I am DAYS (maybe even hours) away from completing my graduate program at LMU, and I am now procrastinating. Summer season is upon us, and one of our favorite things to do every summer is go to the OC Fair. It's become a tradition for us to go to the fair and grub on some yummy, deep-fried, fatty goodness. I know a few of my familia and friends who just came back from the Del Mar Fair (Mia or should I say Nila! & Branna!). I can't wait for the OC Fair to roll around. It is also tradition to take a photobooth picture. This above shot was taken in 2009 with our dearest sisters :D This was also an epic night because we discovered Derrick's favorite beer: Dos Equis!!! Yesssss good times indeed. I am counting down the hours.
After daily Mass ended, I lingered in the Chapel. The Chapel is one of my favorite places in the world (yes, the whole world!). I didn't notice that as I stayed behind my family slowly disappeared and I was left with Derrick. We went together to the Blessed Sacrament to pray and spend some time with Jesus.
After we were done praying, I felt a sense of peace and happiness. It was nice being in my second home, being in the Chapel, and being with my beloved. :) Derrick led us into a pew, and we sat down and chatted.
It was a special moment, a time where the world went on and there was nothing but the two of us. For a split second, it crossed my mind that this would be a sweet proposal. I quickly brushed that idea aside because I knew that marriage was a reality in the future, not the present (Derrick had done a great job convincing me it wouldn't happen for at least 3 or 4 years...). In the middle of our conversation, we were approached by two Seattle U friends, George and Kat. (Again, I didn't know this was part of the plan! They were spies!) Once we parted ways, Derrick said it was time to return back to my family. We walked outside the Chapel, enjoying the soft sun and pleasant day.
Derrick stopped me again in front of the reflection pool and shared more sweet sentiments. Before I knew it, I realized that this seemed more than a romantic moment, an anniversary celebration, or sweet love letter It was going to happen, Derrick was about to propose.
And lo and behold, Dante Derrick David got down on one knee, asked me to spend the rest of his life with him, starting now, and presented me with a gorgeous dream ring!
However, the proposal wasn't quite over yet. Derrick said he wanted to share this moment with a few of our loved ones. This was the next vision I saw:
Family and friends from California and Seattle came together to be part of our Engagement! It was amazing and beautiful to see and feel all the love and support from so many people. So while many of you tease me and love to remind me of my "ugly cry" (see below),
I remember the feeling of being overwhelmed and overjoyed by the amount of love and support we have been blessed with. Oh and the fact that I was going to spend the rest of my life with the love of my life :) It was FORREAL now!
I love you lots!
So sad, huh? That's how he feels :( heheh Actually, this pic was taken at his birthday celebration a few years ago with his fellow April Celebrants: DAV and Reg (aka Ate). We had a water balloon fight and other sorts of game, just like a childhood picnic!
He was probably feelin' all the love at Dee and Dav's wedding (or was simply giddy because he was tipsy. ohps. :D )
Cali Love
Happy Monday everyone! Hope you had a great Mother's Day with your mommies or if you are mommies, with your kiddos :) Storytime with the picture: This was taken in Seaport Village in San Diego. Cute lil' spot with shops and places to eat. It is also very picturesque, hence the reason we have a photo here taken at sunset. We rarely have sunset shots because typically we part ways about that time of the weekend or we're at Mass or we're eating... Anyhoo, thought the sunset and water was very lovely in this shot. Hopefully we get to come back soon! 
This pic was taken a few years back at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. The Getty has great art, pretty outdoor picnic spots, and a nice view of LA from downtown to the water! For those out-of-towners coming in for the wedding, this is a beautiful spot to check out! I definitely hope to return for a romantic picnic with my future husband :)
Here's a pic of Dante and I last May at the Hotel Cafe for our very first KINA GRANNIS concert! Kina Grannis = amazing!!! I found her a couple years back (thanks for Barbra!) who sent me a link to attend an Asian American event in LA. I didn't attend, but I was mesmerized by Kina's voice. She was singing with other Asian American artists, performing a cover of Chris Brown's "Forever." Decided to youtube this girl, and it was one of the best things I ever did! Found my study buddy music and newfound appreciation/admiration for Kina! Derrick soon fell in love with her too. * sigh *We got to meet Kina at Hotel Café and she is the sweetest! We even got to hug her! (We have pics to prove.)
We love Kina so much, we decided to go to another concern in the fall. This time, we got a picture of her with both of us included!
Kina, you’re an inspiration! And it all started with this:
Love, it's a special day
We should celebrate and appreciate
that you and me found something pretty neat
And I know some say this day is arbitrary
But it's a good excuse, put our love to use,
Baby, I know what to do,
Baby, I will love you
I'll love you, I'll love you.
To check out Kina Grannis: http://www.kinagrannis.com/
Youtube her!: http://www.youtube.com/user/kinagrannis
Here's a pic from our second time hanging out! We're kickin' it at Dave and Busters with (from top left around the table) Marites, Meechy, Ate (me, Derrick) GP, Angie, and Kathee! Derrick didn't know he was in love with me yet at this point. He was playing cool guy in his denim shorts. And look how he and GP matches so! Awwww so cute! Derrick started to talk to me a couple times here. I suppose that Corona loosened him up ;) Good times, friends!
This is a silly pic of us. It was taken in my room in Montana. After Derrick and I became official in Seattle, we knew we had 3 long months of a long-distance relationship before I moved back home to Cali. Well, being the sweet romantic he is, Derrick planned a surprise by visiting me in good ol' Big Sky Country Montana :) Just days after we parted ways in Seattle, he purchased a ticket to Montana and mailed me proof of his surprise. He flew out a couple months later in late July, and we spent a few days together. It was great having there, being able to show him Montana and spending time with my JV roommates. The above picture is a tribute to my JVC roomies: COURTNEY, ERIN, HEATHER, & MEGAN. These girls knew how much Derrick and I missed each other and figured we'd spend most of our time "spooning." As a prank, the girls decided to hide SPOONS all over my room, tucked in my bed, in my drawers, on the dressers, in my shoes, they were literally EVERYWHERE! Although the pic did not capture it, we were holding a jar full of spoons! Good one, ladies!!! 
College Sweethearts? Kinda, I suppose. :) The nice thing about being in graduate school at the same time is an understanding of our incredibly demanding schedules. Homework is not fun, but it becomes more "do-able" knowing that Derrick and I are doing our work together. We've had a few study dates at our respective school libraries and many a weekend at home, working on readings, papers, and projects. Oh the life. It's nice to know that Derrick has about 2 more weeks to go and I have 7 more. Cheers to that! Raise your Hefeweizen (or Dos Equis...whatever you like), people! You know we will when we're done!
Why does Derrick's hair look as flowy as Kirs'?
My alter-ego "Tita Baby" performing at Seattle U's United Filipino Club Barrio Fiesta!
Nipples and bowl cuts.
Clearly, this is how Derrick fell in love with me: CHEMISTRY GOGGLES!
I love this pic! This was photographed by our dear friend Dianne during a Days Picnic/Reunion a few summers ago. I do NOT (I repeat DO NOT) love Derrick's hair in the pic. Long hair on Dante is not okay with me. But I accept him, nonetheless. (Babe, no you can't grow it out for the wedding. Thank you :) And for my friends encouraging it, please don't. hahaha)
I had this picture as the background of my phone for quite awhile. This was taken at Disneyland, a place we like to spend our very little free time. Kudos to one of our favorite couples, Carla & Eric, for this picture. 
As many of you know, Derrick proposed at the Chapel of St. Ignatius on the Seattle University campus (my alma mater!). The Chapel is a very sacred place for many people, and in our relationship, it holds a special place as well. The Chapel of St. Ignatius is where Derrick and I first celebrated Mass together when we first started dating. For those of you who don't know our relationship history, we started out as long-distance friends ("penpals" as Joseph Spencer would call it ;). Our friendship turned into like and eventually into love. After 5 months of talking long distance, we decided to meet up in Seattle. Seattle is where we first became official as a couple! And as previously stated, the Chapel is where we first celebrated Mass together. I remember sitting in the Chapel in prayer, thanking God that I found a man with whom I can share my faith with and grow in relationship with Christ at the center.
