I'm Engaged!!!

It’s true, Jim and I are sooo excited and can’t wait to build a life together. For people who have been engaged you know what I’m talking about, for those not engaged you have this to look forward to, but the past week has been so overwhelming and exciting!

So, the good part – how it happened…

We did our usual Thursday night filled with softball, friends, Chili and a few beers outside enjoying the weather. Jim was very adamant about me coming home early so I thought I was in trouble. To my surprise, I came home and walked in and on the bed were our suitcases. Jim told me we were going somewhere but it was a surprise and I wouldn’t find out until we got to the airport. So he told me what to pack and we were leaving in less than 10 hours – needless to say I didn’t sleep very much.

I didn’t know we were going to Washington D.C until we got to the gate at the airport. I was thrilled, I had never been and had a hunch that he might be popping the question! As we boarded the plane Jim gave me an itinerary for the weekend, complete with tourist activities, lunch, dinner and breakfast places, free time and a morning of pampering for me Sunday. He informed me he had booked a room at the W Hotel and even upgraded so we could overlook the White House.

Our room was amazing! We could see then snipers on top of the White house we were so close. We also overlooked the United States Treasury building. I’m such an idiot for not taking pictures of the room – I’m mad at myself for that now. Our first stop was to head over to the White House. A friend of ours works for Obama and gave us a heads up that Marine 1 would be landing shortly after we arrived. So we headed over and camped out. Having never been to Washington D.C I was amazed at how beautiful the city is. Everything was well kept, blooming and very friendly. Watching marine 1 land on the White House lawn was breathtaking, it gave me chills and made me very proud to be American and live in a free country. I obsessed about this for the first 4 hours we walked around.

After this we visited some spots where Jim lived when he was in D.C. We went to Georgetown for dinner and out on the town – all the hot spots where Jim used to party back in the day. We woke up Saturday morning, with a slight hangover, ate breakfast at the W Hotel and the got our bikes for a long bike ride along the Potomac River. Our plan was to bike all the way to Vernon Manner, but discovered that it was way further than the lady had told us – 32 miles total. After about 20 miles in the 90 degree weather we decided to call it quits! I wasn’t feeling too hot because of the heat and lack of food so we decided to take it easy in the room.

While back at the room, Jim went downstairs to “check on our dinner reservations” and I took it easy. I didn’t realize he was gone so long since I didn’t feel well, but apparently it took a long time to get the ring out of the vault downstairs. See, Jim had the ring shipped there so that he didn’t have to carry it on the plane and risk me finding it. Once he finally got the ring he came back to the room and it was burning a hole in his pocket.

I could sense he was anxious so got up to do something and that’s when he got down on his knee and proposed. I won’t share all the intimate details, but it was very sweet and it took me about two seconds to say yes! So we called our family and shared the great news. Then up to the rooftop of the W Hotel to celebrate with champagne and each other (this is where the photos are taken from). We were so thrilled and excited it was the best night. We went to a celebratory dinner at Capitol Grill and then out for awhile but were so beat we headed back to the room and crashed out.

I woke up Sunday morning thrilled, enjoyed my massage and paraffin treatment Jim gave me and then we went out and walked around the town some more. Went to the National Archives, saw the Constitution, Air and Science Museum, American History Museum and much more. We had the best weekend and are so happy to begin to build a life together.

The past week has really been a whirlwind, I can’t even tell you what I did last Monday. Between work, seeing people, planning a party for our friends and sports it flew by. I’m sure that the upcoming weeks are going to be even more hectic as we begin to plan. I’m very much looking forward to our wedding and most importantly building a future, children and all that comes with it!

In case you are wondering, Chili is definetely a bridesmaid, see the picture to the right when I asked her - she's thrilled!