The Story of Us: Shopping for the Ring {Part 19}

As I was "patiently" waiting for a ring, I would "casually" bring up the style I liked and what my ring size was. He finally gave in and took me to the University Mall where we perused the different ring stores to try some on...it was surreal! Although, the entire time I could tell that there was something else running through Ryan's mind. After some digging I found out that he was frustrated because he couldn't afford the rings I was looking at. I knew that he had worked really hard the previous summer doing pest control sales to pay for his own schooling/living expenses and that he didn't have the leftover funds to play with.
Hearing his frustrations broke my heart.

What I also knew is that right now we had other financial priorities as a soon-to-be newlywed couple, and a fancy ring just wasn't one of them. He promised that one day he would take me to Italy and re-propose with the ring of my choice {what a sweetheart}. I knew that he would always work hard to support me and our future family, so that was never in question. What he didn't realize is that at the end of the day I wanted him and our life together, not just the ring on my finger.

So that Saturday night, we had a date planned to go ring shopping.
At Wal-Mart.

We were all glammed up in our typical college late-night gear {sweatpants} as we we scoured the jewelry counter at 11 o'clock at night. We treated it like we were at Tiffany's, and Ryan asked the Wal-Mart employee to kindly let me try on whatever ring caught my eye. Ryan and I had a blast going through the different styles and figuring out which ring would best fit me. We finally decided on a 30 dollar crystal encrusted silver ring.

My heart fluttered as we made our way to the check out counter. He was buying the ring he was going to propose to me with, this is a big deal. We are one step closer to being engaged! We checked out with some magazines, my ring, and some Reeses {our favorite candy} to munch on our way home.
Best date night ever?

Now that he has the ring in his hot little hand...when the heck was he finally going to propose?
Maybe at the Lakers/Jazz game we had tickets to on April 1st??

The Story of Us: Waiting {Part 18}

The month of March consisted of me bugging Ryan about the proposal. How was I expected to plan a wedding when I don't even have a ring on my finger?! I have the dress, the temple, reception location, colors...but was just missing one thing. If we actually came out in the open and announced to everyone that we had already planned on getting married that August without a ring on my finger? Definitely would come off as a little cuckoo! 

Indignantly I told Ryan that if we were to get married this summer, that we needed to take pictures for invitations, like now. He kept on putting me off saying that he was waiting for a "perfect time" to propose. Obviously it wasn't soon enough for my wedding planning schedule!

Back in California my mom received a phone call from the dermatologist's office, they called needing to relay some information about the mole sample they took while at my appointment a few weeks prior. It came back positive for melanoma. They insisted that I get into surgery right away. My mom explained that I was currently living in Utah and was finishing up my Winter semester and that it would have to wait a few more weeks. It was planned that the week before finals I would have the surgery to extract the cancer from my body.

At the time I honestly didn't think twice about the surgery because I was so preoccupied with school and wedding details. I had previously had a mole removed off my back because it came back as carcinoma, also a type of skin cancer but not as dangerous as melanoma. I was under the impression that this upcoming surgery would be similar: about 20 minutes, a few stitches, and out of there by lunch! Now it was time to play the waiting game...for the ring, the wedding, and to find out how big of a deal this surgery really was.

The Story of Us: The Dress + A Father's Blessing {Part 17}

We flew down the 3rd weekend of February and had a jam-packed 2 & a half days planned!
Wedding dress shopping, a dermatologist appointment, and Ryan asking permission from my dad to marry my awesome self.

My wedding dress shopping experience was interesting to say the least. I had tried on a couple of *ahem* "modest" dresses in Utah and was horrified with the fit. These "modest" dresses obviously didn't like to accommodate a bust-line, which I obviously have. Suffice it to say, I looked like a stuffed sausage or like I was wearing a potato sack and was therefore discouraged with dress shopping.

Luckily, my mom had done some prep work before my weekend in CA {of course}, and found a Vera Wang line of dresses at David's Bridal that was inspired by the movie "My Fair Lady" featuring Audrey Hepburn {my absolute favorite movie of all time & one of my absolute favorite designers}...so it was pretty much meant to be! I took my mom and Aunt Carol, tried on the first dress and that was it. DONE. I tried on a couple other dresses just for fun...but the first dress was definitely it. It complemented my shape PERFECTLY and looked like it had been made just for me. The only issue? It was strapless.

I was encouraged by the non-LDS saleswomen to wear a bolero with the Vera Wang dress...over my dead body. I may be overdramatic, but what is the point of purchasing a gorgeous dress then ruining the integrity of it by throwing a cheap bolero over the top?! Despite my disgust with the idea of a bolero, I still needed sleeves on my dress to make it appropriate in order to be married for all time & eternity in the San Diego temple. Thankfully, my dress was saved by a extremely talented woman in my home ward who had offered to add sleeves and to do alterations on my dress as a wedding present. She even has a post on her sewing blog about how she did it, it's super cool!

After procuring the dress, I had a dermatologist appointment to attend. They did the typical "you're butt white and we need to look at the bazillion moles you have on your body" test, when I noticed something strange on my right forearm. I pointed out the suspicious mole to my doctor, then he scraped it off and sent it out for testing.

We are now almost to the close of our weekend...we are leaving Sunday afternoon and I'm still wondering when Ryan was going to ask my dad for permission {yet again, I'm lacking some major patience}. He randomly disappears Saturday night...and it hits me, THIS IS IT. My dad had cornered Ryan upstairs and I was sooo tempted to creep up there to eavesdrop on what was being said. What the heck was going on?! After almost 3 hours, they both walked into the living room all smiles :) Permission had been granted under many conditions, one of them being that Ryan would make sure I finished my college degree {like that was ever in question??}.

After our short & productive weekend we jet our way back to school to start making more plans...but how much planning can I even get done without a ring on my finger?!

The Story of Us: I'm Ready {Part 16}

I know that you've all probably seen the question: "am I ready?" a few too many times throughout "The Story of Us" series, and are wondering when I finally did get that a ha moment. What's funny is that I never did get that huge resounding YES in my head about getting married.

You are probably also thinking that I'm a lunatic. How could you get married and commit yourself to FOREVER with someone without a complete heck yes answer in your head?
I kept on asking myself if I was ready and was constantly searching for an answer to my prayers when in reality...I had already been working towards being "ready" without even realizing it.

After the totally awkward airport scene, we fell back into our relationship rhythm and it just felt so right. I couldn't even imagine my future without him. I felt such a warm feeling knowing that this was it. Just like a big cozy comforter that was making me all toasty inside. I took that as my "yes" answer...that warm fuzzy comforting feeling in my heart. So then we started to talk dates.
Wedding dates, that is.

Around this time it was February and we were thinking an August wedding, after the summer sales season in Portland and right before the Fall semester of BYU. I had bounced this idea off my parents and they said: "Why wait? We will help you throw together this wedding for whenever you want."

We reconsidered and settled on June 4th of 2011...4 months from where we were sitting. Had he proposed yet? Nope! I was so impatient and wanted him to propose right aboutttt NOW. I needed to get started on those wedding plans! He absolutely refused and said that he needed my dad's blessing before asking for my hand in marriage. I told him to just call up my dad, what's the big deal?! Ryan adamantly refused. "No, I want to ask for your Dad's permission in person." I obviously did not recognize through my impatience what a gentleman-like gesture this was...to ask for my dad's permission in person to marry me. I'm such the romantic huh?

So we hopped to it and snagged up two tickets round-trip from Salt Lake City, UT to Long Beach, CA for the third weekend of February. Ryan was to ask for my dad's permission while I would go look for wedding dresses :)

The Story of Us: Airport Scene {Part 15}

After I got off the phone with him, on the night that he tells me he loves me...I was completely shaken.

Is this real? It can't be. Am I ready for this?

It's planned that on January 2, 2011 he is to pick me up from the Salt Lake City airport.

I tell him which luggage carousel to find me at, I walk off the plane and scan the crowd for him...

 anddd there is no love-y dove-y romantic embrace.

Probably because he was at the wrong carousel and more specifically, he wasn't even in the same building as I was. Oops. That just dashed my romantic fantasy! 

As I'm waiting for my luggage to come around the carousel, and for Ryan to find me...my mind starts to race and I begin to feel overwhelmed even little stressed.

He finally finds me at the right carousel, and then grabs my waist and pulls me in for a sweet kiss.

Cue the awkwardness. What the heck is going on with me?

We had this big momentous turn in our relationship {granted, over the phone}, and I didn't even know what to say now that I've seen him in person. Actually, I just didn't even feel like talking at all.

He loads my luggage into the car and we ride back to Provo, practically in silence the whole way home. For anyone who knows me...that's a little odd.

You could say it's even worrisome that I'm not jibber-jabbering the whole hour back.

I wasn't afraid or upset, just completely absorbed with all of my thoughts and feelings.
So engulfed, in fact, that I couldn't manage to choke out anything to say to the guy that would most likely be mine for the rest of my life. I was in the midst of sorting out my feelings and figuring where our relationship was going to go from there. Is the thought of marriage really that far off?
And of course the ever-looming question...am I ready?

Not the romantic "meeting at the airport scene" you were thinking was gonna happen, huh?

The Story of Us: Moment of Truth {Part 14}

Ok, it's been a loooong while since I have updated on the story.
Maybe about 6 months...blame it on Ryan!

And I know you all have been twiddling your thumbs wondering what happens next.

If you aren't up to date?

Head on over to the "Story of Us" page.

.......................................................................................

{Hanging with friends in January of 2012}

Hmmm, 

so I think we left off where I straight out tell Ryan that I LOVE HIM, 

and he just needs to accept the fact that he loves me too.

For Christmas break of 2010 we went our own ways.

I flew back home to California and Ryan went to Montana.

I was still telling myself that I wasn't gonna be that dumb BYU girl to get married at 19.

I was still telling my family that he was just 'a friend' and we were 'just dating'.

Whatta joke.

My mom started asking what kind of "dresses" and "rings" I would want...

well mom, I don't know how to answer you cause I'm not exactly planning on getting married anytime soon. I was obviously still delusional.

Ryan and I texted, skyped, and called each other incessantly.

This is probably cliche {ok, it is}...but I felt like a part of me was missing.

My partner in crime.

I apparently was moping around the house with a frown on my face because it got so bad that my parents offered to fly me up to Montana to be with him for a few days.

Up to this point, I was the first one to say 'I love you'.

I was wondering when he was going to reciprocate...
{I'm not a very patient person}

He refused to say it during our time apart.
Why can't you just SPIT IT OUT.

One night, as I'm sitting in my childhood bedroom, getting ready for sleep and talking to my boyfriend on the phone at 1 in the morning....I caught him a little off guard and he spilled the beans.

"I know I haven't said this to you but I do love you. Brianna, I know life is hard sometimes. It is not alway fair either, but when I am with you everything bad about this life melts away. While I was a missionary I reminded myself daily that I was facing hardships so I could be blessed ten-fold if I was faithful. Little did I know just what a ten-fold blessing would be like. You were worth it. You are kind, beautiful, strong, and my example in so many ways. You are the most important peerson to me and will be forever. Your family has done an excellent job loving and caring for you...and now I want to.
I love you Bri."

I, of course, started crying.

I was elated, ecstatic, butterfly-filled to the brim!
It felt surreal, like this shouldn't be happening to me.

Am I really falling in love?

Is this gonna go to the next step?
Is this too soon?

Stay tuned for when I finally see him in person, after he finally played the 'I love you' card
over the phone :)

A Little Secret...

If you haven't read my "Story of Us" yet, you probably should.
{It's the classic "I thought you were a tool at first and now I think I'm in love with you" tale}

It starts off with Ryan & I's happenstance meeting and I've definitely left you guys with a cliff hanger.

What happened after I flew home to California for Christmas break?

I'll let you in on one secret...he tells me he loves me for the first time.

But how and when does Ryan profess his love?!

All your burning questions will be answered soon!
Ok ok, I'm full of secrets tonight! Sooo I'll let you in on another one...

Ryan has been composing his part of this next installment for the past month and has been planning on giving it to me for Valentine's day as part of my present.

Swooon.

I just entered my love story into the Goldsmith "Brilliant Beginnings" giveaway to win a free ring.

If you like our story, I would be so grateful if you went over to the event page and liked my post so I can win a gorgeous ring from Goldsmith Co. Jewelers.
{Why don't I have just one ring?}

Go to the "Brilliant Beginnings" Facebook page & like the status I posted under Brianna Rios.

Who knows...I might publish that long awaited Story of Us post soon ;)

The Story of Us: I Love You Ryan Andrew Rios {Part 13}

If you haven't already read up on how Ryan and I fell hopelessly in love... 

Check out the "Story of Us" tab above.
This is one of the best parts, so you better hurry up!!!

................................................................................

Fast forward a few days later, I'm in the midst of finals.

I'm taking a break from all the studying, and Ryan joins me in my procrastination {naturally}.

{I stole this shirt from Ryan both Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks}

We decided {ahem, I wanted} to watch the Christmas claymation movies in celebration of the season.

I choose Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer, stuffed it into the DVD player, and hopped on over to cuddle with Ryan on the living room couch.

He is sitting up and has a pillow on his lap where I promptly plop my head, then cuddle into my leopard print blanket.

At this point I'm still wondering if he ever caught on to the fact that I accidentally professed my love to him during a phone order of hamburger and sweet potato fries.

I mean, he hasn't brought it up in a few days.

Maybe I actually got away with it!

Fail.

R "Soooo...what did you say the other day on the phone?"

Let me interject here really quick and just point out that Ryan is not a "feelings" kind of guy.

Whenever anything slightly stressful or worrisome would happen in his life,

 I practically had to shake it out of him before he would tell me anything.

He is extremely careful in whom he places his love and trust.

But at the same token, it was so so so obvious that he was falling in love with me.

Our relationship from the beginning was very transparent, honest, straightforward, and just...easy.

There were no games.

So my response to his question?

Me, being the smooth cat I am, pick my head up off the pillow, turn around and say:

B "You know what Ryan Andrew Rios? I said I LOVE YOU. I don't even care if you don't say it back to me right now, because I already know that you are falling madly in love with me, and you are gonna tell me that you love me too sooner or later. K thanks."

Then I promptly plopped my head back on the pillow and continue on with my claymation viewing.

There was a big 'ole Cheshire cat smile plastered to my face.

Oh my goodness....I just said 'I love you' to Ryan.
In probably one of the most un-romantic ways possible.

Anddd that was it.

I'm the one who said it first.

Accidentally and then for reals.

At the end of finals week, he drove me up to the airport then sent me off with a kiss on the forehead.

On my flight home to California, I thought to myself:

"Ohhhhhhh crap.

 What am I getting myself into."

<3 Bri

The Story of Us: Accidentally... {Part 12}

Are you behind? Hustle your tush on up to the "Story of Us" tab and get caught up!

.....................................................

After the whole 7-11 hot chocolate/looking at homes/practically talking about our future together...

 I was a tad freaked out.

This was the first moment that I had thought of Ryan Rios....and myself, together for the long haul.

Yet again, FREAKED. ME. OUT.

{I mean, who wouldn't want to be stuck with this for forever & ever}

I'm not a commitment-phobe by any means, but marriage is a huge commitment.

One that I intend on sticking with for the rest of my life here on earth.

And at 19 years old, I was giving half a thought that I was ready for this?

A week before finals of the Fall 2010 year, I came down with "the lady time" and of course was feeling like an epic monster.

I was bloated, studying for dumb tests, and felt like eating Dove chocolates all day in a bubble bath.

Ryan was out & about running errands when he called me, and the following conversation ensued:

R "Hey Bri! I'm out getting food, what would you want from Sammys?" 

B "Ummmm, can I get a Sammys masterpiece hamburger with no tomatoes?"

R "Of course, see ya!"

B "Ya, love ya too!"

HANG UP THE PHONE.

Did I just say love you too?!

I was delusional and thought he said "love ya" at the end of conversation.

Oh my gosh....we have only been dating two months, what am I thinking.

Maybe he didn't hear it?

Yaaaaaaa.....he didn't hear it ;)

{This is the conclusion I finally coerced myself into}

Then when he comes back with my food:

R "Bri, what did you say at the end of the phone call before you hung up? I couldn't really hear you all that well."

B "I just said....uhh..later! :)"

Then Ryan dropped the subject. 

One smart cookie he is...

<3 Bri

P.S. Stay tuned for Part 13, one of the highlights :)

The Story of Us: I Just Knew {Part 11}

Ok, I know I haven't been keeping up on these installments for aggggessss.

With it being our One Year Anniversary this week, I felt it was necessary to update.

If you are behind, check out "The Story of Us" tab above for all the links :)

..................................................

We returned back to Utah after our Disneyland stint in So-Cal, and I could sense something different with Ryan & I's relationship.

Not bad by any means!

 Just...different.

I was still extremely adamant on NOT getting married young.

In my mind it was dumb, irresponsible, and just plain weird.

Who knows what they want to do with their life at age 18/19/20 anyways?!

Ryan would tell me that he wasn't thinking or marriage at all, then we would drop the subject completely. I never had thought of myself getting married, I knew it would happen one day in the future, but I was definitely not one of those girls who had their wedding dress & colors picked out at age 7.

One night after a long day of school and homework, Ryan picked me up to go for a drive.

It was snowing outside so I insisted on getting my favorite hot chocolate EVER. 

Hershey's hot chocolate at 7-11. Yummmmmmmmmmmm.

We were driving around, looking at everyone's Christmas lights & drinking our hot chocolates.

We liked the white icicle lights, colored net lights, and loved the fun Christmas decor...

then conversation turned to what characteristics we each would like to see in our future homes.

I want a brick/stone home, so does Ryan.

Ryan wants a home on a cul-de-sac, so do I.

I want a bigger Ranch style home, so does Ryan.

He wants a Spanish/Tuscan style home, so do I.

I want to settle in either California or Texas, so does Ryan.

It just kept on going back and forth like this. 

Is this even real?!

How could we both be thinking of essentially the same dream house?

I've been building this house in my mind for YEARS.

Not gonna lie, it was kinda weird.

At first I was thinking..."Um, is he just copying everything I say?!"

But, as the conversation continued on like this for a long while, I knew that it just wasn't possible.

Nobody is that good.

Things that I wanted in my life just seemed to line up with what Ryan wanted.

We kept on talking about our future homes when it just hit me.

Wow.

I could see myself being with him for the rest of my life, and being so so happy.

Of course, once I had this epiphany my mind started racing.

Is he the one?

Am I ready?

Oh gosh, I'm so dang young.

I want to travel.

Would he travel with me?

Does he want to marry me?

He hasn't even said he loved me yet!!

{I'm not dumb, I knew he was falling for me ;)}

We continued on with our drive, poor Ryan not knowing what was racing through my brain, we drove through the lightly falling snow, with our 7-11 hot chocolates, talking about what we wanted for our separate lives...

when I realized that we were actually talking about plans for our future life together.

<3 Bri 

The Story of Us: Meeting the Fam {Part 10}

For everyone who is new here, let me tell you what this whole saga is all about.

Let me first warn you though, that this is an installment that I write sporadically.

I'm not a very good at keeping a rigid blog schedule, I pretty much post things when I feel like it.

These are short 'lil installments narrating the story of how I met, fell in love, and decided to marry Ryan.

They are short & sweet with lots of pictures, and have some fun internal dialogue!

But don't fret, you can catch up!

Just head on over to "The Story of Us" tab where all the previous installments are linked :)

.........................................................................

After our Disneyland adventures, Ryan and I had a double date with one of my best friends from back home, Megan, and her boyfriend Andy.

All four of us went out to eat, laughed, and then we split up into couples and walked around the outdoor mall lit by the tiny 'lil twinkle lights.

Walking around in the starlight mall, I was starting to realize that Ryan got along with pretty much everyone in my life that was important to me.

Which was a trait that I was not particularly used to in a boyfriend.

Originally the trip down to southern California was to meet my family, for him to meet up with cousins, and for us to have a good time. I mean, we had only know each other a month and a half before this trip.

It was just for fun, right?

It definitely turned into something wayyy more than "just" a fun trip.

It was a test.

A test to see if he would fit, like a puzzle piece, into my world.

I didn't realize that this was what the trip had turned into,.

 As soon as I came to this conclusion, I thought aloud to Ryan that I might have considered breaking up with him if he didn't get along with my family & friends. 

If that were the case, then our relationship wouldn't be able to go much further.

I had already dealt with this kind of heartache in high school, and did not want to re-live it.

He laughed and said something cocky like the following:

"Good thing everyone just loves me right? (insert smirk)"

We were like two peas in a pod.

Both of us love being in social situations.

 We're both confident, motivated, constantly progressing and improving ourselves.

And most of all, I could trust him and he could trust me.

The bestest of friends.

We ended the weekend with the family at brunch, then started our 10 hour trek back up to Provo, UT.

On the drive home, I could tell that something was on his mind.

 I asked him what he was thinking about, while driving and still looking ahead he reached for my hand, intertwined his fingers with mine, and said:

"You are the girl I have always dreamed about....the girl I've always prayed for. My angel."

{All the pictures from December 2010}

He looked away from the long road ahead, and gave me a genuine, loving, and heart warming smile.

I had butterflies punching my stomach lining and a permanent smile on my face when I quietly looped my arm into his, laid my head on his buff shoulder, and gazed out the window thinking:

"He might be the one."

<3 Bri

The Story of Us: A Disneyland Newbie {Part 9}

On December 1st, 2010 we became Facebook official.

Gosh. Even the fact that we feel we have to do that is lame.

Anywho.

We drove the ten hours from Provo, UT ---> Corona, CA.

The whole time filled with conversation, movies, and hand holding.

Ryan & I get to Corona, CA at about 1am, where my family was still awake to greet us.

Ryan, even though he was exhausted from driving, is all peppy and excited to meet my family.
{He insisted on driving the WHOLE TEN HOURS. Now there's a man if I've ever seen one.}

I really didn't know how much I appreciated this until after the fact.

That I would be able to leave him in a room with practically anyone, and he would be able to not only hold his own, but make that person his bff five minutes later.

We hurried up to get some zzzzzz's and woke up the next day ready for Disneyland!
It was my first time touring the park with a D-land newbie, suffice it to say I  was pumped! 

His first ride on the Teacups!
Oh, and if it looks like he hardly had any hair.
It's cause he pretty much shaved all his hair off before Cali.
Without telling me.

I made him grow the faux hawk and scruffy beard back after the trip.

We ate at Blue Bayou, the restaurant inside the Pirates ride.

I was having fun trying to get Ryan smile "normal" for the camera, instead of one of those fake smiles that makes you look slightly ticked off in pictures.

 I win!

After spending the whole day & night with him, I started to realize that I have a lot of fun with him.
We are like two peas in a pod and get along swimmingly.


Best friend material?
No doubt.
Husband material?
I was still in denial.

We stayed at Disneyland all day, ate delicious Monte Cristos, rode all the classic rides, and watched the fireworks before we headed towards the tram to go home.
On the tram with his arm around me, my head buried in his shoulder, and the scent of his cologne in my nose.
I started to think that maybe, just maybe, I could get used to this...

<3 Bri 

The Story of Us: Disneyland Travesty {Part 8}

You all ready for this?

DUH nuh nuh NUH NUH.

I'm pretty sure you just sang that in your head.

If you are new, head up to the "Story of Us" tab and catch up on Parts 1-7.

The rest of you know the drill.

Read up!

...............................

At the end of November Ryan had been talkin' about heading down to So-Cal for a short weekend trip to meet up with his cousins in San Diego.

Me:

"Ummm, there is NO WAY you are going to San Diego and not taking me. You'll be passing right by my house!"

Ryan of course obliged to my kind request. 

Then....IT happened.

The moment he told me that he had...

NEVER BEEN TO DISNEYLAND.

And yes, that is considered a travesty. At least to me. And everyone else in California.

I grew up 30 minutes away from Disneyland my whole life and could not possibly FATHOM the fact that someone had not enjoyed, in their whole life, the happiest freaking place on earth.

That sealed it. He WILL take me to San Diego. And we WILL go to Disneyland.

In the meantime, I tell my mom about how I'm gonna take a trip with this new guy Ryan I've been dating. I ask if it would be ok for us to stay at the house for our Cali weekend.

My mom becomes suspicious.
 She asks if it's starting to get serious between us and if he intends on marrying me.

I was so offended.

I am NOT getting married till I'm at least 23 years old! 

I'm not gonna be one of those dumb BYU/Utah girls who gets married at 19.
I have to graduate first. I have places I want to travel. I want to go to Italy and France! 

Nope, nope, and no way.

I tell my mom this and she starts to chuckle and says:

"There is no way a 24 year old man is dating you and isn't at least thinking about getting married."

I would get so upset over this and vent to Ryan:

"My mom just doesn't get it! I don't want to get married! Do you?!"

Ryan:

"Oh no, I'm not thinking about that right now. I have plans for this next summer to go sell. We are just dating and having fun!"

I believed the fruitcake. I really truly did.

That's what I get for dating a salesman I suppose.

So.

 Before we leave for California, on December 1st, 2010, we decide to make our boyfriend/girlfriend status official via Facebook. 

{So corny...haha}

Then on December 3rd we start to drive down to California to enjoy the sunshine, Disneyland, and unbeknownst to us...Ryan being interrogated by the fam :)

<3 Bri

The Story of Us: November I Can't Remember {Part 7}

First of all, I did a "Sweet Sunday" post over at Foxy Whiskers, I love Lou and her blog.
She is so sweet, fun, and always has gorgeous pictures and stories to tell!
Totes one of my fave reads.
Sooo you should follow her too :)
....................................................

We last left off with Ryan & I's first kiss.

"A toe curling, warm fuzzy, feel like I'm in a dream type of kiss."

Anddd after this part is where it gets a little tricky.

 I don't remember what happened in the whole month of November.

Literally the month just *poofed* out of my mind!

I don't have any pictures or a journal to even jog my memory.

Even to this day I constantly ask Ryan:

"Can you tell me a story from the November I don't remember?"

I either misplace the events and think that they happened earlier or later than they actually did, or I completely forget that something even occurred. 

And no, he did not drug me and I didn't get in a car crash and lose that whole month. 

But obviously I was too busy falling in love to notice that the month had flown by!

One memorable moment was our first fight. 

I can't even call it a fight because Ryan & I just don't fight. 

It's either a "tiff" or a "miscommunication".

We were talking with another couple in my apartment, when the topic of babies comes up.

{In Utah? Whatta shocker...}

Ryan cracks a joke saying:

"When my wife is giving birth, I'm just gonna be at home watchin' football!"

I don't know what the heck triggered in me, if it was the time of the month or what, but I just flipped out.

I walked briskly upstairs to the kitchen to avoid crying in front of everyone like an idiot.

Ryan follows me, completely stunned and confused, and doesn't know what to do because it's the first time he has ever seen me cry, or seen me actually upset:

"Bri, are you ok?? What's wrong??"

Me, doing one of those cry/sniffling/talking things:

"You *sniff* won't be there *sniff* when I have our baby?!?! You'll just be at home watching stupid football??!!"

Ryan starts smirking, realizes that it's NOT a good idea to laugh, and just hugs me real tight.

I bury my head in his broad chest & shoulders.

Ryan:

"Bri, if you want me to be there for you, I will. 

I promise."

Keep in mind that we had only known each other FOR A MONTH.

We weren't even DATING yet.

Looking back at this I'm so so surprised he didn't just go running for the hills.

What kind of lunatic was I?!

Obviously it was meant to be. 

<3 Bri

P.S. Next part, I'm skipping over November and straight to December when some exciting things took place 

{BF/GF, Marriage talk, Deciding to marry, etc.}. Stay tuned!

The Story of Us: Kisses {Part 6}

This is Ryan, I'm posting this while Bri is still trying to go through her Media Fast.
Let me tell you, she is kinda going crazy.

If you haven't read Parts 1-5 take a look at the tab above, "The Story of Us", to catch up.
...................................................................

After completing what is probably the longest and stupidest movie of my life, I look over at Ryan in utter shock. Was he even attracted to me?
I would nudge & try to cuddle with him during the movie and he would MOVE AWAY.

What the.....

He finally turns to me and says:

"Bri, you are a really hard person to read...."

HA!
This is the biggest crock ever, cause I am in fact. The easiest person to read!
Meaning that pretty much everything that is going on in my head, you can see written all over my face.

Me:
"Are you being serious?!"

Ryan:
"Well, ya. I can't tell what you are thinking about."

Me:
"You don't think I know what I am getting myself into?
I am sitting next to you, watching a movie, in the dark, at midnight, on a Friday night.
It's not that hard to guess what I'm thinking."

BAM.

Insert first kiss action :)
It was a toe curling, warm fuzzy, feel like I'm in a dream type of kiss.
{or kisses....}

We ended up talking till 5 in the morning just about everything.
Life, school, fears, aspirations, family, past loves, dating, etc.

He ended up falling asleep, so I walked back to my house down the street, with a smile on my face :)

Which I guess was horrendously apparent, cause when I walked into my darkened bedroom, my roommate says:
"OH MY GOSH BRI. DID YOU JUST KISS RYAN?!"

Um, first of all Marissa. How the heck did you pop up out of a sound sleep like that?!
Creepy.

So I told her all the deets, and she was just as twitterpated as I.

<3 Bri

The Story of Us: Cuddle or Not? {Part 5}

Part 1//Part 2//Part 3//Part 4

After our Tucanos date on Thursday, we didn't talk at all the whole next day.

What's funny is I didn't think one bit about it!

The fact that he wasn't calling/texting didn't bother me at all.

Why, you ask?

Cause I'm not the type of girl to sit around and wait for a guys phone call.

{And neither should you! Read HERE.}

Friday night I had plans to go with my girlfriends to a BYU Ice Hockey game.

I had thought one of the guys on the team was cute, and said why not? I'll go to the game.

Afterwards we met up with the team at a Mexican Restaurant, Diegos, then decided to go back to the apartment.

One of our roommates had TONS of family and friends over, the apartment was stuffed, so the guy I was kinda interested in and I decided to go to his place down the street.

We talked, I could tell he was tired, sooo I left.

I walked out the door, and right across the street, in my view, was the Nibley House.

I didn't want the night to end, and mainly I didn't want to go back to my apartment stuffed with 15+ people.

So I stomped right into the door of the Nibley House, only to see a brown guy I didn't recognize sitting on the couch.

Me:

"Who the heck are you?!"

Brown Guy:

"I'm the new roommate. Who the heck are you stomping into my house!?"

I apologized, found out his name was David, and we ended up sitting and talking about movies.

I texted Ryan, telling him I was at his house and asking if he was around.

He was at a party, and decided to leave when I texted him.

Ryan walks into the house to see me talking in depth with David about all sorts of movies.

It was interesting conversation, and I didn't want to be rude! 

Soooo we kept up with the conversation when Ryan sat down.

 But I could tell Ryan was starting to get impatient....

Ryan:

"Well. I'm gonna head up to my room and fall asleep. 

If you want to watch a movie, you are invited. If not, I'm just gonna go to bed."

Me:

"Oh, ok...Let's watch a movie!"

AHEM. We all know what that is code for.

We go upstairs and watch "Orange County" {lamest movie ever in my opinion...}. 

We are sitting on his bed, side by side {like good kids}, watching this stupid movie, and he doesn't:

A. Try to cuddle with me

B. Put his arm around me

C. Hold my hand

D. Kiss me

or 

E. Even act like he was HALF interested in the fact that I was even there

What the heck???

To be continued...

<3 Bri