cheers--

-- to my incredible husband to be! after a lot of hard work, many hours of praying, patience and persevering aaron is in the process of closing his first deal! i could not be more proud of my persistant, diligant, optimistic and successful fiance', he has really proven that everything is worth the wait and that hard work really does pay off.

defeated

so i have recently discovered that deep inside me i truly believe i can conquer all. bring it on, i will not be defeated i say! yet, i have also discovered the ever more prominent even deeper wuss that i am. this has really been a struggle for me. a constant tug between wonder woman and puss'n'boots.

exhibit a: rock climbing. i have seen it done a thousand times, i have scoured over pictures and magazines featuring huge walls of rock and longed to prove my wonder woman skills and shimmy up with the greatest of ease. so when aaron and i are invited to go rock climbing with our friends ben and shara, obviously i am ready to prove my agility and show off my super powers. after watching my darling beau climb the wall like a pro as well as numerous other small children, i was confident that this wall was beyond ready for me to display my inherit rock climbing skills. THREE FEET LATER, i was looking down from the towering highs that i had amounted to and succumbed to my ever more apparent fear of hights let go of the wall and put my feet down on the ground. welp, i tried.

hidden treasure

so i guess i have been out of the loop a little, seeing as this show has been out for, oh five seasons now, but aaron and i watched 'last comic standing' last night and i am a fan.

if we had it our way--

--we would just use this one.

cheese this

mere did such a fabulous job on our engagements the other day! we found this incredible orchard where most of our fav shots are from, but let me know what you think :)

5 things

5 things i have on my 'to do' list this week:
1. get those fetching invitations done
2. clean my room/finish laundry
3. kiss the most amazing fiance in the world a million times over
4. call family i havent talked to in too long
5. paint my toe nails

5 snacks i enjoy:
1. french fries
2. salt and vinegar chips
3. califlower
4. celery
5. ceasar side salad from wendy's

5 things i would do if i suddenly became a billionaire:
1. buy my mom a house
2. invest in real estate (for my love)
3. donate to doernbeckers children hospital
4. buy a pair of manolo blahniks
5. travel

5 places i have lived :
1. portland, or
2. tigard, or
3. corvallis, or
4. orem, ut
5. provo, ut
*dont get out much apparently

5 jobs i have had:
1. nanny
2. gap kids
3. hayden's resturant
4. nordy's
5. agemni inc

5 favorite musicians/bands:
1. imogen heap
2. regina spektor
3. eve 6
4. nelly furtado
5. aaron oldham

americas next top model?

aaron and i have had the opportunity to model for aaron's close friend, the ever so talented and fun photographer for rubberball, jessica peterson. she has really captured some great images that i would love to share with all:

*go check out all her FABULOUS work!

you're it

i was tagged by shelby

Tag rules:
1. you link back to the person who tagged you.
2. post these rules on your blog.
3. share six unimportant things about yourself.
4. tag six random people at the end of your entry
5. let the tagged people know by leaving a comment on their blogs.
6. enjoy the results.

so . . . something unimportant . . .

1. if i had my way i would eat some form of bread for every single meal, fries, rolls, pastries, dough, you name it. *if i had my way, meaning: if i wouldnt be a thousand pounds after an all carb diet.

2. i can fit my fist in my mouth. please dont ask how i know that.

3. i cannot STAND it when my toe nails are not painted and trimmed nicely, however after 21 years, i still bite my nails. perplexing.

4. if i had a million dollars i would buy my mom a house, then shop, and then invest.

5. i have always been in love with prince eric from the little mermaid. (too bad i found a guy EVEN BETTER, sorry ladies;)

6. i love celery, but only the really white kind, not the really green kind, that is far too sour.

jenn oldham, jenn mize, beth, charlene, holly and rachel, tag you're it!

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY? (written by kids)

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
-- Alan, age 10
No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
-- Kristen, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
-- Camille, age 10

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
-- Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids.
-- Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
-- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure)
On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
-- Martin, age 10

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
When they're rich.
-- Pam, age 7
The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
- - Curt, age 7
The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
- - Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
-- Anita, age 9 (bless you child )

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
-- Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favourite is........HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.
-- Ricky, age 10

let the planning begin

* color palate

happy endings

i have concluded that although i do not have as many pictures as i would like, i just need to post the little story of our wonderful engagement and show off my beautiful ring!

our story starts out simple. aaron was my home teacher and was the type of guy that i had always dreamt of dating. he always kept me laughing, he flattered me and treated me like a princess, he had a passion for music, for fashion, for his family and was ambitious and smart. early in our friendship, before i clued in to what a dream boat he was, he constantly found ways to sweep me off my feet and although in the beginning i was unable to commit to him 100%, he waited patiently for me to get a clue.

i finally caught up and since the 30th of september i have been the happiest girl alive. he still makes me laugh constantly, still treats me like a queen and we know share the same passions, most importantly his family. i have really fallen in love with them and they have been so welcoming and open in making me feel like i have a home away from home.

aaron has become my other half, my better half, my help-meet, my constant support and my forever love. on april 30th, 2008 aaron crept into my room early in the morning and surprised me with two gorgeous bouquets of flowers wishing me a happy seven months. he then proceeded to set up a chair, collected his guitar and his thoughts and sang me an incredible song that he had written about our little love story. he finished the song on his knee, pulled out a ring box and asked me to marry him!

i could not be happier! i am still over joyed! there were no tears, just a perpetual smile that i could not wipe from my face. please note that july 18th, 2008 kathryn danielle strawn will be sealed to aaron cameron oldham for time and all eternity in the salt lake temple. i am so excited to spend the rest of my life with the man that makes me want to be better, every single day.

here is a picture of the wonderful ring that i could not be more in love with:)

INTRODUCING . . .

. . . my FIANCE'!
*more pictures to come