The Engagement Scoop!

This summer is insanely busy!! We've literally been out of town every single weekend from Memorial Day until now. It's been a blast, but it's hard to get things done (like blogging) that I normally do during my down time at home, since that time is so limited.

OK... the scoop. The weekend before we got engaged, Steve and I were out on the beach in Amagansett (Hamptons) and were talking about how the following weekend was the only one where we did not have travel plans. So, on a whim, we looked up travel information for Block Island, RI, and booked a trip out there! Also during that weekend, we had a talk where Steve was asking me questions like "Why do you want to get married?" and questioning why society (and our friends) put so much pressure on us to get engaged. Honestly, the conversation left me thinking that he was a LOOOOONNNGGG way from being ready to get engaged, and I was feeling really frustrated about it.

I decided in my mind that I was not even going to THINK about getting engaged during our trip to Block Island, and that I was going to just use that time to have fun with Steve and to enjoy all the reasons that I want to marry him in the first place.

We took off work on Friday, and spent the night in the Hamptons (a short drive from the ferry to Block Island). Then, we went out on the Friday morning ferry, checked into our adorable inn (first photo above), and rented bikes so that we could ride all over the island. We went out to both of the island's beautiful lighthouses during the weekend... here are photos of my favorite one....

Action shot of Steve! He was going to propose in about 1 1/2 hours... I had NO IDEA!!

Toward the end of our ride, we were on the main street in town (cute restaurants overlooking the water), and Steve suggested that we go back to the inn for a glass of wine. I was a little surprised, since the inn has no bar... and we were right by all the cute water-view bars, but Steve reminded me that he'd brought a really nice bottle of Brunello with us, and we had snacks back at the inn. Thinking no more of it, I agreed, and we went back to the inn.

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When we got back to the room, I put up my things and was ready to go and sit outside. Steve said "I just need a minute. Can you go down and put two chairs in the sun, and I'll meet you out there?" I was like.... that is so weird that he is asking me to move furniture... especially solid wood, really heavy Adirondack chairs! But, since I'm freakishly strong after all my years of working out in recent time, I said "Sure!" I moved the gigantic 50 pound chairs :) and started writing post cards.

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Eventually, Steve came downstairs. He was carrying a bag and two plainly wrapped packages. I thought he might have organized a special picnic for us, but it turned out that they were presents for me. I opened the first one -- and it was full of really cute Lacoste tennis clothes. Seriously, the cutest tennis skirt I've ever seen, two tops to go with it, and a pair of matching socks (avec aligator logo)! How great!! I was so surprised and happy!

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Then, he gave me the second box. And, in it were these really cute tennis shoes... white with pink (see below). And THEN, I noticed that there was an envelope inside of one of the shoes, tied to the shoelace. I looked at it and saw that it said "For my girl."

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I was like "Honey, what is this?!" And he just shrugged, giving me a funny and semi-mysterious grin. I turned it over, and saw in the bright sunlight that there was something ring-shaped in the envelope. I then thought very hard in my brain "CATHERINE!! THIS IS NOT A RING. DON'T YOU DARE THINK THIS IS A RING. AND, DON'T YOU DARE CRY AND RUIN THIS REALLY NICE PRESENT!!" Then I turned the envelope back over and started to open it.

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As I did, I saw that Steve was starting to go on his knees.

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I thought "CATHERINE!! Maybe this IS a proposal??" And then he asked me to marry him! (P.S. For anyone as slow as I was that day, it really was a proposal!)

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On the back of the card was a cork that Steve had cut into the shape of a ring at our anniversary dinner back in January. He had kept it for six months! And, he put the diamond he bought for me inside of the circle and attached it to the card.

He did this so that I could pick my own setting, which I did last week.... the ring should be ready in about three weeks! I can't wait!!

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But, more importantly, I can't even tell you how incredibly happy I was when he asked -- and how incredibly happy I continue to be about this! He really surprised me -- I never thought he would ask that weekend, and am so, so glad that he did.

He was even sneaky enough to secret a bottle of Veuve Clicot in the bags without me noticing, and he kept it cold so that we could enjoy it after we got engaged. It was so wonderful to sit out on that lawn with him in the sun, and to toast to our future. :)

We rode bikes around the next day as well, and told a few people that we were engaged. Of course, we called our parents, siblings and a few (very few) very close friends to share the good news with them. That was a lot of fun, and it was so nice to see how happy everyone was for us!

Post-ride cocktails on that Saturday

My handsome fiance (I'm still getting used to calling him that!)

And, for good measure, a pre-dinner cocktail on Saturday night at another inn.

Sunburned and happy at dinner!

And, there you have it! We haven't set a date yet (why does everyone ask that the second you get engaged?!), but are looking at a few venues. That part is a lot of fun! We're trying to have a very small wedding, and we'll see how that works out for us... I'm just thrilled though. I can't wait for us to make it official!

Thank you all for your nice messages on my engagement post! It is so nice to be abe to share this with you guys!! xoxoxo