$900???? I don't think so!

I just looked at some brochures I have from the Wedding show I went to in January, and one of them said they'll sell chair covers for $4.50 each! And for 200 people at the reception, that equals $900! I DON'T THINK SO!

Who cares if I even have them on my chairs??? Really???

A new blog???

I'm thinking of starting a new blog... just so I can put all my wedding stuff on there and have it on the engagement announcements for people to keep up to date on what's going on... Anyone have any thoughts on this?

And if so... What should I name it?
"Francie and Jason"?
"Jason and Francie"?
"JandF"?

Any other suggestions???

Last week I lost more than 10% of my weight!!!

I don't know how it happened, because my whole family and extended family was here and we ate a lot of food, but somehow, when I went to my WW meeting, I was in tears when I found out that I had lost over 10% of my weight since starting WW! I'm so excited!!!

It's definitely been motivating to lose more weight, when I'm still losing it! I actually had stopped counting my points, but have been pretty careful on my portions and I've actually been quite active, even though I haven't been to my 5:45 a.m. step class at the Y in a week and a half!
Don't worry, I'm going back!

I do, however, want to share this blog that I've found recently! I was looking for a recipe for red potato salad and came across this blog that is so amazing! Not only the pictures and the good writing style that this person has, but I'm telling you, that her recipes are amazing! AMAZING! I took the red potato salad recipe from her blog and made that for the family, and they loved it. I also made the blueberry cream pie from her blog and they loved that too (and they're both delicious and light!)

This afternoon, I decided to try this recipe for eggplant Parmesan and it turned out so good! You can find that recipe here: Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes

I also have her blog saved on the right side of my blog, if you want to keep tabs on what's new!

Either way, I'm loving my new not-quite-skinny-but-on-the-way-to-be-close-to-skinny bod!!!

Wedding plans already!

Jason and I have been talking about the wedding date of 10.10.10 since Valentine's Day, but since we've gotten engaged, he told me that I could do whatever I want! So, lately, I've been looking at different options and maybe even getting married earlier so I wouldn't have to wait so long!
So far, it isn't looking like a good idea. I really want my cousin Emily to play her violin at my wedding and she is going to some Island somewhere as a student missionary or a year and won't be back until next May 31st!
I've also got my friend Betsy looking into wedding chapels for me already. The one I really like, that my brother-in-law's sister Michelle got married in is too expensive! $300 for the deposit and $700 for the church! Um... I don't think that's in the budget!
Anyways, as soon as I get a chance, I'm going to find me a 3-ring binder and some clear plastic covers and start filling it up with ideas!
Oh, I'm just so happy and excited! I can't wait to marry Jason and I can't imagine spending the rest of my life without him!

He asked me to marry him and I said, "yes!"

July 7, 2009 ~
We had about half the family at the beach. Jason was running a bit late, so when he got there, I'd been there for a little while, so I asked him if he wanted to go for a walk towards the pier. He said yes, but told me he wanted to change into his swim trunks. My sister, Shannon, asked if she could go with us and before I could answer, Jason said that it wouldn't be too romantic with a third wheel. Then we all laughed. Jason changed then we headed towards the pier, which didn't look at far as it really was. It was so beautiful that day. It was a bit clouded over and windy, but still pretty hot.
Jason was really funny. He had told me he was going to ask me to marry him before the Fourth of July, but that was because we were planning on leaving for Oklahoma City, before my Great Aunt Kate passed away, so I knew it could be a while longer. On our walk, he was asking me stuff like "So... when do you think I should ask you to marry me?" and "So... how do you want me to ask you?" He didn't want to ask me too close to the funeral arrangements. I told him Friday the 10th would be good, or Sunday. Just throwing out ideas, you know. Oh, and I also told him he could sing me a song, play me a song on his guitar, or write me a song and sing that to me too. Either of those methods would work for me! LOL
As we walked towards the pier, we realized it was quite a long walk. We were about to turn around when we saw this tree that had fallen down and had the most unique roots. We walked over to take a closer look at it and noticed that some of the roots were connected to each other and all intertwined. Jason said, "Well, this looks like a good spot to remember!" And I was like, "Yeah, it does... well... I guess so... well... I don't know... for what?" And as I turned towards him, he had the box out of his pocket and was lowering himself down on one knee in the sand!!!
I was so happy and excited! And I couldn't stop smiling all day long!
He started out with "Franciska Helena LeeAnn..." and told me how much he loved me and that he wanted me to be the mother of his children. And that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. And a whole bunch of other sweet things!
By that time, I was kneeling down in front of him in the sand, too!
After a short pause, he finally said, "Francie? Will you marry me?"
I said, "yes!"
And the ring fit perfectly!
I was so happy that I couldn't stop jumping up and down in the sand and twirling around! We held hands the whole way back! (For all of you that don't know Jason very well... he does NOT hold hands in public, so this was a very, VERY, big deal!).
We were so happy to tell the family when we got back to where they were sitting at the beach, but as we got closer, we noticed that everyone had left! Upon closer inspection, we realized that Rachael, Kristen, and Shannon were still in the parking lot waiting for Natalie to bring Katya back for her gymnastics lesson, so we went up to the parking lot. I tried to hold my swimsuit cover with my left hand so that no one could see the ring yet. Once Kristen came out of the bathroom, I said, "Hey! Look what I found!"
My family was pretty lucky because I got to tell almost all of them in person since they were all here! We had all already planned to meet at Lori's house for dinner so it worked out perfectly!

I'M GETTING MARRIED!!!

It's been super busy this week and I haven't had time to post about it all, and right now we're heading to a water park with the entire family, but I'll share all the juicy details later! But me and Jason are engaged!!! And he asked me on July 7, and we have 15 months and one day until we get married! (That makes it October 10, 2010, i.e. 10.10.10!!!) Yay!!!

Tony's first graduation - kind of

(Here is Tony checking out his new book given to him for his farewell gift.)

Last weekend, Lori invited me to go to Tony's Sabbath School Class with her and the kids. It just so happened that it was Tony's last class there and that since he is over 18 months old now, he is moving to a new class.
It was a little funny, because he participated in every and all the activities for the kids, like a professional! At one point, they set out a table and have all the kids get a rag (a clean one) and "wash" the table. I remember one of the first times he had to do that, and he would not hold the rag, and would DEFINITELY not wash the table either! Whereas, this last weekend, he grabbed the rag, and went right up to the table and started "scrubbing"! So cute!
Bella was dressed for the special occasion, thanks to Auntie Nay-Nay for the super cute outfit and hat!
Don't you just LOVE those little legs!

My Aunt Kate

Here's a picture of me with my Uncle DeMont and Aunt Kate from last summer. My Aunt Kate just passed away last night.
She was like a grandma to us, since our Grandma lives so far away from us. She had been in the hospital for about a week and then decided she'd like to be at home in her own bed to die.
I remember some funny things about her. She loved food. I remember my mom telling me that when I was a little baby, Aunt Kate would just keep feeding me and feeding me, so I know she passed on her love of food to me! She also could eat an onion like a tomato! I remember them visiting us in California one year and drove all the way home, across the country with a bunch of elephant sized garlic in the car! She sure loved the sweets too! My sister, Lori made a whole pan of cinnamon rolls for her and said she'd just leave a few of them, but Aunt Kate said, "leave the whole thing!" and told Lori that "Daddy [Uncle DeMont] likes them too!!!" She was a hoot! We've also got a lot of incredible family recipes from her, including my two favorites, "Aunt Kate's Brownies" and "Chocolate Mint Brownies" and yes, she has given me both recipes!
A few other things I remember about her, that cracks me up, is the fact that when she'd travel, she'd pack so much stuff (like my mom does, too!) that she'd have to sit in her seat and have some of the stuff packed around her! And if something still didn't fit, then she'd say "Then I'll hold it on my lap!" She also would save every Ziploc baggy ever used and wash and reuse and then rewash and then re-reuse it! I'm not really sure how many times, but it sure makes me feel a little guilty when I throw them away at home! Oh! And, she would never EVER drink water from the bathroom! I think to her, it was more like drinking out of the toilet and that was just not going to happen! Even now, I feel that bathroom sink water tastes different and sometimes, I just can't drink it either! Weird, right? But that was Aunt Kate!
I think one of the saddest things, is seeing Uncle DeMont. They were so in love. Always holding hands and they ALWAYS kissed after every prayer.
There's a lot of family here now, all the cousins are here (Aunt Kate and Uncle DeMont's kids and their kids) and my siblings from New York and my Mom and step-dad Bob are coming here on Friday. I'm pretty sure we're not going to Oklahoma this next week now, because of the funeral this weekend, which makes me sad that we won't be able to see our Grandma, but my sister, Lori is on the phone right now with Grandma, and let me tell you, if anyone can get Grandma Annie out of the state of Oklahoma for the second time in her life (I can only think of one time she left the state), then Lori is that person!
Keep our family in your prayers!

More quality time/pictures with Tony

21#

It's official! I've lost 21 pounds in the last 8 weeks! Wah-hoo!!!