adventure with us!

When I first met Russell I was coming back to work my summer job at Texas Roadhouse after just finishing my Sophomore year of college. When I first saw him it was like when Roger Rabbit's eyes pop out when he sees that one chick... you know what I'm talking about? I generally just worked pick up shifts to avoid commitment and assure I only got the money making sections. The problem was Russell always had good shifts, but I never wanted to take them since I liked "working" with him (snapping him with wet towels). One day I introduced the Roadhouse crew to trampoline world and before I knew it back flip battles turned into baby oil wrestling, arm bars, silly string fights, and stargazing on rooftops. Next thing you know we're taking beach vacations, jumping out of airplanes and moving to California for some excitement and adventure. I love that our relationship was never set out to be marriage and babies. It wasn't "supposed" to be anything except exactly what it was. It was built off raw passion, discovery, and forgetting all the rubbish to enjoy the moment.

It was a beautiful spring morning and we were headed up to the mountains after a high speed chase. The drive was exquisite as we wound up the steep mountain road until we finally arrived at a beautiful house upon a cliff with a stunning view that over looked Estes Park (my favorite). It was Mother's Day weekend (also, my favorite) and I was ready to chillax. Russell was dressed to the nines, while I was wearing lounging pants and a tank top. I had asked him earlier in the day if I should change (bewildered by his own outfit choice for a high speed chase), but he said I shouldn't, so I didn't bother. I found myself bewildered once again when he suggested we take a family photo and got the camera set up. I ran off to brush Zaeyla's hair, wipe the banana off Dash's shirt, and put a little mascara on. Apparently, I was taking too long because he complained, "are you seriously putting make-up on right now!?" So I hurried along and as quick as a flash he was on one knee! I was in shock because we had only been dating ten years so it's not something I was expecting. If you ask him he will tell you I waited a century to answer, but in reality it was a short seven seconds and the pause was only because my instinct was to say something sarcastic, but I didn't want to ruin the moment. "YES!"... just didn't seem like the best answer to encompass all that I was feeling in that moment... so instead, I stared at him wide eyed and dazzled. Honestly, he deserved the seven seconds of anticipation since he waited until we were two kids in to ask (only kidding, I actually love our unique timeline). He obviously already knew I would marry him since I changed my last name years ago! By the way, in this family photo, Russell of course looks like the gorgeous man that he is and I look...well, like a mom. Ha! It's one of my very favorite memories. We then CeLeBrAtEd all weekend long and planned/didn't plan/re-planned our wedding for the next four years :) ... and oh yea, had one more baby.