New Auntie! New Auntie!

I have such exciting news everyone! I am the proud nephew of another auntie!! My uncle Derek proposed to his girlfriend Chris last night, and believe it or not, she said YES! She said YES! She pictured above standing beside her new fiance and my mom. I definitely approve of this couple. She is so much fun and she makes me laugh like no one else. Just look at this. And that was taken in September, when I would only smile for Queen Elizabeth and Oprah.

Derek proposed last night in Como Park in St. Paul. They were out hunting for the Winter Carnival Medallion. But, the whole thing almost didn't happen....my uncle and my mom (well more Derek than her) were just DYING on Tuesday night when they found out that someone found the winter carnival medallion!! He had been planning and planning on asking Chris while they searched for it. He called us almost in tears and totally panicking!! He came over and we all brainstormed for about 4 hours on trying to think of another special, yet last minute way to propose. We were googling "unique proposals" and stuff like that. We had plans in place where Mom and I were in disguises and I'd deliver a pizza with the ring in the pizza box! I mean Mom was actually trying out the disguise around the house. It was good too. Then, Chris is so efficient, and we had to figure out how to make sure Derek ordered the pizza, when he really was calling us to come over and deliver it. I mean, this was a process people!!

Then we had an idea to put it in her glove that she left at my house with this whole big story. Derek would throw the glove on the counter and then it would "clang" when it hit the counter and then Chris would wonder why it did that and then she would find the ring. But Derek was still stuck on getting us in costumes. OR - how about when Derek pics her up for dinner, she would quick go to the bath room before they left, and then when she opened the door, he'd be kneeling there with the ring. "But its in a bathroom!!" Derek didn't go for that one.

We were dying laughing - THEN - she actually called and said they are going to do a second hunt!!! We couldn't believe it!!!!! Derek went from pure crabby, stressed, bummed, and worried - to total hyper, happiness!! It was awesome.

We got the call last night that it happened, just as planned. And found out that Chris' grandparents also got engaged in Como Park. How cool is that? Its meant to be. It'll be a great story to remember every year when they hunt for the medallion, and when they take their kids. (hint, hint, I need more cousins!) Welcome to our family Auntie Chris. We've been wanting to say that for a long time.

HAJ