Wedding Update and Addresses

3 weeks from today and I can barely contain myself :) I am getting more and more excited the closer Septebmer 18th gets! For those of you that didn't already know, Mike and I will be sealed in the Mesa Arizona Temple on September 18th, 2009, and will be having a reception that evening. Did I already mention how excited I am?!
Anyways, this last week has been dedicated to getting our Wedding Announcements finished and mailed out. While I was compiling addresses I realized that there are still quite a few I am missing. Soooo if you could all please do me a favor and email me your address that would be great! If you have given it to me recently, then I do already have it, but if you are unsure or have moved in the last few months, then please email your address to me at alysemakemson@yahoo.com so I can send you an invite!
Wedding plans are moving along, and things are coming together rather nicely. I am very lucky to have great family and friends that are so willing to help and do everything they can to make it as stress-free for me as possible (not to mention a fiance who has been great with me and my "breakdown moments" as there have been a few). I don't think I realized how much really goes into planning a Wedding Reception. I mean, I had my checklist and my books and magazines, but there are still so many things that take a lot of planning and time, all for a 2 hour reception lol. I am very excited for it to all come together! And the most important part of the day will of course be the Temple, where Mike and I will be sealed for time and all eternity - I SO cannot wait for that.
Meagan threw me a very nice Bridal Shower this last Saturday. Yummy food + Great family and friends + all about me (and awesome presents) = Awesome Day! Thank You so much Meagan, I had such a great time! I will have to post a few pictures when I get them from my sister :)

I AM ENGAGED!!!!!

So I know some people have been waiting for this post for a little while now, but it is so hard to find the time to blog - although I do wish I did it more often.

That is my big news - I AM ENGAGED! And I am so super excited about it! Mike asked me to marry him on Monday July 13th, 2009. It was very sweet. He took me to this little park we have been to a few times, where we have had a few "special moments" :) We walked around the little pond and then layed in the grass just talking for awhile. Then he said, "Well, we should probably get going" so I stood up to leave. When I turned around he was on his knee and said, "Do you remember when we were here and you asked me what forever would feel like?" I said "Yes..." and then he said, "Well how about we find out together." Then he took the ring out and asked if I would marry him, and I of course said Yes!!! It was so sweet and so perfect. I am totally in love <3

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of us over the last year;

This is from our first trip together - We went to the Narutal Bridge in Payson

This is from a camping trip we took with my Mom & Dave's side of the family

This is from that same camping trip - We went into town to some mall one day and just happened to take this goofy picture. I love it though, I think it's so fun :)

One day after church, sometime around Christmas I think - I just wanted a picture of us all dressed up... I think he cleans up very nicely ;)

Just at dinner one random night

From our most recent trip to Prescott. We had a lot of fun this weekend - especially my slipping and falling in the creek :)

We had an American Idol party with Mike's Family. His mom and I made these shirts for everyone - It was really fun and we had a great time.

This is from our trip to Utah in March. The sign had an aarow pointing my direction and Mike thought it was hilarious.

I love this picture. This is also from our trip to Utah and I just LoVe the mountains in the backround. The weather was perfect and we had such an awesome time with his friends and with eachother.

This last picture was taken on our '1 year Dating Anniversary'.

I am very excited to be engaged to this wonderful, kind, caring, considerate, funny, (and sometimes gross - but that's him and I wouldn't have it any other way) man. Wedding plans are under way and hopefully I'll have time to keep updates on by blog about it all!

Birthday Fun

So my birthday was this last weekend and I got to spend the weekend with Mike. We had a lot of fun, despite his getting pink eye on Saturday. It started on Friday when I got to work, and the girls here had decorated my office (it was so totally cute) and had all gotten me gifts and flowers (lots and lots of flowers) - it was so nice of everyone. Then my boss bought the office lunch and they had a cake and we had our own little party, it was quite fun if I do say so myself. I am so lucky to work with such great people.

Friday night Mike and I went out to dinner and a movie with one of his coworkers and his fiance. We don't go on many double dates, but I think we both agreed that we very much enjoyed it and it is something we would love to do again. The boys let the girls pick the movie, so we decided on 17 Again :) If you have not seen this movie, it actually is quite entertaining. We loved it of course, and don't let the boys fool you - they loved it too! Mike woke up on Saturday morning with pink eye, so he pretty much stayed home all day. I did hang out with him at his house for most of the morning and early afternoon, then went to my brothers Improv competition (which they did so dang awesome) and then went back and we had dinner together so that was fun.

Sunday was great. Mike made it pretty special for me, and we had a great time together. Sunday didn't work to celebrate with my family because we all had separate things going on, so we decided to get together another day this week. So first I woke up and spent some time with my sister and Chandler. I opened some presents from them, and from my parents (thanks so much!) and then went over to Mikes house. That evening we took a drive to the temple to watch some videos and then walked the grounds and just talked. It was very enjoyable until a bird just about attacked Mike (there were seriously birds everywhere) and we both kinda freaked out a little so we decided to head back after that. We drove around some more and then went and had dinner with Mikes family. After dinner they brought out a cake that his mom had made (so yummy!) and some presents for me. It was so nice of everyone! It was determined that I am now a whole box of candles worth old lol.

I had a great time hanging out with Mikes family that evening. They are all so good to me! I was even able to convince everyone to play some Rock Band with me! Here are a few more pictures from Sunday...

Mikes younger sister Sara and I. She is graduating today Woo-Hoo!! She made me the sweetest card with the sweetest story in it, I sware it brought Mike to tears :)

This is Mikes other younger sister Kellie and his mom. Okay, so on Monday morning while I was at Mikes house his mom was washing her car. When we left that afternoon I walked outside and there was a big red bow on my car and she had washed my car for me too! I couldn't believe it. I felt so bad because it was soo dirty, lol. It was so sweet of her. She said she just wanted to do that for me for my birthday. I still can't believe it.

Look at this beautiful necklace. For my birthday Mike got this necklace for me. He is so good at listening and picking up on little things, because I mentioned to him that I loved this necklace, and what-do-you-know... he got it for me for my birthday! He also got tickets for us to go see the Fray with Jacks Mannaquin in July - I am so excited for that too!! Thanks babe!

Here's Mike and his sisters jammin to Rock Band. I had such a great time playing with them. Thanks for playing with me guys :)

Thank you to everyone who text, called, (or didn't call) that thought of me on my birthday. It was a great one, and I am now 1 year older making me 24. Nice.

Quick Little Update

So I know i'm not the greatest at blogging, but here's a quick update with 1 picture for now. This was from about 2 months ago when Mike and I went to Utah (amazing trip and I totally want to blog about it sometime for my own benefit). We have been dating for over a year now, and things are fantastic! Also new news in my life - my sister got married just over a month ago! She is now Mrs Chandler Faas. They eloped to Vegas and just had an Open House last weekend. They are super happy, and he is a great addition to my crazy family! I don't know that I have much else to blog about right now. Life is good, work is busy and great, and I totally miss hanging out with all of my friends! So enjoy this picture for now (Marie) and I will try to remember to post more later... I am much better at reading other peoples blogs than posting on my own :)