super models?

a few saturdays ago, christian and i made our way to the slc library. but not to read. we decided to try our hand at modeling. i had no idea we were both so photogenic. (wink, wink...) i think having such an inspired photographer behind the lense might have had something to do with it.

after getting all romantic at the library, we did a quick wardrobe change and headed up millcreek canyon. while there, our toes froze, but our hearts were warm. sigh...

before the above mentioned event took place we were both a little nervous, and not looking forward to getting our engagement pictures taken. i didn't have any polished new outfits to wear. i tried shopping for a new shirt, or jeans, or something - but to no avail. in fact, the night before, christian and i were rummaging through our closets trying to find outfits that would coordinate, but weren't too mitchy matchy. turns out, we have a few that work well together.

kim hansen did a fantastic job. she brought her husband (and my cousin) nate along. he was entertaining and made us laugh a lot. kim was a dream to work with. at the end of "our shoot" christian and i were pleasantly surprised at the delightful time we had getting our pictures taken. it was so fun that, at this point, i am even considering a modeling career. i'll let you know how it pans out.

**for a preview of the photos, check out kim's blog:

http://kimberhansen.blogspot.com/

p.s. i told you she's good.

dichotomy of depth

i was flying back from dallas. i was getting bored and restless. so, i picked up the airline magazine and started reading. i read the following:

"you can't have depths without surfaces. it's impossible. and sometimes surfaces are all we have to go by."

interesting.

when i got home from my mission, i was so bothered by the fact that there was so much superficiality in my social interactions. meeting new people at work, school and parties seemed so lame. i was getting sick of the "first date" questions - where are you from? what's your major? what is your favorite color? - all while i'm chewing gum and twirling my hair. i wanted something deeper and more meaningful. the interesting thing - i see now what the quotation above means. we have to be invested enough in the surface level to get any deeper. if there is something at the surface that engrosses us, we'll make the time and investment to dig deeper.

i've really come to appreciate the time and investment the relationships in my life have taken.

surprise!

we're engaged! i couldn't be happier. below is a picture of me and christian right after it happened. we didn't have a camera, so we just used the good old phone camera. he proposed on valentine's day - which i really didn't suspect. especially after he had already given me the taylor swift album and official tour book as a valentine's gift that morning. (i'm embarrassed to admit it, but i like taylor swift...eek! - don't get mad kate! christian is the first person i admitted this too - so the gift was extra meaningful.) we stayed over in logan the night before, for my dad's birthday. we got ready for church at my parent's house and when we pulled out of my parent's subdivision, christian said, "let's go to the temple to see where they are going to take our pictures." at that point, i knew what was going on. christian is the kind of guy who could care less where we got pictures taken. (which, by the way, i love about him.) i just starting jabbing away like a little jabber box. it was all just a bunch of nervous talk and fluff. i think that subconsciously, i didn't want him to think i knew what was going on. we got to the temple and drove around it. i showed him where all the couples get wedding shots. then, he pulled up to the front in the drive. the gate was closed, so he just pulled up as far as he could. we looked at the temple for a minute and talked about how pretty it is. then he said, "how about we get out of the car." that was followed by a deep breath and ear-to-ear smile by me. we got out. he put his arm around me and we walked for a minute. he started saying really nice things. i'll spare you the details of all of that. then, he fished around in his jacket pocket, and pulled out the ring. he asked me to marry him, and i said yes!



it was such a bright, sunny day. the temperature was just right. i just felt at peace. what a great way to start it all out.

later that day, we got an officially "engagement day shot". we are both really excited. we are also both really grateful that we have so many wonderful people who love and support us in this new phase of our lives. there it is, our engagement story...

'twas the season - about a month ago

better late than never, righ? so, here is a random sampling of christmas pictures from both of the L-towns - littleton and logan. christian and i spent about 10 days in littleton with his family. then, after christmas we headed to logan to spend some time with my mom and dad.

santa left gifts found us in logan too!

grandpa and grandma sabey are as wonderful as they look!


christian and his brother made an amazing italian christmas dinner for the sabey family - gourmet cooking for 30. he knows what he is doing!



kids always make christmas more fun! soren and swede were no exception.

christian gave me themed gifts - things to keep me warm! i love my leopard skin snuggy. i feel so attractive in it! and, i was on the computer doing a little web cam with the fam. it was so much fun to get to see them on christmas day.

look at those pearly whites and lovely locks! two of the many reasons i like him so much.

santa brought us some lovely jingle bell earrings.

look mom -the wrapping paper matched my pajamas and earrings!

christmas eve at the lacouture's

christian making more italian delicacies.

a common occurence - the boys in the kitchen, cooking up delectable dinners.

what can i say, it was quite a christmas!

breckenridge

i don't really feel like writing much today, but i thought i'd share some pictures. we stayed one night in breckenridge over the christmas break. it was like walking in a winterwonderland.*

*see top picture.

7 months

as of yesterday, christian and i have been dating for seven months - which i think counts as a noteworthy event. the picture below is documentation of our six month dating anniversary - nov. 6, 2009 - one month ago. a lot going on for dating six months, right? i mean, balloons, flowers, AND a cake? there is a funny story to it all. you might want to ask me about it sometime. i'll give you a little teaser - the balloons are compliments of the lovely kate gildea, the cake is because christian is one of the funniest guys i know and the flowers are just because christian sabey treats me like every girl ought to be treated. happy anniversary to us!

i found something for the christmas wish list...

can you imagine how fast i will be able to ride my bike with this contraption strapped to my back?