What "week 7" looked like.

Last Friday night our friends April and Patrick hosted a Filipino dinner. It was a fun, small group and we enjoyed trying all the foods they love & grew up eating.  For dessert we had "ice cream".  I knew that it would be a funky flavor, but they wouldn't tell us what we were eating.  So I tried the orange ice cream first {it was less scary to me than the deep purple/white swirly one}.  I put it in my mouth and thought, "this tastes like a smell I know" then, something chewy... interesting.  Next thought, "I don't want to eat this anymore", then I realized what I was tasting; feet. Yes, it tasted like feet.  Turns out it was cheese flavored, there were actual chunks of cheese in the ice cream. Eeek. I don't even like cheese in it's non-dessert, un-frozen, zero-sugared form-this was a lot for my gustatory system to handle. The other flavor was potato/coconut, a special potato {apparently purple in color} but it tasted just like the cheese one to me. That said, the dinner was lovely & it was fun to be with friends and lounge around afterwards.

The next day we took engagement pictures. That was Saturday. It was 100 degrees outside. Actually it was 98 degrees, but with humidity it felt like 105 degrees. That's according to the weather people, according to me it felt like 305 degrees.  We took pictures outside & literally melted.  I don't really even like to think about it, it was that painful.  We were sweaty and sticky and I was frazzled. We brought a towel to dab off with, seriously, who brings a towel to wipe sweat up during an engagement session?!! We do. Best. Despite the heat and the not heat friendly clothes {swimsuits for these picture would have been more appropriate, and less at the same time} it was a good couple of hours. Our photographer, Stephanie Hyde, was wonderful and shot lots & lots of pictures.  Mckay is bringing the proofs over tonight and I'm excited to pick "the one"!

On Sunday I went to my first Temple Prep class at church.  Mckay and I will be getting married in the Logan, Temple and because of the sacredness of this place, those preparing to enter can take a short class to learn a little more about it.  We talked about The Plan of Happiness that a loving Heavenly Father has instituted to help his children receive a fullness of joy.  It was wonderful to review and remember the perfect plan he has set forth.

Monday morning Mckay found out that he passed his Level 1 CFA {Certified Financial Analyst} test. Remember how on his birthday in June he spent six hours taking that monstrous thing? Well, they finally got back with results that made for one relieved & elated boy and one proud & doting girl. He studied over 260 hours for this test and all that work paid off!  Next June he'll take Level 2 and in June 2012 he'll take Level 3. I'm just happy we get a study break until January {I say "we" because I was alone during those 260+ hours}. We're having a celebratory dinner this weekend!

Addresses, addresses, addresses. That's what we're doing now.  Invitations are at the printers & I can't wait to get them. Shout out to Shey at Shey Doodles for doing an incredible job! She is a good friend of mine & worked so hard to get me exactly what I wanted.  She does beautiful work, is unbelievably affordable, and so patient and kind when you{I} change{d} your{my} mind 50 times {that is not an exaggerated number}.

I get to go home in a week & help my Mom, I'm excited for that. I'm dreading the part where I have to find/buy/borrow a dress though, blah.

{dress inspiration}

"Mazel tov, honey" count: 4

averaging 2 per week, not bad.