Duh!

I forgot the most important date:

May 24th, 2012:  The day I am sealed to my handsome man for time and all eternity in the Draper Temple! 

I love him so much and can't wait to marry him!!

Graduation is finally here!

I just turned in my last CFD project report EVER!

It still hasn't hit me yet.  After five years of long nights  in the lab, 20 hours of homework a week, projects, presentations, labs, programming, building, designing, studying, praying, and stressing, I'm actually going to graduate.  I have officially become a grown-up.  I'm graduating, starting a job, and getting married within this next month.  Talk about killing THREE birds with one stone.  I'm going to have to start getting into some fun hobbies now that I have an extra 20 hours a week. 

I've decided that I want to become a good cook, so my husband will always be happy after dinner :)  Good food has never been a huge priority to me (weird right?) because I go home basically every weekend to my mother's amazing cooking.  Pretty soon, it's going to be MY amazing cooking (someday when I've been married for at least 5 years).  I'd also like to get better at the guitar now that I have time to practice.  I could even become a quirky, crafty wife and let Pinterest run my life and style.  NO!  I don't want to do that.  It's not my thing.. Maybe I'll start doing it when we have a house.  I won't worry about that now.

So here's the schedule for the next month or so...

This weekend:  Get invites sent to all our lovely people- watch my cute fiance run a half marathon-have a bridal shower put on my my new in-laws :)- spend time with my favorite person and family

Wednesday, May 2nd:  Last Final of my entire life ( unless I decide to go back to school and get a masters...)

Friday, May 4th: Graduation Openhouse
Saturday, May 5th: Graduation Ceremony (My family, Nate's family are coming up to celebrate!)
Move home sometime that week

Monday, May 7th:  I start my internship training at Rio Tinto.  I'm super excited to work for them.  I know I won't be stuck in an office all summer like I was last year, and I'll get to go on job sites and use my degree :)

Tuesday, May 8th:  My roommate and best friend is getting married!

May 11th: Moving into our apartment.  Also going to Bear Lake to practice for concrete canoe competition in June.

May 19th:  I take my endowments out :)

Ok this is way to long, and I didn't even put pictures in this one.  I'll get it next time you 5 followers.  Stay tuned!

I can't believe it's almost here! 36 days!

I get to marry my best friend in 36 days! That means I won't have to only see him on the weekends. No more driving from Logan to South Jordan almost every weekend. (it is ridiculously exhausting and I feel bad because I never get to see my roommates). I can't believe I'm going to be Mrs. Jackson and start that new chapter in my life.
I also graduate in two weeks! I never thought the day would come... I just planned on going to school forever. It's almost surreal to think how close I am from that diploma :). Once I graduate I have one day to get ready for my internship at Rio Tinto! I get to wear steel boots and a hard hat for work and I just want to start working!

Here is a preview of what our invites look like-ish: enjoy!

The Proposal Story...

All 5 followers of mine probably know that I'm engaged to the most wonderful man alive! :)

There is a short version, you just have to scroll down more.

Here's the story (Lauren's side).

The weekend before: Feb 10th

The week before we got engaged we had a pre-Valentines Day dinner and a magician (I believe it was called "Evening of Elegance and Magic"). We went with his cousin Trevor and girlfriend Andrea to the American West Heritage Center and had a really great time. Nate and I have talked about marriage a lot, so before he left, I asked him if we could go ring shopping soon. He said "Oh I don't know if I'm ready for that...Maybe we could go Monday because it's a holiday." Little did I know he had a ring already picked out. That sneaky boy! Anyways, I was coming home to South Jordan Wednesday the 15th because I had an eye appointment the next morning in Sandy. Knowing this, he told me, "I get you Thursday". I knew we'd be going on our actual Valentines Day date, where we would exchange gifts (I made him a deck of cards with 104 things I loved about him) and just enjoy being with each other. He asked me where I'd like to go for dinner that night, emphasizing that I could go anywhere I wanted. I picked Red Lobster just because I knew it was his favorite place and there was always deals going on there. The date was decided: we would go to Red Lobster at 4:30, indoor rock climbing after that, and then swing by and see Madelyn's concerto night once our arms felt like they were going to fall off.

Thursday, Feb 16th 4:00 p.m.

Nate told me that we wouldn't be coming back to change into climbing stuff after dinner, so he told me to pack some cute climbing clothes. That's when I knew he was acting different, because normally he doesn't care what I wear climbing, since we've been twice together...Once I had my stuff packed, we headed for Red Lobster in Murray. We got drinks and really expensive meals. I just thought, it's Valentine's Day so we're going to splurge a little. Nate was so hot during dinner (He was nervous and excited) and I asked him if he needed to go outside for a minute to cool down.

During our dating life, we asked each other how ready we were to get married to each other. Mine was always higher. The question was brought up tonight and even though I was 100% ready to marry him, I wasn't sure he was, because he was always telling me that we would be getting married July or August. So I said 90%, but he eventually got 100% out of me. I'm kind of a push over.

6:10 p.m.

We finished with dinner and went to his grandparent's house to change into climbing gear. Neither of us brought jackets which was really stupid...It was cold. Once dressed, we headed on the freeway to go to Momentum climbing gym off of 10600 S. by the mall. He got off clear at 7200 S. because "there was so much traffic", and then proceeded to go the complete opposite direction further away from Momentum. We went past Gardner Village and onto 2700 W. until we got 10600 S. I had an idea that he had some sort of a surprise for me, because if any of you know Nate, he hates going slow. I told him I wanted to pay for climbing because he bought dinner, but he said that he had it taken care of already.

SKIP TO HERE FOR THE SHORT VERSION!!!!

6:25 p.m.

We got to Momentum Climbing Gym and Nate went up to the guy and said, "I'm Nate. I talked to you earlier." The guy took his card and we were in. I was so excited to go because I hadn't gone in forever. We walk to the north side of the gym and Nate stops in front of the easiest climb possible and tells me to climb it. I knew I hadn't been for a long time, but come on, I could have done that easy! So I told him to go and I'd belay him. I even made him put on my dad's climbing shoes. He really wanted me to go first so I get all hooked up, and he says, "Wait! I have to go the bathroom!" So he goes over there, but I watched him to make sure that's really where he went, because I knew something was weird. He comes back and I climb to the top, and at the top is a Ring Pop taped up there. I started to get excited and confused and asked him, "Is that for me?". He said, "No, that one's from my brother, but if you want the real one you're going to have to come down!" Instantly, my legs started shaking, because I wasn't sure I had heard him correctly, but I though I had. He kept looking over the side and letting me down ridiculously slow, so I swung over the side to see what he was looking at. The first thing I thought was, "Wow. Everyone's here". My family, Nate's family, and some of Nate's extended family was all there. Brad had a bunch of roses in his hand. I can't even believe what's going on! I finally get down after forever, and Nate gets down on one knee and says, "Will you accept me for my strengths and weaknesses and marry me?". I was so shocked, but of course I said yes!!! We were both shaking so bad he could hardly get the ring on my finger and we were engaged!!

I'm so excited to marry my best friend!! We are getting married on May 24th and I couldn't be happier! He is the best guy for me and I love him to pieces! I can't wait to be Mrs. Jackson for time and all eternity!!

"BIG A STAR STAR" SHOW! (as my dad calls it...)

I found out about the Big A** show through listening to the X96 radio station. I bought tickets right after I had heard about it. My wonderful boyfriend came with me along with my sis and her friend. It was a blast! We saw Switchfoot, Anberlin, Neon Trees (by far the best band that we saw?), and Panic at the Disco (the lead singer got malaria, so the other singers pitched in to help). Pictures are more fun than words so here you go:

Right when we arrived, it was starting to rain = Lauren looks like a wet dog :)


Lead singer of Switchfoot. He literally was 15 feet away from us!!


Us with Brogan Kelby... yeah we didn't know who he was either...

Just hangin' out :) waiting for Anberlin


Anberlin in the flesh!!


After we saw Neon Trees! Best one by far, and notice by my wet bangs that it rained...

If he pulls this face, I can't help but laugh :) Us watching Panic at the Disco.

I had such a good time at the concert! Nate always makes my weekends more fun :)

Catch up time!

It's been a while since I've written. I'm not worried because there's maybe 5 people that read this blog haha.

So going back clear to November 24th! Nate came up for Homecoming weekend :) He got to Logan Friday night and we went on a triple date with his cousin Trevor, and Amanda (my roomie) and Matt (her beau). We started off clear out by the Wal-Mart in Providence. The goal was to flip a coin, and if it was heads, you turned right and if it was tails, you turned left at a stop sign or stop light. The goal was to get to Chilis in less than 30 minutes and the loser paid for everyone's dinner. We could only flip this coin. We started off going in circles, and I tried so hard to be honest each time. Sometimes when Nate would say, "Ok we NEED a tails on this one" magically it would happen... (I didn't cheat... maybe). Anyways, we were last to the arrive at Chilis and I was so nervous that Nate would have to pay... but all the boys were nice to him and he only paid for me :)

Miniature golfing with my date. Isn't he handsome?


I love this girl!!

He had never seen the Logan temple before, so we went there and took lots of pictures. I'll only put a few up...

Right after becoming true aggies!

Chicag- OH! So close...

I'm in the beautiful city of Chicago for Annual Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Conference!! I'm so excited! What could be better? I'm missing school, and I don't have to do any homework for the rest of the week. I miss Nate, but I'm seeing him next week :)

The trip here started out as a good one. We flew from Salt Lake to Minneapolis and I sat by the coolest woman. People who know me know that I'm a very friendly person especially with strangers, so naturally I asked her where she was from and where she was headed. She said, "I'm going to go see my boo, you know girl? He's a football player up in Wisconson" She busted out her sweet iPad2 and showed me a picture of him. "He's fine right?" She's dating a Green Bay Packer! Crazy huh? The more I got to know her, the cooler she became. She is a legit model and knows all these famous people. She told me she's been modeling since she was 18 and she's traveled all over the world for her job. "I tried bein' married for six years, but he was the wrong guy for me." She knows tons of famous people. Once again, busted out the iPad2 and showed me pictures of her modeling and a bunch of pictures of her with famous people like Nelly and Little Jon and Sean Paul. I just kept thinking to myself, her life is SO much different than mine is. I'm just this geeky Mormon and she has people make her look stunning every day. I've never met anyone like her in my life. It was such a fun plane ride. Oh, one more thing that I can think of right now. I felt really cheap sitting next to her with my "Engineers are Sexy" shirt and my worn out jeans. She had to have been wearing $300 jeans at least, and she was wearing a head wrap thing. She looked legit. I can't imagine living that kind of lifestyle. Having people buy you extremely nice things, having your own body guard and driver, staying in a mansion in Africa, going to Paris, Germany, etc...
Even though she's extremely cool and I was a little star struck without really knowing her, I'm still grateful to be going to school and living in Utah, and dating the most fantastic man ever :)

Tomorrow is workshops and more workshops until I pass out from fatigue. More updates tomorrow!!