One Lucky Girl

I've recently discovered that my hubby had some interesting dating rules while in college. Lucky for me I seem to be rule exempt. For example Peter had a three strike rule. Basically if the girl said no three times in a row, he got the hint. Me on the other hand, I had unlimited strikes. Peter called me up and asked me out on a group adventure, I said no. Shortly thereafter Rebecca called and invited me to the same activity and wouldn't take no for an answer. I show up and then must explain to Peter that Rebecca convinced me to go.

On November 4, 2004 Peter emailed his best friend Greg who just happened to be living at the Bishop of the single's ward house asking for my phone number. And that's how it all started. "I'm thinking that whatever I end up doing this weekend would be more fun with her along (hopefully not as a date, because I have no idea on what to do). Maybe just get a group together that wants to hit the theaters or something." Little did he know, that Rebecca would have an easier time getting me to go to activities than he would.

A few of the fun get together activities "clearly NOT dates" and a few that WERE clearly dates
*Sea World-He drove I sat front seat. His sister and two others crammed in the backseat. He was bummed that he never sat by me on any of the rides. Though we did share a funnel cake.

*The Santee Drive-in: Either in the bed of someone's truck or in chairs we always managed to share the blanket. This was quite the fun event, so it happened often.

*Game Nights A Plenty

*Movie Nights A Plenty

*Any ward activity

* Any excuse to go to Disneyland-especially if a friend had never been before.

So the story between us is kind of long...we met in 2004. At some point I knew he liked me but I didn't like him the same way. So I went to activities but also turned him down when he invited me several times. His favorite excuse that I used quite often was that I had to do laundry or clean...somehow the three strikes rule didn't include me.

Sometime in 2005 he started dating this other girl, and boy I did not like it. I wasn't fond of her at all! This lasted a few weeks, yes it was a few weeks of pure horror for me as the girl enjoyed telling my friend all about it while I was there. Yes I was JEALOUS..but why I didn't like him that much...or did I? Lucky for me and him, that relationship ended quickly.

It took awhile, but Peter decided to give me another shot...after all I seemed a little more interested. I turned him down less often...of course I still said no a lot, but somehow it was less than before. I was such a terrible flirt.

A few funny/slightly embarrassing/important moments:

July 2006 we went on a YSA camp out. I found him irresistible and a bit strange. "AAAAAH A MONKEY!....That's not nature, that's stinking wildlife." After the monkey part he had everyone's attention over at his tent to check out the monkey. He had found a large green spider on his pillow. While he and Greg tried to kill it, which was hard to do because it moved quickly, he came up with the wildlife comment. Peter really hates spiders! The next day we went to my house to go swimming. Peter, Greg, Elizabeth and Rebecca tackled a giant turtle. In most cases the turtle won...until he popped. I do have pictures, but Peter won't let me post them :)

November 2006 I help Peter go furniture shopping for his newly purchased condo. Funny story: Imagine you the female helping a male friend buy a mattress...are you picturing this? Now picture the salesperson asking me to try the mattresses too to make sure I like them. Now see my face turning bright red as I come up with a quick response, "I'm just his friend helping him shop for stuff." Gosh I felt stupid after that...Duh. Well he picked out a good mattress :) We also bought a couch, he went with my favorite....good boy :) We went out to dinner that night too. Basically after that I was with him nearly every weekend. Our technical first date happened the first weekend in December.

*The first kiss...well sort of: Peter doesn't like me telling this one, but its funny, so I have to share...and well most people already know. So sometime in December it happened. We watched a movie with friends...then they left and it was just us. We sat and talked. At some point he leaned over and aimed for a kiss. Unfortunately I didn't see it coming and totally moved at the same time. He missed. He got the side of my face...sort of. I was so embarrassed I didn't know what to do. I promptly told him it was time for me to go home. His thought, "I just messed that one up." My thought as I was driving home, "I got up and left...stupid, stupid, stupid." The next day I called him up and we hung out. That night I decided it was my turn and I laid one on him. He enjoyed it. His thought, "Sweet she likes me too...score!"

*February 2007 at a fireside I got there early and saved Peter a seat up front. He came in during the opening song, went two rows in front of me and started climbing over people. As he was nearly sitting down he realized the girl he thought was me, wasn't me. Our friend Rebecca was leading the music and she saw it all happen. The look on my face was bewilderment. Peter turned bright red and everyone within the five rows behind me knew what had happened too. I quickly moved back a row to sit with friends and Peter was so embarrassed he couldn't listen to the speaker.

*Peter loved going to the Midway with Rebecca, Cheri and I.

*We also went on fun outings whenever we could. I hadn't been to the Wild Animal Park in a long time, so we went there. We had fun feeding the birds as this was a first for me. At one point I had about three or four birds on my head. One even pooped while standing on my head. Did you know that these types of birds have flying poop? Shockingly enough I didn't get any poop on my head...it hit the arm of my sweater though, which was easy enough to take off and wash.
Not bad for taking the picture ourselves huh?

*March 2007 Ed moved in to Peter's place. This was great for Peter to have help with the bills...or to save for something sparkly...like a special ring or something. Ed is a good luck charm: He lived with Greg and Dan before, both of them got married so Ed had to move out. He moves in with Peter and well we all know how that ended.

*April 2007 Peter proposes. Ed had just gotten his stuff moved in and now didn't bother taking stuff out of the boxes...he went to church that Sunday and said he had to find a new place to live. I walked in and everyone knew what had happened.

Now I knew the proposal was coming. We had actually talked about it ahead of time and I had gone out with my friend Kira while she was visiting and my mom. We went to one place and I had picked out three rings that I liked. Though I had my heart set on one in particular. The next day Peter headed out with Kira to the same store and found the same salesperson that had helped me. The guy places all three rings on the counter and then Kira says, "Which one does Mandy like the best?" Peter said, "That one is Mandy." Kira, "Good boy." So Peter buys the setting there and gets the stone at another place and is driving all over San Diego trying to get everything right. Rebecca who was getting ready to go out of town, called Peter up and he told her the plan. She offered to help and so she was sent to go find a Build A Bear store. She found a store and built the bear while on the phone with Peter. Making sure she built it to his specifications. They met over at Heidi's where Rebecca was staying, there Peter showed Heidi and Rebecca the ring and picked up the bear. Then he headed home as Rebecca ran to catch a flight.

*The proposal: April 14, 2007...Now let me tell you this totally surprised me, I had no idea he would be able to get it all done in one day. Mind you it was all totally nerve wracking to me because several of my friends and my mom were in on the secrets as they constantly got phone calls and told me to leave the room. Yeah I was a nut case that day. So I went to Peter's place for dinner. He had picked up Greek food. We ate and then sat down for a movie...We watched Toy Story. At the end of the movie Peter told me to grab the blanket off of the other couch. I was confused...why would he want a blanket, it wasn't cold. So I grab the blanket and lo and behold the teddy bear was sitting under it. As I am checking out the bear he got down on one knee and proposed. Of course we all know what my response was. He then pulled out a dozen long stem red roses out of the closet. It was such a sweet day!