A little background info, Chris and I have been dating since August 6, 2008. I've known him since freshman year and we met at church. He made me his girlfriend the summer I turned 16 (the day before my birthday actually. He is the best birthday present I ever received) and it was the summer before my junior year. Thinking about it makes me feel really old.
The first few years I knew him, he was incredibly shy. He had actually gone to the church a year before me and no one knew him until we started hanging out a lot. It was no surprise that the way he would ask me out would be shy too. The sixth was a Wednesday and he handed me a plastic bag at youth group and told me NOT to open it until I got home. So I didn't. By not opening it right away, I had actually ruined his plan. He figured that by saying "Kaitlyn, no no", that I would do the opposite. And if I would have opened the bag, he would ask me right there on the spot. But because of the listening skills that have gotten me many pat-on-the-backs from grade school teachers, I opened the bag at home and got "officially" asked out on the phone.
What was in the bag? It was cds! (Typical).
The first cd said: "50 Songs That Remind Me of You. Kaitlyn, I was..."
Second cd: "wanting to know..."
Third cd: "if YOU would... DATE ME. Yes or no."
It was so sweet. Now that I look back on it, it reminds me of notes little kids pass in class, but I still thought it was adorable. Very thoughtful.
Now almost four years later, we've decided to take the next big step and we are engaged!
(and yes, the rats are included)
And once again, another major plan of Chris' was ruined (or modified, as I like to say). The Soroka-Switzer Family Vacation commenced on June 22 and it was supposed to be filled with sun, sand, and lots eating. We still ate a lot, but unfortunately, good 'ole tropical storm Debby decided to sweep in and visit...Chris and I have been planning to go on a picnic on the beach for weeks and just typical that it got stormed out. Well, Chris is kinda a penny pincher (some fondly refer to him as Mr. Crabs) and he told me on Sunday that we really needed to go on a picnic regardless of the weather because he spent a lot of money on the picnic basket and we were going to get the money's worth! So he suggested that we just have a picnic in the car. It's not as romantic like the beach but at least we could be alone and be on a date.
(BTW we had the strangest picnic food. We didn't have a
meal. I chose kiwi, pears, chicken biskets, and the to-go nutella. We also had
bottled coke which was cool).
So I'm eating my kiwi and he suggested that we eat dessert.
Well, I wasn't hungry for dessert because I was eating my kiwi. Then I ate like
two chicken biskets and he asked me again if I wanted desserts. And OF COURSE I
didn't because I hadn't eaten my main course! And finally after way too many
chicken biskets (this is getting really romantic right? Shall I also mention we're both
in pajamas?), I decided that I was ready for dessert.
So I opened the basket and inside it had the sea shells with
"Will you marry me?" written on them and the red ring box off to the
side.
I was completely shocked. I literally had no idea.
Everything was so... normal. I mean we were freaking eating chicken biskets in
our pajamas IN THE CAR! I just stared at the inside and finally I was like,
"Is this for real? Are you kidding me right now?" And I opened the
box and put the ring on. And I gave him a kiss and thanked him and all he
responded with was "so.... is this a yes?"
And yeah. It was completely surprising and I honestly loved
it. He said I could edit the story to make it more romantic but I really don't
want to. It was more perfect than I could ask for. It was us. Just plain Chris
& Kaitlyn being ourselves. And that's just how I wanted it.
I started this blog to help me catalog our journey to actually becoming married. The internet is one of the most valuable tools out there and I know I've read a many of blog posts to try and avoid many mistakes that other brides have made. So here I am, documenting all the up and downs of being newly engaged.
Just for kicks, here's a nice shot (lol!) of Chris and I about a week after we started dating.
And also one of us as a newly engaged couple!
