April 2nd 2005!

April 2nd 2005 was one of my favorite days of all time... a special memory that I can't go another year without passing the anniversary and not writing about.  The day that Blake asked me to be his wife.  A very special night in New York City in a small restaurant in Little Italy... does it get any better... 

Here is the story (the short version of course)... I had not seen Blake in 6 weeks bc he was working in China and I was traveling as well all over the US for work and happened to be in New York on business...There are several small details that lead up to the night but here are two major ones... one my parents were there but this was not unusual bc they would usually come to NY when I did so we could share a room and shop together when I was not working and the second was last I spoke with Blake he was in China and not suppose to return back for some time.

This was a weekend day/night and my parents, a co-worker, and I headed to the city for some shopping... we were staying in White Plains so we took a train ride down and hit the streets early to spend some money and eat some good food. Now looking back on things I can put it all together but my parents obviously knew what was going on and my mom was overly involved in my attire and hair for the day which I thought was sweet but now I know why... we get to New York and my mom, Nancy and I start shopping and Dale starts scouting out places to shop (he is so good at that).  We shop for hours and hours and I never really see Dale but he is always ahead of us telling us which way to go and what shops to stop in (this is still not weird this is usually what he does but he was keeping up with Blake on his arrival and where he would be).  Everyone but myself and Nancy knew what was going on and everyone did a great job of keeping their cool.  The place to meet up with Blake was still not set and Dale was waiting to hear what restaurant Blake would pick... ok I am noticing that I am giving way to many details so I will get to the point... Blake get there and we are shopping and he gets dropped off with luggage on Little Italy street, sees a restaurant, walks in and tells them the plan and they said sounds good, Blake tells Dale where he is and so we head to Little Italy but we start at the wrong end.  We literally hit every Little Italy restaurant there is (the one we are looking for is at the end but we don't know that... Dale just has a name).  We look at menu's and my parents say no not this one (like they don't like the menu)... which I was starting to get hungry and annoyed bc we are in Little Italy... every place is almost exactly the same... I obviously had no idea what was going on.  Nancy and I start to get cold bc the sun went down so we stop and buy a scarf and keep walking.  We finally get to the restaurant and my mom says "this one looks good"... yeah we were excited to eat.  We get inside ask for a table and the waiter sets us down in the corner... we start to look at the menus and the guy comes back and says we need to move... so then we get up and move to the center of the restaurant to a round table with an extra seat... which I still honestly do not think is weird... which I think is a God thing bc I am so hungry by this time I could care less where I sat... I just wanted food.  

This is the best part... I sit, look at my menu get carried away by all the food and then the waitor comes back and gives me a card... which I take a look around and no one is at the table... I then think what is going on.  Well about this card... I have seen this card before lots of times and it has my name on the outside and is worn and beaten.  I immediately get a little nervous and excited bc this card has been forbidden for me to read by Blake.  This card has been carried with Blake over the past 2 years in all his travels in his backpack.  I was not really sure what he was doing with it but he said that I was never to open it or read it.  So I didn't... and now here it is before me.  I immediately thought that this was really sweet... bc Blake had been gone for so long that maybe he mailed it to my parents and thought this would make the time go by faster until we saw each other or just show how much he loved me... was not sure but then I get a whiff of Blake's cologne but I open the card thinking the thing just must smell like him and when I open it I see tiny little minuet writing all over this accordion style card that had been dated back forever ago... there was no way I could read it all then but I thought I can read until everyone gets back but I remember telling myself not to cry... so I keep reading, then the smell gets stronger and I look up and everyone is still gone (still have no idea and think that is weird they did not say anything)... and that is when my Handsome Prince appears on  one knee at my side... with a black box.  It all hit me so fast and was not really sure what was happening bc as you can imagine this was a special moment and every girl knows what is happening as soon as they see someone they love on one knee with a box in hand... but I had not seen him for 6 weeks I wanted to jump into his arms and kiss him all over but at the same time listen to what he was saying... honestly I can not tell you a word of what he said but I know he must of asked me in some way "would I be his wife"... and I must have said yes bc here we are 7 years later happily married.  I kind of feel bad I don't remember but the whole thing was so surreal and happened in such a blur (with a little confusion as to what was going on) but I don't feel to bad bc Blake does not remember either.  Thankfully we had family and friends there to take pics and help us remember the details... bc I was hungry, tired, excited to see Blake, overjoyed to get my hands on him, ecstatic to have him so close, thrilled to read the card and the more... and Blake was NERVOUS and a bit jet lagged (remember he just flew in from China even still had his bags with him)... we hugged and kissed... he slid the ring on my finger... my parents and Nancy came back to the table with tears in their eyes, the restaurant was applauding and then we ordered dinner :-).  What a great night... a night we will forever remember... I love you babe for making that moment so special I could not have even dreamed up our engagement like that... very special... 

After the proposal on the street in Little Italy.

I love this picture bc it has the restaurant name and all of Blake's luggage in the front...

Here is our train ride down to the city... we were ready for shopping little did I know my life was about to change for the better.

This picture was taken while I was reading the card and Blake was waiting for the right moment... he says he remembers being so nervous right here..

And then mom and Nancy wanted to take a picture with him... the waiting continues and I continue to read...

We don't have any pics of the actual engagement (so no one would ruin the surprise) but as soon as my parents got to the table the shots were flying... I love this picture bc Blake looks like "wow that is over" and I am still in awe with rosie cheeks and all (that is what happens when I cry).

I love this picture of my mom... this is what she does when she cries... she was so happy for us...

Dale was happy too... but he was probably already thinking about "so how much is this wedding going to cost me"... 

Our group... so happy that we had Nancy there... brings some randomness to the story and what a special moment to share with her.

So in love... 

And the ring... and that menu below you better believe I asked if I could have it... and we do.