the story.

yes, ladies & gentlemen

this boy right here: 

(photo cred: the amazing whitney tutt)

finally proposed.

it's been a long time coming with this one.

b & i met just over 4 years ago.

there have definitely been some bumps along the way.

a lot of giving and a lot of taking.

b's taught me to be a lot (i mean, a lot) more patient.

it's been a really good thing,

and i honestly can't imagine marrying him without this 4 year time span.

i've learned so much and it's taught me to become so much more selfless

(inherently, i'm a very selfish person, i think).

i never in my life thought there would be another person i would do anything for.

and now there's b.

and honestly, i would.

not a boy in the world i could love more.

anyways. moving on from all the ushy gushy stuff. :)

onto the proposal story.

first off. i need to express just how much i LOVE the 4th of july.

it is my favorite holiday.

(christmas doesn't really count because it's more than just a holiday. it's more of a season)

there is nothing i love more than spending time with the family,

having a nice BBQ, playing in the sun, and enjoying the fireworks.

this year is a special year for utah, because aerial fireworks were legalized.

so anyway, a few days prior to the 4th, b called my dad (with me in the house)

now, i thought b had called him to set up a time for brandon to ask my dad.

(my parents were in deer valley until the 6th)

so i figured, there was no way b could propose until at least the 6th.

therefore, i was safe with my chipped red nail polish on the 4th.

right? WRONG.

so we spent the entire day boating & barbecuing at deer lake with b's family.

it was so much fun.

unfortunately i had to go into work at 4pm, so i had to leave early.

we left the lake, and i went home and got all cute and patriotic.

then i went to work for a couple hours, but they let me leave early because it was slow.

so i called to ask b where i should meet him.

he told me he was going to thanksgiving point to set up the blankets with his mom.

i asked if i could come up and help them.

he said no.

(i have no idea why that didn't tip me off)

so instead i went to his parent's house and waited for b to come home.

we hung out at the house for a little bit while i waited for b to get ready.

he asked if he should use my favorite cologne. 

(the one he only uses maybe once ever 6 months)

and i said "sure."

and he said "well, i can't wear it tonight and the night i propose.."

and i said, "yes you can!"

so he put it on.

(yet another hint that went over my head)

then we left the house, went to wendy's to get some dinner

(he asked if i wanted to go to a restaurant, but i assumed we were in a hurry)

we drove to the thanksgiving point parking lot and ate it there.

and the food ended up being delicious, so all was well.

then we went in, and we spent forever trying to find the blanket.

he kept asking if i wanted to sit alone or with his family.

i told him that i didn't really care, but that i loved spending time with his family so i'd be happy sitting with them, too.

he called his mom asking where the blanket was, 

(i guess his mom DID move it to a better spot)

and then we finally found it

and he said "oh, i guess my mom set it up for just us."

when i looked a little bummed, he said 

"my mom told me earlier that she doesn't think we spend enough time alone together and that you're probably getting sick of the family"

which i didn't even blink at because that IS something his mom would say.

so then we got all comfortable, snuggled while laying down.

it was actually VERY comfortable.

and then the fireworks finally started.

b said "tell me when you think the grand finale is."

and i said "..uhmm, okay?"

and he said "well, i kind of want to stand up for it."

and i said "uhmm.. i'll sit up.. but i don't think i really want to stand up."

and he said "mm.. okay. that works. just tell me when you think it is."

then the fireworks took a break. which i thought meant the grand finale was coming.

so b says, "will you stand up? i need to fix the blankets."

and i, so completely mesmerized by the fireworks, scooted to the edge of the blanket, somewhat annoyed.

then he says, "no, i need you to stand up."

annoyed, i moved over further.

b says "no, stand UP!"

so i did. furthering my annoyance.

then i'm staring up at the fireworks for a full 15 seconds.

when i finally look down, he was down on one knee.

(i guess he had been waiting for me to look down for about 10 seconds. oops)

and there i stood, completely shocked.

he said, "kelli, will you marry me?"

i think i said "uhhh... uhmm" for about 10 seconds.

apparently he was really nervous at this point and i finally said 

"uhmm.. yes?"

so he awkwardly slipped the ring on and stands up,

and then we had a nice little kissing session.

fortunately (and unfortunately) no one saw the proposal.

then we sat down, at this point it hadn't fully sunk in yet.

he held me between his legs and said something along the lines of

"you're so perfect for me, and there's no one in world i could imagine spending the rest of my life with"

we were both so overwhelmed that neither of us fully remember.

and then he gave me a dozen red roses.

and then about 10 minutes later, the grand finale started.

which i actually preferred because it gave me some time to absorb it before i had to part ways with him.

it was pretty much the perfect proposal.

i really can't imagine any other way that could have made me happier.

so there it is.

:)

ah yes, and here's a picture of the ring:

(it looks much prettier in person.)

and there you have it.

november 5th, save the date.

omgoodness!

i can't believe i forgot to add my ALL-time favorite summer albums!

my apologies.

to you AND to weezer.

i've listened to these albums for the last 8 or 9 summers.

ever since my trip to california in high school to visit my grandma in Santa Cruz.

and i listened to these two albums for the first time on my awesome CD player.

so here you are:

weezer - the blue album

weezer - the green album.

so so soooo so good.

:)

It's here!

SUMMER.

guys.

it's here.

this is NOT a joke.

this IS real life.

it's happening.

for those of you who know me well,

you KNOW how obsessed with summer i am.

i'm usually so much nicer and more fun to be around when the sun comes out.

this summer's going to be a good one.

know why?

because i'm going to make it one.

though half of the summer will be spent working my life away,

the other half will be spent at seven peaks (season passes, holla!)

and in california (more importantly disneyland) and MAYBE hawaii.

so i'm pretty darn excited.

anyway, to kick off the summer RIGHT, i have some summer beats to introduce you to

as well as my current obsession.

PINTEREST.

seriously. it's my dream come true.

pictures & the things i love all rolled into one website.

if you don't have an account, you should request an invite.

or leave a comment and i'll invite you.

it will change your life.

really really.

now onto my current summer playlist.

starting with my annual summer albums:

alphabeat - this is alphabeat

the all-american rejects - self titled.

mika - life in cartoon

cobra starship - ¡viva la cobra!

noah & the whale - peaceful, the world lays me down

rilo kiley - under the blacklight

now onto THIS year's summer albums.

vampire weekend - contra

marina and the diamonds - the family jewels

jenny lewis - acid tongue

noah & the whale - last night on earth

OKAY, folks. i think that's all for now.

thanks for reading, and enjoy the sun!

MIA

so sorry, blog world.

it's been quite some time since i last posted.

life has gotten crazy, let me tell you.

some basic updates and excuses as to why i've been away:

i got moved to a new department (I think that's when i disappeared)

i worked in said department for a month.

then i got hired on at pinnacle again part time in the evenings.

then APT laid me off.

then they hired me again back in Triage for the permanent position.

previously i was working through a temp agency.

and now (hopefully) in two months, i'll be hired on at APT.

which equals health benefits, two weeks paid vacation, just plain goodness.

so now i am working at APT from 6am-2:30pm

and then at Pinnacle from 3pm-8pm (hopefully switching to 7pm)

then it's off to bed at 9:30pm.

aka: no room to do anything.

fortunately i have saturday off at APT and only work 10-3 at pinnacle.

and then i get a day off (usually monday) at pinnacle.

So Sunday is pretty much the best day ever.

so that basically sums up the chaos in my life.

i fortunately still get to see b.

and if he moves into the 'bugalow'

(the little house on his dad's company's property, also where b works)

he'll be a 5 minute drive from APT.

In addition to work chaos,

my brother and sister-in-law moved to Seattle this weekend.

I will miss them so incredibly much.

in a nutshell:

they're obviously top 10 cutest family material.

Seattle is really lucky to have them.

And I'm so excited for this new chapter in their lives.

But I will miss them dearly.

I love you, Jor, Marie, Matt, Lucy & Anna.

And that concludes all the prominent changes in my life.

i promise i'll be better at posting.

photography giveway!

k, so i know i've disappeared for awhile. but i just entered this giveaway and out of thousands of people, i SO totally hope i win.

(i hope you're reading this, crave photography)

:)

anywho.

i know i've been horrible at posting, 

and i'm sorry!

life's been busy busy.

because i just started in a new position!

i now no longer have access to idle internet time, and am instead doing something i love!

i work in a more technical department now, performing upgrades and whatnot,

and it's so much fun!

also, i got a $2 raise AND i work from 6am - 2:30pm

i've never ever been a morning person,

but this is totally working out.

i love love love it.

i shall update soon with more blogs!

pinky swear.

spring!

...is not here.

yet.

what is with this snow, utah?

i mean, i guess the answer's in the question.

it is utah, after all.

soon enough i'll be basking in sunshine.

until then, i just have to hold out.

so here's a news update!

i changed my business name from

kelli renee photography

to

kelli lebaron photography.

i feel it's a bit more professional, among other reasons.

so, due to this change, i also created a new facebook page.

i'm making a big effort to get this one out there.

so please please please like my page.

thank you :)

click here for my page.

and if you know of anyone who is in need of a photographer, please let me know!

thank you, thank you!

good times!

announcement!

for the first time since september..

i was able to fill up my gas tank!

horray!

this is how kelli's gas tank looks when it's

FULL

as you can see, it's a very happy gas tank.

(and a very dusty one, at that.)

and THIS, is how much is costs to have a happy gas tank.

 in case you can't see that, it's roughly 50 bones.

yuck.

but well worth it.

no one likes a sad gas tank.