Here's the story, it took me a while to write-- but only because I wanted it to be perfect... you only get to tell your engagement story once, in theory. For me though, its just going to be this one time. So heads up, its going to be a long one, but I'll treat you with pictures at the end**-- be patient. However, feel free to skim or skip if this doesn't interest you. Just giving you an option.
So this Christmas was going to be my first of many with Kevin, and I wasn't going to let the fact that we weren't engaged ruin that. We've been talking marriage for quite a while and we were just waiting for all the stars to align, the right time to come, and an official proposal of marriage to occur. I had kind of given him somewhat of a time line the month before, and when that time came and went I stopped expecting it to happen... and that's probably why I was so surprised when it did happen. Now, I wouldn't say that I had "given up on him" (as he asked me if I had), but I had stopped thinking it would happen anytime in the near (or somewhat distant) future.
Anyway, we wanted time to spend together without the craziness of either of our families. Kevin suggested that we do something, and threw out the suggestion of going for a snow trip. Little did I know that he had had the ring for about a month, had nailed down how he was going to do it, where, AND when, all without my knowledge. I suggested Shaver Lake since it would probably have snow and it would be the closest place we could go. Apparently I played right into his hands, as this was where he was planning on doing it anyway.
So we decided that he would pick me up at 11 and we would head up and then afterwards we would go to his family's Christmas Eve festivities. Well, somewhere in our deciding that I thought, "Hey, since dinner with his family isn't until 5 I'll have plenty of time and it won't be a big deal when we leave." So I called Salvation Army to see if they had any sales going on that day. When I heard they had shoes for 50% off I headed over and shopped with my brothers, calling Kevin before we left to let him know that he should come too. We finished and Kevin still hadn't arrived but he said he was close. So, he apparently forgot where the store was (nervous??!?) and it took him a while to get there. But when he walked in he was wearing a nice sweater with a collared shirt underneath... I on the other hand was still in my jeans and a sweatshirt. Apparently he was dressed up for the dinner since we were going to go straight there after our snow adventure (something he never told me).
So we detoured to my house so I could change my clothes to dress accordingly to what he was wearing so I wouldn't look like a total slob for his family. So I changed and we got going around 11:30. He seemed completely normal during the drive, if not a little quiet, so instead of talking his ear off I read to him from the book we're reading (The Magician's Nephew). Then when we got into Shaver we window shopped, looked around a couple boutiques, ordered a pizza, colored, and had a wonderful time enjoying each other's company (as usual). I found out later the pizza was to calm his nerves... and it didn't hurt that the pizza at Shaver Pizza is absolutely delicious.
While at the pizza place we asked around for how to get to Bald Mountian since I thought it would be cool to get a nice view of the snow and the lake, but the mountain is only accessible by snow vehicles in the winter. The girl told us, "You probably want to go to Bald Mountain in the summer." So we decided to go to the lake and just enjoy the view from the edge of the lake. It wasn't too cold, and there were people all around sledding and enjoying the snow... and then there's us-- dressed up and just walking around. I had worn little slip on shoes that had NO traction and the snow would get in really easily. So I was sliding around everywhere, and then Kevin suggested that we get closer and go out on the snow. Actually the conversation went like this:
Kevin: I want to go out on the snow.
Ashley: You can, I'll watch you from here.
Kevin: No, you have to go with me.
Ashley: ::pause:: OK, I'll walk in your footsteps.
So we cautiously made our way out to the middle of the snowy area. Then we walked up to where there was less snow and a better view, but that area was muddy. Then we walked down where we had just been. I was getting a little suspicious that we were wandering around instead of actually just enjoying the view. But then he found the perfect spot. He stopped and let me look around (finally) and we were just hugging and enjoying the beautiful scenery. Then he started talking. It went like this:
Kevin: I have a confession to make. I didn't just bring you up here to look at the scenery.
Ashley: You didn't?
Kevin: No, you know I love you.
Ashley: I sure do.
Kevin: I have a question for you.
Ashley: You do?
Kevin: (Gets down on one knee in the snow (getting his knee wet and cold... pulls ring box out of his pocket)
Ashley: Oh my goodness...
Kevin: Will you marry me?
Ashley: Oh my goodness, YES! My baby (nearly tackled with hugs hugs hugs kisses hugs hugs hugs)!
Kevin: (puts ring on my finger) Sorry it took so long... blah blah blah...
Ashley: ::sobbing a little::
Kevin: Are you happy?
Ashley: Absolutely, perfectly happy.
Anyway we talked for a long time about his devious plans that included lying to me for 3 weeks, talking to my parents behind my back to ask permission, and all the times his plans were nearly ruined, all the times he almost couldn't wait to propose, and how happy and excited he was (I'm pretty happy and excited too).
So we set the date on the way down the mountain.... June 19th! That's pretty much it. It was the best day of my life (to date), and like I said... perfect proposal, in the perfect place, to the perfect man. I'm so in love and life is absolutely wonderful! Sorry that took so long... I've been done for quite a while, and Kevin edited it a while ago I was just waiting for pictures.
**And when I say the end of the post I really mean another time, when I can figure out how to download the pictures off this ruddy camera I borrowed. Sigh.
