As I’m about to travel home this weekend for my niece Abby’s 1st birthday, I remembered that I forgot to write a blog I promised Alison. My brother, Kyle, got engaged Christmas Eve to his girlfriend of six-years Shannon. I got to set up and witness the entire thing and to see the utter shock and happiness all within seconds come over her face. It filled me with so much joy. I cannot wait to finally welcome Shannon into my family. And as big as my family is, we are all so excited and cannot wait to have another family member to add to this crazy bunch. I thought I’d share the story of the day and some of the pictures I happened to capture as I was hiding in my little corner.

The corner I was hiding in during the proposal.

I was working at Cafe Caturra my part-time job, in the back rolling silverware when one of my co-workers came back and said a guy and a girl are here to see you so. I came out front and I was surprised to see it was my brother and his friend Lauren. He said I have something to tell you. I braced   myself for bad news as a huge smile came over his face and he said, “I just bought Shannon an engagement ring.” I automatically teared up and hugged him. I couldn’t believe my brother was getting married. After my initial shock left me, I went into planning mode. Kyle told me since he finally decided to purchase the ring, he just couldn’t wait any longer to propose. So, we decided Christmas break was perfect.

Our neighborhood surrounds a man-made lake and has a beautiful clubhouse in front of it. Since it was winter, Kyle decided that’s where he wanted to propose. Shannon and Kyle have spent many memorable times at the lake, and it was the perfect place for him to surprise Shannon with the engagement. It was already decorated with Christmas decorations and the amazing Paula who works at the store with us, sent me home with a  box full of tea light candles to add the finishing touches.

The day finally came and Kyle wasn’t nervous at all. He had chosen the song he was going to play during the moment his best friend, Andrew, had arrived from Winston-Salem to celebrate. Of course I was there to help out as well, and  Shannon was still clueless. So, we started to set up the clubhouse.

Thanks Paula for the candles!Andrew lighting all the candles

Practicing his pose

The plan was for Shannon to eat with her friend Heather. Heather was also recently engaged and asked Shannon to come with her to a meeting with her wedding photographer with her in Biltmore Lake, where we live, Shannon of course would agree  to go with Heather. Then instead of Heather pulling into  where her fake photographer lives she pulled into the lake parking lot and informed Shannon she had to blindfold her. Kyle is hiding in a bush at this point and walks up and opens the door. Shannon hears his voice, and he  walks her to the clubhouse and then unties her blindfold in front of the tree. Here are some fun pictures of us trying to find his hiding spot before she arrives.

I made him pose with this tree. I'm pretty sure I quoted, "Look manly, it's your last shot as a single man!"

Trying to find a good hiding place

And of course, the plan went just as we hoped. Except Shannon was more shocked than we thought she would be. Once blindfolded she said she knew what was coming but, she was just so shocked that Kyle never got to actually be one one knee, so that previous picture is the only picture I got of him on one knee. But, the love and the happiness that consumed the room cannot even put into words. So I’ll just share my last pictures with you. Sorry for the poor quality, keep in mind I’m not the best photographer and I was hidden in a corner

They're ENGAGED! She said Yes!