it all started over conference weekend (the first wknd in october). brad and i had our 2 year anniversary, and it was kind of a tough one (not like we've had many year anniversaries! but i digress). brad and i had been talking for a while about getting married, but still, nothing in particular. for our anniversary, i was hoping, but i felt like brad wouldn't be quite so cliche (love you, honey! :)). so 2 days before our actual anniversary brad asked if we could celebrate the week after, since brad's brother, michael, was going to be in town, and it was going to be a crazy day with conference and everything. even though i didnt want to, i consented, and moved on. i had an inkling of hope that he would still surprise me and was just trying to throw me off, but not so much. he did show up early and brought me 2 dozen beautiful roses, which i loved, and i thought that it might happen, but then nothing else was even mentioned throughout the day. i was, to say the least, a little upset. i said nothing, and brad acted like nothing was wrong, so i tried to make it through the day. finally after he left that evening, i lost it. i was really upset, and i let him have it via texting. we ended up having this whole conversation where i let him know how i was feeling, and he just kept apologizing and telling me that it would happen, but he wasn't ready yet (did i mention how much i hate that statement?). i ended up staying up most the night, pretty distraught. i was intent on not seeing him the next day, but of course, the only person i wanted to see was brad. he made me feel better and we talked for a while, but no ring was presented. blah.
i went on, still quite bitter that i was still waiting, and i let him know it. the next thursday, brad asked if i had any plans for that saturday (the 10th, when we would be actually celebrating our anniversary). i was still SO MAD. how could he do this?! all the while, i was trying to catch him being sneaky, but nothing was out of the ordinary. i was beginning to lose hope.
on friday the 9th, brad asked if he could come over a little early to make breakfast to celebrate the day. i said okay...after all, who would turn down a free homecooked meal from the one you love?! he left at about 1:30 on friday night, just like normal, and i was feeling pretty good, and also excited about breakfast (brad makes the best omelets known to man!).
i woke up to a soft knock on my bedroom door (yes, brad has a key to my apt just in case i lock myself out, which happens often) at 6:45 in the morning. brad called out that i needed to dress in warm PJs and my warmest jacket. i usually hate waking up that early, but who can resist some yummy breakfast in the morning? so i put on my fleece and suited up to go. i came out and brad was also in his PJs. we went to the car, and started driving. we ended up at squaw peak (which is a really nice overlook for you out-of-towners), just as the sun was starting to come up. brad brought blankets too, so we cuddled on the ledge and looked out at everything. as we sat and talked, he suddenly said he remembered there was another blanket in his car, and went back to grab it. when he came back, i took it from him and realized this was planned. inside was a really cute stuffed dog that we have since named sam. we have this running joke that brad refuses to get me a stuffed animal, so he finally did :). it was very cute and cheesy, and i loved it.
due to our level of exhaustion, we headed back to my apartment and i immediately passed out on the lovesac while brad fell asleep on the couch. before i knew what was happening, i woke up and saw that it was 11:30. we had both slept for over 3 hours! i woke up brad and sent him home, since he told me to get ready for the day. by this time i was suspecting, but i was trying not to. brad came back over and told me that he had some special things he wanted to do that day, but i had to choose the order (there were 3 more things to choose from). i chose 2, 1, then 3.
so first he took me to nunn's park, where we had a really fun picnic. it was a little chilly, but it was beautiful and sunny out. after eating, he wanted to go walking, so he ran to put everything away. when he came back, he hugged me and then pulled out a little jewelry box. i said, 'really? seriously?' and i started freaking out on the inside. will he get on his knee? do i give him back the box? how should i react? and i pulled out the white jared's box (where i picked out my ring), and fumbled to open the box, and it was a beautiful....pair of earrings. i was disappointed for this () long, and then i got excited. they are so pretty! they are dark blue sapphires, and brad said he picked them out because he said he loves the color blue on me. i was very excited and flattered. we walked over to bridal veil falls and took pictures, and then brad said we needed to head to the next activity.
we got back to the car and drove, and drove, and drove. we ended up at temple square in slc. we parked and walked around for a while, taking pictures, and talking. it really was a beautiful day, even if it was a bit chilly. when we got to the reflection pool, he came up from behind me and put his arms around me, and he was holding another little jewelry box. by this time, i was expecting him to be on his knee when it was official, so i was expecting more jewelry, and it was, in fact, a beautiful necklace. it had a gorgeous stone in it, which i found out was called alexandrite, a second june birthstone. it reacts to the light, so depending on what light it is under, it can be blue, green, purple, or even a deep maroon. i was so excited! we walked around for a little while longer, and then headed back to the car. when we got back to provo, we ran a few errands and then headed out for the last activity. we ended up at red lobster (one of my favorite restaurants ever) and had an AMAZING dinner. we were served quickly and the food was exceptional good, even for red lobster's normally fantastic cuisine. i kept waiting for another jewelry box, but to no avail. i kept telling myself, 'dont get mad...you got some beautiful jewelry and you had a great day!' but i hoped he wouldnt be so sneaky to give me earrings and a necklace from the same place where i picke dout my ring, without giving me the ring as well. brad asked me, 'well, how did you like your last surprise? did you want anything more?' of course i said no, that i loved it all. so he told me that we should go back to my house.
when we got back to my place, we were walking down the stairs when brad announced that he had forgotten his phone in the car and needed to go get it. i thought that was really odd, since his beloved phone is attached to his hip at all times. still, i was tired and full, and i was ready to relax. i unlocked my door, and when i opened it, i saw that the apartment was covered in roses and candles, and i started to freak out. i looked around and found a note that explained that brad wanted to tell me some of the reasons why he loved me, so i needed to follow the clues to read all about it. i stood there, freaking out inside, but trying to remain calm, and i literally couldnt think. there was a card tied to each of 2 roses next to the note, and i didnt know what to do. finally, brad walked up and i asked him what to do. he gave me the one i needed to start with, and each card gave me another reason why he loves me. there were also letters on the back of each note, and i didnt know if i should take the note, take the rose, or if they were supposed to go in order, but i was seriously freaking out. after getting brad to help me a few more times (i got out of order and was freaking out that i messed up my own proposal...), the last clue led me back to brad, who was standing in the doorway, where he got down on one knee and proposed. i said yes (which was when someone ran in, snapped a picture, and ran out), laughed and then cried some as we hugged and kissed. and so....we were officially engaged! yay!
so after that entire ordeal, we were engaged by about 10:30pm. we immediately started calling people and letting family know, and my parents actually knew (which amazed me, since my mom cant keep secrets from me, and she had complained about him procrastinating that same day!! sneaky sneaky, mom! she set me up!). we officially had 73 days from december 23, our chosen wedding date. and so....it is happening so fast! we passed the halfway mark this week, and we're down to 34 days until the wedding. whew! luckily, most of the big things are paid for/planned/in the works, so now it's just a matter of time. here are a few of our favorite engagement photos:
so...yeah. that's the story! only 34 days until it's official!
