They’ve been engaged for – what? A month or so? – and I still can’t believe that my little sister is getting married. MARRIED. TO A BOY. The good news is that we really like the guy, and think he’s going to be a-okay. In fact, I know it.

Last Friday evening we celebrated their engagement with a small, elegant dinner with our family and his. It was a nice chance for the families to come together and toast to Courtney and Stockton’s future as husband and wife. And, lordy, there were a lot of toasts that night. If I had to count, I’d say there were approximately five or thirty-seven toasts given by the end of the night. It’s a good thing I had to drink water because if I toasted with champagne every time you would surely find me under the table when it was all said and done.

After a divine meal and some cake, the newlyweds-to-be dove into some gifts.

And because it was the day before the fourth of July, there were fireworks outside that we were able to watch before the night was over. Good planning on their part, eh?

It was a fun night, and just a snippet of all the celebrating, toasting, gift-opening, and reminiscing that they will do before the big day next August. I’m so happy for them!

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(Oh, and remember the dress I was stressing about wearing to this party?

It all worked out fine, just fine. I got the dress in the mail, it fit, and, SHOCK!, it was actually semi-attractive! Mad props to Isabella Oliver for blessing the world with some decent maternity garb.)