Yep, I'm a copy cat! I loved my friend Ann's post about how they became a couple, and decided I wanted to share our story and some pictures of us over the years.
It all started on graduation day in May of 1994. Wait, first let's back up to the first of our Senior year. Derrick had been living in North Salt Lake with his mom, but came to spend the summer with his dad. As the summer came to an end, he decided he wanted to stay and finish high school here. Our high school was SMALL...really, our entire graduating class consisted of 94 people, so when someone new moves in, you know it. I remember seeing Derrick in the hall that first day and thinking, hmmm a new guy and he's not bad lookin'. But I was dating someone, and honestly every time I saw Derrick, he was being a goof, and I wasn't all that impressed!
Our Engagement Picture~ July 1995
Ok, back to graduation. Some of our class had planned a graduation trip to California. My parents really wanted me to go. Some of my friends were going, but my best friends were not, so I decided not to go. About two hours before I needed to be to graduation, we got a call from one the chaperones, who said someone had canceled and did I want to take the open space? They were leaving right after the ceremony and I needed to not only be ready for graduation, but packed and ready to go if I was going. The next two hours were CHAOS! Between packing and trying to round up enough cash for me to take (my sweet Grandpa Ainge opened his wallet and emptied it), it was stressful and crazy!
Russia ~ 1998Off to California I headed. Derrick's cousin and best friend had hooked up with one of my friends. After a few days, he was tired of being the only guy in a group of girls, so he came up with a plan (actually, here is where the LIE comes in). He went to Derrick and told him that I REALLY liked him and wanted to hook up.....he also came to me and told me Derrick thought I was cute. On the bus ride home, he switched seats with me and Derrick and I ended up sitting together all the way home.
Hawaii ~ 1999
The night we got home, Derrick called and asked me out....to go rabbit hunting?!? I hung up the phone and whined to my mom..... I wasn't sure I wanted to go. It hadn't been that long since I had broken up with the guy I'd been dating and I was leaving for school in 3 months, I really didn't want to start anything, remember I'd been told Derrick really liked me. My mom told me to go and have fun, what was one date?
Temple Square
One date became two, and before I knew it we had spent every night that week together. No big deal, we were just friends having fun hanging out? Right? Three weeks later, Derrick and James went to Yellowstone for a week..... it was the longest week of my life! When he came back he told me he thought he was falling in love?!?! WHAT? No....this was just hanging out over the summer.
Canada ~ 2000
The time came for me to go to UVSC to school and I was miserable, I didn't want to leave. Derrick was planning to go into a drafting program in Arizona for 10 months and was leaving in October. Neither of us could imagine being that far apart, so Derrick enrolled at SLCC.
Mexico ~ 2009We got engaged on my birthday, a year and a month after that fateful trip to California, the one I wasn't supposed to go on! We were married on Sept. 9th, 1995. We were the last two people anyone ever thought would end up together. In fact, friends were taking bets at our reception on how long we'd actually last!
Still Happy.....2010!
Well, I guess we've shown them, 5738 days from that date we were tricked into, we are still happy and in love! I guess that's one lie I'll always be thankful for!
I'm a mean mom, who only lets my kids have a friend party every other year or so. This was Brock's year and he chose to go bowling. Since we don't have a bowling alley around here, we had to make the 45 min. drive to Delta. Brock picked enough friends to fill up the Tahoe and off we went. The kids all had a great time, and I have to admit, even Derrick and I enjoyed bowling with them. I also have to brag, that I had the high score both games.....honestly it really wasn't high enough to brag about and we even had bumpers!?!? The boys had a great time, and I was thoroughly entertained during our drive. Carson and Slade serenaded us with a mean Taylor Swift, Love Story, quite loudly! Kamryn brought bubble gum to share with everyone and they had a bubble blowing contest on the way over. Kaleb held his own with the bigger boys and Memphis just sat back and took it all in! It was a crazy day, and I think everyone had a good time.
Brock was excited to open his gifts this year (ok, there's never been a year he hasn't been). He got a DS and a few games, his own set of sparring gear and quite a bit of money. He's such a good kid.....when I asked him what he's going to do with the money, he said he wants to spend a little and put the rest in savings, for a mission and college!
I saw a cute cake in my Family Fun magazine and decided to give it a shot. It was far from perfect, but I thought it turned out pretty good, and the Birthday Boy was happy with it and that's all that really counts, right?
