HAPPY BIRTHDAY KORY! (October 24th)

We celebrated Kory's birthday last week! It was so fun. His birthday was Friday the 24th. I wanted to do something really special for him so I decided to plan a surprise birthday party! I originally had it planned for Friday, but I found that a lot of our friends already had plans or things going on so they wouldn't be able to make it. So, I planned the party for Thursday instead (the day before Kory's actual birthday, what better way to surprise than to throw a party the day before? haha).

Things went really well all day long. That morning I took Kory to school then ran to the store to get party stuff: happy birthday plates and cups, birthday hats, birthday noise makers, and birthday streamers. Then I ran to Costco and got a chocolate birthday plate. I only had a limited amount of time before I had to get Kory from school so I ran the things over to my friend Emily's apartment for her to bring over to our apartment later. I was able to swing by the post office on campus to drop of some invitations that needed to be mailed and buy more stamps. It saved me a lot of time instead of having to run all the way to the Provo or Orem post offices. I picked up Kory for a little bit and then he had to go back to school again to take his statistics test. That gave me enough time to run to the creamery on campus and get balloons and candles, and then drop those things off at Emily's also. I ran home to shower and get ready I cleaned the apartment and did some finishing touches on the decorations. I hung up a frame with some of our engagement pictures and another french style bulletin board with pictures on it. I arranged for friends to bring all of the things I had picked up, ice cream, and root beer.

Kory and I went to work and had a normal day. As we started wrapping up and getting ready to go home I was starting to get anxious and excited. I called friends really quick to make sure that everything was running smoothly. Then the whole way home I was texting them to give them the play by play. Kory was driving and I noticed he didn't make the turn to go home. I asked why and he said he was heading straight to our Bishop's interview (which I had secretly rescheduled for later). I told him I needed to go home first so he re-directed towards home again. As we approached our door there was a skateboard sitting outside of our door and Kory stopped and looked really puzzled. He checked to make sure the door was locked...

Kory's Version:

So we're going to our interview with Bishop, and we start passing our street, and she's like "where are you going?" I reply Bishops, as in, duh, don't you know? My type-A inherited from my father was on a scheduled basis right now. She replied then that she had to go home first. Partially annoyed, I didn't ask why and just decided to go home. As I approach our apartment door there's a skateboard outside. Puzzled, I'm looking around this skateboard, and then I just say aloud, "punk kids." Then as I'm about to unlock the door, I get this gut feeling that something isn't normal inside. I immediately just think to myself, "some kids must have broken into our apartment." I check the door and it's locked. I unlock the door and open it only to satisfy my presumption, seeing something white hanging from wall to wall in front of me. "The punks TPed my apartment!" I thought to myself. Then, keep in mind this all processed within 3 seconds ... then the lights flip on and .. "SURPRISE!" ..... yes, I was surprised. 1. who's in my house 2. how'd you get in here 3. why are you here? ... "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Oh, yeah, it's my birthday! HA! I was totally not expecting anything to happen walking into my house that night. Ana Lee was successful with her surprise intentions. My next issue ... what do you say to your guests at a surprise birthday ...? Best I could come up with was "thanks for coming!" hahaha.

It was so fun throwing a surprise party or Kory! I loved it. After everyone had some cake and ice cream we gathered in the living room and talked for a while. Then we played the game where everyone took a turn saying something that they love about Kory. There were so many wonderful things said. Kory is one of those people that others really enjoy, admire, and grow to love. It was very apartment that his friends think very highly of him.










On Kory's real brithday. I took him to Tucanos for lunch, it was a special occasion! :) We had a lot of fun.





Well Kory, I just want you to know that I love you very much. I am so proud of you and I am continuously amazing by you. I hope that you had a wonderful birthday, and that I am able to pull off many more surprises in our future :) Happy Birthday!

Some Engagement Pictures

Kory and I had SO MUCH FUN taking our engagement pictures! First we went to downtown Salt Lake. Then to the place where they got the granite for the Salt Lake temple. Then we went to Nevada, haha yes we did, to go to the Salt Flats! It was awesome! So yes, all of these pictures to see are totally and 100% real. Enjoy!









Our first date started as an errand to the airport. Since then we have had many hello's and goodbye's at the airport.

THE PROPOSAL!!!

Ok, ok, I know I am super late writing this blog...but better late than never right!?

On October 1st Kory officially proposed to me! As many of you know, we have been engaged to be married since July but because I was in Europe, all of the traveling home from Virginia, trying to find married housing, getting started with school, etc.. . .We did not have time to get a ring and do that whole official proposal thing haha.

I went to lunch with my really good friend Emily that day. We went to Zupas (if you haven't tried it next time you are in Provo you HAVE to go!). After lunch Emily dropped me off at home, as I was walking to the door I noticed a note on my car that read, "You've Got A Clue! (Open me up! I am time sensitive.)". I opened the note:

Here's a game that you'll want to play,
All you must do is follow what I say.

Now you must travel from spot to spot,
And search for clues and give them thought.

Each place has a clue that'll show you the way,
So let's begin without any more delay.

Your first clue is a number,
Five should give it away.
But if that's not so helpful,
Then 5th floor's where I stay.

Go seek out your next clue...
Freebie Hint: (1340 N 200 W)

Kory and I met through an apartment complex called Alpine Village. I lived there fall semester then moved out for winter when Kory moved in. But I was still over there every day hanging out with all of my close friends. So we met there. After we started dating we spent a lot of time in his apartment (or mine). I found clue #2 on his old apartment door.

Good job you succeeded,
You found your first clue.
But here is gets tough,
So here's number two.

It was our first "date,"
No not the good food.
But it included a wheel,
A gift card, and tickets for two.

Go seek out your next clue...
P.S. When you arrive, your clue is with the ticket attendant.

Our first "date" started out as running errands. Then suddenly he was taking me to California Pizza Kitchen for dinner, then we went to the car dealership, then the movies (clue #2), then a dance party, then watched a movie, then talked about religion forever...you get the point, we totally clicked! Then we hung out every single day after that.

I went to the ticket booth and got my clue then hurried to my car to read it.

So far so good,
You've made it this far.
But can you continue
And navigate your car?

The next clue is for sure
listed as a favorite place.
It's got horses out front
And inside good tastes.

PF Changs! As most of you already know PF Changs is kind of "our restaurant." It is a special place for us. I took Kory there the first time I took him on a date (he HAD been there before, to correct a previous blog where I was thinking he hadn't). Then we ended up going there several times on special occasions. On my way to PF Changs I was beginning to think, "How many of these do I have to do!?" I called my friend Emily to ask, haha.

I got my clue from the hostess.

Confirm 7:30
With the hostess here.
Then we'll move on
So lend me your ear.

The pursuit continues,
We're far from done.
Okay maybe we're not,
But that's half the fun.

The next place to go
Is unique among all.
It's a "center" for time,
In its tower so tall.

Kory sent me back to the OTHER side of town AGAIN, haha, to a clock tower at the intersection of University Ave and Center St. I didn't know exactly where it was, so I was slightly confused at first. But then when I got there, I found a note on the door below the tower which told me to wait there and think about what a clock represented.

I sat on a nearby bench and waited a minute or two. It felt like forever! Then Kory came around from behind me dressed ever so classy. He looked so great. We both smiled at each other, he sat next to me and neither of us could stop smiling. We shared a couple of small kisses, but mostly kept staring in each other's eyes and smiling. He asked me what my answer to his question was. I said, "a clock represents time." I think he was hoping that I would go a little bit more in depth about my conclusion, but I was just anxious to hear what HE had to say!

He paused for a moment, then started to talk about how the problem with a clock is that it limits time. The thing about eternity is that it is limitless. And how he wanted to love me for time and all eternity. He talked about how we both already knew that we had made the decision to be married. But that he wanted to ask... *grabs right hand, kneels on one knee in front of me*... Ana Lee, *I quickly pull my right hand out of his and switch is to my left, we both smile and laugh* ..."will you marry me?" YESSSS!!!!! (I loved the part where he grabbed my right hand because it made it real to me, and showed me that Kory was just as anixious as I was!).

After he put the ring on my finger we sat on the bench below the clock tower in the middle of Provo, UT and just held hands and smiled and exchanged little kisses. It was such a happy moment, everything felt perfect. I love Kory so much! He is so romantic. It was a wonderful proposal because it highlighted many things that are significant to us and took me on a little journey through our relationship.





That night we went to our LDS Marriage and Family class that we are taking together. Then after class we went to PF Changs for our celebration dinner. We went to our special place, had a special dinner, and then were surprised with a special desert! Kory had arranged with the manager to do something special for us. They came our with a super cute plate that had "Congrats" written in rasberry sauce and then fruit along the outside rim. Then it had two chocolate shooter deserts. It was such a wonderful treat! I took a picture!



Then when we had the waitress take our picture with our cute little desert I tilted the plate up so you could read congrats. But the chocolate shooters slid down the plate and ruined "Congrats!" I was so bummed! Good thing I got the picture of just the plate first, haha.



Overall, it was an absolutely amazing day spent with my absolutely amazing fiance! I am so excited to marry Kory in the temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and be sealed together for time AND all of eternity. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for families to be sealed together forever, not just until "death do us part." Heavenly Father loves us, and he wants us to be happy and return with our families to live with Him again. If you want to know more about the plan of happiness there are two gentleman in a white shirt with the first name "Elder" that would love to tell you all about it! Click here to learn more.