A Very Happy Engagementine's Day!

Before Lisette's 30th birthday, Doug said he was thinking of buying her a claddagh ring, and he asked me for her ring size.

"A claddagh ring? He's so full of it," said Dave. "He just thought that was a clever way to ask her ring size."

I don't know if he was right or not, but I do know he gave her no such ring.

Then one night in December, I got this:

...and so it began. Over the next couple of weeks, we swapped ideas, I shared pictures, and I bit my tongue and didn't tell a single sister. (At least not at first.)

Things got real when I got this:

Which led, happily, to this:

And then yesterday, this:

I spent the entire evening jumping every time my phone buzzed. Finally Lisette sent out a text telling us about Doug's surprise birthday gift of symphony tickets, and then, at long last, this:

We were SO HAPPY!!! Especially Brent, whose first response was this:

I do believe, Thug. I do.

And finally, there was this:

After all that planning, I'm not totally surprised by this response. I thought about Doug all day and kept saying to Dave, "He must be so nervous! Do you think he's nervous? I bet he's so excited. But so nervous!!!" But man, was it a job well done.

I think I speak for all of us when I say that I am SO happy and giddy and excited and HAPPY! This is the best thing ever ever. I spoke with Dad after he talked to Doug and he said, "You know, I just like this man so much. I really think he's one of the good ones." I think he spoke for us all, too. Welcome, Doug, welcome!

Cheers to the happy couple. Oh, and happy birthday, Lisette! I think 31 will be the best year ever!