I've always loved Valentine's Day, but I think it's safe to say I've loved it even more the past four years. Actually five. Here's we go down memory lane! I don't think I have this properly docuemented, so that's why I'm doing it now =)
Ryan was in Colorado for our first Valentine's. He sent me a box with a bunch of chocolate, a massive Reese's heart, a stuffed dog, bubbles and a note asking me to be his Valentine. I felt really special. The next year, I was in my Junior year at Platteville and he was living in Stillman. I knew he was coming to visit that weekend, but he still said he would send me a box. When I got home from track practice, all of my roomates were sitting in the living room around a huge box, begging me to open it. I sensed that it was Ryan, so I tried to tip the box over. That didn't really work, but I could tell it was very warm inside, so I ripped off the top, and sure enough, it was Ryan! I was so happy to see him and to hear that he was taking me on a date and staying the whole weekend.
As I was getting ready for our date, I went through a variety of casual outfits and my friends were trying to get me to wear a dress. Why would I wear a dress in the middle of February? Then I went to pick out a necklace, asked Ryan his opinion, and he said he liked the outfit without one. We went downtown Platteville to the Candlelight Inn. We ordered our food and Ryan told me that maybe I should've wore a necklace. Gee thanks! He pulled out a little box and inside it it was a cross necklace with a little diamond in it. I've always wanted a cross necklace and it was my first diamond. He put it on me, our food came, and I dug in. A few minutes later, I realized he wasn't really eating. I guess he's not very hungry! When we finished our meal, I went to the bathroom, and when I came out, he asked if I wanted to walk around. I said, "No, it's cold and there's nothing really exciting about downtown Platteville." He didn't give me a choice. We walked up to Badger Brothers coffee shop and there was a big sign on the door saying "Private "Party." Ryan opened the door and I still had no clue that the party was for us! There was a path of rose petals leading to a back table with two cappucino's and his laptop. He played a slideshow of pictures of us to a few of our favorite songs. I started to get a little nervous during the slideshow, because would he really do all of this just for Valentine's? At the end of the slideshow, he said "I have one more little suprise for you." He grabbed a box from behind the computer, got on his knee and asked me to marry him!!
Some of our closest friends were in a different room in the back watching the whole thing. We talked with them, called our parents and family, and stared at the beautiful diamond the rest of the night. I was so excited I just couldn't sleep! In the middle of the night, I sat straight up and shouted "We get to register!" The next day was so fun. I ran into a few people throughout the day, and by the time I made it to track practice, everyone knew Ryan proposed. I told them the whole story and everyone was super excited for us.
That weekend we had a home track meet so we got to see my parents and talk about wedding plans ;)
(Going to post pics later!)
