quite monumental!

Hello friends, readers, followers, non-followers...I know I have been MIA for quite some time. And I have an explanation, really, I do! Although it is kind of silly, after my last post 2 weeks ago, I realized that my next post was going to be my 50th! So I was kind of waiting to write my next post until there was something worthy of the 50th post. haha. Pretty lame, I know. 

Anyway, tomorrow is my 1-Year-Anniversary of being married to Tyler! Craziest year ever, it just flew by! I have been meaning to write a blog about how we met/our story/etc. for quite some time, and seeing as how he is the best thing in my life, I figured our story would be perfect and most worthy of my 50th blog post :)

Let me preface this story be saying that if you ask Tyler, he'll tell you we met in 8th grade. We both played competitive soccer, and our teams scrimmaged each other every few weeks. We went to different junior highs, but there were lots of boys from my junior high on his team. I also happened to "go out" with a few of those boys. So, he says he met me as Jason's girlfriend, then Dan's girlfriend, then Jason's girlfriend again...lol. Whatever. Tyler was always the SUPER shy guy, while I was a little (okay a lot) more on the outgoing side, so I honestly don't remember meeting him in junior high.

Fast forward to high school. Apparently we went to high school sophomore and junior years together without ever crossing paths. Senior year (2003), we both became members of Peers - a counseling team of students who did presentations on depression/suicide and sexual harassment (major tangent - but one of the school counselors who helped lead the group of Peers is now in jail for sex acts with minors...awkward). So the first time I really remember meeting him was in August of 2003, when we had a Peer retreat before school started to get to know each other. I met him, thought he was cool but really quiet, and that was kind of it. 

Until...

we happened to both be in the most romantic class together - AP Calculus. Yep, sexy. I was naturally not paying attention one day, and instead was just people watching. My eyes came to Tyler, and with a sudden realization, I thought, "Wow, he's super cute!!!" So then I decided to put the charm on and flirt with him whenever I could. During this time of me *attempting* to court Tyler, I think I literally batted my eyelashes at him - that was how hard I was working! I invited him to hang out, go to school plays, etc...and he politely declined all my invitations. After a month of my pursuing him, I was getting frustrated! 

So, on Halloween, a bunch of us went trick-or-treating then to a friend's house for a little party. I announced to my two best friends that I was done chasing a guy who CLEARLY didn't like me. I threw my hands up in defeat, knowing I had certainly done my best. One of my friends walked over to Tyler and said, "Kaity's done trying to get you to notice her. Do you like her or not?" To which he replied, "Kaity likes me?" So oblivious to all of my efforts. (He now says he just thought I was being friendly all that time...). Then he did something real awkward. He walked over to me and just stood behind me with his arms around me. WTF. Didn't I just write this guy off? He was ignoring me for over a month and now he's got his arms around me? Then he said he had to go get some sleep since he had to get up early the next morning. I said bye, and he KISSED me and walked away. As I watched him leave, jaw dropped, butterflies in a frenzy in my stomach, I knew this was definitely the strangest way I'd ever hooked a guy.

After two weeks, I was literally in love with him. I know this is so cliche to say, but I am such a strong proponent of "when you know, you know" because I honestly could see myself marrying him after such a short time together. There is a reason sayings become cliche, and I think it's because there has got to be some sort of truth to the saying, otherwise they wouldn't be said so often!

We became so close, best friends, and spent hours and hours just talking. He was everything I ever imagined my boyfriend to be. Ridiculously intelligent, good looking, athletic (arguably one of the best soccer defenders I had ever seen play), romantic, family-oriented, and sincerely a good person. I never once second-guessed our relationship, my family loved and approved of him (a first for my boyfriends) and when he chose not to go to Montana for college, and also turned down a full-ride scholarship to another college to stay in Fort Collins to go to CSU with me, I knew we were forever. 

We enjoyed college, having fun independently but growing as a couple every day. We never officially lived together until after we got engaged our senior year in college. So, here is how he proposed. We went to Estes Park every year for our dating anniversary, and this year (our 4th anniversary), he promised me we could get those old-fashioned saloon pictures taken together. I had always wanted to. We got dressed up and took a few pictures. 

After a few shots, he said, "I have an idea for another pose." I said, "Oh, really? What?" I was surprised he was taking initiative in a photo shoot situation. He brought out a box, opened it, and asked, "Will you marry me?!?!"

It was so surreal! I knew this moment was coming at some point (I had picked out my ring), but I was NOT expecting it in the middle of our old-fashioned photo shoot!

I screamed for a few seconds, then I was aware of the photographer and didn't know whether to smile or dance around the room or lay a big kiss on Tyler. But then, finally, I remembered to say YES! It was wonderful :) (PS - my mother was beyond THRILLED that my engagement photo consisted of me holding a liquor bottle in one hand, a shot glass in the other, and also I had gum in my mouth...classy)

The planning of our wedding was so fun, and I took 1 1/2 years to enjoy engagement with my fiancee.

You are only engaged for such a short time in the grand scheme of things, so I wanted to enjoy it! Our wedding was magical and perfect.

We had such a fun time, celebrating our love in front of our friends and family. The reception was an absolute party, and so was the after party at Lucky Joe's! 

We honeymooned in Napa Valley and San Francisco, where the wine and food were plentiful! 

This last year has been a whirlwind of moving to a new city, a new job, starting school, buying a home, buying a car, adding 2 crazy puppies to our family...but I wouldn't change a thing :)

Happy FIRST Anniversary to the one who completes me and makes me strive to be a better person each and every day!

Cheers :)