105.1 The Buzz Contest

So a few months after our engagement, 105.1 the Buzz was doing a contest on the radio. You could submit your engagement story and possibly win a $20,000 wedding give-a-way. I thought our wedding story was a great one and I submitted it to the Buzz.

They called me and asked if I would like to share our story on the radio. Of course I wanted to. I was so nervous though. I had the people in my office standing around a small radio right in front of my window. It was funny.

So during the story when I got to the part of the song, "You are my Sunshine" they stopped me and wanted to play part of that song... or the Muppets version of the song.

It was great... I have to admit, it made me laugh.




Well, we were not one of the top 5 contestants, but we did get to have our story on the radio and I have a funny Muppets version to add to our wedding story.

Planning the Honeymoon

So we booked our Honeymoon.

Cabo San Lucas here we come!

So a friend of mine (a past coworker) worked out a great deal for Reuben and I to go to Cabo San Lucas and stay in their timeshare hotel.

We leave September 7th and stay 7 nights in the Cabo Villas Beach Resort (http://www.cabovillasbeachresort.com/).

Our hotel room has a king size bed, full kitchen, and a Jacuzzi on the deck overlooking the beach.

I can't wait to get more details about the activities available for us to do while we are there.

Now, let's work on that bikini body :)

Engagement Pictures

Silvia Flores, a friend of ours in Hood River took some great Engagement photos of us. These are some of our favorite ones.

I just love them!

You can check out her website at http://www.silviaflores.com/.

Wedding Details

WHEN & WHERE

September 6, 2008

Hood River, OR

ABOUT THE BIG DAY

The Ceremony will be held in the back yard of Reuben’s parents’ home on the Cascade Alpacas and Foothills Yarn and Fiber farm (http://www.foothillsyarn.com/ / http://www.cascadealpacas.com/).

Reuben, his parents’, and I will be remodeling their backyard to make the perfect, personal, romantic site for our wedding day.

The Reception will be held at the Historic Hood River Hotel. (http://www.hoodriverhotel.com/).

A bit of details about the location: What is now the Hood River Hotel was built in 1913 as the annex to the Victorian Mt. Hood Hotel, which had graced downtown Hood River since the coming of the transcontinental railroad in the 1880s. The original wood-frame building stood on the adjacent parking lot; it survived into the 1920s, when it was demolished. Used as a hotel and rooming house until 1970, it fell into disrepair and disuse. Pasquale Barone purchased it in September 1988 and began the restoration work. Brian and Penny Cunninghame purchased the hotel in September 2000 and continue to operate it as an elegant small-town country inn. Today, the Hood River Hotel has been fully restored to its original glory offering 32 rooms and 9 suites, each different, each individually appointed with antique reproductions and decorations evoking European charm and the hotel's history.

Don’t be Alarmed. It is I, Prince Vulture…

Now that Reuben’s play is over (and by the way he was wonderful), we can now begin to focus on our wedding. Only 200 more days left… oh I just can’t wait.

Let me tell you a bit about the play…CAST presents ‘The Blind Princess’

CAST presents “The Blind Princess,” a tale of music, magic and love that leads the audience on a journey into China during the late Han Dynasty, a time when powerful and land-hungry emperors ruled for 400 years. The blind princess, Mei-Lei (Devyn Holyoak), her father, good Emperor Ming (Doug Miller), and loyal chamberlain Sun-Sen (Kory Harding), are about to test the ancient system that holds them together by confronting a warring empire. The aptly named evil Emperor Scorpion (Cosmos Worth) and his confused son, Vulture (Reuben Betts) have a clever plan to take over the Ming Empire. In the end, there will be a new emperor, but who will it be?

It has been great that Reuben did the play. It not only has boosted his confidence in his singing and acting, it seems to have made him well known in Hood River. I wish you all could have seen him perform. He was just magnificent. There were so many people complimenting him on his talents. The Community Center wants him to stay involved and do more of the upcoming plays. I sure hope he continues his acting. It brings me joy watching him have so much fun. Thank you for those of you that could make it out. Reuben really appreciated all of your support. For those of you who did not see it, don’t despair, there will be a DVD of it out soon.

It seems that there are so many connections in that small community. Just people associated with the play, we have connections that will help with the wedding. Scorpion (Reuben’s evil father in the play), his Lady friend is an Officiate. We are going to set up a time soon to meet with her. Also, as it turned out, Reuben was asked by one of the mothers of the girls in the play to mentor her daughter in acting. As the conversations went back and forth between them on when Reuben could help, he realized the last name of the girl and her mom was the same as the head chef that is doing our catering at the reception. It turns out to be a great connection. I just love that community; I can’t wait to call it home.

Now, let’s see… Where to begin to start on that wedding checklist…

Wedding Dress Shopping 1/26/08

My Bridesmaids, My Mother, and I started out our day at 10:30AM with an appointment at David’s Bridal in Keizer. Dress after dress… we began to find a style that I liked and that flattered my figure.

Off to lunch and have a couple of drinks to relax me and the girls.

Then we went to the Bridal Gallery downtown Salem. More of the dress after dress routine. I asked our consultant if she knew of any other dresses in the store that were similar to the style I was looking for. She went and grabbed one and asked if I wanted to try it on.

Sure enough, it was the dress. It was the perfect cut, shape, color… you name it, it was my dress!!! It was that easy. The first day dress shopping and I found my perfect dress. Now I just have to wait until May when it comes in.

Thank you, wonderful Ladies, for the great time shopping. I am so happy I had all of you there to help me on my special day looking for dresses. I love you all.

His Grandmother's Ring

This is his Grandmother's Ring.

She wore it for 60+ years.

I just love it. It is so perfect, so beautiful… SO ME!