septbride08's Chocolate wedding

Ryan and I met on Labor Day, 2003. I had recently moved into my cousin Jill's townhome, and she and her boyfriend (now husband), Keith, were headed to a friend's house to grill out. Jill and Keith had invited both Ryan and I (seperately) to tag along, so the four of us drove together.

I don't remember much about the short ride to Jen's house, but I do remember the ride back. On the way home, Ryan declared that he had seen "Lord of the Ring: Fellowship of the Ring", and he thought it was terrible.

Now, I'm no LOTR junkie, but I have read all three parts of the book, and I love all three movies...so, I immediately got defensive. We argued back and forth, and I remember telling him to watch "The Two Towers" because it was filled with a lot more action. Needless to say, I didn't go home impressed. (Sorry, Babe!)

In the next week or so, I had decided to join Jill at one of Keith's softball games, and then hit the local bar (Jimmy's Food and Drink) afterwards with the team. I remember that Ryan sat down next to me, and told me that he had rented "Two Towers", and admitted that it was better than "Fellowship".

In the last four and a half years, I've come to the conclusion that he said that just to get on my good side. True or not, I don't know, but I do know that my interest blossomed from that point, and about a month later, he asked me out when we were at Jimmy's again for Keith's birthday.

So, I can't go on without including this part of the story...The weekend before Ryan asked me out, I had been at my college friend Ross's wedding. During the evening I met a guy (who's name I honestly can't remember) that turned out to be interested in me. He tracked down my phone number through a mutual friend, and called me. I had a feeling that Ryan might ask me out soon (that night), so I had tried calling the "other guy" back during work hours...hoping he wouldn't answer his cell phone, and I could delay things a little longer. My plan didn't work. He answered his phone and asked me out, and I said "sure". That evening, when Ryan asked me out I replied something to the effect of, "Yes, but I don't have my work schedule yet, and I have a date with someone else." Not the best answer, but in my defense, I hadn't been on a date in TWO YEARS, and suddenly I had two guys ask me out in the SAME DAY! I wasn't really sure what to do with that. Needless to say, it was a humbling experience for Ryan (one which he does not let me forget).

When Jill and Keith got home that evening, I told them about my two date dilema, and Jill responded, "Oh good, Ryan asked you out." Then Keith went on to tell me that Ryan was the best guy he's ever known...and that was all I needed to hear.

Our first date was at Panino's Restaurant in North Oaks, MN, and our first kiss was after we saw "School of Rock" on our second date. (I can't forget to mention that Ryan wore a Spiderman t-shirt on our second date!) By the third date, I remember telling a friend I had a feeling that he'd be around for a while...unless of course I scared him away.

Two and a half years later (June '06) I moved into Ryan's house after Jill and Keith's wedding, and last fall we got the cutest puppy in the world (our Newfoundland, Phaneuf). Ryan proposed to me on Christmas Eve of 2007 just before we left for my Grandma's house. He wrapped the ring in a box with sweater that he had bought for me. I was so distracted by the fact that he had bought me clothes for Christmas (I had worked in retail for eight years, and was very aware that he thought I had too many clothes), that I didn't even see the ring box at first! It was a very special moment, and I wouldn't have had it any other way.