Our Engagement!

You heard right, we're engaged! It's all very exciting! Here's the story...

We were at the beach in Ecuador, just a few days before we left to come home. Ryan had been carrying the ring across hell and high water. Well not actually, but he did carry it up a mountain, down a mountain, on many dangerous bus trips, on hikes in which we got lost and then to the beach. Just a little back story, we LOVE the beach. Both of us. And my favorite thing about the beach, any beach, is watching the sunset. There's something very magical about watching nature put on a show for you. So anyways, every time we go to the beach we don't come in until after the sunset. After a day of swimming, laying out, reading, walking and eating the best end is to cozy up with a yummy snack or beverage and watch the sun sink. Our engagement day at the beach was no different, except that Ryan hadn't been feeling well so I spent a large part of the day solo. We thought that it was going to be a cloudy sunset but just in time the clouds rolled away to reveal a HUGE sinking red ball of sun: a truly perfect sunset. But while we were waiting for those clouds to roll away the family in front of us had two little puppies that we played with! Maybe Ryan arranged that too =) So the night started with playing with puppies, then we had these yummy pizza bread snacks (as typical in Ecuador, someone is always walking around selling food), and then the sun came out. Ryan and I had a great conversation about our time in Ecuador. He asked a lot of questions that usually I ask (i.e. What are your favorite five things we did here?). And then he said something about how much we love watching the sunset and how he hoped there would be a lifetime of watching the sunset together and then he got on one knee and asked me to marry him! My response was something a long the lines of OH MY GOD! IS THIS HAPPENING? WE'RE GETTING MARRIED! for about the next 3 days!

So after he proposed we called my parents and his parents and went for a celebratory feast! We decided to try and keep it quiet until we got home so we could tell our friends and family in person. I believe everyone knows now and so onto the blog it goes! We've begun the planning process and already I'm overwhelmed. Originally we were thinking of getting married in the Fall of 2011, so like a six month engagement. But I had one week of that and decided there was no way. It was all too fast and I wouldn't have enjoyed it. So now, the plan is to get married next late spring/early summer.

All that we know is that we would like an outdoor ceremony and reception, if possible. We want something small and intimate full of friends and family that know and love us. We want a night full of great food, lots of laughter, sharing, and candlelight, good wine and music. Other than that, I'm not sure. I have a vision of what I've always dreamed of but I need help making it a reality. I'll be sure to post more details as they come. For now here are a few photos from the very magical night.

Puppies!!!

Pizza!!!

Perfect Sunset...

Gets even more perfect! Ryan on one knee.

We're getting MARRIED!

The ring

The sun keeps setting

An amazing dinner!