Tonight is opening night for You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Last night's preview to an almost full house was awesome! Other than a few sound cues here and there, it was perfect. Melissa's parents, grandparents, aunt Nellene, and Linda and Charles came, as well as Ann from her work, and our pastor and his family. It's amazing what happens to the show when you have an audience.
We've worked long and hard on this thing and we hope that this weekend and next will be the ultimate pay off!
These are the stories as we wrote them last year :-)
Our Engagement...
Friday, February 11, 2011
His Story - This story began in September of 2010 on the long commute to and from the beach with my parents. We got on the topic and discussed how quickly our relationship had developed and our future. We talked about setting a date on our anniversary, which was June 25. We had talked about what type of wedding we would like to have, all the way down to the color scheme. We both shared a vision of what we wanted. As time went on, we discussed our ideas with family and friends. I considered proposing around Christmas time but there were circumstances that would not allow me to do such and feel right about it. After Christmas came and went, I had Valentine's Day set in my head. Things began to look as if they would time out perfectly. Out of the blue, Melissa's friend Heidi asked me about the ring. I told her the thoughts I had about proposing around Valentines. I had thought a lot about a special place to have a romantic proposal and the Springs Chuch (where we met the first time) became my pick. Over the course of a few weeks, everything seemed to arrange perfectly. Heidi met me one day just to show me a ring Melissa had tried on one day they were shopping and really liked. I went to look and ended up walking out of the store with it. I worked with Heidi, Donna Chalmers and Kira Armstrong to get everything arranged. Heidi was a master schemer and was integral in getting everything set up at the church while I distracted Melissa. I always wanted it to be a surprise and a few people were very important in making that happen. On Friday, February 11th, I woke up in the morning and snuck to Sam's Club to buy fresh roses and took them to Heidi's work. She had everything loaded as we finished out our scheme. We met Donna Chalmers for lunch to discuss set design for our upcoming Charlotte's Web performance where she was able to sneak me her key to the church. We met Heidi "to get the car seat"/drop off the key so she could set up after work. I told Melissa that I had her something made for Valentine's and that I would get a message and we'd have to go pick it up. When Heidi had everything set up, she texted me and so I took Melissa out and told her I'd have to blindfold her. I drove us out of the way so she wouldn't guess where we were going. Things take over from there on the video linked below...
Her Story - He blindfolded me. That's my story. I knew Heidi (my maid of honor) knew when it was going down and she had kept telling me, "be patient, be patient." So when Andy came to my house on Friday, February 11, 2011 in his plain t-shirt and jeans, I didn't think anything of it. He told me early in the day that we'd have to make a stop to pick up a suprise he'd made me for Valentine's Day as soon as he got the call it was ready. I protested because we weren't supposed to do anything big for each other in order to save for the wedding. He said he'd already had it planned BEFORE we made that decision.
Our day went on like normal. We met Donna Chalmers for a meeting about Charlotte's Web and went paint and key shopping at Home Depot. I noticed Andy and Donna disappear for a few minutes, and even mentioned it to the other lady with us that I knew Donna and her daughter also knew when "it" was going to happen. I knew Donna knew because Kira knew....and Kira told half the people in our office! Anyway, we had to pick up Kaden's car seat at Heidi's office because we were supposed to baby sit the boys later in the day. I did think it was odd that she didn't leave the car seat for me at her mom's like she normally does.
Meanwhile, the torture continues as he keeps telling me, "It's not ready yet" when I asked if he'd gotten the call. Finally, around 5:45PM he gets a text that my surprise is ready! He asked if I wanted to change shirts before we left. The pretense was that Heidi would be there as soon as we got back to go bridesmaids dress shopping with my mom and me. She'd already warned me to "wear something cute" because she'd be taking pictures. I changed into a random, black sweater, stuck a necklace on, and got in the car. Only to be greated with a red bandana blindfold! He drove me all over Flowery Branch to keep me guessing about where we were going. We pulled into somewhere that had loose gravel in the driveway, but the driveway was still paved. At this point, he gets out and fiddles around in the trunk while I'm left to sit and think for what seems like forever! He leads me in and as soon as we walk inside, I know where we are! I know the smell of the place we'd spent so much time at over the past year and a half - The Springs Church. And even though he'd told me all the way there that it wasn't what I thought it was (and HOPED it was), it really was the best night of my life...so far!
Thank God for BFFs, too! As it was Heidi that set it all up while Andy was with me so I wouldn't suspect anything! She was also kind enough to video, bring make-up for fixing me after I cried so much, and take pictures afterwards! We went home only to find that my mom had arranged a house full of family, cake, and strawberries!
Happy 2012, everyone! Especially to the 2 or 4 people who actually read this blog besides Andy and myself! We started our Christmas season with a family-trip to Pigeon Forge, TN. My parents and my aunt and uncle both celebrate their anniversaries in December and typically go to the mountains for the weekend. This year, they decided to take Mammaw and Pappaw, too, and invited Andy and me to occupy a sleeper sofa for a few nights...for free...so we did! My cousin Melina took the futon :-)
We spent a day at Dollywood and got some great pics at Cade's Cove - we definitely want to go horse back riding out there next time - maybe in the spring as we now also have Dollywood season passes for 2012.
Now for Christmas, itself. First up? Decorations! Ours were kinda minimal this year as we were hoping to get stuff after Christmas (which didn't really happen). We got the tree last year for about $6 way after Christmas at BigLots and we got all the ornaments this year for a really good deal at BigLots. Next year, I hope to put this tree in the office with our fun ornaments and have a bigger, "fancy" one for the living room.
Our First Christmas Tree! DaVinci lived under it from Thanksgiving 'til Christmas!
Andy made the bow - not too shabby!
Our stockings - also from BigLots with Hobby Lobby holders. One for Andy, Me, and DaVinci!
I made this wreath! Plain wreath - $5, Sign -$4, Bow - $2, Berries - $1 = $12!
My mom's family does crazy gag gifts - this is my cousin, Jennifer, the proud new owner of a creepy crocheted owl!
Andy's mom cross-stitches everyone's stockings...
Mine made it's debut this year! Complete with kitty cat!
Andy's is 29 years old...
Andy's Gracie enjoyed the festivities - she still loves living with her "grandma" and "grandpa" and partner in crime, Ellie.
Andy's cousin, Ethan, came down to play with Matt's Kinect (I'll be good and not post pictures from when Matt tried to kill the ceiling fan) and the crazy, flying, ninja spider monkeys that Matt and Andy got.
Christmas morning and DaVinci got to go first. He LOVES his Christmas mouse! I really wish I had video of him just toting it around like a dog - it still makes me laugh every time I see it! I couldn't get the video to go here, where I wanted it, so it's at the top of the Christmas section.
Andy eyes his BIG box!
What is it, Andy?
It's Disney ornaments that I randomly wrapped for him to open! Only Aladdin and Lion King, of course.
Andy got me a Claddaugh ring that's like a girly version of his wedding band! I <3 it!
Sleepy family portrait - DaVinci just wants his mouse.
1/2 way decent picture of us on our first Christmas as husband and wife AND in our house!
Andy's dad MADE this swing for our front porch and his mom made the cushion. There was an ulterior motive, though. Bobby said he made it big (enough to easily hold 3 adults), so that there's enough room for me and Andy and "at least two grandbabies in the middle!"
Yep - even a solid GT fan made us a RED swing with a beautiful Georgia G on the back!
What goes up must come down. I took the tree down one day while Andy was at work. DaVinci staged a silent protest; he didn't want to see it go!
We had a wonderful first Christmas together and can't wait for many more to come! For now, we move on to Charlie Brown auditions with the theatre and, unfortunately, are settling back into work life.
