Happy Holidays Everyone!

Houses we are looking at...

The Buckstone

The Thrasher Bluff

The Riverhill
(but it would probably be the same color scheme
of bhe blue house above)

Here is a link to view more photos of the houses: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathanjones99/sets/72157603158415951/

Our House

Here is our house! We got it this past Friday (May 18) and plan to move in around July 10th. It is on Mars Hill Road in Watkinsville. We loved almost everything about it and it was a very easy decision to make. The yard is huge and has a lot of shade for our puppy and it is a very quiet area. We have some small plans for the exterior (Katie wants to plant flowers and do a few other small things to the yard) and we plan on making some changes to the interior (painting, pulling some of the window units out, and possibly re-doing the interior molding, along with the normal decorating to make it home). We will post pictures of the inside as soon as we get it like we we want it. We will have a house warming party for everyone to see our house as soon as we move in and get somewhat settled in.

Back yard

Front yard

Slideshow

Well I took the jump.....

I still can't believe it! I finally... finally..... can legitimately call myself engaged! I can't tell you how long my friends have told me and joked around with me that Jonathan and I are an old married couple - but now its almost true! He proposed to me on the sandy beaches of Perdido Keys - right before the sun started setting. The scenery was so beautiful the entire time we were out there - a truly magical moment in time. :) Jonathan looked so handsome as he got down on one knee! I think I stopped breathing until he got those magical words out - Will you marry me? I didn't answer - at least verbally. I was too busy pressing kisses all over his face! He then revealed that he had a photographer waiting there to take our engagement photos. (Jonathan has them all posted already). She did a beautiful job with them - a truly stunning array for Jonathan and I to choose from. (We ended up ordering all of them. lol) Afterwards he took me to our engagement dinner at Voyagers - a 5 star restaurant in Perdido Keys. Oh, wow, the entire place was gorgeous and the food was absolutely delicious! The surprises kept coming - after we got back to the condo Lane had a bottle of champagne, two glasses and a huge bouquet of red roses waiting!!! He has got to be the most romantic fiance in the world! Watch out gentlemen - Jonathan is showing the men how to do it right!

Our big news...

If you haven't already heard our big news -- we are engaged!

Katie and I were engaged on March 8, 2007 at sunset on the beautiful Perdido Key Beach near Orange Beach, Alabama. This was the biggest surprise from our vacation trip to the Gulf Shores/Fort Morgan, Alabama area. Needless to say, Katie was thrilled and said yes! :)

Below are some pictures

The Ring!

A few pictures from our vacation...

Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy from our vacation to Fort Morgan/Gulf Shores, Alabama...

My Sweet Puppy

A few words about my bodyguard...

D'Artagnan is simply the best puppy in the world. He was a present from my wonderful hubby- Jonathan. D'Artagnan is a pure blood Great Pyrenees- snow white all over. At just a few days past one year old, he weighs in at a young pup's weight of 80 lbs. My sweet boy will finish out at over 200 lbs. by the time he is fully grown. Jonathan bought Tagnan for me as a literal bodyguard for when he can't be around. My sweet boy accompanies me everywhere except for inside most stores. Pump gas.... Tagnan sits by and watches, I can trust him to protect me in any situation. D'Artagnan's bark and growl is enough to stop anyone in their tracks. It's really something to see him in full blown fury.

D'Artagnan is also the sweetest puppy in the world. He is my sweet cuddle bug and loves nothing more than watching a James Bond film with me while I feed him treats. :) We have another bond as well... D'Artagnan was in my terrible wreck with me on August 31st. The bond that was forged after that day will never be broken or compromised in any way.

Countdown

Only 9 more days until our vacation!!!

Katie has no idea where are we going or what we are doing but we will post pictures on here as soon as we get back. We will be gone from Tuesday, March 6 until Sunday, March 11.

August 31, 2006 Wreck

I've had a lot of chances in life to appreciate the fact that my OCD self is still here on this earth. None came more so vividly then on August 31, 2006. Lane and I were headed to my house in seperate cars, I in my Focus and he in his Truck. While taking a small road to home, a speeding ForeRunner came out of no where and struck my tiny Focus head on, while traveling approximately 70-80 mph. My car was thrown almost completely onto its side by the impact, throwing my 5 month old puppy into the passenger side airbag and then to the floor. The car then dropped back down onto what was left of all four wheels and came to rest against a dirt and rock embankment. Now I know your all wondering what could possibly make this scarier or worse- Try the notion that the love of my life was driving behind me in his two ton truck. That same two ton truck was right behind me when I was hit- By the grace of God Lane pumped his brakes, barely swerved and managed to avoid both me and the Forerunner. I can't imagine what kind of condition I would be in if I had gotten hit a second time or if Lane had swerved the wrong way. To make a long story short- Lane saved me. The damage to my car was so severe that I was trapped inside, along with a terrified puppy who was ready to bolt at the next opportunity (Which he did, but Lane and an unknown Good Samaritan saved him). To make matters worse, the case was poorly handled by the Oconee Sherriff's Deputies. But that is a long rant better saved for another time. Lane ended up being my savior time and again that day, taking Tagnan and I to the vet and then driving me to the emergency room to treat my own neglected injuries.
All I can say is that without Lane, I wouldn't be here. I know that better then anyone. He has always been there to make things better, to save the day and save me from whatever trouble I may have fallen into. Thank you sweetheart, for all you do each and every day. I am blessed to have found you.

Katie's Favorite Pictures!!!

Just so I get my say... These are samples of my favorite pictures! (And yes I love all the ones you put up Lane, don't make me look bad! *Laughs*)This one is a picture of D'Artagnan that we took a long time ago. I transformed it into artwork.... he looks so sweet and angelic!


In the photo above, its our shadows joined together above the creek. I felt like this shows the timelessness of our love. :)











I edited this photo myself, I love the look on Lane's face- somewhere between shock and enjoying it! :) To me, its just a cute picture turned a little edgier!


Thats all of them for now... I have an important post I need to make now.

What a Day!!

Whew... what a day! Lane and I did some serious shopping at the Mall of Georgia today... of course it was all for our surprise March trip. (Speaking of which, I am sooo excited about it!!! Lane planned the entire thing all on his own... scary but true!! My man can plan!) So today's trip plan was to find one perfect dress for me, and about two bathing suits per person for the trip. Now as any of my friends will tell you- I'm a perfectionist. A completely OCD nutcase who manages everything and everyone in her life down to a detail. Yep- I'm that kind of girl. But no matter... Lane and I were giving the shopping together concept a try. It sounded like this for a while today...

Lane: "Hey, do you like this bathing suit?"

Katie: "God no! That cut is all wrong and I cant stand that pattern!"

Lane: "Are you ever going to find a dress?"

Katie: "Well you won't tell me what its for!!!"

Lane: "I hate this! I'm through shopping with you!"

Katie: "Hey, you're really cute when you stomp your feet like that. Kind of an adorable tantrum you just threw."

And so on and so on. So we laughed and joked and fussed our way through the entire mall at least 6 times. Finally we stop off in Dillard's. I fumed that this was the last store I was dragging my sore feet through... and we stepped into the dress section. Lo and behold there it was! The perfect dress was on the rack right in front of us. And it was Lane that pointed it out! (Yet another reason to love him! :) We then grabbed the dress, another one on the way into the dressing room where I tried them both on. I kid you not, when I tried on the first choice (In both our minds) angels sang. My tired feet wept with gladness. This dress is absolutely amazing! Stunning, gorgeous, perfect fit and wow oh wow did I feel like a goddess in it! (Sorry ya'll, I'm not posting pictures of it! Its a surprise until I wear it on our trip!!!)

So then it was on to bathing suits. This time around in only the fourth store we struck gold again. Now let me tell you all in case you didn't already hear this from me a million times before- Lane has excellent taste in all things pertaining to me. Jewelry, clothes, hair... all of it. So shock of all shockers he manages to pick up the two cutest swim suits I have ever seen!!! I then found two suits that I was dying for him to try on! (I have an incredible incredible amount of respect for how handsome he is and how much I can't stop staring at him :) Whew, I was not disappointed! Both swim trunks looked absolutely fabulous on him! (I have added swim trunks to my list of things to dress him in more often :)

To top of the day, we had a fun time running around all over Bath and Body works, until we finally were driven out by the mix of smells we had created. (I swear we had a cloud of it in our wake for the next 30 minutes.)

Some of my favorite pictures of us...

Just thought I'd post some of the pictures that I think are my favorite...Katie never likes the same ones that I do so maybe she'll do her own "top pics" post :) --Lane