Engaged: The Proposal.

***Disclaimer: This is going to be a little long and full of probably pointless details but I wanted to make sure I wrote it all down***

So for those who have not heard - Andrew & I are engaged! We are both really excited and happy! Andrew proposed last night and I, of course, said yes.

We first spent the evening with my family at my brother in law's birthday party (Happy Birthday Neil) and the original plan was to visit the temple afterwards so I could "try out my new camera". I obviously did not know Andrew had other plans for the evening... I knew a proposal was probably coming up but did not know when and where. I also had an idea that he had already talked to my dad about it, but Andrew adamantly denied having doing such any time I asked about it. He was really good about keeping everything a secret. Unfortunately, I ruined Andrew's Plan A and we did not make it to the temple last night because I always have such a hard time tearing myself away from my family and my cute nephews & niece, so we stayed a little bit longer than planned. Andrew still wanted to drive out to the temple - had I known his intentions I might have been more willing - but we wouldn't have made it there probably until around 9:30 last night and I don't know when the grounds close so I didn't want to drive over there and not be able to take pictures like I wanted. Instead I decided that we could go visit the Lake and Star Tower off of Estrella Parkway which was not too far from where we already were. These are both places I could try out my new camera and I could get some cool pictures. All the while... Andrew is trying to decide between Plan B or Plan C - lake or Star Tower. I told Andrew after the fact that he is going to be GREAT at improvising after me because I seem to mess up plans like that a lot lately. Anyways... we walked around the lake to the spot where there are pretty, lighted fountains so that I could take some pictures. I think Andrew was thinking of proposing here because he pulled out the handkerchief (I didn't know what was in it at the time - he told me it was just his handkerchief) that the ring was wrapped up in. He put it back though after he must have decided he would go with Plan C - the Star Tower.

So we headed over to the Star Tower and hiked up top. I took some really cool pictures on the way up - all Andrew's ideas- and when we were walking back down... I was sitting up on one of the walls and Andrew suggested another picture for me to take. This picture was the distraction he needed to pull out the ring... as I was focused on my picture taking, I heard something hit the ground. Yeah - he dropped the ring :) - Andrew hates that detail but I love it. I heard it hit the ground and just by the sound of it, I knew all of my suspicions were true - he was going to propose. He tried playing it off by saying it was "nothing" when I asked what had dropped... but then that is when he proposed. It was really sweet.

Pictures to tell the story:

At the birthday party, I wonder why he could be so happy. He was being a good sport and letting me take pictures of him on my new camera.

From The Proposal

The fountains at the lake. This is where Plan B would have taken place had Andrew gone that route.

From The Proposal

These pictures are awesome. These are the pictures that Andrew told me to take and try and get the "glow of Phoenix over the mountain". They turned out really good. This is from up on the Star Tower. Even though it is pretty light in these pictures - it was about 9:30 at night and really dark at the Star Tower.

From The Proposal

Another awesome picture...

From The Proposal

Here is Andrew at the Star Tower, pre-engaged. It is blurry - sorry.

From The Proposal

Here is me at the Star Tower, pre-engagement.

From The Proposal

This is the picture that Andrew had me take to "distract" me. The camera was sitting too far back on the ledge so you can see the wall that I was sitting on.

From The Proposal

Here is where I was sitting when Andrew proposed.

From The Proposal

The newly engaged, happy couple.

From The Proposal

From The Proposal

Another picture of us, blurry but I still like it.

From The Proposal