One Year Ago

Wow, I really stink at this blogging thing lately. I need to get back into it!

This time last year I was getting ready to go on a "meeting" with Bryan. We had talked for months via email but had not met. I was done with dating and just wanted to meet a new friend. I had no idea it was a date or that he would turn out to be my future husband. It is crazy to think that one year ago he was about to pick me up, show up at my door with a rose, and ask me in the car if I liked pizza. I should have seen it as a sign after that question! We went to a place downtown, talked a lot, we came back to his house to see pictures of a trip he took to Disney and then he brought me home. He was so nice, so polite, and adorable. I thought we would just be good friends. Well, that night was the beginning of a great relationship.

Just 3 days short of dating 6 months, he asked me to marry him. I asked him if he wanted anything for our anniversary and he said no, he did not even want a card. Normally I do not listen, but I did this time, and only got him a card. He said he was taking me out to dinner on Friday and that was all I expected.

This morning we got up, and I walked downstairs to see what I thought was a sign:

It was wrapped in black and white polka dot ribbon (which is going to be incorporated into everything at our wedding.  Little did I know there was a whole bunch of pages with a poem he wrote. It was adorable and made me cry. I thought it was amazing, and then I got to a sign that said Open Box 1. What? A box? At this point he pulled out a box:

I know this box. It is a box from the jeweler. I was confused but I opened it and inside was a beautiful diamond band. He told me to keep reading, and a few pages later I saw this:

My picture taking ability was not good at this point as I was still confused. It was another box from the jeweler and inside was ANOTHER diamond band. In his book he made me, it said he wanted me to have a wedding band for the wedding day (since all three of my engagement bands are already sealed together). I cried and was still in awe. I have never been spoiled like this and it was so sweet. I would have been amazed at just the book he made, what he wrote and the pics that were in it, but he went above and beyond. I felt lame only having a card for him. Here is what all of it looked like:

I would love to post every page of what he wrote but I do not want to embarass him. Here is a bad picture of both of the rings:

The right one is my one year dating anniversary ring. I love it! 

Yesterday I went to have my ring cleaned and as I waited I looked at rings. The lady who helped us with my engagement ring was there and she knew I had a certain ring that I loved. I look at it every time I get my ring cleaned and it was not there last time I went. They actually had it this time. When I came home, I told Bryan they had the ring I wanted (We had talked about getting me a band for the wedding). He just said Oh really and that was that. Little did I know he had went to the jewelry store in search of the ring and he did not find it. When I opened my rings he told me he would not be offended if I exchanged one of the rings for the other one. Problem is I loved both of them, and he gave them to me on this day so I said no.

We took the boys to see Despicable Me today. Everyone in line for popcorn had a coupon. I got online and saw it was $1.00 for any size drink or popcorn but you had to have the coupon. I did not want to spend $8 on popcorn so I told the cashier my printer was not working (it isn't so it isn't a total lie) and asked if I could get the coupon price. He said sure! I feel guilty but we saved money. The movie was adorable and I was pleasantly surprised as I thought we were seeing the Megamind one-I had them confused. We all really liked it and there were some funny parts. Here we are before the movie. So odd to think at this time last year I had not met the boys and now they are such a huge part of my life:

On the way home, Bryan took the long way home hoping the boys would sleep. No such luck. Bryan got off the highway and went to the jewelry store again. He wanted to see the ring. The lady that helped him pick out the rings I got today was there and she said she was going to call him and let him know the ring was there. We looked at it, and I thought we would leave but he got it for me. I have never had this much jewelry in my life! I don't know how I am going to wear it all. I am only going to wear my engagement ring and the dating anniversary ring until the wedding. I love them all so much!

Tonight we went to dinner with Nana and Papa. Torrin cried the entire time and refused to eat his dinner, but other than that, it was nice!

I can't believe how fast a year has gone by and how much my life has changed. I am a lucky lady!

Best 4th of July Ever!

I did not realize it was June 15th the last time I wrote. Seriously behind on this. Hopefully will catch up but for now, I will work with what happened this weekend.

On Saturday Bryan and I drove up to Ft. Collins. We hung out with his Dad and Susan, went through some decorations, sorted things, and then headed to Ruby Tuesdays for dinner. I had not been there in a long time. When we got home, I realized my phone was nowhere to be found. I know I had it in the car because I got a text, but beyond that, no idea. I thought it was in my purse since I did not take it out in the restaurant. Bryan's Dad said he would go to Ruby Tuesday and see if they had it. We called, they did not. I saw dollars flash before my eyes as I thought about having to get a new iPhone. Bryan suggested we go back to the restaurant, all the hostess people and waiters said they had not seen it. Our waitress saw us, told me she had not seen it while she was cleaning up, but offered to move the table and the booth. She found it wedged in between the seat. I was so happy!

The next morning was 4th of July (yesterday). Bryan golfed with his Dad and my brother in law Jeff. After they were finished, my sister and two oldest nephews met us for lunch at the golf course. Here are some pictures from lunch:

Lunch was a lot of fun! I love being with the Holder family. The funniest part of lunch was when we were sitting there, my sister said "Check out that guy over there in the fedora. I bet he knows how to party." So here is a picture of Quinn pointing to the guy who we think knows how to party. This entertained us for quite some time.

After lunch Bryan and I went back to his Dad's place. Bryan got ready, and then we headed over to my sister's house. As soon as we got there it started POURING. I thought it would pass as the rain usually does in Colorado, but it kept on coming. Our plan was to go to City Park to see the fireworks but that did not happen. Instead, we sat on the couch, read questions from this box Denise had, all answered it, and had a lot of laughs. Jeff made me a daiquiri with vodka which I had never had before, and it was delightful! It tasted like a Fla-vor-ice. It was so yummy I had three of them and could have kept going....

Bryan was a little close to me so it was bright. We kept answering questions and having fun. I love that my sister and I are both laughing in this picture. I wish I remember why!

While we sat around, Jeff got dinner ready. Steaks, corn on the cob, baked potatoes and bread. My favorites! Bryan insisted that I was tipsy, I said I was not. Then I realized I was doing this:

Yes, I was cutting with a spoon, not a fork. Perhaps I was feeling it a little bit. Everyone got a good laugh out of that.

After dinner, it was time to set off some fireworks in the rain. It was pouring so Quinn and I had our hoodies on:

Bryan and I outside. Our first 4th of July together! Crazy to think we had not met in person this time a year ago, and 5 months from today we are getting married.

Ethan is all about weapons and fireworks so this is his kind of holiday. Here are some pics of shooting them off.

Denise does not like loud noises. Nor do the dogs.....

Look at Sophie's ears. Love that! Corona hid in the bathroom. I put a fireworks package in front of her that had her name on it. She was not pleased....

Ethan was wearing face gear to protect his face. A ski mask.....two of them.

Bryan and I headed back to Parker around 10:30. We saw some fireworks on our drive home, but not too many since it was still pouring. Even with the rain, I think it was the best 4th of July I have ever had!

Crazy Week

Wow oh wow have we been busy! So much has been accomplished in this week of vacation but we leave tomorrow. I have taken a ridiculous amount of pictures but I hope to post some on here, although the people who read this, probably already get the links I sent out to the albums. Here is a little recap from the days.

Day 1: We flew into Philly as you know and arrived at the farm. Here is where we were staying most of the week.

They have 77 amazing acres. I am in awe of it!  Camden immediately wanted to go on the tractor with Great Grandpa:

That night before bed, they went looking for lightning bugs. Bryan was great getting them in the jar!

Day 2: Great Grandpa and Grandma have a sailboat and belong to a sailing club. We decided we were going to spend the day on the lake and go sailing. Before we went to the lake, Great Grandpa said we should go to Wawa and order something for lunch. They have computers where you order everything you want and the order comes out. He loves it and we thought it was pretty cool as well. When we got to the lake, we were lucky beacuse no one was there and we were able to eat lunch outside and then all ride on the motorized boat. Bryan, Camden, Torrin and me all got to drive the boat. It was my first time.

The boys had a great time having the "beach" to themselves:

 Great Grandpa took us out on the sailboat too!

Here are some other pictures from that afternoon. I love that Camden and Torrin met their great grandparents.

After a long day at the lake, the boys passed out in the car.  Time for me to do the same-just in a bed, not in a car. More to follow:

Travel

It seems like forever we have been planning this trip to see Bryan's grandparents and here I am sitting in their house typing away. We are all sitting around, talking while I upload pictures.

Being that I am new to this step mom thing, I did not realize just how many bags and stuff we had to take.  It looked like we were going away for a month. Two car seats, a double stroller, diapers, wipes, Pull Ups, a potty seat, clothes, shorts, jeans, old shoes, Crocs, swimsuits, life vests, etc. Holy cow a lot of bags!

I was a bit worried about traveling with the kiddos, but Bryan and I did great. We had it down to a science and made it through security without a problem. We were so happy to have the TV's on the plane for the boys and were they inetrested in them? For about 30 minutes and that was about it. Overall they did really well.

When we got to Philly we got our 4,000 pieces of luggage super fast and we went on the shuttle bus to get the car. Do you know what they gave Bryan?  One of my favorite things on the planet in Philly: soft pretzels. Bryan does not look happy here but I was thrilled. So were the boys!

We are rolling in a new Town and Country Mini Van. Although I am not one for mini vans, this one is pretty awesome with two kids and a ton of luggage. It has two DVD screens so the boys were entertained on the way to Bridgeton. Torrin resisted sleeping all day until we almost arrived at the "farm."

Speaking of sleep, I am exhausted so I am off to bed. I will write more tomorrow.