NEW BLOG SITE!!!

Brian and I are combining forces. From now on, check us out at http://thebabcocksworld.blogspot.com.

Link to Wedding Photos

I absolutely LOVE our wedding photographer. She did such a great job. and I also want to give a shout out to photoshop, who keeps my skin looking amazingly porcelain. Check out the photos on Kate Benson's blog: http://kmbfoto.blogspot.com/ As of now, we're the first ones that pop up but in case that changes soon, you can just scroll down to us. love you all!!!

MARRIED!!!

Mission President: Santiago, Chile!!!

Could this February be more eventful??? I think not. My parents have officially received their call to serve as Mission President in the Santiago North mission. Wooo Hoooo! "Living the Dream!" Can't wait to go visit.

I'm an AUNT!!!

This February keeps getting better and better!!! Collin & Linds welcomed Sean "The Beefcake" Timothy Swenson into the world last night (on his daddy's birthday) at a whopping 9lbs 6oz. Check out those newborn cheeks!!! He's a lucky son of a gun to come to such amazing parents. Can't wait to meet the little(/kinda huge) guy!!!

Made of Stone?

So apparently I'm made of stone. At least that's what I've been told when people hear I didn't cry when Brian proposed. I was so excited it didn't even cross my mind to cry! But the "made of stone" comment has prompted me to post this picture which was taken in December at Gladstone's, my favorite restaurant, where Brian broached the topic of marriage for the first time, asked for my ring size, and I cried some very happy tears... or at least I let them float around in my eyes for a while before blinking them away... Enjoy. =)

Boring January makes for the Best February EVER

Happy Engagement to Me!!! Brian proposed in the most surprising and romantic way. He continues to amaze me and I'm still trying to figure out how I snagged him. Cannot WAIT to marry this guy.
The Story:
For 2 years now I've been trying to plan a trip to New York to visit my BFF Ashley Burnett. Her 25th birthday was coming up and it's always a big event and I hate not spending it with her so I booked my flight and took a couple days off work to go celebrate. Brian was invited but with the recent switch from taxes to valuations, he didn't think it was a good idea to take time off. New York was AMAZING. Ashley had us on a schedule - literally she sent out a 4 page itinerary detailing every aspect of the weekend. There were 3 friends flying in for the party, one that had never been to NYC before so we wanted to make sure we got everything in. I went to Madison Ave and visited Ash at Polo Ralph Lauren where she works, we ate at delicious restaurants, played pool, went dancing, went shopping on 5th Ave & in China Town, got manicures, played the huge piano at FAO Schwartz, ran around the city in the rain & went to a poetry slam. So much fun.

Saturday morning we woke up early and got dressed up to go to the Phantom of the Opera. We put in our names at a cute brunch place called SaraBeth's and then during the hour wait, we walked over to Central Park for Ash to show us her favorite spots. We had our camera's out taking pictures as we walked up the stairs to Belvedere's Castle - this beautiful spot that overlooks the park & the city. I came up the stairs and turned to see Brian in a black pea coat (not a necessary detail but he just looked so cute) with a bouquet of gorgeous red roses. I just stood there and stared. It took so long for it to compute what was going on. Here's the inner dialog... "He looks like Brian... he IS Brian... why is Brian in New York?? Why does he have those roses??? Is he doing what I think he's doing?!?!?!" I looked at Ash for some answers and she motioned for me to go over to him - finally he'd had enough of my standing there and he goes "Get Over Here!" so I ran to him. Yes, ran. Pictures and video will prove it might not have been the best option since it doesn't make for the most flattering shots, but I didn't even think about it and bolted to him. After a hug, I went to kiss him and he gave me a quick one and pushed me away so he could drop to a knee. (Literally pushed. Pretty funny.) After a number of very sweet words, he made me an offer I couldn't refuse. We called our parents and squealed the good news and then joined the group for brunch, went to Phantom as planned, hit up Times Square, more good food, shopped at Century 21, saw the Statue of Liberty and went to Wall Street before crashing at Ashley's. A perfect weekend.
The thing that still surprises me is how in the world did this all work out so perfectly? How did they arrange it so I'd be showered and dressed nice, nails freshly manicured??? Anyone who knows me knows the likelihood of any of those things happening on a weekend that I'm on vacation without my boyfriend are slim to none. And how did he get there looking so nice?? His amazing friend, Christine, drove down from Connecticut, picked him up from the airport, took him to a friend of Ashley's to shower up, and drove him to the park in time to meet me. It was brilliant. The perfect surprise.

Ali Babcock... not bad right?

DECEMBER!!!

(Krista Davis & I at the ward Christmas party. Don't you love the couple in the background? Does that scream awkward stake dance to anyone else?)

I do love a good December - jam-packed with holiday spirit, Christmas music, hot chocolate, sitting by the fire, pajamas all day long and guilt-free gluttonous eating. This year I also added 3 formal Christmas dances (aka 3 excuses to borrow Kate's prom dresses), a golf tournament, 2 trips to Newport Beach, Christmas in Pittsburgh & New Years in Denver. (Ignore how ridiculous I look... don't you love our matching outfits! It looks like we're going to Prom.)

There may be some of you that are still hung up on the golf tournament thing... so for those of you thinking... "Ali doesn't play golf!" You would be correct. And that's exactly what I said when I was asked to play. Not only do I not play but I've only been to the driving range once. But I was repeatedly told that it didn't matter and, in a moment of weakness, gave in to the idea. I was feeling so inadequate that I bought an argyle shirt in hopes that it would magically transform me into Annika Sorenstam. Shockingly that didn't do that trick. However despite my complete lack of skill, I managed to par one hole and hit the green on 2. I was pretty proud.

Christmas was better than ever this year and I'm having the hardest time verbalizing why. The whole family spent the entire time together - playing games and hanging out. We did everything as a group. I almost wish I were kidding when I say "we" (read "I") spent the entire vacation in pajamas. We played speed scrabble until I was permanently formed to the chair. We watched countless hours of old Friends episodes. We settled Catan to our little hearts' content. We all got to feel baby Sean kicking and stretching like crazy in adorable Lindsay's tummy. The poor kid doesn't have much room in there these days. And best of all, we talked to E. He's such a stud.

(How happy is my cute mother!!! Another round of scrabble?!?!?!?!? YES PLEASE!!!)

(I told you she was adorable! 5 weeks and counting!!!)

(Those would be my pajamas. And those would be scrabble tiles. Any my dad would be...ducking to make sure he's in the timer picture?? I think you made it pops.) =)

For New Years, it was off to Littleton to meet the rest of the Babcock crew. Lucky, lucky me. Jan cooked up a storm and let me tell you - she's a force to be reckoned with. From midnight until 1am, Tom showed us a sweet documentary on Zions National Park that I have to admit I was into. (Don't worry, we balanced it out with a lot of football bowl games.) Mike & Kelly and the sweetest, most adorable, and energetic 3 kids I've ever met had me laughing like crazy. Madison loved speed scrabble, as long as her team was winning, Carter showed us his video gamer moves, as long as Brian was there to cheer him on, and Brookie the Wookie just wanted a blue tongue.

Still craving my time there and wish we all could have stayed for just a little longer, For Pete Sakes!

(Happy New Year!! Kissy kissy!)(How pretty is Colorado?? Not bad. As you've probably guessed - we took a jumping picture here but I'll spare you this time.)