Ring Day 2008

September 19, 2008 was a day full of fun and excitement...but let me start from the very beginning. Just before our adventures in Europe, I knew it was time to begin the process of finding a ring. I contacted a guy right before we left and told him I was wanting to set up a time when we got back to pay him a visit (his store is in the World Trade Center in Dallas). Everyone was expecting a proposal in Europe but the plans were beginning to unfold back home. After we came back, Ashlee left the next day for College Station and I knew the following week would be the last chance I got to make a trip to Dallas. Crystal, my sister, willingly hopped in the car with me and we made a day of it (she just wanted to go look at all the expensive jewelry and see where her engagement ring came from). We arrived at the World Trade Center and it was VERY overwhelming. The guy was very nice and took us up to his store (we had to be escorted) that him and his dad run. We sat down and began to look at a few rings but after seeing the third one, I could not put it down. I knew it was the one and he told me a guy came in unexpectedly the night before with it to sell it to him (that pretty much sealed the deal). After getting a lesson in diamondology and picking a winner, my sister and I headed back home pleased with what we had accomplished (it was just akward when Ashlee kept calling wanting to talk).

After a very long week for the both of us, we were both looking forward to the weekend and the arrival of our families. On Thursday (September 18) my family (Mom, Dad, Crystal, and Grandparents) came into town and along with them came the ring (I had not seen it since the last week of summer, which was probably a good thing or I would not have been able to hold off for so long). I knew this would be the perfect weekend because both of our families were able to come down and I was also getting my Aggie ring. Also on Thursday, my roomate and I drove to the park to scope out the best spot for the proposal. I bought him a blonde wig and we took a video of the dress rehersal (I am glad Ashlee turned out a lot better than he did).

I woke up on Friday (September 19) ready to get things going. My family and I passed the time touring Aggieland while Ashlee had a long stressful day at work. She was running late and I met her at her house to pick her up and take her over to campus. We got there just in time to rush in the doors and make our way to pick up my ring. It went by really fast and we were out of there in no time. After many pictures with my ring, we all went our seperate ways (they were heading back to Misty's house to await our arrival). Ashlee and I walked to my truck and I was trying not to pass out. We hopped in the truck and I asked her if it would be alright if we went and took pictures at a park close by campus with just the two of us (thankfully she agreed because I didn't have a backup plan). The ring had been tucked away in my sock and as soon as we pulled up I was ready to take it out. I pretended to want pictures of myself and my ring waiting for the time to take a picture of the both of us. I sat the camera on a bridge and told her I would set the self-timer (instead I switched it over to video to capture the proposal). I ran over to stand by her as we stood there waiting for a flash that would never come. I went back to the camera to "check and see what was wrong" and told her I had it on video and asked her if she was ready. Then I proceeded to get down on one knee and pulled the ring out of my sock. Then after a bunch of words I don't remember saying (like "bam!" when I first pulled it out... what an idiot) I asked her if she would marry me and she practically ripped the ring out of my hands. I took it back and placed it on her finger as we were both relieved the day had finally come.