Thanksgiving in Pittsburgh

This year I celebrated my first Thanksgiving away from home. I went to Pittsburgh, PA where Chris’ mom’s family lives. Driving up Thursday morning was a great way to avoid traffic and get there just in time for turkey. I think there were about 27 people who joined in the festivities and plenty of food for all. I even had my own name tag, although it is covering up the words “Chris’ Current Girlfriend”.

My place at the table

That's not the real turkey

The next morning we braved the Black Friday sales. I couldn’t believe how many people were shopping at 5:30am! I think next year I’ll be staying in my jammies and shopping online.

We’re Engaged!

We’re engaged! What started out (at least for me) as plans for brunch in Annapolis turned into something bigger and more wonderful and extravagant then I could have ever imagined.  As Chris and I were parking near the city dock in Annapolis on Saturday morning he looked over at me and said, “I’m not really hungry yet.” So I replied with, “there’s a Starbucks over there, let’s go get some drinks and walk around the docks.” We headed over to get our drinks and then started strolling around. Chris was taking pictures with his iphone and I was commenting on how the boats were all decorated for the Christmas regatta. Then Chris started making comments about our 4th date, which we spent in Annapolis. We had gone out for drinks, ordered some mussels, were chatting and just totally enamored with each other. Walking down the street to the docks we stopped in for ice cream cones and then headed the rest of the way to the water. We sat on the dock with our legs dangling over the side talking, laughing and kissing. I always told Chris that was my favorite date.

As we continued to stroll along the dock that morning, he was telling me how much he loved me and then all of a sudden he was down on one knee asking me to marry him. I have to admit this is where everything starts to become such a blur. I just kept saying “I love you, I love you…” not sure how many times, but I know I kept going, and I’m pretty sure a yes came out in there somewhere. When I looked down at the tiny box he was holding I saw something sparkly and gorgeous but was too busy hugging, and crying, and laughing and loving to concentrate on the ring. When Chris got the ring out to put it on my finger and I started jumping up and down – it was a gorgeous solitaire diamond, exactly what I had always imagined.

We hugged some more and I told him to get out his camera so we could get a picture and he said not to worry, “Stacie had gotten plenty of pictures already.” I turned around to see Chris’ friend who had been completely incognito waving at us and holding a camera.  What a surprise! She captured the entire proposal for us paparazzi style.

I love you! Yes!

Jumping with excitement

She said yes!

Surprise!

Happy Couple

We immediately called our parents to share the good news. Apparently, Mom and Dad had been waiting by the phone since they suspected there might be some big news this weekend. Chris had already asked their permission for my hand a few weeks ago when they were visiting me in Leesburg. We stopped by the car and Chris handed me a single long stem rose and then we headed up to Chick and Ruth’s Delly for breakfast.

Chick & Ruth's Delly

Of course Chris had made reservations and had even told them he was planning to propose that morning. Well, if anyone has ever been to Chick and Ruth’s they know it is not a large place. It’s a “greasy spoon” sorta hole-in-the-wall, but it’s a famous Annapolis establishment. They had a microphone up front where the owner announced that “the tall blonde at the front of the restaurant was officially off the market and that the reason we couldn’t stop smiling was because we had just gotten engaged.” The room full of patrons clapped and cheered and then we sat down for our breakfast. I ordered pancakes that came out in the shape of hearts and we listened and laughed as a few people came up to the microphone giving us marriage advice and telling jokes.

Then in true Chris DeMay fashion, he sprung another surprise on me. We had to be at the BWI airport by 1:30pm. We were heading to Niagara Falls for the night to celebrate! Luckily I had packed some warm clothes apparently, under the false pretense that we were going for a hike that afternoon.  We drove home in a hurry, packed our bags and headed for the airport, taking turns calling friends and family along the way. Oh, and Chris gave me a gorgeous bouquet of two dozen red roses. They were absolutely stunning.

After a short flight up to Buffalo, we hopped into a town car that Chris had arranged to meet us at the airport; the chauffer holding a sign that said Congrats Chris and Bonnie. Sneakily, Chris had grabbed my passport which was pretty important as we crossed the border into Canada. We stopped off at the duty free store to buy a bottle of champagne and then headed over the Peace Bridge to get to our hotel.

We stayed at the Marriot Niagara Falls Fallsview and Spa. Our room was top notch. It was a two story room on the 17th and 18th floors overlooking both the Canadian and American Falls. We had a living room, bedroom, fireplace, Jacuzzi and two bathrooms! We relaxed for a bit and celebrated with our champagne still glowing with our big news.  For dinner we headed over to the Skylon tower, a revolving restaurant at the top of a building that looks similar to Seattle’s Space Needle.  We enjoyed our meals and although the waiter commented that “no one ever finishes” the dish I ordered, I managed to prove him wrong.  After dinner we went up to the observation decks for another view of the falls. Our dinner also came with tickets to a 3D movie which was pretty much the worst movie either of us had ever seen in any dimension.  We ended the night with a leisurely walk back to our hotel.

Looking down from the 18th floor

Checking out the view

American Falls at Night

The next morning after breakfast we headed out for some Niagara Falls sightseeing. We rode the incline down to the visitor’s center of the Canadian Falls which are shaped like a horseshoe. We bought some ponchos and then headed out to brave the mist.  The falls were spectacular, truly one of Mother Nature’s most awesome creations.  I couldn’t believe how close you could get and that you could pretty much just lean over the railing and look straight down the falls. We walked from the Canadian Falls all the way down to the rainbow bridge taking pictures all along the way and looking at each other saying “we’re getting married!” On the bridge we crossed over the international boundary between the US and Canada. Passports were required when you got to the US side of the bridge. After being admitted back into the US we headed over to Luna Island and Goat Island to hike around the American Falls. The “little” falls off to the right hand side of the American falls are known as the Bridal Veil Falls, pretty appropriate don’t you think?   We took and elevator down to Cave of the Winds and walked out on the boardwalk to the bottom of the Bridal Veil Falls, it was gorgeous and there were rainbows everywhere you looked. We were really glad to have our ponchos with us. Many pictures were taken and then we had to hurry back to the hotel for check out. After check out we took some time to enjoy a bottle of champagne Chris’ dad had sent to the hotel the night before in the cocktail lounge and starting talking about our wedding…when and where and other fun details.

View from our room

Canadian Falls from our room

Rainbow Bridge from Luna Island

Top of Bridal Veil Falls

Bottom of Bridal Veil Falls

With just a little time to kill before we had to head back to the airport we decided to visit the casino down the street.  Lucky for us our winnings from the slot machines paid for our cab ride back to the airport.

The weekend was a wonderful whirlwind adventure filled with memories to last a lifetime. I truly feel like the luckiest girl in the world and I can’t wait to start my life with Chris by my side.  He said to me at some point during the trip that he knew how much I loved water and wanted to incorporate it into his proposal. His choice of the calming waters of the bay and the rushing waters of Niagara Falls really filled the spectrum of our relationship, from the security and serene peace of the harbor to the passionate roaring falls of Niagara. Thank you, Chris for an amazing weekend. We are so excited and can’t wait to celebrate with our family and friends.

We're getting married!

Congrats Kyle and Kelly

Chris’ stepbrother, Kyle and Kelly tied the knot downtown on Nov 14th. After a beautiful ceremony, we headed over to the Sewell Belmont House for the reception which is actually a museum dedicated to womans’ suffrage history. We celebrated with the signature drink of the night – champagne cocktails and then polished off delicious wedding-cupcakes at the end of the night.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take a lot of pictures…

Celebrating

Hot Sunday Night

Last Sunday Chris and I decided to have a different kind of cocktail hour. How about a couple of Flaming Doctor Peppers? Can you see the flames?

Cheers

Luray Caverns

Duff and her boyfriend Jeremy came down to visit for the weekend. We played some crazy games of Taboo, Balderdash, and Cranium.  On Saturday we visited Luray Caverns. They were so gorgeous and the audio tour was fun, especially when you listen to the kids’ version. After touring the caves we went for lunch in Luray which we still swear is Zombieland!

Best Buds

Check out the reflection

Jeremy, Duff, Bonnie, Chris

I’m Goin’ to Disney World

What better excuse for a vacation than to combine it with a work trip, and it’s even better when you’re the tag-along.  Since Chris had to go to Orlando for a recruiting trip we decided to spend some time at Disney World acting like kids again. We had a blast and started off the trip at the Animal Kingdom. It’s a great park with an awesome Safari ride. It was my first time there and Chris even managed to convince me to ride the big, scary Mt. Everest roller coaster.

We decided our last ride should be the Kali River Rapids® just in case we got wet. Well, we got drenched, so what did we do? Rode it again and got even wetter!!!

Chris and Bonnie - SOAKED!

The Tree of Life

At night we went to “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party” at the Magic Kingdom. The castle was all lit-up and the fireworks were amazing – maybe the best I’ve ever seen, coming from all directions in the park and completely lighting up the sky. We didn’t wear costumes but we did wear some fun Halloween shirts! Brains Brains Brains!!!

Happy Halloween

Cinderella's Castle

We spent the next day at Epcot. There is an awesome ride called Soarin’, where you feel like you’re in a hang glider soaring over the California coast. Amazing!!! Another favorite was at the Living Seas where Little Nemo is now a big star. We also toured around the different countries and since the food and wine festival was going on while we were there we had to partake in a few samples. We ate ourselves through the countries starting with a wine and cheese sample, lunch in Mexico, a lobster and scallop pie from the Ireland pavilion, another glass of wine for me and a beer for Chris and then dinner at the Rose and Crown where we watched the Illuminations over the lake. What a great day!

Bonnie, Chris and Nemo

Wine and Cheese

Epcot

From the Japanese Gardens

By day three, we were seriously exhausted and decided to skip the parks and have a lazy lunch at Downtown Disney and then spend the afternoon by the pool. I took a walk down memory lane standing next to Captain Jack’s Restaurant where Auntie and I ate dinner a few times when she took me to Disney when I was 10 years old. A special trip for just the two of us.

Captain Jack's

Happy Halloween

What a fun trip. Looking forward to going back again – Thanks Chris!

 

Search for the Lost Symbol

This Fall, Mom and I both read Dan Brown’s newest book The Lost Symbol so it was fitting that on this year’s “parents weekend” we decided to go on our own search for the lost symbol. Mom and Dad arrived friday night and after we gobbled up an apple crisp we watched Matt Lauers’ interview with Dan Brown about Masons, Washington D.C. and the hidden symbols.  Saturday morning we started off the tour with a trip to the Library of Congress (one of my favorite spots in our nation’s capitol) we took the tour and even snuck a picture of the renowned reading room. We checked out the new visitors center at the Capitol Building and then did a drive by of the Masonic temple on our way to the National Cathedral. It was my first time and the cathedral and it really was gorgeous. There are so many chapels and little nooks to check out.

Library of Congress Reading Room

Library of Congress, View from Visitors Center

National Cathedral

 We didn’t find the Lost Symbol, or maybe we did 😉 – but we did get to see many of the historic locations mentioned in the book. And after our self guided tour we headed to Ray’s the Steaks for dinner. The meal was delicious as always!

The next morning Dad helped me out with a few jobs around the house. Since it was the most beautiful day of the fall we headed down to Great Falls for a little hiking and a picnic. Thanks guys for coming down, we had a blast!

Fixin' up the place.

Me and Mom and Great Falls

Chris and Me

Mom and Dad

Happy Birthday Chris

To celebrate Chris’ birthday I took him on a surprise trip down to Bealton, VA to the Flying Circus where we watched an airshow and took a ride in an open cockpit bi-plane. It was a gorgeous day and you could see clear across the state to the mountains. Our pilot gave us a great ride and even threw in a Wing-Over – wheeee! Chris was totally surprised and loved it!

WWII Bi-Plane

Open cockpit

WWII Training Mission

Army 10-Miler

Chris and I ran the  Army 10-Miler. I think I learned my lesson that it’s a good idea to train for these sort of things. Although I managed to run the whole 10 miles I was dragging by the end. I think the only way I managed to cross the finish line because Chris grabbed my hand and ran with me. The course was beautiful, we started at the Pentagon, ran across the Arlington Memorial Bridge, around the Watergate and Kennedy Center, up Independence Ave to the Capitol Building then back down Independence, behind the Jefferson Memorial and back across the Potomac to the Pentagon. Here’s the map  – http://www.armytenmiler.com/Upload/documents/08%20ATM%20Course%20Map.pdf.

GrowSmartBiz Conference

Over the past three months I had been planning an event for Network Solutions called the GrowSmartBiz Conference focused on providing entrepreneurs with actionable strategies to take back to their business. It was the first time my company hosted an event like this and the first time I had ever been involved in planning something like this.  I’m pleased to say that after many long hours and sleepless nights that the event was a success. Over 400 people attended and we had some really distinguished speakers including Chris Anderson Editor-in-Chief of Wired Magazine and Senator Mark Warner.  My friend Danilo was a panelist on our social media panel, here’s a picture of us.

Bonnie & Danilo