The Beginning

I realized that I started this blog with the "Where Are We Now" and completely skipped the important part…how we got here! This is the story of the beginning, well, the longer version than the one I gave you earlier.

In 2006 I had a stupid boyfriend…haha, let's just put it out there! Anyway, after that ended I cried to a friend and told her how scared I was that I would never find "the one." I went to a small school and there were definitely no prospects there. I was graduating in two years and would be a teacher and where would I ever find anyone in that profession?! My.life.was.over. She told me about how she was going to the Marine Corps Ball with a friend from high school and didn't want to go alone. We decided I would go with her and she would ask her friend if he knew anyone who needed a date. I cried even harder saying, "This is awful, I would NEVER marry a Marine!!! I do NOT like military men!" Hmmmm…haha. The next day she called her friend and he turned around while on the phone, and said to his roommate, "Hey do you still need a date to the Ball?" And so it began…. My procrastinator of a husband surprise surprise did not have a date to the ball yet. So, a couple days later I got a message and a friend request on myspace, yes myspace! Here is the funny part, he CREATED the myspace just so he could see my picture! Silly guy! His pictures were all of him with his brand new nephew (who is starting Kindergarten this year AH!) and I thought…great, he has a kid…lovely. Anyway, after a few letters back and forth I knew he was weird, but he was also cute. One night I was in my dorm studying and in my sweat pants when I decided I would do some "extractions" aka zit popping extravaganza when I got a phone call.. "You wanna get together tonight? Because I'm on my way, passing the Spectrum right now… Ummmmm OKAY?! So, pile on the makeup and pull together all the roommates to find an outfit and knock knock knock… "Hi, can I use your bathroom" Well, this is off to a good start, what a way to make an impression Thomas. We went line dancing and Thomas rode the bull…haha. It was the night before his birthday, so I got to be the first person to wish him a Very Happy 25th Birthday! Side story that is kinda lame but cute, Thomas tells me that weeks before this he had been praying and praying for a big change in his life and to just meet his wife, and he swears that this was his birthday present from God! Awwww…vomit, haha. Anyway, at the end of the night I went home and thought, "well, he is REALLY cute, but…just so…weird." Not much has changed. We went on a couple dates in the next week and then it was time for the Ball! What a great night, getting dressed up and eating a fancy dinner! Pretty fun! Here we are!




Well, we had a great night and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning talking and sharing EVERYTHING. I told him things about myself that I had never told anyone and I had just met him! So, I invited him to Thanksgiving with my family since he would be spending it alone in the barracks and he accepted! He met the family!!! We spent the next few months together and had such fun together.. In February after his father passed away we both flew back to Houston and I met his family…NOT the best circumstances to meet the family by the way, I don't recommend it… but, I am still glad I did because I know it meant a lot for me to be there for him. While in Houston I still remember where and when exactly he got all awkward and fidgety and I knew something was up… He says, "When do you go from liking someone to….loving someone?" And on went the awkwardness and I finally said, "Just say it, you have to say it!" TADA… it was LOVE! haha..

Here we went on a camping trip to Monterey Bay :)

Here comes the sad part: The deployment! In April 2007 Thomas deployed and left me heartbroken and alone… waiting every day for an email, a letter, and if I was REALLY lucky, a 3AM phone call via satellite phone trying to understand what each other was saying before he had to go. I tell you I have never wanted to punch a phone so hard as I did mine when it would drop THAT call!

Packing up

My love

Don't leave meeeeee!!

So, 8 months passed and to my surprise, he didn't die, I was sure he would since I was pretttttty sure I was going to marry him and that would just figure. Okay! The fun part

BACK!!!!

This was November when he came back and then the pressure was on…when would the ring show up?! This man led me on a wild goose chase, Christmas would be it for sure! Nope.. New Years Eve he claimed he had a huge surprise… No surprise, we weren't even awake for midnight, well… I was, laying there angry and frustrated haha. Valentine's Day… okay this is it, friends! Super big surprise fancy date, we start the day with a massage and go out to Ruth's Chris for dinner and….the night ends. Hmph.. Getting angry. I am about to graduate college and I won't get to show all of my friends and this is so frustrating! Erg! But…as always, he never let me down! At the end of March he asked me on a date and said to dress up because it was a nice restaurant. Hmmm, not getting my hopes up but, I painted my nails….just in case! We went to the Chart House in Dana Point and I had a cosmopolitan and I NEVER drink so I'll be honest, I was pretty tipsy! Our waiter was sooo awkward and I remember thinking he was given a script?! Was he?! Who knows…anyway, time for dessert and I'm sooo full, no thanks. Thomas orders and I'm going..ew, babe, I am NOT hungry at all, but he kept inquiring about the strawberry cheesecake.. Okay fine, have your cheesecake. Surprise! That was the blingin'est pile of strawberries I had ever seen! I was giddy to say the least and he came over to my side of the table, got down on one knee and made a speech of which the only part I honestly remember is, "I know you'll be a great mom" We went back to his apartment and there were candles and flowers EVERYWHERE, I mean….eveerrryyywhere, like ridiculous amounts! It was gorgeous! He also had written me a song and it was sooo beautiful and I don't remember any of it and neither does he.. haha.

That night we set the date and the place! 2-7-09 in Palm Springs, the weekend after the Superbowl so no one would be distracted by sports (read:myhusband) and Palm Springs because shoooot, who doesn't want to go to Palm Springs?! 

The planning began! Such stress but so much fun!

Trying on dresses, this is the one!!!

Yeppp, this is it!

So pretty!

Bridal shower bubblegum game that my mom thought would be more fun with sour gum…NOT cool Mom, Not cool

Rehearsal!!

There are a million pictures from the wedding, but I won't add them now, there are just toooo many to pick any!!

So begins our life! I finished student teaching a month before the wedding and Thomas went back to school and got a job at the country club doing absolutely freaking nothing but eating food and playing golf for free. I was subbing and working on my resume and dealing with the fact that there was NOTHING in California.. About 2 weeks after we got back from our honeymoon in St. Lucia, which was Ah-Ma-Zinggggg we had our first baby!

Miss Easton Louise West

Lovin her Mama

After a few months of searching for jobs and a few failed attempts and about a million mind changes from Thomas, we decided California was not where it was at for us. He really wanted to focus solely on school and I really wanted my own classroom. We decided to head West…wait, no, East…southwest? Hmm, to Texas! There were SO many job openings for teachers there and Thomas could finish his degree since all of his credits would be in-state there and transfer easily. So, that was our plan, I would work and he would finish school… Sounds good right?! And then life happened! We set a move date for December 27th, I had several applications in at a few different districts and he was registered for classes. Neither of us had a job lined up and of course, neither of us had insurance! We were living on the edge and we would figure it out when we got there! We were young and adventurous and we were excited for our new journey and to find our way! Then came the last week of November… We were at my niece's 1st birthday party and I mentioned that I wasn't feeling well. If you are married at all, you know the first thing out of everyone's mouth is "You're pregnant!!" NO mom and Dad… I am NOT pregnant, trust me, I am just going to start my period next week, I have PMS right now, so back off! Well, curiosity gets the best of me and I decide…what the heck I'll google it. I type in PMS symptoms and the first thing that pops up is "PMS symptoms VS Pregnancy symptoms" …… Crap. Okay, taking a test. Pregnant! 3 tests later….still pregnant. ALRIGHT! We are changing plans and we are doing this!!!! And so we left a month later and figured it out.. And then 8 months later, our beautiful baby boy was born! The most precious surprise life could have ever given us. We are so so blessed :)