Deep Fried Oreos

Also while we were visiting my family (it was a jam packed week), we went to Freedom Weekend Aloft. This is an annual event in the Upstate SC where many hot air balloons are launched. There were over 130 balloons I believe, and when we were there (Sunday), they were launched in 2 batches. Here's just one sample photo, but I'd encourage you to look at the variety of balloons that there were.
I think the real highlight, however, was that one of the many junk food stands was selling deep fried Oreos. This is a fantastic American invention. Oreo cookies are coated in a funnel cake batter and then deep fried and finally coated with powdered sugar.
The Oreo in the center comes out no longer crunchy, but not overly soft. I'd say they are just right and very delicious. Here's a picture of the inside of Kevin's Oreo:
Kevin also managed to take a picture of Rebekah, me, Crystal, and Brian. The two (as of Thursday June 14th) engaged couples, with an eerie alien glow from the Goo Goo Dolls concert we were eavesdropping on.

Engaged

On Saturday May 26, after we had arrived at my parents' house on Thursday morning, Rebekah and I drove down to Charleston to see the Atlantic Ocean, since she had never touched it before (only flown over it). It was Memorial Day weekend, so the path to the beach was packed with people. We drove to the Isle of Palms where we walked out a ways on the beach to where there were fewer people (but still many). We had a nice picnic lunch on the beach. Since she was in jeans, I told her to roll them up a little higher and we headed out into the water.

We waded in the water and then we started dancing around for a bit. Then, when she was not suspecting anything, I got down on one knee (in the water) and before I could finish saying her name (it's quite long), she had said yes three times. Then I finally got around to asking her if she'd marry me. Though I had the ring out, she didn't see it because she was too busy wrapping her arms around my neck. Once I pried her off so she could see the ring, I took it out and put it on her finger. You can see the spot here in the background of this photo taken afterwards.
Our audience waited until they were sure she said yes. Once the ring was on her finger, there were cheers and applause from the strangers on the beach. We went back to sit on the beach for a while and when we left and walked by the groups on the beach, they congratulated us and yelled out "let's see the ring!" That started her off to show the "sparkle sparkle" to everyone she saw.
We spent the rest of the day walking through Charleston, along the battery and through some of the nice historic house neighborhoods. We finished off with as fancy of a dinner as we could have seeing as we were in shorts and rolled up jeans and smelled of sunscreen.
I'm sorry that this post took so long. As usual, there are more photos here. For those wondering when the wedding will be (that's always the first question we get asked, except by Adam), it will be May 17, 2008 in Victoria: the Victoria Day long weekend.