We're Engaged =D =D

Well, this post sure is behind lol!!  We're already married .. buuuut here is the story of the day (and some other info from our wedding website that I wanted to keep) -- and some silly pictures to giggle at ;)

xo

Told by Kayla:

It was another week in our crazy busy life, and we had been trying to find a chance to take the tripod out again and try for another set of family pictures.  It had been months, with no luck of open chunks of time for all three of us.  Dominic coaches youth football in the fall, and I had a busy season with photography sessions & weddings.  We were all over the place, to say the least.  I was getting pretty discouraged, thinking that we wouldn't be able to find the time for a few fall pictures - when all of the sudden Dominic suggested that we go the next weekend, when the balloon fiesta was starting.  I thought it was a great idea - we have lots of memories with fall / the balloon fiesta - we started dating in the fall, we had Kayden in the fall - we love the fall Albuquerque activities - and the balloon fiesta would be great as a backdrop!  Perfect! Game on. 

The day arrives.  We woke up so earrrrrly (can you tell I'm not a morning person?! haha!), because the balloons go up at sunrise.  Normally, it's not a huge deal, we go to the balloon fiesta in our pjs, no big thang.  But for pictures - we were getting up and ready.  So that we did.  We were about to wake Kayden up and get her dressed when we got the memo that the balloons were not going up that morning due to weather.  So we're sitting there .. trying to decide if we're going to go or not.  "Should we wake Kayden up?  She we just let her sleep?  (Dominic had to be freaking out, poor guy.)  Ok - let's just go for it - we're already dressed."  So we got Kayden up, dressed, and head out.  We got down to our spot, and realized that we forgot a piece of the tripod at the house.  We head back.  Get the piece.  By this point, everyone is starving.  So we got breakfast.  At this point, it really didn't matter when we did the pictures, because there weren't going to be any balloons anyways, however, we *did* have to be somewhere by 11am.  We now were trying to decide if we had time to run over and take a few before we had to drive across town.  The entire time Dominic was leaving all the decisions to me .. in hindsight I see that he was probably completely freaking out, and trying to not give it away, or both .. hahaha.  So finally, we headed back to our spot to try to grab a few shots.  By this point Kayden was over the whole thing.. completely.  I had just purchased a remote for the camera - and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to put it to use.  Wrong.  Kayden wanted to grab it, push it, throw it, ditch it.  We got about 20 shots of her screaming, jumping, pushing, yelling ... and the whole time Dominic is saying (in his oh so kindly way) "Lets try the timer.  The timer seemed to work last time.  Lets just try the timer.  Can we please try the 10 second timer?  How about that timerrrr??"  HAHAHA.  I was so determined to figure out the new remote .. but we were having no luck, and the munchkin was headed to grumptown - and fast.  So finnnnnally I gave in ... "okkkk, we can do the timer."  We agreed that I would hold Kayden on the fence, Dominic would go push the button, and I had high hopes that this would be "the shot".  The new shot that we would put in our living room.  The new shot that I would love and stare at for months, until we took our next season photos.  The new shot that I would be oh so proud of, our little family all together.  I had no idea how much I would love the shot.  My heart races and my breathing stops a little when I think about it ... that shot was such an amazing moment.  Dominic pressed the timer .. ran back .. and as I looked up from positioning Kayden's little boots on the fence - there he was, smiling his gleaming adorable smile, holding the gorgeous stunning ring, saying, "Kayla, will you marrrrry mee?"  As I stood there in shock and excitement, and as we stood there staring at each other, Kayden took the liberty of grabbing the ring out of the box and throwing it into all the little tiny multch on the ground.  =D  We'll never forget that moment ;)  Down on the ground searching, soo carefully, we realized that I never answered!  HAHA!  We finally found the ring, stood back up with Kayden, and I said, "Yesss =D"  Lots of talking, hugs, kisses, squeals, and tears were freely flowing, as we packed up and headed out .. we had finished our (unknown to me) task there, after all.  ;)  I truly don't know how I got so lucky, to have someone who completely loves me & spoils me, and knows me enough to know that our engagement moment being caught in a photo means the world!  I had no idea how much I would love the shot ... and boy do I completely love it!!!

We headed out to drop Kayden off to be babysat, like we had orginially planned for the day - and enjoyed our first day of future husbad and wife at a local brewfest -- one of our *favorite* things to do!! =)

I simply cannot believe that this is real life.  I cannot believe that I truly get to marry Dominic, my prince charming.  I cannot believe that I get to spend the rest of my life with him!  I cannot wait for all that is to come, all of our plans and goals and hopes and dreams.  I am sooo excited that I can barely put it into words, and cannot wait to combine our family officially!  

Told by Dominic:

Where do I begin.... Kayla and I had been talking about doing family pictures for a while, and with it being right in the middle of YAFL season, we "knew" it would be quite some time until we would be able to.  The balloon fiesta was right around the corner, so I came up with the idea of trying to wake up early and take pictures with all of the balloons in the back ground.... 

 

Now with the time set, I was ready to go find a ring ... and with only three or so weeks until picture day, I had to go shopping, and fast!  Trying to buy an engagement ring when you share a bank account is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life.  I go to work like so many people, from 8 to 5, at lunch and right after work I come home to spend as much time as I can with my family.  So, getting out of the house alone is rare!  One day, I came home and told Kayla that I needed some shoes and that I was going to take Kayden to the mall.  She starts to get up and was like "Sure lets go..." "Ummmm are you sure you don't need some alone time love?" I reply.  Looking a little suspicious, she said "If you say so, good luck hahahah." 

 

To the mall Kayden and I go.  For those who do not know Kayden very well, she can be a handful ... then again when you take any girl to the diamond store, who isn't?  We went to about four stores and could not find a ring that both of us liked.  When we had just about had enough ring gazing, BAM, we found it!  Right away Kayden said, "That one daddy!"  I agreed.  We go to buy it, and silly me, I forgot that they are going to need to get it sized.  I only had three or so weeks until picture day so they had to rush it for me.  On our way home I realized that I had not gotten any shoes.  When I got home Kayla, of course, wanted to see my new shoes.  To make up another time to get out of the house I told a little white lie; "They had to order them for me, I have to go back in ten days to go pick them up."  

 

After picking up the ring and my new shoes, I had to find a way to hide the ring for three days until picture day.  I made it into the house and to the back without having to open my shoe box.  I quickly took the ring out and put it in my underwear drawer. 

 

That night laying next to the girl that I was going to ask to marry me I could not stop staring at the place I hid the ring.  I stayed up all night for the next three nights hoping she wouldn't find it, picturing how everything would happen, when and where we would be when I asked, and hoping that everything would be perfect.

 

The first day of the balloon fiesta and picture day was here.  We woke up early, still dark outside, got ready, got kayden up, then turned on the tv to see if the balloons were going to go up.  It was a little windy outside and it was very likely that the balloons would not be going up.  In my head I knew this would happen and had to think fast.  I talked Kayla into still going, we were already up and ready so off we went.

 

Kayden was not in the best mood when we arrived to take pictures. so things were off to a rough start. Kayla was getting the camera ready and I was keeping Kayden busy " Ahh crap" I heard from behind me. "On no!" I thought.  "Whats wrong love?"  We had forgotten a part to the tripod, so we were not going to be able to take the pictures.

 

So there we were, not able to take pictures, with a grumpy kid, no balloons, and getting hungry.  This was not going to plan at all.  Somehow, I was able to talk Kayla into going home, getting the part that we needed, grabbing a bite to eat, and still do pictures that day.  The whole drive back and forth my heart was racing.  I knew this was not going well and hoped that Kayden would be alright after we ate.

 

We finally made it back to take pictures, this time with everything we need to do so.  From the start Kayden was not easy to deal with.  Kayla had gotten a remote for the camera and that is all Kayden wanted to play with.  After about ten minutes of grumpy, not looking at the camera pics, we decided to take a little walk and just take some shots of Kayden having fun.  I didn't know if I was going to get a chance of any other pictures with Kayla.  On our way back to the car I made us stop one last time and try to changes things up a bit.  "No more remote!" I insisted.  My plan was to put the timer on, let kayden push the button, run back, and take the picture.  This didn't really work either, I had no time to pull out the ring.  Our last picture I made sure to go push the button by myself. 

 

Kayla held Kayden, I hit the button.  I looked up and Kayla was busy trying to get Kayden to pay attention... I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring.  I saw Kayla's mouth drop.  Kayden had stopped being grumpy for two seconds, and "click" ... the camera went off.  The heart stopping shock of love and happiness lasted for all of about one second.  And was fallowed by heart stopping "AHHHHH!!!" and scariness.  Kayden had grabbed the the ring and threw it into the weeds and dirt.  After about 5 minutes of surching through the weeds we found it about five feet away. 

 

We were on our way back to the car.  Kayla could not take her eyes off of her new ring.  We made it back to the car when she realized that I had never asked her to marry me.  I was so focused on not talking in the picture that I never really popped the question.  She gave me the ring down on one knee, and I made sure that she knew we would be together for the rest of our lives. "Will you marry me??!!"  "YES!"

About Kayla

KIND. FROM THE FIRST TIME I MEET KAYLA HER KINDNESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN WHAT MADE ME CHASE AFTER HER. WHETHER OFFERING A SHOT OR GIVING A HUG, SENDING A CARE PACKAGE OR GIVING A RIDE. SHE ALWAYS DOES SOMETHING UNEXPECTED AND KIND TO KEEP MAKING ME FALL DEEPER IN LOVE EVEY DAY.

ARTSY. AS MOST OF YOU KNOW KAYLA IS AN AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHER BUT SHE ALSO CRAFTS AND DOES GRAPHIC DESIGN. EVERYDAY I AM IN AHH OF THE THINGS SHE CAN COME CREATE FROM BASICLY NOTHING. 

YOURS. ANYTIME YOU NEED HER SHE WILL BE THERE FOR YOU. SHE ALWAYS DOES WHAT SHE SAYS SHE WILL DO FOR YOU, AND SHE WILL GIVE YOU HER BEST ADVICE, ALL OF HER ATTENTION OR, IF YOU NEED IT, A SHOLDER TO CRY ON.

LOVING. NEVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I MEET A MORE LOVING PERSON. THE SOON TO BE MRS.KITTS IS SUCH A LOVING MOM, DAUGHTER, SISTER, AND TO ME, BEST FRIEND. SHE IS ALWAYS THERE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE SHE LOVES. IT MAKES EVERYDAY SO EASY WHEN I KNOW I WILL GO HOME TO SUCH A LOVING LADY.

AMAZING. AS IF YOU COULDN'T ALREADY TELL KAYLA IS JUST DOWN RIGHT AMAZING. I AM SO IN LOVE WITH HER BECAUSE EVERY DAY I GET TO WAKE UP AND GO TO BED, IN LOVE, WITH THE MOST AMAZING GIRL IN THE WHOLE WORLD. 

About Dominic

DAD.  HE IS SUCH A WONDERFUL DADDY TO OUR DAUGHTER, KAYDEN. ITS SO MUCH FUN TO WATCH HIM PLAY WITH HER, AND WARMS MY HEART WHEN HE CUDDLES AND RUBS HER LITTLE BACK SO SHE CAN CALM DOWN BEFORE BED.  HE'S THERE FOR HER DAY AND NIGHT, READY TO BE A SNUGGLE BEAR OR A JUNGLE-GYM, WHATEVER SHE NEEDS.  I'M SO THANKFUL HE IS SUCH A GINORMOUS PART OF HER LIFE AND I CAN'T IMAGINE US THREE NOT BEING TOGETHER AND CREATING SO MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES.

OPTIMISTIC. THIS GUY CAN ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THINGS & CHEER ME UP!  HE'S GOT SUCH A CONTAGIOUS LAUGH, AND SUCH AN INCREDIBLE WAY OF KNOWING JUST WHAT TO SAY TO MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER.   

MINE. SO STEP OFF.  ;) I KID I KID, BUT THIS STUDLY QUARTERBACK IS VERY MACHO!  I LOVE THAT HE'S A MANLY MAN & CAN DO ANYTHING I NEED HIM TO.  WOODWORK FOR MY CRAFT PROJECTS, PUT UP THE TENT ON OUR FAMILY CAMPING TRIP, REPLACE THE LIGHT FIXTURES AND TOTALLY REMODEL OUR HOUSE, AND CUDDLE ME WARM WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE =).  LOVE MY MACHO MAN.

INTELLIGENT. DOMINIC IS ALWAYS TEACHING ME SOMETHING NEW.  ALWAYS.  IT CAN BE SOMETHING IMPORTANT OR INTERESTING, OR SOMETHING SO RANDOM THAT I SERIOUSLY HAVE TO ASK HIM WHERE HE GETS THIS STUFF, BUT HE'S ALWAYS GOT SOMETHING UP HIS SLEEVE!

NICE. HE IS SO NICE.  IT ALWAYS WARMS MY HEART WHEN HE GOES OUT OF HIS WAY JUST TO DO SOMETHING NICE - OPEN DOORS FOR WHOEVER, HELP THE OLD LADY WITH HER PURCHASES, CATCH THE STUMBLING KID THAT IS FALLING DOWN THE STEP, HELP SOMEONE WITH HOMEWORK, OR A FLAT TIRE, OR DOING A CARPOOL.  THIS GUY WILL DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING TO HELP SOMEONE OUT.  JUST SAYING.

INSPIRING - DOMINIC IS INSPIRING IN MANY WAYS, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRING THINGS ABOUT HIM TO ME, IS HIS PATIENCE.  HE IS ALWAYS SO PATIENT, WITH EVERYONE, BUT ESPECIALLY WITH ME.  I DON'T KNOW HOW HE DOES IT - BUT HE IS ALWAYS THERE FOR ME.  AND TEACHES ME HOW TO BE MORE PATIENT.  DOUBLE WAMMY =).

COACH - DOMINIC COACHES THE YOUTH OF ALBUQUERQUE IN FOOTBALL EVERY FALL - HE LOVES IT, AND IS GREAT AT IT.  WITH A COMBINATION OF HIS PATIENCE AND PASSION, COMPASION AND COMMIMENT - HE COACHES THOSE LITTLE KIDDOS, AND IS SO CUTE WHILE HE DOES IT =).

How we met

We think .. that it started way back when.  We both sadly lost very close family members; Dominic's mom, Liz, and Kayla's sister, Kelsi, which led us to both end up living in Albuquerque.  After each of us separately having plans to move away, and those plans falling through - we finally ended up meeting through friends at some get togethers and such.  We started running into each other, again, and again .. and again.  But the timing was never right; Dominic would be dating someone, or Kayla would.  We wouldn't see each other for awhile, and then somehow, oddly run back into each other.  Finally in Fall of 07, after about a year of buppin into each other, we became MySpace friends -- ohhhhh!  HAHA - MySpace.  Anyways.  MySpace chatting turned into invites to parties, which turned into hanging out with friends, which turned into our first date.  More dates.  And more dates.  And by January 08 we had made it Facebook official.  =D  Haha!  We think it's pretty crazy how it turned out - the sad situations in our life that seemed so unexplainable in the moment, somehow, led us together and now we have our precious daughter Kayden and are ready to celebrate becoming an official little family!  And that's all folks, the rest is history.  =)

family dinner.

Dominic, Chris, and Grandpa Gary all have birthdays within a week in July - so we enjoyed a nice big family dinner to celebrate them and their oldness ;)

First ice cream cone.  Love that little tongue =D

Sophia Baby.

Sweet baby Sophia.  Here's a couple snaps from the day Sophia was born (Dominic's cousin - Ariel's daughter).  We were lucky enough to be able to stop by the hospital and meet the sweet little munchkin (I am very serious when I say 'lucky enough' - I know how overwhelming it is to have a newborn and be in a hospital gown and have everyone in the world in and out while you're sooo tired and wanting to just stare at your new little baby.  Point is, I truly feel so honored when people allow us to come admire their beautiful brand new babies!!)

San Antonio {Part 1}

SAN ANTONIO!

In April we were able to get away, for our first big trip just the two of us since Kayden's been born!  We are well aware how crazy everything gets from May until the end of the year, so we made sure we were able to take a little break and get some fun time together.  We sat down, broke out the calender, that already was filling up, and randomly picked a weekend.  Then is was where?  We were brainstorming places we both have never been, (not sure why San Antonio was on the list, because Dominic's been there .. but oh well.  New place next time ;-).  So San Antonio was the winner.  We had no idea what we were going to do there - we figured walk .. find beer.  Turns out - we picked the best weekend to go to San Antonio EVER!

Time went on and through my internet stumbles I found out that they were having a Zac Brown Band concert the night we were getting there!  FUN!  So we got tickets and went on our merry way.  We were excited to go, and excited for the concert - but we had no idea how much stuff we were going to do and how much fun we were going to have!

I suppose I just better dive in - and explain as I go.  There are, of course, four million pictures, so don't mind me as I make it into multiple posts.  =)

It's tradition to take an excited plan picture =)

We made it!  We got in, checked out the River Walk a bit, got showered, and got to the concert just in time! 

We stayed right on the River Walk, so it was easy to hop out of our hotel and be right there in all the action.  (Oh, another magical coincidence happened - they were having a weekend long Fiesta!  Yeahhh baby!  I'm all in for Fiestas!! =D  So that was constantly going on, with parades, and music, and all kinds of good stuff)

So, if you've never been to San Antonio - they have this River Walk.  The River goes through the city! You can sit on patios and eat right by the River.  Watch people walk, there's little boat cabs, that you can hop and off, or take a long ride.  So cute, so relaxing!

 We had Dominic's iPod, so we were rocking the "starter bands" as we got ready and were ready to sing along by the time we got there - too fun.  I seriously go back to this day every time I hear Zac Brown Band play, one of my favorite concerts ever.  Not sure why, just so much fun!

They had a few spots where the band did solos - they've got violins and some other cool instruments, and if you ever get the chance to go to Zac Brown Band, I completely recommend it!  They're amazing.  (I'm sure you can find some videos online with their incredible solo talent!)

The next morning, it was straight to Sea World.  I'm a Sea World addict since we went to Florida in November.  I'd go every day if I could!!  (Did you know they have season passes?!?  Whhhhhat??  I'd SO be there if we lived in a city with one.  Seriously.  That alone makes me want to move.  I'll ask Kayden, but I think I see it in our future ;-P  Sea World, here we come baby.)  Also - note to self - the San Antonio Sea World is kid-friendly-galore.  I mean, every Sea World is, I'm assuming, but San Antonio especially.  They had huge water play areas, and lots of little music centers and special stuff - we'll have to take her back to that one!

We saw this little guy out and walking around!!! <=O omg.  Made my world.  (Anyone who knows me, knows I've also got a penguin obsession, fits in well at Sea World, dontcha think ;-)

Eeeek, and we got to feed these little guys!!  I'm getting the Sea World itch just looking at these!! ;-)

I'll break it there - because there are still a million pictures.  Lots of fun stuff in San Antonio I tell ya!

xo

Play Dates!

The beginning of January is our anniversary, of "Facebook official datingness" hahaha ;-D  It's the day that we officially because boyfriend/girlfriend - it's the day we celebrate because we have no wedding anniversary .. cough cough ;-)  lol juuuust joking.  But we do celebrate it, we think it's awesome that we've already been together 4 years.  Time flies when you're having fun.

Dominic was prince charming this year.  He got a sitter arranged, and said that I should be ready by 4.  We had to drop munchkin off, and he wanted us "to our location" by the time the sun went down.  By the time the sun went down?!?  Wait ... you mean the man not only thought ahead, got a sitter, made reservations, but he thought about the SUN?!  Ok!  I wasn't going to argue! =)  So off we went.  He drove us up to the tram (The World's longest!) and we watched the sunset before heading in to get our tickets.  So romantic =).  Then we headed in, rode the tram up and ate at the restaurant at the top.  So much fun!

After dinner!

I swear I thought we took more pictures, but apparently not.  After a yummy dinner, we headed to the casino for a night full of fun - gambling, clean room, etc!  =D  It's rare that we get to go out and do "grown-up" things, and even more rare that we get to do what WE want, on OUR schedule.  A lot of times, we get a sitter because something is happening - a friend/families birthday, wedding, graduation, celebration.  It seems like there's always something - so being able to just go out the two of us, hang out and enjoy each others company, is extra special these days!

I am SO thankful to have him!!  He is truly my best friend, and the best daddy ever!!  I don't know how we got so lucky, but I sure am glad!! =D  Happy 4+ years handsome muchacho, & to a million more!

The other week - my friend Alicia was able to get away from work for a day so us A2K2 girlies got to go to the park!  =D  We also went grocery shopping for our double-fam dinner night and let the girlies share the "car" cart - soo funny!  They're a riot!

And the girl has the COOLEST shades! =D  (Thanks Addy boo!)

She is SO active!  She's tough, and daring, brave and independent.  She's rowdy and wild.  But she'll always be my little baby.  My little baby girl.  She really is all of the above though.  She loves to climb and slide, and run and jump(this is a new thing).  She bifs it and hops right back up like it never happened.  I don't know how she got so tough.  But she sure loves the park!  What a great place to get her energy out - and it's so much fun now that she can actually enjoy what is available!  ... Instead of just sitting.  Lol.  However, I must say - life sure was easy when she just sat by me.

She started pre-school this week and has been doing so GREAT!  The teacher says she is so brave, and doesn't even have any freak outs.  She blows kisses good-bye to me and is soo excited to see her bestie, Addy, when we get there and Ms. Kim opens the door!  She is going 2 mornings a week right now, and I can't lie - it's SO hard ='(  both mornings have been VERY emotional, but we think it will be good for her. She doesn't have any little cousins that she can play/learn with, so we think it's going to be beneficial for her to learn how to share, etc. with her bestie, and other friends her age.  She's been doing great so far - and has already picked up jumping from the other kiddos, and the fun bouncer that they have there.  I can't believe she's so big already =(  it's SO weird dropping her off and being all by myself.  That hasn't happened in SO long and is such a weird feeling!!  I'm very proud of her though =)  I think she's tougher than me!! 

This was a fun post - I wish I could spend every day on a date with Dominic and playing with our besties at the park!  It's awesome that the weather down here makes us able to do that in January! =D  I hear a rumor that it's snowing feet up at mom's house in Colorado!  

-xo-