Home Stretch!

 And just like that, it is JUNE, and Danny and I were so excited because we could finally start saying, "we get married next month!"  Just a little bit of anticipation; just a bit.  But in the meantime, we found some time to have some fun, like kayaking on the Potomac River in Georgetown.  This was one of the first things we did together when we barely knew each other.  So it was really fun to do it again, this time being engaged.  That, with some awesome Lebanese food and a gorgeous sunset, made for a great date night. 

Our invitations looked amazing; we were so pleased.  Becca designed them, and we had great engagement shots taken in Old Town Alexandria, and area of Alexandria we both really like.  It was a major project to stuff all of those and get them in mail, but it was a huge relief to get it done.

 Another beautiful day for a run....

Danny and I went to Lake Anna with some friends on a Saturday in June.  Neither of us have been for a long time, so we were really looking forward to it.  I loved watching my man shake the cobwebs off his wakeboarding skills and get some good jumps in!

I love this picture of us.  About 5 weeks out from the wedding.  Just counting the days.

 Then it was July, and time for a bridal shower before heading to Utah!  My roommate Jenny threw it for me, and these lovely ladies came to support, and it was so fun to celebrate with girl friends who know both of us.   And to have a mason jar engraved with our names, because why not?

This week was really stressful for both of us.  So done with just being engaged, so ready to be married already, but we still have to move out of our places, move into the new apartment (Danny),

 

get work stuff done, last minute planning, etc.  It was a lot.  I was so ready to go home!

Remember How I Can't Quit New York City?

Therefore, Danny and I headed up to my happy place for Memorial Day weekend.  It was a great weekend.  We got in late Friday night, and spent Saturday with his siblings.  

 

Maia, Megan and me.  Two of my new sistas!

 

I played the tour guide, for the most part, and it was really fun to spend some quality time and get to know them.  Maia and Matt both live on the east coast, in NJ and NY, respectively.  Megan was living in Vegas at the time, but came out for the weekend, partly to get to know me (pressure!).  (It's OK.  Not a ton of pressure.  Just fun).  

 

We ran around the city, ate good food, of course, and saw Fiddler On The Roof, which was a stunning production.  Brought back a few memories of doing the show in high school- that production was basically just as good....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday we did just about nothing except go to church and it was lovely.  The day was gorgeous, so we went and sat in Central Park for much of the morning, and among people watching and laying on a blanket, attempted to take a good selfie, at which we failed, of course. 

Truly, one of my favorite views in the whole city.

 

After church we just spent some time with a few close friends of mine.  Bonus- some of my really good friends from Utah, the Lttle siblings and Joseph Ogden, happened to be in town that weekend, so they stopped by too.  It was great to see them and introduce Danny to some of my Utah people.

Monday I hosted a brunch with my NYC people, and it was crowded, loud, and awesome.  With great food, of course.  Danny was a champion, and so were my friends, who really reached out to him and tried to get to know him.  I love my friends so much, and still miss them.  It was great to see all of them again. 

Suzanne

Brook and I and our selfies.

Angela, Mel and Amber

Memorial Day weekend was a win for the books.  And still planning, planning.....

Winter Really Does Turn Into Spring, Eventually.

Undoubtedly, my engagement to Danny on March 18th was the biggest, most note-worthy event of the year thus far. But here are a few highlights as winter turned to spring:

First hockey game!  It was momentous, and I got a free T-shirt.  Winning. 

Ugh.  Done with this business of winter.  But I always love a good girls night in with the roommates!

 Finally!!!!!!!

 This is why I am marrying Danny.  Truth.  And also his thoughtfulness, as evidenced below.  :-)

I'm always a sucker for a good sunset.  And the cherry blossoms at sunset?  Definitely worth seeing. 

 When Spring finally comes, I just can't get enough of it.

Nor can I get enough of General Conference weekend, with my niece, good treats, and my fiance.  Oh man, is he the cutest, or what??

Temple day for the soon-to-be Stokers.

My college friend Aaron came to town with the musical Jersey Boys, and Danny was a gem and got some tickets for us to see the show.  He's wonderful,  and it was so fun to see Aaron. 

Becca and Sarah headed up organizing matching outfits for the nieces and nephews for the wedding, and...introducing my new niece Kate!  In her adorable dress!  

 At the end of April I went home to find a wedding dress and do some planning.  And to see my mom, who's health had been on the fritz.  Getting old is the worst.  But this view from my parents' back porch?  Kind of the best.

  

 Found this picture in a frame at home.  Couldn't resist throwing it up on social media for National Siblings Day.  Oh man, it's good, in all our 90's family reunion finery.

 Anyway, back to the present and wedding dress shopping with some of my favorite women!  I found an amazing dress that I loved, and got so much done in two days I couldn't believe it.  Major thanks to these ladies for the major support, even though that particular day was a really hard one for Teresa.  7 months since Layne passed.

 And seeing these girls in their wedding finery!  Oh, my heart.

 

Again, why Danny and I are getting married.  Just a little sneak peak at our engagement photos. 

I really do like my neighborhood.  Especially when it's not snowing....

Danny and I met up with a friend from NYC, Kristin Robinson, and visited the Renwick Gallery.  It was awesome. 

And another NYC friend, Sara Moncivais, made us a paper chain for a countdown.  She wrote quotes about love and marriage in each one.  A more thoughtful gift I really can't imagine!

I still never tire of finding a beautiful path to run on.  And it was a beautiful day.  And in the meantime, we were planning, planning, planning.....