a new sister-in-law and diamonds are a girl's best friend.

when my brother, sister and i were little, we used to have this fisher price tape player. it was brown and plastic. we jammed out to the cocktail soundtrack, multiple muppet and seasame street tapes and, more than anything, garth brooks' no fences album. that tape player was always on.

when scott was a kid he had this bowl haircut that i can still see as clear as crystal in my head. he had, still has, so much hair, and whenever he'd move his head the hair in the back would swing back and forth. we all knew every word to every song on that garth brooks album, but for some reason, i remember scott singing.

he'd sing at the top of his lungs and tip his chin up a little bit. obviously that helps you get the notes out. of course, his singing was lovely, even if it was several octaves above what garth was actually singing.

we looked at baseball cards and jumped off the ladder of the bunk beds onto this big, yellow, styrofoam fold-up couch that we named "the bumdy." we called it that 'cause that's what we'd say when we jumped up and down on it. "bumdy, bumdy, bumdy..."

kids.

so, why the childhood reminiscing, you ask?

because my little scotty, with his swinging bowl cut and his superb vocal skills, got engaged on monday.

that's right. my baby brother is about to be someone's husband.

he's about to have a wife.

and i couldn't have picked a better one if i'd picked her myself.

i already have one incredible sister-in-law, landon's sister, kylah.

and now, i have kelly. miss kelly mckinney. soon-to-be mrs. kelly piland.

man...

she's quite possibly the most beautiful girl i've ever seen, and even a nanosecond dedicated to thinking of how she'll look in a perfect white wedding gown the day she becomes my brother's wife is enough to send me into shoulder-shaking sobs.

she's funny and talented and always quick to give hugs and kisses for whatever reason you may need them.

she already makes my brother incredibly happy, so i know he's got it made for the rest of his life.

and so does she.

she has my little scotty.

she's had his heart since one day in mexico.

congratulations, scott and kelly. i love you so much!

p.s. the ring here is her engagement ring. hello! can anyone else say amazing?!