Big News

In lieu of this weekend’s big news, I thought I could FINALLY post some pictures from a photoshoot I did a few weeks ago!

They met YEARS ago.  In France.  Both were serving missions for their church.  One thing that stood out to them then, and now, is how much genuine respect they had for each other.  Julianna went home, (to Colorado), while Tarjei stayed in France a while longer.  She sent him a Christmas card.  Once he got home, (to Norway), Julianna located his e-mail address.  They sent e-mails back and forth a few times a year.  (Yeah, this process was a bit slow.)  EVENTUALLY, those e-mails increased to every few weeks, and then to a few e-mails a week.  Soon they started talking by phone, and then they learned to “skype” each other.  And from then on they have been talking every. single. day.  And then the leap.  Tarjei decided to come out to the states to visit Julianna.  And then she went to Norway.  For such a slow beginning the story sure picked up fast.  He came out to Colorado to meet the family, (where I was able to do their engagement photoshoot), and she is currently in Norway (where they got engaged this past weekend.)  And we couldn’t be happier for them!  The love and respect they have for each other is obvious.  And they couldn’t be a cuter couple.  (Even with the height difference.  Him being 6’6″, her being 5’4″.)  My daughter refers to them as “Julianna and her BIIIIIIG boyfriend.”  But now I’ll have to teach her the word “fiance”.  Congratulations to Julianna (who makes my top 5 list of greatest sister-in-laws) and Tarjei (but you can say “Chris”).

Oh, and he got lost.  Our photoshoot had just begun when Julianna realized she had left her nice pair of shoes in the car (she was currently wearing her “all-about-comfort-teaching shoes, being an elementary school music teacher and all.  I told her you should never buy shoes that are not cute.  But she insisted it was a necessity.)  Being the suave, debonair gentleman that he is, Tarjei offered to go back to the 4 story parking garage to get them.  After about 20 minutes, (and the car  not being that far away), Julianna went out searching for him.  After about 20 minutes she came back. Without Tarjei.  She went back in.  FINALLY they emerged together.  Simultaneously talking she was saying, “He was lost.”  And him defending himself, “I started out on the right level right near the car…”  I think these two have many “adventures” in store for them in the future.

So here’s to hoping for a wedding in Norway.  And someone else paying for the plane tickets.   Welcome to the family, Tarjei!

Oh, and one last picture.  See what I mean?  A height difference.  I told Julianna she might have to invest in a good chiropractor.