I think that I've been concerned about my future husband enjoying his career for pretty much my whole life. It's always been important to me that my husband can go to work and actually enjoy what he's doing every day. So ever since the day I started dating Jake, it's been a relief to know how much he completely and utterly LOVES his job! Jake is a software engineer for a company called Podium. I'm always telling people that when I see Jake after work each day and ask him how work was, he's constantly saying things like, "It was SO great!" "We had so much fun today!" "Today was so productive and great!" It makes me laugh every time, because I've never known anyone who just loved what they do so much! But it's not just the job, it's definitely the company as well. Podium has been so good to Jake, and I couldn't be more grateful that he works for such an awesome company. 

We went to the Podium Christmas party last night, and it was so fun to celebrate the growth of the company and meet more of the people Jake works with. Jake got some awesome swag, and they even gave the spouses a matching sweatshirt. So you bet that as soon as we got home, Jake and I put on our matching sweatshirts and then turned on The Force Awakens to prepare for the new Star Wars movie that just came out. 

Haha, life is so sweet. 

Oh, p.s. only 28 days until I get to seal the deal with the hottest man to ever walk the Earth!

CHRISTMAS TREE HUNTING

Merry KISSmas, ammiright, people???

I had NEVER been hunting for a real Christmas Tree, (or even ever had a real Christmas Tree!) so when Jake told me that we were gonna go up to the cabin to go hunt for a Christmas Tree, I was SO EXCITED! We were super fast in finding and cutting down the tree, and by the time we got it in the house, it just felt like it was always meant to be there. ;) Plus, Jake has a funny pooping story (which I won't share here--you're welcome) that we'll always be able to tell our kids when we talk about our first Christmas Tree together, haha! Love every single adventure with my favorite guy.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Halloween night was so much fun for me and my inner desire to be a mom, haha. We stayed in to have a dinner with Jake's friend Kyle and his date, and I got to pass out candy to all the little kids that came by! I loved seeing all of them in their cute costumes! The best part was when our nephews stopped by! This was the best October, and Jake helped me do everything I wanted to do. He's the best! Happy Halloween! --Now pass the turkey!! 

It was back in August that I bought tickets for Jake and I to go see Thriller at Tuacahn in St. George! I get so excited for it every single year! We had to drive down the morning of and then back home early the next morning, but I think it was worth it! 

(If you ask Jake, you might not get the same answer, haha. poor guy!) 

PUMPKING CARVING + HAUNTED FOREST

With only a few days left in October, I've been wanting to fit in as many of the Halloween activities as possible! We were finally able to carve pumpkins, right before the season ends! Nathan, Lance, and I went to the pumpkin patch to pick out a few good pumpkins before Jake came over. Once he met up with us, we turned on some Halloween music and got to carving! I did Frankenstein, Nathan did a ghost face, and Jake did Heisenberg, haha. It was so good to finally spend some time with Nathan. It had been TOO long, and I've really been missing him lately! 

A few days later, Jake and I went to the Haunted Forest, and DANG, was it scary! I may or may not have peed my pants a little....

MURDER IN THE '80'S!

80's MURDER MYSTERY DINNER PARTY! 

I throw a murder mystery dinner party every year, and it it one of my favorite traditions with some of my best friends. :) 

Definitely did not disappoint this year! 

WE'RE ENGAGED!

Jake was somehow able to pull off the BEST SURPRISE of my life!! 

It was a Wednesday, and Jake and I originally had plans to carve pumpkins with Nathan. However, I had woken up with a cold that morning, and my mom didn't want me getting too close to Nathan. So about an hour before we were supposed to carve pumpkins, I sent Jake a text letting him know that we'd need to make other plans, and I suggested watching TV or something, haha. Jake immediately calls me and says that we should go fishing one more time before it gets too cold for the season. I agreed, and we decided to meet up an hour later. 

Jake picked me up at my house, looking very fresh I might add, and from there we drove up to his parents' to grab the fishing stuff. We both got nostalgic on our drive, talking about how we went fishing on our first date, and about all the fun and special moments and dates we've had since then. After picking up the fishing gear, we headed to Deer Creek to do our fishing. 

Jake had been mentioning for a few months that he wanted to get a cool time lapse, so while I was setting up our chairs, Jake was setting up his camera to get a time lapse "of the water." 

We start fishing, and after a few unsuccessful casts, Jake suggests we try a new bait. I knew we wouldn't stay long, because I was pretty sick and it was pretty cold, but I said I wanted to try one more cast with that bait, and then we'd switch it. 

When it's time to switch the bait, Jake got up and walked over the the tackle box, and knelt down in front of it. He asked me to come stand in front of him and hold up the fishing pole. As I'm standing there holding the fishing pole, I notice Jake fumbling around in his sock, (I couldn't see his socks at this time, but they said "MARRY ME" and had a little tiny pocket to hold the ring in!) and I realize that he's on one knee, and that this is probably the moment he's going to propose! After a few seconds, he says, "Kalynn Eve Petersen..." .... "Will you marry me?" 

I was stunned! I looked up at the camera that he had planted, that was taking pictures every couple of seconds, and back at him, just in shock! I was the one who changed the plans! How did he surprise me so well?! After a few seconds I blurted out, "ABSO-FREAKIN-LUTELY!"

He put the ring on my finger, we kissed and hugged, and I was surprised for the rest of the night! It was incredible, and it was perfect.

Afterwards, we cleaned up our fishing gear and went to dinner up at Sundance, where he had Sunflowers waiting on our table for me.

We spent the night eating our dinner and gushing to our families about our engagement. 

I am THE absolute luckiest girl that has ever lived, because I get to spend my life with God's very best.

I LOVE JAKE HASLER!

PUMPKING PATCH-ING + HAY-RIDING

Disclaimer: THIS IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT. Not pregnant. Not married. Not even engaged, haha. Jake just wanted to do this pose for some reason. Must be a little baby hungry or something. Poor guy.

 Last night we were able to get together with our friends Berkley and Corey for dinner! Jake cooked up some of my favorite chicken and zucchini, they brought the most delicious salad and some chips and salsa. We were all fed real good last night! We wanted to finish the night off with a haunted hayride, but you would be surprised at how difficult those are to find on a week night! After searching through out options, we ended up heading down to Provo to McCoard's Corn Maze for a little hayride through the pumpkin patch and snagging some free pumpkins. We had a blast! Getting to hang out with these two is always a special treat for us. :) 

I feel so lucky to have such great friends!

Only two weeks left to fit in all the Halloween activities! 

FALL DATE NIGHT + ANOTHER BABY BLESSING

I think I’ve been talking about how excited I am for Autumn since July. October is my favorite month, (I mean, my birthday is this month! It’s gotta be my favorite by default, ammiright?) and I look forward to it all year, every year. I love to fill it with as many Fall activities as I can! And Saturday, Jake was the one to make sure that happened. 

We started off our evening by taking a drive through the Alpine Loop. It is stunning this time of year! Also—you really can’t beat a drive with Jake. One of my favorite hidden talents of his is his rapping. I don’t know what it is, but I really love it when he starts rapping to some normal music, haha!  Once we made it to the end of the Loop, we went to Jake’s parents’ house where his dad had made H A N D S D O W N the BEST homemade chili that I’ve ever tasted. I’ve been talking to Jake about Chili for weeks I think, and this chili did not disappoint. I’m not kidding. I could go on and on. S O G O O D!!!  From there we headed up to Sundance again, but this time to do the zipline! If you haven’t done this, well…you really should. You get to go on a nice ride on the lift in the Full Moon light, and then you get to zipline back down! In the pitch black night. It was exhilarating and oh, so thrilling.  Afterwards we went home and turned on the Haunted Mansion, and I fell asleep in Halloween Heaven. 

On Sunday morning, we were able to go to my nephew’s baby blessing! Kailor is the cutest baby. I could hold him forever! He’s got the most darling dark hair, and it’s safe to say I’m obsessed. I mean, just look at him!! 

TIM + FAITH!!!!!!!

It was clear back in February that I bought two tickets for Cami and I to go see Faith Hill and Tim McGraw in concert. I wanted to give them to her for her birthday, which wasn't until May, so I had to keep them a secret for 3 months! THEN the concert wasn't until September 27th, so we had even longer to wait! FINALLY after what seemed like an eternity, the day came and we were able to fulfill a life-long dream of seeing Tim and Faith on tour. They blew our highest expectations out of the water! I was amazed by their talent, and literally brought to tears at one point by their love for each other, haha. It's so cheesy, but I'm just super proud of them for being famous and staying married for 21 years with no end in sight?! They're seriously just incredible people. It was the most incredible show. It's gotta be all downhill from here!

DEMOLITION DERBY

I remember my first Demolition Derby like it was yesterday. I was 12 years old, and I had been invited to go with a friend's family. I had no idea what a Demolition Derby even was, but I was hooked as soon as the car-smashing began! But it's not every day that you find other people that also love Demolitions Derbies; they're a tad bit red-neck, haha. So when Berkley texted me and asked if Jake and I wanted to go with her and Corey, I was SO STOKED! The derby definitely did not disappoint, and neither did our company. Berk and Corey are some of our favorite people, and we can't wait for more nights out with them. :) 

FULL MOON AT SUNDANCE

It's been almost two years since my first date with Jake; during which he took me on the Full Moon Lift Ride at Sundance. So when I found out he was planning to take me there again last night, I immediately became ecstatic! I've been itching for Fall to arrive, and it was the perfect way to indulge in a little bit of an early Fall! Up the canyon, the air was crisp and there was a definite chill in the air. Jake wrapped me up in his plaid blanket while we waited for our turn to hop on the lift. On the lift, we got to cuddle and laugh about our first date and wonder how we got to where we are. We're still not that sure, haha, but we couldn't be happier.

We tried so hard to take a good picture, but it was so dark outside that every time the flash went off, I couldn't keep my eyes open! We have so many pictures of Jake lookin' fresh, and me lookin' like a dead person. Although, that's pretty typical no matter the circumstances haha. 

If anyone has any good Fall Bucket List items, send 'em my way!