ENGAGED!!!!

Greetings Loved Ones,

It's a lovely, albeit hot, Spring day in Memphis Tennessee. I thought I would let you in on what's happening here.
Well, last Thursday Robert took Charlotte to dinner at J.Alexanders and then they went to a little park in our neighborhood. It was twilight and the lovely lamp posts had just come on. They took a seat on a bench and held hands. It was a perfect Southern Spring night, just a little breeze and things were just starting to bloom. I'm sure he gathered all his courage and knelt on one knee pulled a box out of his pocket and said, "Charlotte, will you marry me?" She tells me that she grabbed him and said yes before he could even open the box. It was just the two of them, which I have come around to loving. Would I rather have a video? Yes, but this is so sweet and personal and something they will share privately forever. Most importantly she is so very happy. I love him for that.
So now to the business at hand. We went to see The Pink Palace last week as a venue and she fell in love (as did I) It is just lovely and very old fashioned and has been her favorite museum since she was a baby. I can see her and her new husband walking down the grand staircase while being announced as Mr. and Mrs. Robert Riding. There are elements of a museum that are combined with the dancing (like a shrunken head) but that just makes it all the more fun. In order to get this when she wants to get married we have changed it to a Friday instead of a Saturday. I just hope that won't throw people off it being a work day and all. I'm hoping the draw will be the beautiful and unusual surroundings and the bride of course. We went to a reception yesterday and the turn out was very sad. To be fair, it was a second reception for the groom. Please let me explain. Mormons often times have two or three receptions depending on where family is located. LOTS of folks that leave Utah for jobs and such often have a reception where they live and also back in Utah so Grandma and Uncle Earl can come without schlepping halfway across the country. But my girl is homegrown and while her affianced is from Utah he has made his roots here. His Grandparents are coming here. So there will just be one.
We haven't signed the contract yet on the Pink Palace. Dave would like us to complete our trip to Birmingham (UAB) tomorrow and get the 2nd opinion from the specialist first. Just so we can put that behind us. I wasn't nervous at all but as the time approaches I am kind of dreading it. Not so much what the Dr. will say but the trip itself. Usually a trip to B'ham is a pleasant trip but tomorrow will not be. I wish it were a fun shopping trip for wedding things or a trip to visit friends and family instead of what it is. Wish us luck.
We have hired the photographer and yesterday we went and outfitted 6 men in new black suits. They all looked so very handsome (especially MY man) ;) Charlotte's dress came in from Latter Day Bride and is already at the seamstress for alterations. I have my suit, Annie has a possible 3 dresses that she can wear. The only problem is the boys. For some reason they don't make nice suits for boys. What's up with that? I realize that most kids grow too fast to justify purchasing a suit but my boys don't and David wears his every single Sunday. It's very irritating. All of them are cheap polyester and can only be found in the ghetto or Wal-Mart. Arggggg. Oh well, what of that. We have a DJ in mind and have already contacted him as well as a caterer. So things are moving along quite nicely.
If you get this e-mail I hope you know you are very much wanted to attend but we certainly understand the expense of traveling to Memphis. We would love to see everyone that can make it. Dave likes to tease me and say it will be the social event of the season. I don't know about that but I do know I want it to be wonderful for the bride and the groom. Yesterday when we were trying on shoes the groom didn't really like them so we didn't get them. Period. We have time to find a comfortable pair of shoes for goodness sake. My OCD be damned.
Time to sign off and get ready to go to B'ham.
All my love, Tracey