{Anniversary Series} Wedding Day

After 6 short months of planning, the day finally arrived. August 12th our wedding day. I was what you would call "STRESSED". Who wouldn't be nervous on their wedding day. I'm a perfectionist and I wanted every single detail to be perfect. It didn't help that the only available time they had for us was 10:00am. No time to relax and get ready. It was rush, rush, rush.

We got married at the most amazing place. The Mission Inn in Riverside, California. I found it in a magazine and fell in love. Being from the desert in California there was not a lot of ideal places to get married. Thankfully this place was available and my parents made it happen. It was a dream come true. Once we were all ready they set my bridesmaids and flower girls ahead of me. They swept me away to a side pathway surrounded by vines and the right amount of sunlight streaming through. That's when they sent my Dad in to get me. The first time he saw his little girl in her wedding dress, and the first time I saw him before the ceremony was such a special moment. I was trying really hard to not cry, but it was an emotional moment. They led us to the giant doors and it felt like forever before they opened it. I was told everyone else felt the same way too. I don't know why the coordinators kept me out for so long. Evan seemed a bit nervous that I took off or something.

They opened the doors and I made my dramatic entrance. As Lifehouse's "Everything" played loud overhead. I kept my eyes locked on Evan who was looking handsome in his Army dress greens. My dad gave me away, and Evans dad gave us a blessing, and our friend George married us. We fumbled through our vows of course. Which was so us! That's really hard by the way, trying to remember all those words and repeat them back in front of all those people. We made everyone laugh at least. But it was perfect, right down to our first kiss as husband and wife.

Reception was at the Doubletree hotel in Ontario, California. Our first dance was "I'll be seeing you" since The Notebook was one of the first romantic movies we watched together. Also the inspiration for our wedding and keeping with the 1940's theme. They had a slideshow of pictures of us growing up and us together. I sang Celine Dion "Because you loved me" the first song I ever sang to him {over the phone of course}.

It was a magical day and the best part was I got to marry the man of my dreams. I couldn't have asked for a better man to marry, and spend the rest of my life with.

Wedding Details:

Colors: Black and Red

Theme: 1940's theme

Cake: Buttercream, marble 

First Dance: I'll be seeing you

Happy 7 years baby! Love you!

{Anniversary Series} Part 5: Engaged

Since we the topic of getting married had been on the table from the beginning. It's hard to say when exactly we got engaged.
After Evan was done with his "Reintegration" my parents were gracious enough to drive me out to Colorado to get him. This time in the car though, and of course we broke down on the way. Talk about frustrating. It's always when you are in a rush something like that happens. When we finally made it there, we picked up Evan and stayed at a friends house. {Side note: They actually lived not too far from where we lived just last year. Funny how things work out like that!} And of course Evan had to break their shower in such "meet the parents" fashion. We still laugh about that it was pretty funny. Water was shooting everywhere and he looked so sad and pathetic trying to stop it with his shirt. I had to cover my mouth to hold in the laughter!

We planned to go out to dinner to On the Border since we all love Mexican food so much. We were having fun, cracking jokes of course. Evan kind of nudged me and made me excuse myself to the bathroom so he could ask them permission to marry me. It wasn't very nonchalant either. We all knew it was coming so it was a bit awkward. Luckily they said yes, I mean Evan is a pretty nice guy and they love him so it worked out great!

Calling our good friend George to see if he will marry Evan and I

When we got home we looked at rings and everything was really expensive. The one that I wanted was like 20,000 or something and it was just the engagement ring! Yikes! Thankfully my Aunt suggested a family friend who made rings and would give us a good deal. He even went to that jewelry store scoped out my favorite ring so he could make it very similar. So during that time we were already having rings made, talking about dates and locations. And there was still no actual proposal yet. Evan was going to be leaving soon too to go back to Colorado.

We had one last date night before he had to drive home {in his brand new truck :) }  We went down to Ontario, Ca to the Old Spaghetti factory and had a romantic dinner. Then headed over to Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga to see a movie {of course}. We saw Lucky number slevin, very romantic! We were headed back to the car and I was rambling off about stuff, not even hearing or paying attention to Evan. He practically yelled in my face to get me to look at him by the time we reached the car.

Evan: I'm trying to propose! {he pulled the little box out of his pocket and held it out to me}
Me: OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG!!! {running around like a crazy person}
Evan: {laughing hysterically} Ashley, I love you will you marry me! {or something like that}
Me: YES!

Even though we were already planning everything and I knew it was coming. There's still nothing like it when a boy gets on one knee and pulls a little ring box out of his pocket and asks you to spend the rest of his life with him. {In a mall parking lot, haha} We came back and showed off the ring to our families. Let the wedding planning begin! {or continue :/ }

Come back tomorrow to read the last part of the Anniversary Series

Click to read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3,  and Part 4

Oh and here is Evan and his "new truck" he bought after his first deployment

{Anniversary Series} Part 4: Together Again

During deployment we had a short breakup. No relationship is perfect and we weren't/aren't perfect.

On his end he wanted to make sure he was ready to get married. Since we had been talking about it and planning it from the beginning. Which was pretty mature of him, I guess. But it was pretty rough for me. Luckily, it didn't last very long. It was probably about 2-3 months. I still remember the moment we got back together. I was getting my hair done at the salon and he called. When he called during deployment I answered no matter where I was or what I was doing. I always wanted to be available for him. After all he was fighting a war in another country. The least I could do was give him that small distraction every once in awhile. He asked me if I would be his girlfriend again and I had never been so excited!

A month later {Feb 2006} it was time for him to come back and he had arranged it for me to drive to Colorado with his family. So we could be there for his welcome home ceremony. It was a long drive with a lot of people that I didn't really know. His family is pretty easy going so we had a lot of laughs. 

When the day came for us to go down to the Army base to wait I was so anxious and nervous. We hadn't had much time actually together, in person. It was pretty much an online courtship. I wasn't sure how to act especially since we just got back together too. We sat there in the bleachers with all the other families with their signs and hand-made posters that read "welcome home" the anticipation was killing me!

They finally opened the doors and the soldiers marched in. Words cannot describe the emotions in that auditorium. You could hear all the sighs of relief. Deployment was finally over, our loved ones were home again safe and sound. I don't even remember the things that were said I was just trying to find Evan in the sea of soldiers that took up half of the room. I scanned and scanned and before I knew it they were released and it was utter chaos. He had found me first because I saw him running toward me and then I took off running towards him. He picked me up in his arms and kissed me and all the awkwardness was gone. Our moment was short lived though since his whole family was there to see him too. I had to share him ... Boo I don't like sharing my man! Haha.
We spent a blissful few days together with his family. But we had to separate yet again because he had to "Reintegrate" before he could take his leave {vacation} and come home. Thankfully this time it would only be a few weeks til we were together again.

Come back to read the more of our story

Click to Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

{Anniversary Series} Part 3: Long Distance

I didn't hear from him for awhile. I started to forget about and try to stick to to my New Year's resolution. Then one day I get a call from a number I didn't recognize. It was some guy, I didn't recognize his voice. He played around with me trying to get me to guess who he was. It was always silly little games with him. You're not allowed to have your cell phone in basic training but he was sneaking to call me. From there it wasn't long before we were talking close to every day. It was the one that I looked forward to. We began our long distance relationship. It felt pretty natural around him. He was easy to talk to, we had a lot in common etc.

It was a week before he told me he loved me.

A month later he flew back home and surprised me for my 18th birthday. His friends picked him up and brought him to my house. They said they had a big birthday present for me for my birthday. They brought me out and opened the trunk and Evan popped out!

A few weeks later I talked my parents into taking a motorhome trip to Colorado to see Evan before he deployed to Iraq. We went on our first date dinner and a movie. We went to Chili's and saw Constantine. Which is still one of our favorite things to do for dates. We love the movies! Then he asked my parents permission to date me.

It wasn't long after we left Evan deployed to Iraq for a year. It was the hardest relationship because it was not only long distance. But he was deployed into a war zone. At that time {2005} they didn't have Skype. So we all we had was letters, email, yahoo messenger and phone calls. Which were scarce most of the time. The only time we got to see each other was when we sent each other pictures. It was kind of romantic because it was old school in a way. That year definitely made our relationship stronger.

In Colorado in my parents motor home before he left for Iraq

High School Prom

Come back to read more of our story

Click to read Part 1 and Part 2 of our story

{Anniversary Series}Part 2: This guy is starting to grow on me

Our first picture together at In-N-Out

After a tiring night of chasing boys and cars and what not I had to sleep in. In fact I was always sleeping in so that's beside the point. I was sleeping soundly and comfortably until I got abruptly woken up by my phone ringing. If you know me, you know you DO NOT WAKE ME UP! Unless there is a fire or a dire emergency. Don't wake me up unless you want to get killed.
Turns out that when Evan stole my car he had left his IN-N-OUT coupons inside accidentally. He didn't even call me, he had his friend call me to tell me. They wanted to come over and get them. I laughed so hard! I was thinking to myself too bad they are mine now! They begged and pleaded so I started to feel bad. So they came over to get them. I stuffed my feet into my ugg boots {still in my pajamas} and went to open the door for them. But it wasn't Evan it was two of our friends. He was being a coward in the car. I shoved passed them and got the coupons out of my car.

"What is he too scared to get them himself?" I yelled towards the car.

If he thought I was feisty the night before he hadn't seen anything yet. They took the coupons and  thanked me profusely and got back in the car and I went back to bed.

.....The next day was his birthday so I figured payback was in order. So I called him early and woke him up. He didn't seem to complain. {I obviously didn't think that one through}
That night we all met up, with nothing to do on his birthday. I told them they could all come over to my house. We all ended up playing hide and seek in the dark and sat around swapping funny stories. After that I shortly realized that this kid was growing on me and I might be starting to develop a tiny crush. I had a a couple days to realize it when he invited me over to his New Years Eve Party. I wanted to swear off boys for 2005. In the last couple years I had major drama in the boyfriend department so I said no more. So just one last new years eve kiss and I should be good to go. So I thought........I told Evan he was the only option so he better give it up. But he didn't give me an answer the whole night.

They didn't have sparkling cider or cookie dough! Which is a must for me for any party. So my friend Sara, Reese and Evan all went to the store to get some before midnight. Before getting back they decided they needed to TP one of their teachers house. All three of them got out and I just sat in the car waiting. Evan comes back and opens the door.

"Aren't you coming?"

"No! I've never done this before."

"Well come on!"

He grabbed my hand and gave me a roll of toilet paper. I had no idea what to do so I just stood there and threw the roll up over my head. I laughed at my own stupidity. Someone triggered the motion sensor light so they all freaked and ran. We started to drive away without Evan so I kept the door open for him as he ran to catch up with the car. He jumped in all out of breath and I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe. We drove back to his house just in time for the ball to drop and he finally gave the ok and he was my new years kiss. Unfortunate for my New Years Resolution because at that point I was hooked.

New Years Day I wasn't sure where we stood after the night before. We met up at someones house then all went to IN-N-OUT. I was called back home in the middle of hanging out and had to quickly say goodbye to him he was leaving the next day to go back to boot camp. I left my number with his friend not knowing what would come of it.

Come back tomorrow to read more of our story.

{Marital Musings} Laughter is the best medicine

The hubs and I can be pretty hilarious, at least in my opinion. We're constantly laughing at each other. Probably because I'm a huge dork and he's very witty. He always has his little "logical guy" opinions about things. Opinions about the shows that I watch, the things I like to do and the music I like to listen to. He's always got something to say.  So I started writing down our little quirky, quick-witted conversations while we are driving in the car. Because we are constantly in the car, mostly in traffic or taking long unintentional road trips.

FYI he's very opinionated on song lyrics I guess.


On Selena Gomez "Come and get it"

Evan: Really? She's like 18..what does she know about being in love?

Me: I was in love with you at 18 ;)

Evan: {Silence............}


On Christina Perri's "A thousand years"

Evan: Uh...no one lives for a thousand years

Me: It's from Breaking Dawn! So yes VAMPIRES live for a thousand years

Evan: But PEOPLE don't! So tell Sara this is a silly song to have for her wedding.


On Demi Lovato's "Heart Attack"

Evan: Does she say fart it out?

Me: No! Fall in love"

Evan: Fart it out!

Me: Evan, it's fall in love.

Evan: It's fart it out, I heard it! {Singing} "I don't want to fart it out."


On Jordin Sparks "Battlefield"

Evan: Love is not a battlefield

Me: Yeah it is

Evan: Do you lose limbs?

Me: You get your heart broken

Evan: Do you get shot at?

Me: Yeah, shot in the heart!


On Taylor Swift's "22"

Me: You a Taylor Swift fan?

Evan: Pretty much

Me: {nods}

Evan: I'm feeling 22 :)