Our new blog

So I decided to start a blog for Ryan and me, here it is:

ryanandjessflake.blogspot.com

Keep updated with us there!

Engagements!!

We just got our engagements back and I LOVE them.
Here's a sneak peak:

Thank you, thank you Jessica Kettle

1 month

So I know I promised I would catch up on my blog once I was done with that week of 3 tests, but honestly, things have NOT slowed down since. School is getting busier, with the realization that this semester is over in 3 weeks and my 2 page list of clinical requirements have to be done, the tests and daily quizzes in my 5 other classes never end, and I can't quite put into words how this wedding has taken up every second of spare time that I use to have.
But I guess the big news is that our wedding is exactly ONE month away.
As stressful as the planning has been, I'm so glad that it is coming up. I couldn't be more excited to marry Ryan. The announcements are currently being printed so expect one in the mail soon!
&if I don't have your address- please send it :)

Big News..

I have sooo much catching up to do on my blog, but I couldn't help but put up this one, most important post- to let everyone know that...

We're engaged!!

Ryan proposed Thursday night and I could not have been more surprised and excited. I promise the story will come soon, but 3 tests this week don't allow me to drop everything else in my life and just focus on my wedding like I wish I could. So here's a picture right after he proposed, and the rest will come soon :)

I can't wait to marry this boy
April 23rd, 2010

Festival of the Trees

This year we started celebrating the Christmas season by going to the Festival of Trees with Andrew and Carrie. We first had a delicious dinner at their apartment (that was so cutely decorated for Christmas)- complete with our family's famous Christmas candies for dessert and then drove up to Sandy. There were so many amazingly decorated trees- from classy gold and red trees, to motorcycle themed, and everything in between.

The BYU themed tree

They also had a ton of gingerbread houses on display, which I have a better appreciation of after Ryan and I made our own small one this year.

All 4 of us in front of the gingerbread castle
[disclaimer: my purse is not always BURSTING full of random things, I had just pulled everything out searching for my camera :)]

Thanksgving

This year for Thanksgiving my whole family was home and it was so fun. Wednesday morning the girls went shopping and then we had our annual Thanksgiving Turkey bowl and the park. The weather was absolutely perfect and we all hadfn playing football, even Audrey who even ran in a touch down for our team :)

Most of the family who got to play

After football we came home and play some rock band

&the kids danced

Thursday was the only day the entire family was able to be together. We spent Thanksgiving in San Francisco and rode bikes over the Golden Gate Bridge and down the Embarcadero.

The girls

All 16 of us

My cute parents

We rode to Boudins and had clam chowder in bread bowls

The Golden Gate

Carrie, Melissa, Rachel, me, Sara, Michelle
all the sisters

the kids

That night we all came home and had our big Thanksgiving dinner. We were each in charge of making a dish and it was so fun to try everyone's new recipes. I made the a sweet potatoe dish that I had at the Flakes house and I'm glad to say everyone loved it at my house as well.

Sara and Ben were in charge of doing the turkey and I have to say it wasn't just the prettiest turkey I have ever seen, but the best tasting as well!

Friday night we all went to see the Blindside, which I loved, and then for part of our parent's Christmas present we took them out to dinner at Johnny Carinos.

Saturday night we took our parents ice skating as another part of their present. Even the little kids put their skates on and we all had a lot of fun.

The whole group ice skating

We spent Sunday at church, making Christmas candy, and relaxing. It was a great trip and I loved being home- thanks mom and dad for everything, I am truely grateful for all of you.

Matthew's Baptism

Matthew Topham was baptised in October and I was lucky to be able to join the Tophams for this occasion. Sam and I drove down to Vegas and spent the weekend with her family playing games, eating frozen yogurt (quite the experience), eating cookies (lots of cookies), watching Dani's soccer game, and relaxing at home. It's been so fun watching Matthew grow up over the past few years and I was so excited for him and his decision.

Matthew and all his cousins

(I was lucky enough to be included in this cousin picture)

Drew, me, and Sam

I almost look like another adopted sibling :)