Friday, May 28, 2021

Gabi and Oscar are engaged!


our youngest daughter, gabrielle, is engaged and we are thrilled! oscar is one outstanding man and the two of them make a loving, giving, compatible pair with only a fun and determined outlook on their future together. oscar had spoken to and discussed his plans with paul and i weeks ago so we were anxious for the formal declaration to come to life.

oscar, the kind and thoughtful guy that he is, worked with me and margo on the sly to help create the perfect moment to propose. may 4th, gabi's birthday, seemed just right. oscar wanted the setting to be gabi's childhood home, in the garden with her mom and dad present. margo suggested the perfect proposal place  under the big tree with the tree swing in the back yard next to the bridge over the stream. so with the date and venue set, we worked together to give gabi the best birthday surprise ever.

oscar and gabi had been traveling through north carolina, where oscar had served his mormon mission, so gabi could meet oscar's good friends there and he could share all he loves with her about the area. their plans were to then stop in boulder for gabi's birthday on their way back home to utah. she didn't know that he was also planning on proposing.....in boulder.....on her birthday.

loving, generous, fun-loving, big sister margo secretly flew to denver the night before the big day, rented a car, booked into a hotel to stay hidden and organized the details for the setting. oscar had previously handed the engagement ring over to margo for safekeeping as he was sure gabi would find it while they were traveling. with an impending rainstorm in the forecast, the plans for an evening proposal were changed to a morning proposal so margo was under pressure. she had located a florist in denver with fresh rose petals available and an early open time. so the morning of gabi's birthday, while paul, oscar, gabi and i went to the gym together (gabi still had no clue), margo made a quick, early morning dash into the city, picked up the rose petals, an exquisite proposal bouquet, and headed off to anthropologie to buy the blanket to set under the tree (a birthday gift to gabi from margo and nicole.) margo and i were keeping in close contact texting each other with updates on timing, etc. 

now that margo had all the props she needed, she was ready to set the stage. she drove to the house, parked down the road and waited for the all-clear. after the gym, paul and i told gabi and oscar we'd like to take them to a birthday breakfast at the buff in boulder. so we went home, showered and set off again together. i texted margo to let her know the path was clear and she set to work. margo had a plan which included tying ribbons from the big tree and i remembered the beribboned maypole i had put together for gabi's 5th birthday party so suggested she use those! while we were happily enjoying a beautiful birthday breakfast, margo worked quickly hanging ribbons from the tree, spreading out the birthday picnic blanket, creating a rose-petaled pathway from the back sidewalk, over the bridge to the blanket and laying the bouquet to the side. as we were finishing up at the buff, i got the text from margo that all was ready.

with gabi just happily immersed in enjoying the fun of her birthday, we were all painfully trying to keep calm and talking a little too much. luckily, she was still completely in the dark. 
before we left the buff, i instructed oscar on the final details, 

"when we get home, quickly get out of the car, head to the spot where margo will hand you the ring and you get settled. i will keep gabi in the car for a minute telling her i have something to show her and needed to get her opinion on. i'll tell her i had meant to show and discuss it in the restaurant but forgot to bring it in."

 we got home, paul and oscar got out of the car, gabi fought me for a bit saying she wanted oscar to give his opinion on the project as well but i fought back too which took up the needed time - ha!

gabi got out of the car, began walking to the house then something caught her eye. it was oscar. he was standing across the bridge, under the big tree with ribbons blowing in the wind and wearing a smile as big and beautiful as she had ever seen.........

"yes," she said. "YES!"


photo credit: margo meyer



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