BUSY Weekend

My mini-vacation is almost over :( It was GREAT while it lasted. Aaron and I were able to get a lot accomplished over the weekend and had a fabulous time enjoying each other and the Christmas season!

Thursday morning my mom, Michelle (Bridesmaid), Gracie, and I went to pick out flowers for the wedding. It was so much fun! I knew exactly what I wanted and even had pictures to show. Our wedding consultant was so excited and thankful for making her job so easy! We had so much fun. As for the flowers, here is a hint: LOTS of Hydrangeas and of course white and green :)

Aaron's office Christmas party on Thursday night went really well. It was a little awkward at first, as I'm sure any office party is, but everyone there was really nice! Aaron and I didn't participate in the Dirty Santa game, but quickly wished we had when tickets to the Arkansas-Oklahoma basketball game went up for grabs.

Our lunch date with our photographers on Friday was so much fun! They are both super nice and were so easy to talk to. They brought some of their custom designed albums for us to look at. Oh my goodness! They were gorgeous! I immediately fell in love! We, also, talked a little bit about possible times for Engagement pictures (January or February) and what the actually wedding day would be like. It all sounds so wonderful!

Friday night we went to eat at Catfish Hole and to see the new movie 'Yes Man' with two of Aaron's groomsmen. Saturday consisted of LOTS of last minute shopping and being out with the Christmas mob. Saturday night we went and watched the Razorback basketball game, which we won!

I came home on Sunday after much more shopping. We both hate to leave eachother, but at least he will be home either Tuesday or Wednesday for Christmas! We are so excited to get to spend a decent amount of time in Benton together with both of our families. A little side note: On Sunday, our Engagement announcement was in the Benton Courier! Here's a little look at it:

Its hard to read the text in the picture, so here is what it says:

"James and Janet Langley of Benton announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Amanda Michelle Langley, to Aaron Ray Hilborn. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Harvey and Lenora Langley and Joyce Fullington and the late Nyle Fullington, all of Benton. She is a 2003 graduate of Benton High School and a 2007 graduate of Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. The prospective bridegroom is the son of Alan and Karen Hilborn of Benton. He is the grandson of Stanley and Dorothy Hilborn of Malvern and Jack and Mattie Ramsey of Benton. He is a 2002 graduate of Benton High School and a 2006 graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in biological engineering. The wedding is scheduled for 7 p.m. July 24 at First Baptist Church in Benton."

WE ARE SO EXCITED!

Mini-Vacay

Tomorrow I get to start my mini-vacation! I was lucky enough to be scheduled off on Friday and Monday. Then, on top of that, I was given the day off tomorrow! I'll give you one guess as to what will consume the time I have off....

1. Aaron Ray

2. The Wedding

I have a few appointments scheduled tomorrow with florists and then one with our Wedding Coordinator, Amber. We are so excited to have her help! She sells the cutes little outfits for little girls! After all of my appointments, I get to drive up to Fayetteville.

On Friday, Aaron and I have a lunch date with our amazing photographer! We were so lucky Benfield Photography was available in the summer and absolutely can't wait to meet Dale. He and Meridith are in the middle of preparing for The Benny Awards where they chose lots of their photographs and put them into categories: Leading Lady, Best Kiss, Best Comedy, Best Dress, etc. Then everyone can go and vote on their favorite photograph from each category. I think its a great idea and it gives me another chance to drool over their awesome work.

The rest of the weekend Aaron and I get to finish up our Christmas shopping. I never wait this late to buy gifts!

Last Saturday my parents, sister (Matron Of Honor), niece, and BFF Haley (MOH) went with me dress shopping. They were such a big help and it meant the world to me that my dad went! I am the biggest daddy's girl on the planet! I am very happy to announce that we were VERY successful and I am in love with the dress I chose! I can't wait for Aaron to see me in it! I, also, found the Bridesmaids' dresses: strapless, black, CUTE. Then, my little Goose, Gracie, tried on the most precious Flower Girl dress I have ever seen. She is adorable in it and her sister will be too! Here's the two little turkey's in all their glory!

Aaron is holding Gracie, almost 5, and I am holding Ashley, 7. We love them! Their dresses are white, sleeveless satin on the upper body with a tulle, fluffy skirt. They will be wearing black sashes to tie in with the White, Black, with a touch of Green theme!

...Isn't that right, Aaron?...I'm sure he has no clue about the colors! For all he knows its poop brown! He THINKS since he did such a good job with the proposal/engagement weekend that he is 'done'. I guess I'll let him enjoy the thought of being 'done' for a little while longer :) We have already discovered that he can't pick out china or everyday dishes! Isn't that right, babe! I might be better off letting him be 'done' :)

Giving In!

I've officially given in to the blogging world and all of its temptations! Aaron will just simply be along for the ride and, more than likely, give me a hard time for talking endlessly about the wedding. Does he realize I've been dreaming of such a day since...birth?


As I am creating this first entry, (lots of pressure by the way!) I am watching this:

Aaron and I absolutely love Christmas time and this is one of our favorite things to watch every year, over and over. We love it so much that Aaron recently bought a Charlie Brown Holiday Set! I was so excited. Since we are 3 hours apart we don't usually get to watch everything we would like to watch together. Now we get to enjoy our holiday cartoon anytime we want! I love the opening song when all the kids are ice skating!

The Proposal! Aaron proposed on November 28th, 2008, the day after Thanksgiving. He completely took me by surprise and it couldn't have been more perfect! On Black Friday, Aaron and I took off to Little Rock to go to the LSU game. If anyone didn't know, Aaron and I are die hard Razorback fans and NEVER miss a single home football game. Aaron and I left the game early because he was "cold". I knew this was kind of strange because he never, I mean NEVER gets cold.

So, we left the game early and drove up to Fayetteville to stay at his house. We had plans to go to the Fayetteville Square like we do every year and take pictures. When we got to Fayetteville we put on some nicer clothes for pictures and were off to the square. When we got there it was freeeezing, so we opted to not take pictures and just enjoy the 'short' time we would be out there.

Finally, we sat down on a bench in the middle of trees and bushes beautifully decorated with lights. The bench was facing the area for children's pony rides. Aaron and I kept laughing at the kids and their parents, who were trying to get the "perfect" picture. He kept saying really sweet things to me, but as usual, I kept rambling on about who knows what. Realizing that I wasn't getting the hint, Aaron stood me up and turned me around to face him. That's when I realized what was happening and the water works started flowing! I know he said some really sweet things and he got down on his knee, the whole nine yards, but that is about all I remember through all of the crying! Of course I said yes and stood him up to give him a hug. That is when the people standing in line at the pony rides started applauding. A guy yelled across the way, "What'd she say?" It was just like a movie!

Aaron then gave me a card that he had written in, quoting the entire proposal speech, since he knew I would be crying like a little baby :) We sat down so I could read the card when I noticed a person with a black jacket and hood on staring at us. I pointed him out to Aaron and it turned out to be Aaron's roommate (also known as Bubba Hog from the Razorback games!). Here is Austin as his alter-ego BUBBA HOG!

Aaron had him take pictures of the entire proposal! Amazing memories to have in pictures!

The next day we went to a Razorback basketball game and then began the 3 hour drive home. Aaron kept emphasizing that he really just wanted to drive straight through. Thinking nothing of it, I agreed and agreed to go to his parents' house first. When we pulled onto his street I realized there were way more cars than normal. I blew off this observation because I didn't recognize a single car. As we walked up the sidewalke to the front door, I saw my neices through the window and then realized there were lots of people standing around. I started crying and Aaron couldn't stop smiling. I just remember telling him that he was in so much trouble for making me cry MORE! He had, apparently, planned an entire Surprise Engagement Party in advanced to be waiting on us when we got back from Fayetteville! My family, his family, and some of our friends were there to greet us.

His mom and my best friend decorated this amazing table for us!

These were all of our wonderful friends and family who could make it! We were so happy they were all there and I was to excited to be able to share such an exciting time with them.

Come back every once in a while for more wedding details! I can't wait to share more with you along the way!