family news

so branson and i decided to get married. we went and looked at rings and branson found the perfect one... but it takes 10-15 days for it to be made and shipped back to the store. so we decided to keep our unofficial engagement kinda secret. we just didn't have a story of how he asked, or a ring to show for it... so we decided not to tell a lot of people. but the hebdon family birthday party was on saturday and this is how we decided to let them know:

when i told my siblings that branson and i were going to get married, the responses were quite different from each of the 7. and braden's was my favorite. we were sitting in church, and everyone else knew, but knew not to say anything yet. the meeting ended and i leaned over to braden and said, "i have to tell you a secret... branson and i are getting married." he looked at me with huge eyes, kinda asking for confirmation and then punched his fist into the air and said, "I'M GETTING A NEW BROTHER!!"

cutest thing i've ever seen.

so my mom and i were trying to figure out the best way to announce this at the party during our 'family news'. (sidenote: at every family party, we go down the line of families, announcing anything new or noteworthy - usually marriages, new babies, moving info, graduations, baptisms, etc... anything really) so we decided then would be the best time. all the families would be there or at least represented, so we sat patiently through the family news and waited until they got to my mom (who is the 6 out of 7). she announced that austin had received his mission call, that bryson just finished the play at evergreen and then said, "and braden has an announcement..."

braden looked up and said "i'm getting a new brother on july 12th!" and i kinda tensed - "its june" i whispered. mom corrected him and said, "i think its june 12th, brade." "oh yeah! i'm getting a new brother on june 12th!"

all eyes turned immediately to my mom who has been known to keep her pregnancies a secret until she was insanely far along - with pie face, i think she told people in september and she was born in november. so she's good at hiding it. so instantly, people were a little upset slash happy to hear it. my mom, the great actress that she is, just stood there for a minute and smiled, laughing to herself. then said, "not me... i'm not pregnant... shanna's bringing a new brother into the family. branson and shanna are getting married on june 12th."

people were a little relived and when they put it all together, were really excited and came over and congratulated us.

but i can't tell you how hilarious it was to see the look on some of their faces! ha ha i wish i had pictures! priceless.

but now its out, slowly but surely, and the world is starting to find out our little secret... but technically its still not "official". there's no ring on my finger. and he hasn't "asked" the question. but in reality it is. we're getting married on june 12th. we have a temple date and everything else squared away. the reception site is booked, the luncheon is also. the dress will be bought this week, etc.

but still no ring. apparently it takes eternity to make.
good thing that's how long i have with branson.
ha ha

and who knows? maybe its just burning a whole in branson's pocket and he wants me to be surprised. we shall see.