thanksgiving break

Knowing that he was going to propose,
before he came home for break

Evan set up an engagement/save-the-date session with Melody
from Carpenter Photography and Design to be formal
but also,
Evan's former fourth grade teacher, former cross-country coach for both
Evan and Graham, friend of the family and so much more
which I will expound on in a future blog post ;)

(the following pictures were taken by me with my iphone)

It was a snowy cold morning but they made the most of it!

If you look in the background on the water you can see all of the ducks...hundreds of them!

It was like The Notebook! ha!

Enjoy just a few shots that I took...I can't wait to get the REAL ones!

The next day was Thanksgiving with Todd's family.

I absolutely love going to this Thanksgiving!!

There were 139 family members this year.

That doesn't even include everyone!

The food table stretched from one end of the gym to the other.

It's a pitch-in and the best food ever!

The "kids" side of the table!

Ashley seemed to fit right in!

(just ignore Evan's face...there's always one! ha!)

It can be a little overwhelming at first but "newbies" always get used to it.

Welcome to the "Bane" side of the family, Ashley!!

 So, some of my favs and I decided to get a sweet picture...
Todd photo bombed and I thought that he pinched me but NO,
It was Gretchen who btw, was trying to blame it on him!!

But we finally got our picture :)

The next day this little elf decorated the outside with Christmas lights!!

He has always been the one to help me when it comes to outdoor lighting.

He loves it...the more the better!

He puts Christmas music on his phone, reminisces about Christmas' of past and always makes me laugh!

It is a memory that I will cherish forever :)

Great job, Graham!!

The next day Todd, Evan, Ashley and her Dad all went to
pick up her new car!
Her old car blew up right before break so now she has a nice new
reliable car!

It is so cute and sporty!

And speaking of cars...

Shelby got her license and drove over in her own car!!!!

I really hope that this means that we will be seeing more of you :)

It was a crazy busy Thanksgiving Break...we have so much for which to be thankful!

the proposal and engagement party

The last time these two were together we were at Evan's ring ceremony.

No one knew then that very soon there would be another ring ceremony!

Evan and Ashley have been best friends since the seventh grade.  

They were never boyfriend/girlfriend. 

However, they were each others dates 

for the Homecoming Dance their senior year.

They went off to college and didn't see each other until late July this past summer.

Suddenly they were inseparable!

I have never seen my son so happy :)

They both will be graduating from college this Spring. 

Evan from The Citadel and Ashley from Purdue.

Evan will be headed to Law School in the Fall and didn't want to go without his Ashley...

SOOO,

THEY'RE GETTING MARRIED!!

So, first things first...

ask her Dad and get the ring!

Evan had the ring sent to Pendleton and when we went to pick him up

at the airport for Thanksgiving break we were to bring it with us.

Ashley spent the night with us before Evan was due home.

She wanted to go and get her nails done and I thought,

"Great idea!" since I knew lots of pictures were going to be taken of the ring.

I took this picture from across the salon.

She has no idea that her whole world is about to be "rocked"!

She waited very patiently for Evan to arrive.

She was so excited and so was I!

 Here he comes!

 All I know is that lady better move out of the way! ha!

 He's flying around the corner...

Now he see's her!

BTW...look at the sign on the wall behind him!

Perfect!

I think that Ashley will think he rocks after she see's hers :)

Ok, so...

my instructions were to put the ring in his bag, in the open pocket, that he throws on the floor while he is hugging Ashley. Simple. Right?!

 Bag is off shoulder...

 ...bag is on the floor

 hug is happening now...

 momma swoops in for the drop off...

 yep, they're still hugging and I'm still trying to get the ring out

of the wrong pocket...

 what is happening, where is it...!!!

 Oh my gosh! I'm getting it...keep hugging!

Ok, it's in this pocket!

 Finally, I'm putting the ring in the bag!

 Hugging is almost over...she's gonna see me!

What am I talking about, she doesn't even know that I'm around! 

Whew! Thank goodness!!

There aren't any pictures of Evan getting the ring out because he was supposed to:

 chat a little, take a few pictures and then act like he was going to get his luggage and then stop as if to look in his bag for something that he forgot and then pull out the ring and propose.

But, he couldn't wait any longer!

She was shaking so hard! 

Oh, and she said YES!!

Poor Evan, he was so tired!

He had been up for 24 hours at this point!

Reliving the moment!

Some people have asked if people clapped after she said yes. 

But, as you can see we never left the corner and I'm not sure anyone even saw it.

It was kinda nice that it was so private in such a public place.

After looking at the ring for awhile, since Evan hadn't seen it yet either...

...they were off to get Evan's luggage.

Evan had another surprise for Ashely that evening...

 a surprise engagement party!

Evan and Ashley...this party is for you!

Later that evening Ashley's mother, father, brother, and grandparents joined our family at our house for an Italian feast that Tony fixed!

 (homemade noodles in the lasagna and three different homemade breads)

(Karen and Tony)

I will stop right here and say that when I told Tony that Evan was wanting a surprise engagement party he automatically volunteered to make dinner! 

He is the best chef, friend, "brother", "uncle T" anyone could ask for!

And Tom and Karen said that they were doing desserts and they wouldn't here of me telling them no!

What a blessing these friends, who are more like family, are and always will be to us!

Anyway, 

(Andrew Hatheway)

We also invited Mr. Hatheway~

Evan and Ashley's substitute teacher throughout middle school and HS~

because he is going to marry them on 

AUGUST 2, 2014!

I was so happy that my sister-in-law and nieces were able to be here.

She had gotten tickets clear back in June to surprise Mammy...who knew there was going to be an engagement party!

God is so Good :)

Also, Alan and Kiely weren't supposed to be here and that worked out as well!!

Evan was soooo happy!

My sweet friends and neighbors Tom and Karen!

What would I do without the both of you!!

Ashley's family in the top two pictures.

What a sweet family!

Her Momma brought these beautiful roses :)

It was such a lovely evening!

And now I only have one more thing to say...

IT'S A GIRL!!!

Welcome to our family, sweet Ashley!

God could not have hand picked a more suitable wife-to-be for our son, sister for Graham and 

DAUGHTER for Papa and I!

WE all love you so much! 

We look forward to all of the excitement that goes into planning a wedding and for all the plans that God has in store for you and Evan in the future.

Congratulations, Son!

May your marriage be blessed by God

and may you make Ashley as happy as your father has made me for 27 years!