What a day!

What a fantastic day! Justin and I spent the morning sailing on the bay with our dear friends, Grady and Angie Hill and their precious two kids Alex and Cole. Mimosas, sun, sailing, and friends.... life doesn't get much better than that. After that, Justin and I went to look at some furniture for our living room and then went to try on wedding bands. Our wedding day is quickly approaching and we couldn't be more excited. We can't WAIT! This evening, we went to Shore Break to meet our great friends Kevin and Mollie White to watch the NAVY game. They had a room just for Navy fans and we had a great time cheering on Navy to yet another victory.... if only Auburn could have been so lucky, right Mollie?

Gooo Navy!

Engagement Party!

This past weekend, Justin and I headed to WV and PA for the weekend to visit our families. My Mom and Nana had a fabulous engagement party at the historic Summit Inn. We had an amazing evening celebrating our engagement with our families! Please go to www.picasaweb.google.com/laurenac421 for all of the pictures! We also got to see a lot of our friends while in town. We had a great time catching up with Corey, Steve, and Jen in downtown Morgantown and also hitting up Rio on Sunday morning with our families. What a fantastic weekend. We love making memories with our families and look forward to seeing them for Thanksgiving.

The happy couple with the delicious cake!

Cheers! to a beautiful life together!

Our loving families...

It's Coming Along...

No longer a bachelor pad... After Justin and I get married in December, I will be moving into his townhouse. Justin's townhouse currently consists of strictly the necessities... a nice big TV and something comfy to sit on while you watch it. In my attempts to make it "homey" Justin and I have been to the majority of the home decor stores in the greater Virginia Beach area. We will be painting the walls next weekend so it's not the final look and it does need a few more accessories (or as Justin likes to call them, "decorative garbage that serves no purpose") but it's coming along...

the living room

Uncle Herb.... you've made it on THE blog!

Last night, Justin and I drove to Williamsburg to meet up with his Uncle Herb. He was in Richmond for a conference and it was so great that we were close enough to him for a visit! I really enjoyed meeting a member of Justin's family (and my soon-to-be family!) and I look forward to meeting them ALL soon. We had a wonderful evening strolling around Williamsburg and chatting and catching up at Season's Tavern.

Justin, Uncle Herb, and me

The CUTEST Christmas ornament that I found while shopping in Williamsburg!

It's Justin and me! :-)

Megan's Visit!

This weekend, Megan and her boyfriend Brad came to visit Justin and me in Virginia Beach! Though Justin had to work ALL weekend long, we still managed to have a terrific time. We hung out at the beach, hiked up to the top of the Cape Henry Lighthouse, shopped at MacArthur Center, ate good food, and enjoyed being together! I am thrilled to be able to call Megan my "sister" in just a couple short months! Below are a couple of pictures from our fun weekend!

Megan and me at Kokomo's!

Anna, me, and Megan... two of my 'maids!

Megan and Brad with the Fort Story Lighthouse in the background.

The soon to be Kirkpatricks!

Tonight, I surprised Justin with an "engagement dinner" complete with presents! I grilled fillet mignon and made my (famous) crab cakes! We had a delightful evening enjoying each other's company and being engaged!!! Below are pictures of the engagement gifts that I got Justin...

Justin and me in our new monogrammed robes!

A bottle of 1998 Vintage Champagne.... the year that we met. We plan to drink it the night that we get married!

WE'RE ENGAGED!!!!

This morning, Justin and I got up early and went to the United States Naval Academy where Justin graduated from in 2006 to walk around and enjoy the absolutely beautiful day. We went to the Visitor Center and walked around the campus. Clear blue skies... bright sun... a cool breeze... the makings of a perfect day. Little did I know how much more perfect the day would get. Justin proposed to me at the USNA with the beautiful water and boats in the background. Justin got down on one knee and asked me to marry him and I of course said "YES!" (That is after I cried and cried!) It was the perfect proposal and I am so blessed to be engaged to my best friend and the man that I am going to spend the rest of my life with. Justin proposed with a beautiful round solitaire ring that is so much more than I would have ever imagined that I would have in my entire life.
We are looking forward to getting married in December!

Pre-proposal

Where we got engaged!

Seconds after Justin put the ring on my finger!

We're ENGAGED!

The ring!