going on. Ben covered his tracks really well. So we sat on the bean bag and watched the sunset. Ben said he had a great idea. He went and turned on some music and brought his laptop over. Ben proceeded to show me a slide show with excerpts from his journal. It started when we were in 7th grade and went up until that moment, skipping a few years of course. Sitting on the top of the mountain, the sun setting, soft music playing, reading such nice things, snuggling with the man I love, I didn't think the night could get any better. (I was still oblivious in case you are wondering) The next thing I know the man of my dreams is on his knee in the dirt with my dream ring asking me to marry him. I said of course I'll marry you! After he put the ring on my finger he told me all the things he loves about me and so much more. On the way back to my house he took a detour. Last week he took my dad to lunch to pop the question to him. My dad, and everyone else, loves Ben so I knew his answer would be yes. While they were talking my dad asked Ben to do him a favor. He asked him to take me to the cemetery after he proposed so I could share it with my mom. So instead of going straight home to share the news with the rest of the family, I got to spend some time with Ben at the cemetery where I always think of my mom. I had so many emotions. It was an amazing night. It was a perfect night. It was a perfect proposal. I can't wait to marry my perfect boy. I can hardly wait until October 10, 2009 when I say yes and become Kristy Hodgkinson...

The view

Me showing off the ring, Ben looking like he's the man.

How cute is he!

Not the best night pictures but you get the idea.

A very large picture of my ring. 

The ones I took on my hand just didn't do it justice.

Lucky

And just for the record, this is post 100! Who doesn't love to blog...

I'm Happy

That about covers it

I'm ready...

This will be me one week from today...I'm so ready!

Tolman Reunion #19

19 years of family reunions in Star Valley Wyoming with my mom's side of the family. Wow. I can't believe how time flies. This year was a little different than most. We've never had so much rain. 

Day 1 - Drive to cabin with dad. POURED rain the whole way. Stuck in construction and an accident. Took 2 extra hours to get to the cabin.

Day 2 - Rain rain rain. No campfire. Hotdogs on BBQ instead. Jason and Meridith and Jess arrived late due to Jason contracting the swine flu.

Day 3 - No rain but a bit chilly. Golf. Swim. Family fear factor.

Day 4 - Rain. Jackson Hole.

Day 5 - Left cabin at 7 AM. Happy Fathers Day!

Day 1-5 Missed my Ben

The best part about the rain is what comes afterwards.

Cady & Laci in the back of grampas truck.

What do kids do in the rain? Make "soup" for the dogs.

Carson "cleaning".

Me and Jess at the park.

Not my ring :(

It all started with these two...

Happy Fathers Day to the Best

How can I say thank you for all of the things my dad has done for me. I could write and write and write. I was looking through pictures and found so many with my dad and the many things we have done together. My dad is a provider, an example, a father and above all a friend. I can honestly say my dad is one of my best friends. I love him so much and hope he has an amazing fathers day. I love you dad!

in front of our property for our new cabin

Quincy Market in Boston

cruising in the Caribbean one of his favorite things to do

fish and chips on the ruby princess

cruising

getting safety instructions on our first cruise

free drink night on the ruby princess

glad they had non-alcoholic...

cruising

the Proud Cut in Cody WY has my dads favorite hamburgers

the Proud Cut

Martina McBride concert

Cinnamon Bread

Last night I made 41 loaves of cinnamon bread to give to my parent volunteers at school. "Thanks for cinna BURTSTING into my class and RISING to the occasion to make this year wonderful!" Clever right!? I really did have some amazing parents who helped so much this year. If you have children in elementary school whose teacher asks for volunteers, DO IT! It's so much fun for kids to have their parents in the class and the teacher appreciates it more than you'll ever know.

It never gets old

Thanks Ben!

Apple Bottom Jeans

I must say I laughed really hard...probably because I do a dance to this song that is very, very comparable. 

Love Story

I love this SO much...