Deep into finals studying...

...and all I can think about is this guy!...And how excited I am to see him on Friday!!



I thought long-distance relationships were hard but long-distance engagements are even harder. All I want to do is be with him and plan our wedding...but instead I have to study the Bankruptcy Code and ways to manage risk in Real Estate transactions, AND write papers on Professional Ethics in Negotiations and the tendency of public school officials to go so far in trying to prevent an Establishment Clause violation that they end up unconstitutionally restricting student religious speech in public schools. And on top of all that...it's Christmas time. So I'd much rather be shopping, visiting the National Christmas Tree, ice-skating on the National Mall, going to see the Christmas Lights at the Temple and so much more... Anything but get my work done. I did manage to hear Handel's Messiah performed at the National Cathedral on Friday. (Which was fabulous). But I'm ready to go home! And I'm ready to live in the same city as my fiance!

Save the Date

Spencer and Carly will be married in the Salt Lake Temple on Monday May 10th 2010. Reception to follow that evening. We couldn't be more thrilled!

I know you thought they didn't perform Temple weddings on Mondays, but we discovered that they do! For three short hours in the morning. We're hoping to avoid the huge crowds of oh so many weddings that typically occur around that time.

Thanks for all of the congratulatory comments! Be sure to pencil us into your planners :)

The Most Romantic Night of My Life

Thus far... :)

Wednesday September 23rd 2009. Spencer had arrived on Saturday and we’d been having SUCH a fabulous time together! He dropped me off at school in the morning for my 2 classes. Mid-way through that time I started feeling VERY sick. I texted Spencer and told him I felt awful. He picked me up at 1:30pm after class and started driving me to a clinic (I felt THAT horrible). But halfway there, I told him I thought I should try to get some rest and see if I felt better before I went to see a doctor. So he took me home, made me chicken noodle soup and a sandwich, insisted I drink an entire 32 oz of Gatorade, and then tucked me into bed. He was SO sweet! Totally took care of me! Then he waited downstairs for two and a half hours while I slept and rested. Spence told me that we had plans for the evening but that we’d wait and see how I felt when I woke up. Around 5:30, he knocked on my door. I was awake and feeling much better. Spencer came over by my bed and got down on one knee. He had this folded piece of paper that said: “Carly, will you…….” Then he opened the flap and it said “Go out with me tonight?” I laughed and said “Yes!” He said we had to leave at 6pm so I needed to get dressed quickly and then proceeded to give me three options of outfits to wear. All three were dresses so I was excited that we were going someplace nice!


He arranged for my roommate Callie to drop us off at the metro. We got on the yellow line heading into Washington, BUT then he said we were going to transfer at the next station and take the Green line towards Branch Ave. I was totally perplexed! That train heads into the rough parts of the city and I’ve been told never to get on it except to go to baseball games at Nationals Park…plus it takes us away from the city and nice restaurants. We quickly arrived at the Waterfront, however, and he said this was our stop. I’m thinking: “Is he taking me on a boat ride?!” He was! We walked a couple blocks down to the harbor and there the boat was waiting for us! They took our picture out front before we boarded (so they could try to sell it to us later). This is a picture of a picture...the actual looks better.




It was a Dinner Cruise on the Potomac River. I was so excited! I love water and boats and fancy restaurants and sunsets and city lights…it was all that combined into one! It was a large ship. There were quite a few other people joining us for the evening and everyone was dressed up nicely. We were lucky and got our own private table next to the window. There were candles on the tables and everything.



Dinner was good; dessert was even better. Spencer told me the cruise lasted 3 hours so we had plenty of time to relax and enjoy ourselves. We finished eating about an hour into the cruise. All of the servers were also singers. They started taking turns performing numbers and a few couples started dancing on the dance floor. There was an observation deck upstairs and Spencer asked me if I wanted to go walk around and check out the rest of the boat. But instead of heading towards the back of the boat where the stairs were, he takes me towards the front of the boat where the kitchen was. We meet a hostess who asks us: “Are you ready for your tour?” I was confused.


She told me I had to follow her and that Spencer was going the other way but would meet us. She took me outside and around to the very front of the boat and there was Spencer waiting for me at our very own private table with white tablecloth, roses, and champagne glasses! It was dark out but they had put a small light on the table (like candlelight). I was so surprised! We sat together for ten minutes or so enjoying the view. Then a server came out and started singing for us. Spencer asked me to dance with him there at the front of the boat. Neither of us knew what song he was singing, but we loved it anyway. After he left us alone, Spencer said: “I love you, Charlotte Ann. I want to be with you for the rest of my life and for eternity.” Then he got down on one knee took a ring box out of his pocket, opened it and asked: “Will you marry me?”


I was smiling—beaming. I made him sweat it out for a second or two while I caught my breath and said “yes!”



We were told we could stay out there for the rest of the cruise if we wanted to. So we just sat there on our own private deck for another hour together. It was so much fun!! Here is my cute fiance :)



The view was spectacular. The sky was clear and the moon was beautiful. We had amazing view of Washington D.C.—the capitol, monuments, and city lights…and all of it reflecting off the water. I loved every minute of it. When we finally came back inside they announced to the entire ship that we had just gotten engaged. Everyone was congratulating us wherever we went after that. They were playing music inside so we danced to another song (Kelly Clarkson “A Moment Like This” I think). Then finally we went upstairs to check out the observation deck.

When we got back into the port, the captain of the boat chased us down to the place where they try to sell you the picture they took of you before the cruise. He said the cruise line wanted to pay for our pictures ($40 worth). We also got champagne glasses with the cruise line name etched in them to remember to remember the night. Let me tell you, I was very impressed with that whole operation. They were extremely hospitable. This is us after the cruise...in love, engaged, enthralled with each other. :)



After the cruise, we went to the Lincoln Memorial which is a special place for us. The view of the Washington Memorial and the Capitol from the steps of the Lincoln is breathtaking!



Spencer had then arranged for Callie to pick us up at the Lincoln and take us back to my house. It had been such an incredible night and little did I know that it wasn’t over!





We got back to my house and walked around to the back of the house instead of going in the front door. Spencer had recruited my roommates the day before and arranged for them to put twinkling lights and tea candles all over the deck and railing. And there were two dozen long stemmed roses that were white with pink edges sitting there in a vase. David Gray was playing from Spencer’s laptop as we walked up. It was SO romantic!! We danced to two songs: “The One I Love” and “This Year’s Love. “ It was the perfect end to the evening!! I loved it! I didn’t want to go inside even though it was EXTREMELY humid that night and we were both ready for some cool air. I insisted that we call our families from the deck. Just didn’t want it to end. It was THE perfect night! I loved every part of it!


I am SO happy! I love Spencer more than anything! He amazes me daily with what a truly good person he is and how he cares so much for the people in his life…especially me. He treats me like a queen. He makes me laugh, supports me through trials, complements me, and is the best listener and friend I could ever imagine. I love living life with him by my side. I can’t wait to be married in the Temple and sealed together for eternity! We’re planning on early May in Salt Lake City. :)


Oh and don’t even get me started on my ring….I am IN LOVE with it! It is so beautiful!! I seriously stare at it constantly! So sparkly! It is exactly what I wanted.



I am one deliriously happy girl!

Summer with Spencer

Backing up a bit...

Spencer and I did lots of fun things this summer, none of which I wrote about on this blog...oops. He came to DC to pick me up in May, we had a really fun night going out to Georgetown, eating Thai food, and strolling down to the Waterfront. Then we left the next morning for our 5 day drive across the country. We first headed north to Palmyra, saw the Sacred Grove...then went west to Niagara Falls and down to Kirtland Ohio. Day two took us to Detroit for a baseball game and then to Chicago where we spent a day site-seeing and going to Wrigley Field for a cubs game. Then we drove to Denver on Day 4 and then to SLC on day 5. We had such a fun time together!! It was fabulous. Later in May we went to Oregon to spend time with the Williams Family and again had so much fun! Even though I worked a ton this summer, Spencer and I were still able to spend most of our evenings together. I was very sad to leave two weeks ago when it was time for school to start again. Here are some pics from the summer.

My Grandma had a fancy party for her 80th Birthday. We ate great food, danced the night away, and had a fabulous time.



At my parent's house for one of the dozens of BBQ's we had this summer.



Thai Food in Georgetown.



Sacred Grove.



Niagara Falls.



Portland, Oregon Temple.



Chicago. Cubs game, Miracle Mile and Skyline from Lake Michigan, the Bean.





Motorcycle Driveby and Date Night up the Canyon.



The Fray in Concert at USANA Amphitheater with friends Collin & Traci and Brett & Kristy.

From SLC to DC and NY with Dad

So I sort of took the summer off from blogging as you may have noticed. But now that I'm away from my family and Spencer, I have more free time to fill with stuff like this. These are pictures from my trip with my Dad. He drove with me from Salt Lake City to Washington, DC this August. We had a fabulous time. We stayed in Denver the first night with the Thorntons and then drove to Kansas City via the Eisenhower Library, Truman Library, Liberty Jail, Kansas City Royals Stadium. Day three took us all the way to DC (from Kansas City...which is about 1100 miles!) via Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. When we got to DC, we went to a Nationals game and moved all my furniture and belongings down the street to a new house. I have a new appreciation for my Dad after that move! He was unbelievable! I didn't think we'd be able to fit everything in the Uhaul truck (we were moving my stuff and my roommate's too)...but he did it...citing all of his past experience as a member of the Elder's Quorum. THEN, we left everything in a pile in my new house and caught the Chinatown bus to New York City!!!! I was really excited to take my dad to NY because he had never been before. We had a fabulous time! Here are some pictures of all the fun we had.

Kansas City Royals. I loved the fountains in the outfield!




Liberty Jail



St. Louis Arch.



Churchill Downs.




Citi Field. NY Mets new stadium.




David Letterman playing baseball with Mark Teixeira at the intersection of 53rd and Broadway in NYC. We just happened to be walking past.



The Manhattan Temple.



Central Park.



View from the Staten Island Ferry.




Times Square. I promise my neck isn't really as long as it looks in this picture. Dad has his "I just can't believe how incredible this city is" look on his face. He seemed to really love seeing everything in Manhattan and on multiple occasions commented that he now "gets" what people say about this city...and that he has better appreciation for oh so many Seinfeld episodes. :)



Grimaldi's. Amazing pizza! But we definitely appreciate just how good and close to the real thing Big Apple Pizza is after eating pizza in New York.



Brooklyn Bridge. We walked across the bridge from Brooklyn to Downtown Manhattan after eating at Grimaldi's and visiting Wall Street, the NY Stock Exchange, Chinatown, and Little Italy all that morning.



David Letterman Show. My dad LOVES David Letterman and we were lucky enough to get in to see the taping of his show! Before the show started, Dave, came out to talk to the audience. He took a question, and picked my Dad! It was awesome...Dave totally made fun of my Dad (for shouting his question)...I loved it. Apparently my Dad thought it was pretty cool to be made fun of by Dave too...funny. Also, Dad ran in to Biff Henderson on the street and grabbed a picture (he's on Dave's show).





Marine Core Museum in Quantico, VA.



Thanks for taking so much time off to travel with me, Dad! I had such a great time!

Closing out the Semester

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I've been very busy trying to finish up the semester. Finally finished my Note on April 7th. I know that a "Note" doesn't sound like that big of a deal, but it was quite the undertaking! Ended up being about 32 pages with 202 footnotes. I was thrilled to finish it and finally get to start preparing for my FIVE FINALS (what was I thinking?) that I have this semester. I've taken 3.5 of them so far. First, Federal Income Tax, then Law & Accounting, then Law of Real Estate Financing, and I'm in the middle of my Land Use Law test which is a take home. I think take home finals are the worst of all because law students are ridiculous... The people in my class will spend close to 30 hours working on it and since the class is curved, I feel like I need to somehow try to match their effort....ugh. But by now I'm so sick of studying and taking exams that I just want it to be over with and am struggling to focus (hence the blog post). So after I turn this exam in tomorrow, I only have one left...Constitutional Law II this Friday and then I'm finished! Can't wait! Spencer flies in to DC Friday at 5:30pm and we're going to go out to Georgetown that night and then take off the next morning for our super fun cross-country trip! First we're heading up to Palmyra to see the sacred grove, temple, and church sites there. Next, over to Niagara Falls! (I'm really excited for this). Then to Kirtland for more church sites...pass through Cleveland. Up to Detroit to go to a Tigers game. Over to Chicago where we'll spend a day and make it to the historic Wrigley Field to see the Cubs play. Next on to Denver and finally home to Salt Lake City. We're going to have a blast!! I'm so excited! If only I could fast forward to Friday!



On another note, Callie and I are going to go to the Supreme Court tomorrow! I'm super excited!! I've been meaning to get over there to hear oral arguments for so long! I hope the line isn't too bad and we can get in!



Also, my car was hit today while I was driving along the George Washington Parkway coming home from church. The car in front of me all of a sudden started having problems...I saw the side mirror fall off and shatter along with some pieces of who knows what....so I was dodging the glass and parts...and then that same car's tire blew and pieces of that were flying everywhere. I managed to dodge the debris and bring my car to a stop safely....but the car behind me slammed into us. It actually was a girl from my ward coming home as well. Miraculously when we got out to assess the damage, there were no scratches! Neither of us could believe it! I'm still going to have someone check underneath and make sure there are no dents...but seriously there were no visible signs of the accident. I was thrilled about that (and hope everything underneath the car is fine too) since I'm leaving in 6 days to drive across the country. The guy who caused the whole thing didn't say anything to us either...which was really lame since it was all his fault...oh well. We were lucky and so was my car :)

Finally, I was a little sad last week on my last day of Constitutional Law. I have loved that class! My teacher is fabulous and we just talk about the most interesting issues: abortion, birth control, equal protection, affirmative action, free speech, flag burning, ten commandments monuments, etc. Anyways, as my teacher giving his final thoughts, he said something that I really liked. He told us that he "hopes [we] now see shades of gray in issues we previously thought were black and white." I thought that was great because that's one of the things I've loved most about that class and even about coming to law school at GW in general...getting to know people who come from totally different backgrounds and political, social persuasions and learning how that has shaped the way they view certain things. Our country is very diverse and if we're going to work together to solve anything, we need to take the time to understand various points of view because we have more in common than we realize.

***Tweet Tweet Tweet***

I think Titter is a really sad way for people (who wake up at 40 realizing they have no friends or family) to chase away their loneliness. They've mistakenly thought their careers would forever bring them happiness and are even further proud and deranged in assuming that random people care to know what they're doing or thinking at any given time. Tweets can't make up for the family one fails to nurture and create along the way. Are we going to be so busy Twittering, Facebooking, Blogging, and Texting about things and to people who are no longer part of our lives or never were? Are we spending more time doing this than working on our actual relationships? Will we never be able to move on from past acquaintances, friendships, and relationships to create new ones? We need to spend our time and energy on things that matter and things of worth. Moderation in all things right? That should apply to electronic communication as well.

National Press Room

Last week Callie and I went to a lecture series at the National Press Room in downtown D.C. entitled: "The Kalb Report: Journalism in Crisis." It was really cool. They were taping it for television. The panelists were the CEOs and Presidents of CNN, NPR, the Associated Press, and the Knight Foundation. It was interesting to hear what they thought about the future of journalism. I didn't really care for the AP or the CNN Presidents, was indifferent about the NPR President and really liked the Knight Foundation President. The moderator expressed concerns that newspapers were going under all over the nation, but the respective organizations of the panelists aren't suffering that much, so they didn't quite exhibit the level of concern that many in the audience did. The most interesting comment I heard was that with the growing surge to access News on the internet, people are able to get all of their news through a single lens/viewpoint...instead of listening to both sides of the debate in this country. Like only listening to FoxNews or only listening to CNN or MSNBC which all definitely put their own spin on stories. I think it's dangerous to the marketplace of ideas if those ideas aren't circulated widely. It's so valuable to listen to people who think differently than you do. That's one thing I love about going to law school at GW.

No one person or side has all the answers...we need to learn to communicate with each other. It's the true spirit of the old adage: two heads are better than one.

Check CSPAN for the broadcast. I was sitting near the stage on the side as was likely on camera at some point. :)

Traci and Collin's Wedding

I had SO much fun in Colorado last weekend for the big wedding! I love the Thornton, Carlson, and Denney families! And it was fun to get to know the Rothey's :) Traci was a beautiful bride! I had such a great time helping her get ready for the big day! The weather was beautiful and everything was perfect. I really like Denver! Thank you so much to the Thornton's for letting me stay with them! They are just wonderful and always make me feel like home whenever I come to visit! Also, thanks to the Denneys for the fun night of dominoes, great conversation, and laughter! They are so much fun! I hope I get to come visit again this summer!

To My Best Friend of 7 years...

Traci Anne Thornton, my best friend of 7 years is getting married on Saturday!! I cannot say enough about her! She is the kindest, most thoughtful, caring, fun, loving, outgoing, strong, genuine, beautiful person I know. I've learned so much from her over the years! We've gone through a lot together! I love her tons and am so excited for her to get married in the temple and embark on this wonderful new journey with Collin, whom she loves more than anything in the world. It's fun to see her so happy! Congratulations Traci!! Here are pictures of some of the fun times together! There were so many to choose from!






















I'm flying out to Denver tomorrow to spend a couple days with Traci before the wedding on Saturday!