Briana Leigh Lopez!!

directly to the right of this picture is where he proposed

Needless to say, he put a ring on it.  And not just any ring... my dream ring that we discovered at a New Orleans antique jewelry store before we moved to Iowa. We were in Des Moines on Labor Day weekend for Hayley's first football game as a Drake cheerleader.  My entire family was there because Marnie was finally back from Africa.  On Sunday we ended up just the 3 of us at Gray's Lake Park, walking around the Lake and hoping to take some outdoor pictures of Boston.  Well it started to sprinkle so we took shelter under a tree right on the water.  All of the sudden Flip was telling me how I was the best thing to ever happen to him, and all the amazing things he feels about me.  I started to blush and tried to get him to stop embarrassing me!  I took the first out I had and went to check on Boston, which is when Flip got down one knee and opened a ring box containing not one, but two rings!  He had the promise ring he had given me last July, which I thought I had lost, and the amazing engagement ring.  " I just have one question for you, will you marry me Briana Leigh Thomson?" By the time the words were out both rings were already on my fingers... answer implied!!
     We have already started planning and are SO excited.  We are going to get married in New Orleans in October 2011.  Our theme is Funky Vintage New Orleans, which we are having so much fun with.  We are going to make our own save the dates and invites.  Flip won't let me post pictures of our inspiration because he wants the recipients to be surprised :)  I already found a dress I love (not the one pictured on a previous post) but am still looking... just to make sure it is the one.  I want to be as sure about the dress as I am about the man!  Although it is a much smaller commitment of course. 

Garden Terrace at the Omni Royal Orleans

     We are headed to NOLA with Boston Oct 6-12 and will do a lot of planning and confirming then.  We are going to settle on a rehearsal dinner location (the two contenders are K Paul and Muriel's right now).  We are most likely going to have the wedding and reception at the Omni Royal Orleans hotel on the Garden Terrace.  It is where Flip worked and where we met.  Plus it is in the french quarter which is our old stomping grounds.... and close to everything fun and amazing about New Orleans!! Nobody would need to get transportation for the rehearsal dinner, wedding, reception, or to go out afterwards.  So just from the airport to the hotel and back to the airport again.
     I think I'll need to find hair and make up people, and a cake place, while we are visiting next month.  All of the planning will certainly be fun but the best part of the upcoming trip is that Boston gets to meet his Aunts and Cousins finally!  He will almost be 6 months when we go!