Mike and Havi Are Engaged! 2015

Mike proposed to Havi on 12/12 at 12:12. Unbeknownst to her, he had already planned an engagement party a month in advance. He set up a photographer to capture the proposal, they took pictures, celebrated, he sent her for a manicure so she could properly show off the ring, then they got ready to go out. He invited both their families and closest friends to wait at The Half Pint to surprise her.

Proposing!

Going through the beautiful Washington Square Park on the way to The Half Pint

It's totally unanimous that we all adore Havi, think she's awesome, and we're so psyched to have her be part of our family. Our household has been referring to her as Aunt Havi since we met her this summer. I mean, the woman was wearing Pacman earrings. Need we say more? And not just because we're biased but Mike is pretty great too. 

Entering the party and being surpised!!

YAY!

Beautiful women: Havi and her friends

Mike's parents, George and Fran

Cape Cod buddy Tim!

Here are some things I heard people say over and over all night: "Mike is a really great guy." Translation: He's the real deal down to his toes. "He really surprised us by pulling all this romantic planning off." Translation: He must really love her like crazy. "We love Havi." Translation: "She's smart, fun, gorgeous, and down to earth. We love her like crazy too."

Cousins!!

My party buddies and cousins-in-law-in-law Caitlin and Amanda

Mike's dad George making a toast to Mike and Havi. 

Cheers to an awesome couple!

Aubree's Bachelorette 2010!

Aubree and Patrick are getting married in late summer and she had her bachelorette party in New York City last Saturday. I had to work during the day so missed their early meals and shopping, but I was able to make it for their evening crawl through Soho and the Lower East Side. We had dinner at Dos Caminos, and the food and margaritas were delicious. The guacamole is amazing and if you order the 4-person size it probably feeds 6 people.

Laura, me, Kim, and Aubree at Libation

Then we had drinks at a lounge Pegu Club, where the waitresses had Asian looking silk robes. This is where the sticker game began, but it didn't really get going until we got to a dance club called Libation in the Lower East Side.

The sticker game was invented by Aubree exactly 6 years to the day before her Bachelorette party, in 2004. While at Taste of the South in DC she began to use free stickers to play a game of tag with the guys at the event. The guys caught on fairly quickly, but that didn't stop the game from being super fun.

Aubree at Taste of the South, June 5, 2004

A victim of the sticker game in 2010

As we were winding down in the wee hours of the morning we stopped at Lea, an unassuming hookah bar and lounge. This place turned out to be a surprise treasure. The bartenders were very friendly and entertaining. They gave us cookies, let us try the hookah (it's mainly dried fruit and only a little tobacco), made us smoke bubbles, helped Aubree complete things on her bachelorette list, and took pictures. Can we please celebrate Aubree's bachelorette every year?

Me & Aubree

Scratching a dare card

Comparing muscles

Nick and Emily Engagement 2009!

We had more happy news after Christmas, as our good friends and perfect couple, Emily and Nick, got engaged in Manhattan. We met them out at Jimmy's Corner for drinks to celebrate their engagement. Congratulations!

Nick and Emily at Jimmy's Corner

Sarah and Lukas Engagement Party 2009

It's my theory that love caught like the swine flu at our wedding. Since we got married in June, Wednesday and Clark semi-eloped, and the following wedding guests got engaged: Aubree and Patrick, Cory and Robin, Jeff and Inga, and Sarah and Lukas. And at my most recent count there are three buns in ovens. It's been a good year for a lot of people we love. Congratulations all!

This weekend we went to Sarah and Lukas's awesome beer-themed engagement party held- where else- the Astoria Beer Garden. That place is awesome. And look how well their hair matches the balloons and umbrellas.

Our Engagement 2007

The day before Thanksgiving, Kevin proposed on the steps of the New York Public Library. He wanted to propose before the holidays; we were spending Thanksgiving with my parents and Christmas with his mother's large family. It wasn't our first holiday together, as we had already spent Thanksgiving together in Charlottesville in 2006 with his mother, brother, and cousin Katie. But it was our first holiday together since wedding magazines had suspiciously appeared in our apartment.

Proposing!

Kevin texting his friend Briggs right before proposing.

He proposed in New York, where we plan to live when I graduate law school because I have a job waiting there. Presumably, he chose a library because as the wife of a writer and writing professor, our home will be one? He made his high school friend Jon jump out and take pictures as it was all happening. Clearly, Kevin gets me.

I said "Definitely!"

This is the only time I have seen the planet spin while sober. It is really something.

Celebrating.

I am happy.

Super happy.



NYPL picture.



Popping some champagne!


Cheers!

We stayed overnight in New York and checked out just in time to miss the Macy's Day Parade. Ha! Actually, I think I saw one float. That totally counts right?

Macy's Day Parade (sort of)


Thanksgiving dinner with my parents the next day - very happy!
(More in next post on Thanksgiving.)