Do you know what tonight is?  Well, you should.  It’s the BCS Championship, where my Florida Gators will play the Oklahoma Sooners at 8:00pm.  I’m SO EXCITED!  We were invited to a tailgate/viewing party complete with two kegs and lots of food, but we’re going to pass because Tom has to BE at work tomorrow at 6:30am.  We’ll probably just get some beer and watch the game at our apartment.  It’s exciting to think that this is the fourth National Championship game I will be a part of since I came to University of Florida.  Hopefully we will win and I’ll be able to say that I witnessed four wins during my time as a UF student.

I managed to get everything done that I wanted except cleaning up the bathroom.  I did get the towels into the washer early this morning before I left for class, but I’ve got to scrub down the tub and walls because they’re filled with mud.  I’m telling you, the boys were DISGUSTINGLY FILTHY!

I bought more wedding magazines last night and a wedding planner.  We also got half of our guest list down on paper.  Now we’ve got to do my side of the family and my friends.  We’re thinking we’ll have 150 maximum to invite, and I know that many people won’t come down for it (which is fine for me).  I just realized, I haven’t talked much about the proposal or anything!

Tom and I just got our Nikon D60 and we absolutely love taking pictures with it.  So, on December 30th, Tom told me to make sure I looked nice for his birthday dinner (which we had already planned) and that he wanted to take pictures of a nearby lake before we went.  We walked along the edge of the lake, both of us trying out the camera.  As the sun was going down, we got to a specific spot.  Tom set up the camera so that we could get a picture of us with the sunset in the background.  He took several of me and then set the self timer.  Next thing I know, he’s unzipping his jacket and getting down on one knee!  I don’t remember specifically how he asked me, but of course I said yes.  I cried, and then he said, “My pants are so dirty now!” because he had knelt down in mud (very close to the water’s edge).  We had dinner at a local restaurant that we both LOVE – right across from campus – after calling all of our family and friends to tell them the great news.

About the ring – it is a beautiful princess cut solitaire diamond on a very thin white gold band – exactly what I wanted!  It fit perfectly too.  I wear it at all times unless I’m showering, doing dishes, or cleaning.

The next day, we came home.  Tom’s parents and sister were there to toast us and congratulate us.  We went to dinner with my parents, where we got our drinks paid for by a guy at the bar (while we were waiting for our table to open up).  We also got another toast with them.  Unfortunately, we were both so exhausted that we fell asleep at about 11:55pm, making it the first time since I can remember that I’ve missed a New Year’s!

Wedding planning is already underway.  Like I mentioned in my previous post, we are aiming for August 1, 2009.  We’re getting married in the church I grew up in and having the reception in a banquet room attached to a hotel, so the guests won’t have to travel far after the reception.  Everything is right down the street from where I grew up, which is very convenient.  So far, I am thinking about lilac and a soft shade of green as my colors.  I don’t want anything too bright, but obviously not dark colors either.  I have my bridesmaids picked out and Tom knows who he is going to ask for his groomsmen also.  His sister is helping me out so much and it’s making me feel a lot better about all the overwhelming decisions I have to make.  Thank God for her!  I think I’m most excited about picking out our wedding invitations when we finally do settle on a date.  I can’t wait!

Alright, enough babbling about wedding stuff.  I have a class in about 45 minutes and then I’m home for the afternoon (until my 5:10pm class).  Have a great day and GO GATORS!