It's summer!

Yeah, it's summer! My first semester at White Knoll wrapped up on June 6th, and I have really been enjoying wasting away the afternoons at the pool at PJ's apartment. I have been keeping busy the last two weeks taking yet more classes at Clemson University. Right now, I'm actually in class (pretending to pay attention of course) and getting so excited about coming home tomorrow. PJ and I are leaving Saturday morning to spend a week in VA Beach, Va with the entire Hackett family! I'm really excited, too. I havent' taken a vacation like this in years! As soon as we get back after the 4th, the month stays pretty busy with Landon Simmons' 1 year birthday party and my bridal showers! Plus, my brother Tim and his wife Melanie are expecting a baby girl, Abigail Elizabeth on September 26th, so my sisters and I are putting a baby shower together for her at the end of July. So I guess the summer is pretty laid back but full of traveling and showering!

The closer it gets to the wedding ithe more excited I get...and the more anxiety dreams I have. Everybody told me that the planning was going to be frustrating, etc. but I have to admit I've loved it! All of our vendors are booked, the invitations are in and my dress should be here anyday, and the girls' dresses are ordered so I feel like we're in terrific shape. We've basically transformed the guest room at my parents' house into the official Wedding Room. So, we're at 4 months and counting, so I guess time will tell if I start stressing out or not.

So, things are great on this front. I'll keep you posted.

Our Engagement Party and Baby Joseph Hackett

Brandi and Jason Hackett welcomed their little baby boy Joseph Owen on February 26th! Here are a few pictues of PJ and I with baby Joe.

On April 5th, my parents with the help of Arien and Chad Simmons threw me and PJ an incredible engagement party on April 5th. It was a significant date as it was his parents' 33rd wedding anniversary! It was so terrific for members of our very large wedding party :) (my fault ofcourse) to meet eachother. Arien's little 9 month old son Landon is my ringbearer too and he along with my friend Amy's little three year old daughter Ryne (my flower girl) ofcourse stole the show! :) Here are a few pictures from the night.

We're engaged!!

For those of you who may not know yet, we got engaged on February 21st. PJ and I went out for dinner at Olive Garden, and as we came back to his apartment, he told me that he had made me something! He said he felt bad that he hadn't done alot for Valentine's Day, so I figured it would be something silly like a huge cardboard valentine or something :) Anyway, when we got back to his apt. he had two dozen red rose bouquets on the coffee table waiting for me and a scrapbook (yes, I said scrapbook! Talk about knowing the way to my heart!) the scrapbook was full of pictures of him and me since we began dating in October 2006. On the last page of the scrapbook, he had written the "Top Ten Things I Love About You" and had me read each of them out loud. When I got to the #10, it said "because I hope you'll say yes!" and I turned around and he was on one knee!!! So adorable! My ring is so pretty too! I'll post a pic of the ring and one of our engagement pictures. We're getting married on October 25th here in Lexington, SC at a restored Victorian house called The Magnolia House of Lexington. We're sending Save the Date magnets to remind everyone, and I hope to see everyone there!

Happy New Year! PJ and I drove to Charleston, SC on New Year's Eve to celebrate with our friends Joel and Nicki. We had such a fun time, and I was even able to see the beach on New Year's Day...even though it was cold and extremely windy! I'm excited about 2008. Baby Joseph will be born in late February, and we're both getting excited for Brandi and Jason. We've also started to look at rings which is incredibly exciting. I waited a long time for the right guy, and it actually felt so surreal to be looking and trying on engagement rings!! Things are exciting; that's for sure. I'll keep y'all posted!

Graduation and a new city!

Last Saturday I officially graduated from the University of Alabama with my master of art's degree in secondary education. Woo hoo! PJ was able to make the trip to actually see me get my degree (well, they mail the real one, but they do give you a case), and my whole family was also able to come. Believe it or not, Joe Namath also graduated with me...after 42 years he decided to finish his 17 credits he was lacking from his degree from UA, so he got his degree with me. I can tell my kids and grandkids that Joe Namath and I graduated together. Ofcourse, I never saw him there, but I later saw a pic in the newspaper. I know in my heart that he wanted to say "hey" to me, but there were just too many people there...so I understand. After graduation, me and PJ and my parents all caravaned to Atlanta and met Arien, Chad and baby Landon Simmons as well as PJ's parents and his brother and sister in law Jason and Brandi Hacket (and baby Joseph who will be born in March). We all ate at the Cheesecake Factory and had so much fun! It was actually the first time our parents officially met, so I felt that it was a milestone for us. :)

I start teaching in late January, so now I'm enjoying getting settled here in Lexington, SC. I can't believe I finally live here and get to see PJ whenever I want! It's amazing and I can't wait for what's next for us!

Brandi's baby

Brandi and Jason Hackett (Brandi Long from Shorter married PJ's brother) are expecting their baby in March. Here's the baby's first picture...we're all hoping the baby's a boy but I'll keep you posted!

New happenings...

Well, I can't believe it's been so long since I last blogged! Yikes! Things around here have been crazy. I'm student teaching full-time with 8th grade science, which I'm loving but it's wearing me out! I work nights at an office buiding and then every other weekend I'm either in SC or PJ's here, and I'm just plain exhausted! My parents have decided to make the move to SC over Thanksgiving too, so they've just sold their house here and are working on buying a great house in SC (which I love, btw). With all of that going on, I'm trying to finish up all my paperwork for my job in January. I'm really looking forward to having my own classroom...that's the major pain with student teaching.

Anyway, that's what's up with me in a nut shell. Sorry it took so long for me to blog, but I just haven't been online much. Here are a few pics of me and PJ with my new sexy hairdo. Hope all is well!

Sarah