Memorial Day Weekend

We started the day off with biking to Antelope Island!
However... after biking out about a mile we decided that eating gnats was no longer appealing. The bugs were seriously too much. When we turned around we crossed the road and as we headed back you could hear the gnats hitting your helmet it was so disgusting!

We ended up just driving around Antelope island exploring the little island in the Great Salt Lake and we saw a BISON! It was AMAZING!

My Grandma invited us for a BBQ but Matt saw it more as an opportunity to do some gardening, so we ate some but dug up weeds more. I'd like to say "WE'RE HARDCORE!" But I'm pretty sure Matt went twice as fast as I did. So, Matt is hardcore. :)

The funnest part of the day was when we went to see Angels & Demons. It's TOTALLY a cool flick.
We went to a 6pm showing and we were in a huge hurry because we decided we wanted to go 15 mins before it started so we raced down there got our tickets and ran into the theater. (Sounds like any non-humoring story?) We notice how quickly the movie is moving and we are left guessing why and how certain things got to where they're are, but I'm assuming that the first 5-10 mins of the show were really intense. Things move so quickly and I still want to know how the main characters ended up part of the case and why people are dying, etc (Not to ruin the film for anyone or anything.)

Near the end of the movie Matt is squinting at the ticket in the dark and looks over at me and smiles. He leans over and tells me we're in the wrong theater. The right theater ends up being right on the other side of the hall and we walked into the movie about 30-40 mins late, which might explain why the movie ended so soon and why we were left guessing how everyone got involved in the first place. I highly recommend the film, at least what I've seen. >'.-<

Graduation

This event was bigger than I expected it to be.

I guess I practiced graduating so many times in my young life, Pre-school, sixth grade, eighth grade, high school, etc, that it didn't seem it would be any different. However a sense of pride overwhelmed me as I heard the speaker talk about being an agent of change and what type of power a degree from a university instills you with. I also decided that I want to get my Masters and the robes for those who got a Ph.D were so cool, I thought maybe I could even get one of those, just so I could wear the robes with stripes on the sleeves. ;)

The ceremony made me eager to want to keep learning more and I hate to say it but some of the dissertations seemed interesting, I want to go look them up now. It was nice to have a huge clump of my family in town to celebrate with me. They love me, really.

Engagement Photos

I need to learn that just because I dont have pictures to post doesn't mean I just can't post anyways. :)

We finally took our engagement photos. They look so good! I would post an example or two but we are not getting a copy of all the pictures until after we're married. Kind of makes me sad, but just take my word for it. They're AMZING! However, If you want to see an example of our announcement check it out.
I always had this dream where I wanted to take pictures with a brightly colored couch and when I went to go do visits with the Relief Society we visited a sister who owned an orange couch. I hardly knew her but asked if I could borrow it anyways. She said yes. Dream came true.

I love, love, love the orange couch! Maybe one day I can own one. >'.-<

Easter Weekend

This weekend we planted a garden!!

Well, it's not our 'own' garden, per se, but we went up to Burley, ID and helped Matt's Dad put in seeds for the upcoming year.

I, Rhiannon, had never planted a garden before. I learned how plant squash! I even learned what rototiller is, a machine that digs up dirt. Matt showed me how to dig up dirt and Scott (Matt's brother) showed me the ways of planting squash seeds in 'mounds'. (When I say 'mound' you should think of something like an ant hill with a trench around it.) It was excellent. A life changing experience.

Included in planting this amazing garden, with peas, carrots, many types of squash, and of course your Idaho variety of potatoes, we had an Easter egg hunt that Matt's family does every year. With your assortment of hidden eggs, both plastic filled with sweet goodies, and hard boiled, that you hope find now and not later when it's been sitting out for more than 1 week's time.

>'.-<

FAQs.

This post is inspired by hearing the same questions over and over again...

How did you meet and how long have you been dating?
We met Spring Semester of 2004 at the University of Utah. Rhiannon offered to help Matt move his stuff into the dorms. Matt became fast friends with Rhiannon and her room mates, however they didn't start dating until sometime later after she came home from Brazil in March of 2007.

We have been dating for over a year, we estimate we have been dating for two years after we get married. (Go us!)

When are you getting married and where?
July 25th is the big day at the Salt Lake City Temple!To find out more about LDS Temples click here.

Where will you live?
Around Salt Lake City, ideally in a home/apartment, it depends on where Rhiannon works.

Reception center yet?
YES! This is the Place Monument Park at the Kimball Home. It will be held from 7 to 10. It will be exciting!!

Stay tuned for any other updates...

THE PROPOSAL

Everyone is asking us the same question over and over again, "Well how was the proposal done?!" "Tell me the story!"

So, in the attempt to save on paper (we were thinking of just printing out copies of paper with questions and answers to everyone who asked any question) here is the Proposal story.

Location: Arches National Park (Sandy Arch)
Time: Around 3pm

(Rhiannon's version of the story)

I went down to Moab to run the Canyonlands Half Marathon with some friends. Matt also invited some other friends, Katie, Richard, Chelsey, and Jake to come with us.

Matt had the ring and had already showed everyone else except for me. When the half marathon was over everyone wanted to go to Arches National Park to do some hikking. I was tired but I felt I was down for it regardless.

Everyone was climbing up and down and enjoying the park while I was tired and just wanted to stay seated and not climb up on anything. Matt on several occasions tried to get me to climb up into remote places and wanted me to follow him up and down the rocks, but I was rather sleepy and sore.

At one point everyone we were with just left and I assumed that they were moving on to another arch. I started to leave and Matt gave me a hug. I told him we should join the others and he said we shouldn't be in a hurry.

He was sweet and told me how great I was. Again, I was too tired, and although flattered was somewhat too tired to really respond and wanted to move on to the next thing.

**side note**
Many times, in the past, when Matt and I were about, hikes, walks, even baseball games, he always pretended he was going to purpose to me and got on one knee on many occasions. After a while of feeling akward at Matt's proposal-pranks I began to cope with them by kneeling down with him. He chuckled but always requested that when he really did purpose to me that I not kneel with him because he would then feel stupid.

Matt hugs me and pulls away from me. The first thing I realize is that he has kneeled down. In my heart I'm thinking, "This is another joke... uggg... Matt!" I look down and I see he has a black box in his hand. In shock I look hard and shout, "Is this a joke?!" Matt sweetly shakes his head and opens the box. When I see the ring I ask, "Is it real?!"

Matt's pretty funny and tells me it is fake. I'm amazed at how beautiful the Wal-Mart ring is and I wonder if it's glass or plastic and if I really want a real ring because it's gorgeous.

Matt then tells me it isan't fake at all. The ring fits perfectly and is absolutely lovely! We're getting married! July 25th! >'.'<