The Magic of Christmas!

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year!  Celebrating the birth of Jesus, gathering with friends and family and who doesn't love a few presents?

Kaileigh is so fun to watch, as although she has multiple christmases with all of her family members, she is so excited to recieve each and every gift!  Her "big gift" this year was the 

much anticipated Kit Kittredge American Girl Doll and many many many accessories!  As she has started Kindergarten and is about to turn 6, this has probably been one of the most fun years

But this year was my BEST of all!  We had many special memory making activities like making my Grandma's Butter Letter recipe, decorating cookies, visiting friends, special church services, singing songs, decorating the house, the "elf on the shelf".......... and THEN...!!!

Kelly surprised me Christmas Eve night after church with a proposal!!!  Of course I said yes, and that's as far as we've gotten in the planning since.  

Kaileigh is excited to have a step dad and is already asking when we'll have a baby (which we do not plan on).  I was in shock and although my mind has gone into woman planning mode, I am excited every time I look at him or down at my hand!!  

It's was Kai's dad's turn for Christmas Eve this year so we had gone to church with some friends and then come home, made a delicious pasta dinner, had some wine and then decided to be bad and open up presents early (then we could sleep in!)  He told me he needed to go upstairs and get mine (I'm quite a snoop!) and came down with a goofy grin.  I asked him why he looked like he was about to laugh and he just told me he wasn't laughing and handed me the box hiding behind his back.  I honestly thought it was a Godiva chocolate box to which he replied "Yes, it's a big chocolate." When I opened it I saw the jewelry box, but since he'd bought me jewelry before I was quite surprised when I opened it and there was a shiny diamond staring me in the face.  At that moment he was getting down on one knee and I asked if this meant what I thought it did!  He answered yes as I was throwing my arms around his neck!  He whispered in my ear "I love you, will you marry me?" and I nodded yes and then realized I should verbally answer and said "That was a yes!!"

There is no plan on timing (which is the first question we've been asked already) but we do know we want something very intimate and low-stress.  I'm starting a website to track and help me get it all together so I'll send that out when it's ready.  

I've been so blessed with Kaileigh in my life and now to move my family in a new direction again is such an amazing gift!! :)  I'm a very thankful & excited girl!!