Over the Hill

Kevin's 25 birthday was Wednesday and we went to Disneyland to celebrate. One of my friends asked "Don't you guys ever just do normal stuff? Like go out to dinner?" No not really, either we're at Disneyland or we're at home and Kevin is taking a nap in my lap. That's what we do. It was a lot of fun, Kevin got a 'Happy Birthday' button and I got a 'Just Engaged' one. I was hoping to soak up the compliments but it turns out Disney gives out a ton of buttons. 'My 1st visit,' 'Honorary Citizen,' 'I'm celebrating,' so no one really noticed mine. I think Disneyland should be a little more strict with their buttons, I only got one lousy congrats and I think they might have been talking to someone else...

The Birthday Boy/Senior Citizen.

Took 2 people, 1 family, 1 "ah to be young and in love" and 4 tries to get this.

I tried to get Kevin to do a crazy pose in front of the balloons. This is him complaining.

So I yelled "One...two...three!!!" and this is what he came up with. Hands in the pocket...

Just Engaged :) at least the people who gave us the buttons were excited.

My favorite picture ever. How did I get him?? Score.

A preview of September 12, 2009 (SAVE THE DATE) - Kevin

Before returning home after dropping of Nathan and Chelsea mid Saturday evening, we went to the San Diego temple. The sun was just about gone but there was still enough daylight through the clouds to get some shots of the temple with the lights on.

Erin had only ever seen the San Diego temple from the freeway. When these photos were taken, we weren't engaged yet, so she didn't know that I had already called and reserved a date to get married here in about five months. She fell in love with beauty of it. Meanwhile, I was observing how encaptivating she was on the temple grounds and could tell that she really wanted to go inside someday.

Of course we took a few shots and Juan and Audrey were so patient. They have been a model example to me for a while now though they would never admit it. I appreciate the true friends they are and all the fun we have together.

Catch Up: San Diego Spring Break - Kevin

My Spring break was consumed working most of the time and spending one day in Los Angeles picking out Erin's engagement ring. Luckily, our friends had planned a weekend for us to go down and spend the weekend at their place in San Diego. Juan and Audrey and Erin and myself, all meet up in the morning on a Friday. After a few stops along the way we eventually got down to Nathan's apartment in La Jolla. We spent Friday night bbq'in some carne asada and then hit up the spa after. Katie and Ryan also joined us for the fun. At some point, I some how ended up trading shorts with Erin. More pictures may come later...

Saturday morning we kind of let slip away from us. We were up and eating breakfast by around 10 or so. Audrey made some amazing crepes and of course we discovered that peanut butter and bananas was a hit for a breakfast treat. We would need all the sugar we could for the day that was about to be ahead of us.

First it was off to check out La Jolla Cove. We soon discovered that parking is terrible and we went on to our next destination of Balboa Park. We found lots to do there and just walked around a little in the mid afternoon sun.

Erin always finds a way to make me laugh. Though sometimes she just tickles.

Piggybacks. One of our favorites.

The "marrieds" and The "pregos" leading the way.

We ended up in Old Town San Diego for dinner. Across the street was the Whaley House. Supposedly it is haunted as it appeared on one of Erin's favorite shows, Ghost Hunters.

The Engagement-Erin's Story

About 2 months ago Kevin said he had a surprise for me and I had the feeling he might be planning on proposing (of course I would never guess that out loud, just in case it turned out to be a build a bear or something). Unfortunately, for him, he started giving me clues about 2 months in advance, and I sometimes struggle with patience. So it was 2 months filled with questions pretty much everyday but he stayed strong. I'm surprised, I can be pretty annoying when I want to find something out.

On April 16th my dad woke me up around 6:50am. He asked me if I was awake and since it was my spring break there's no way I'd be up till at least 9 (ok more like 10:30...) He said there was something I needed to see. I walked to my front door half asleep and saw a little yellow brick road with ruby slippers. I definitely woke up after that.



There were 2 notes directing me to go to the place where we first kissed. I was almost 100% this was it. You'd think since I had a feeling he was going to propose I'd brush my hair and put on some makeup but instead I jumped straight into my car and left.



I got a little lost on the way which ruined the magic a tiny bit but I finally made it. I tried to take a short cut and go up the hill through the grass but Ryan came out of a bush and told me to stay on the path.



When I got to the top and there was another yellow brick road but this one had Kevin at the end of it. For some reason I was extremely nervous and all I wanted to do was hug him. After a few minutes of that he asked if I was ready and told me to step back. I don't know why I was so nervous, I had the easy job.



He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him and I said yes. Then Ryan and Kevin's dad emerged and took some more pictures, it was so nice they could be a part of it and they were so sweet to help with everything.


My "Ruby Slippers"


Kevin who? :)



Kevin's dad accused me of looking at my ring while hugging Kevin right after he asked, I denied this but then found a picture that actually caught me in the act. Busted.



The yellow brick road was perfect, I've always loved The Wizard of Oz so it was so amazing that Kevin incorporated it. I'm beyond excited. Kevin is everything I could ever want and so much more. I really, really am the luckiest girl and I can't wait to spend forever with him.

The Engagement - Kevin's version

On Wednesday April 15, I had picked up the ring in Los Angeles and brought it home. All night I kept waking up and looking and it. For some reason having it in possesion builds a lot of pressure and anxiety.

On Thursday morning, I got my dad and Ryan Stouvenel to help me make two yellow brick roads. One in front of Erin's house and one at the spot where we had our first kiss.

Erin's Dad had to wake her up to go look at the front porch at 6:30 in the morning. I don't know how she did, because apparently she flew by everything and somehow knew to head straight for the park leaving the slippers and notes behind.

In the process though, she got lost a few times. I had to call her and break the surprise, but she was pretty excited and needed some help with her bearings that early in the morning. Meanwhile, it was cold and I was becoming more and more nervous the longer I had to wait.

By the time she arrived, she was still pretty excited. Ryan had to pop out of a bush and point the path for her to follow. At first, Erin wouldn't stop hugging and crying. Eventually I was able to get down on one knee.

As you can tell, she said YES. And I was pretty excited. Words cannot express the love I have for her and what she means to me.

I didn't want to hog all of the good pictures because Erin wants to post some too. So check back often as this will now be the Kevin and Erin Durr family blog.