Ryan and I are on the final stretch. All of our countdowns are FINALLY under a month! :)
Our wedding is quickly approaching! I just can't wait. This is where all the fun begins. All of our hard work and planning for the past 2 months is starting to pay off. Also, Ryan found out today that he will be leaving Italy and flying into NC on April 9th at 11:00pm!!! 3 weeks! He will now start out processing and getting all of his paperwork ready to leave Italy.
It is one of the best feelings to see the light at the end of the tunnel. :)
Friday, March 18, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Purple Fury
In Italy, the big thing to do on base is to go bowling!!! Ryan LOVES to bowl, and he is rather good at it if I do say so myself. His average bowling score is about a good 100 points higher than mine - not that mine is all that high to begin with. Just clarifying. :)
Recently Ryan has dropped a couple of hints about getting his own bowling ball. To begin with I thought he was kidding - how many people do you know that have their own bowling ball?! Well, over time I realized that he was not kidding and that there are actually a lot of the guys out there that own their own bowling ball. So, what do we do? We get Ryan a bowling ball!
He got to pick the color and brand that he wanted. He just happened to pick a purple one, because it is our wedding color and he said it reminded him of me. :) They drilled holes in it to match his perfect finger size. Then they weighted it to 16lbs - his preferred weight. He is so proud of that thing! The first day he used his bowling ball resulted in his highest scores so far.
Everyone in Italy tries get a score over 230. When that happens, you get your name on a plaque above the lane. With the help of his new bowling ball, Ryan got above a 200 for the first time. It is now his ultimate goal to get above a 230 before he leaves Italy in a month!
Bowling has always been a favorite thing for Ryan and I to do. Actually, we went bowling for our first date! I was so excited because I beat Ryan that night. Little did I know, he was letting me win! LOL. The second time we went bowling he was throwing strikes over and over. I quickly realized that I had been hustled! :) Also, since we love bowling so much, we have decided that we will join a league at the bowling alley on base in Louisiana! Oh yeah, and cosmic bowling date nights will be on the calendar! Who knows, I might just get a bowling ball for myself too! :)
Recently Ryan has dropped a couple of hints about getting his own bowling ball. To begin with I thought he was kidding - how many people do you know that have their own bowling ball?! Well, over time I realized that he was not kidding and that there are actually a lot of the guys out there that own their own bowling ball. So, what do we do? We get Ryan a bowling ball!
He got to pick the color and brand that he wanted. He just happened to pick a purple one, because it is our wedding color and he said it reminded him of me. :) They drilled holes in it to match his perfect finger size. Then they weighted it to 16lbs - his preferred weight. He is so proud of that thing! The first day he used his bowling ball resulted in his highest scores so far.
Everyone in Italy tries get a score over 230. When that happens, you get your name on a plaque above the lane. With the help of his new bowling ball, Ryan got above a 200 for the first time. It is now his ultimate goal to get above a 230 before he leaves Italy in a month!
Bowling has always been a favorite thing for Ryan and I to do. Actually, we went bowling for our first date! I was so excited because I beat Ryan that night. Little did I know, he was letting me win! LOL. The second time we went bowling he was throwing strikes over and over. I quickly realized that I had been hustled! :) Also, since we love bowling so much, we have decided that we will join a league at the bowling alley on base in Louisiana! Oh yeah, and cosmic bowling date nights will be on the calendar! Who knows, I might just get a bowling ball for myself too! :)
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Skype Saver
Ryan moves back to the States in a month and I personally think it would be rude if we did not show gratitude to the one thing that has gotten us through the last year of long distance....Skype!
Skype has honestly been a life saver. We have grown SO dependent on it. It is what allows us to talk pretty much anytime during the day, anywhere (with the extra help from Skype mobile!).
Now, there have been some times that Ryan and I have wanted to kill Skype. For example, the hundreds of times our faces have frozen in an oddly humorous way. Also, there have been the times where our calls have been dropped due to a week signal. Oh yeah, and who can forget those distractions that occur while we are trying to skype (dogs, visitors, roomies, etc.)?!
However, no matter what the situation - it is so nice to know that even though we are half a world away, we can still see each other smile. Not a day goes by that we do not Skype....several times. I would say that I am going to miss Skype when Ryan and I move to Louisiana, but we will still be using it so that we can talk to our families in Utah and North Carolina. :)
Skype has honestly been a life saver. We have grown SO dependent on it. It is what allows us to talk pretty much anytime during the day, anywhere (with the extra help from Skype mobile!).
Now, there have been some times that Ryan and I have wanted to kill Skype. For example, the hundreds of times our faces have frozen in an oddly humorous way. Also, there have been the times where our calls have been dropped due to a week signal. Oh yeah, and who can forget those distractions that occur while we are trying to skype (dogs, visitors, roomies, etc.)?!
However, no matter what the situation - it is so nice to know that even though we are half a world away, we can still see each other smile. Not a day goes by that we do not Skype....several times. I would say that I am going to miss Skype when Ryan and I move to Louisiana, but we will still be using it so that we can talk to our families in Utah and North Carolina. :)
Monday, March 7, 2011
Turning 25
Today was my birthday - the big 2-5. You see, last year I gave Ryan a hard time when he turned 25. Yeah...I wasn't really thinking about how that would haunt me. This morning Ryan called to wake me up and sing happy birthday...and he finished it off with "you old lady!" LOL.It has been a wonderful day (except for being sick). I got to talk/skype with Ryan A LOT! That in itself is a wonderful birthday present. However, Ryan was determined to spoil me this year. He got me a CHI hair straightener, flowers delivered to my work, AND we picked out furniture for our house (a dining room table, coffee table, and end tables from Ashley Furniture). He honestly just made my day. I love how he will do anything just to see me smile. 
I also got to have family dinners with my mom and dad. My dad gave me a cookbook and my mom gave me a "kiss the cook" apron. I think they were trying to tell me something with the cooking theme...hmm....can we say domestication?!
I also got to have family dinners with my mom and dad. My dad gave me a cookbook and my mom gave me a "kiss the cook" apron. I think they were trying to tell me something with the cooking theme...hmm....can we say domestication?!
Anyway, this year was super special to me because I got to talk to Ryan. Last year Ryan was not able to talk because they had some rough times in Afghanistan on the same day. We were still just new to talking to each other and I used to just hang on every word in every message he would send me. That's all I had! When he couldn't talk to me on my birthday I was of course a little sad....however, he made sure to comment on one picture of mine earlier that day. There was one word he said about the picture of me...BEAUTIFUL. That made my heart melt and just made me smile all day. Hopefully next year we will actually be in the same place on my birthday! Baby steps! :)
Birthdays have always been a big deal to my family. We always go above and beyond for the celebration. This year has not been any different. I have been overwhelmed by all the b-day wishes from my friends and family! I plan on making birthdays a huge tradition in my own family - starting with Ryan's in June! :)
Thursday, March 3, 2011
A House Divided
If you know Ryan and I, you know that we are VERY competitive- especially when it comes to sports. We LOVE to play sports, watch sports, and talk trash about sports! When it comes to college spots, Ryan's team is BYU and my team is UNC. Of course, the teams reflect our hometown spirits. In the latest NCAA basketball news BYU is currently standing strong as the #1 seed of the Mountain West standings, while UNC continues to battle it out for top ranks in the ACC standings.
When Ryan and I first started talking last year I asked him if he was a UNC or Duke fan (being an ACC girl, I think those are the only 2 teams that matter). Ryan knew that I LOVED UNC so he responded and said that he really wasn't a fan of either, but for the sake of talking to me he would go with UNC. What a charmer! :) In return, I have tried to keep up with occasional BYU headlines and I even watched a rivalry game with him as a Cougar fan!
Geographically speaking, I doubt that our teams will have many, if any, run-ins. However, our house will forever be divided as far as which teams hold our hearts. I can see it now - we will always be stubbornly pulling for our teams and competing over recruits, standings, and schedules. Heaven forbid our teams play at the same time one day! Good thing we will have two TV's in our house. :) I can also foresee us bribing our children to pull for one team over the other.
So, watch out Louisiana - we will be THAT couple...yes, the ones who are die hard fans of teams totally NOT anywhere near or popular in Louisiana. LOL.
When Ryan and I first started talking last year I asked him if he was a UNC or Duke fan (being an ACC girl, I think those are the only 2 teams that matter). Ryan knew that I LOVED UNC so he responded and said that he really wasn't a fan of either, but for the sake of talking to me he would go with UNC. What a charmer! :) In return, I have tried to keep up with occasional BYU headlines and I even watched a rivalry game with him as a Cougar fan!
Geographically speaking, I doubt that our teams will have many, if any, run-ins. However, our house will forever be divided as far as which teams hold our hearts. I can see it now - we will always be stubbornly pulling for our teams and competing over recruits, standings, and schedules. Heaven forbid our teams play at the same time one day! Good thing we will have two TV's in our house. :) I can also foresee us bribing our children to pull for one team over the other.
So, watch out Louisiana - we will be THAT couple...yes, the ones who are die hard fans of teams totally NOT anywhere near or popular in Louisiana. LOL.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Our Love Day
Fun Fact: Ryan and I are getting married on April 16th, 2011 - which also happens to be the same day that we started dating exactly a year before, in 2010! We didn't plan for this, but it just kind of happened!
I remember the day we started dating so clearly! Ryan was still in Afghanistan and we had been talking for about 2 months. At that point we were talking to each other every day (when possible for him) and we were really interested in the idea of possibly dating. I might have been a little more interested than he was at the time. What can I say?! After talking on the phone one night, Ryan told me to check facebook before I went to bed. Um.... I may or may not have checked it that second! Patience? What is that?! Sure enough, I had a request from Ryan - asking if I would like to 'claim' that we were in a relationship. In a shocked (but SUPER excited voice) I asked Ryan what was going on. He simply said, "Hey, my time on the phone is up, but just accept or deny the request and I will talk to you tomorrow".
Accept or Deny?!??!!?! That wasn't even a question! Of course I clicked accept...and we officially became a couple. You know it's official when it's on facebook! Duh! LOL. About 10 minutes after that Ryan's mom was the first to respond to our newly changed status. She just laughed and said, "I'm glad you two finally owned up to what you have been for the past month or so." :)
***Freeze! - OK, technically (because of the time difference between NC and Afghanistan) it was April 15th for me and April 16th for him. So, for the sake of a cute story we are just going with the April 16th date!***
Now, a year later we will be getting married on our love day! What better way to remember the day we became a couple?! Plus, now we will only have to remember one anniversary date. Perfect!!! :)
I remember the day we started dating so clearly! Ryan was still in Afghanistan and we had been talking for about 2 months. At that point we were talking to each other every day (when possible for him) and we were really interested in the idea of possibly dating. I might have been a little more interested than he was at the time. What can I say?! After talking on the phone one night, Ryan told me to check facebook before I went to bed. Um.... I may or may not have checked it that second! Patience? What is that?! Sure enough, I had a request from Ryan - asking if I would like to 'claim' that we were in a relationship. In a shocked (but SUPER excited voice) I asked Ryan what was going on. He simply said, "Hey, my time on the phone is up, but just accept or deny the request and I will talk to you tomorrow".
Accept or Deny?!??!!?! That wasn't even a question! Of course I clicked accept...and we officially became a couple. You know it's official when it's on facebook! Duh! LOL. About 10 minutes after that Ryan's mom was the first to respond to our newly changed status. She just laughed and said, "I'm glad you two finally owned up to what you have been for the past month or so." :)
***Freeze! - OK, technically (because of the time difference between NC and Afghanistan) it was April 15th for me and April 16th for him. So, for the sake of a cute story we are just going with the April 16th date!***
Now, a year later we will be getting married on our love day! What better way to remember the day we became a couple?! Plus, now we will only have to remember one anniversary date. Perfect!!! :)
Thursday, February 24, 2011
She-Ruby With a Combustible Temperament
I was reading a random article that caught my eye about why redheads are so attractive to men. I must admit, I have wondered this myself. I am a natural born redhead - and proud of it! However, all my life I have gotten the typical stereotypes for being a redhead. Of course I have heard that guys like us because we are rare, we are known to be pretty spunky, and we are firecrackers when it comes to speaking our minds!
http://articles.cnn.com/2009-09-15/living/tf.why.men.love.redheads_1_redheads-men-hot-attracted-red-hair?_s=PM:LIVING
When Ryan and I first started dating, he had mentioned that he LOVED the fact that I was a redhead. His mom confirmed this when she told me, in one of our first conversations, that Ryan was obsessed with redheads. My first thought was - Heck yes!!! Thank goodness I'm a redhead cause I want this guy to like me! My second thought was - Wait, how many redheads has he gone after?!?! Lol. So, I don't know if I have attracted lots of guys with my red hair, but I do know that I got the guy of my dreams with it!
Now, about this feisty, combustible temperament... I will admit that I do not have a filter. My mouth has ALWAYS gotten me in trouble. I tend to say it like it is. Again, Ryan said that was one of his favorite things about me - as long as I am being feisty about something else besides him. Ryan's dad mentioned once that he knew Ryan and I were perfect together because I was the only girl that would take Ryan's sarcasm and jokes and then turn around and fire it right back at him. :)
Although I will never understand the reason for Gingers being so popular with guys (if there even is a reason), I have to say that I am happy to be one! And Ryan and I REALLY hope that we have a cute little redhead girl one day too! Watch out!
http://articles.cnn.com/2009-09-15/living/tf.why.men.love.redheads_1_redheads-men-hot-attracted-red-hair?_s=PM:LIVING
When Ryan and I first started dating, he had mentioned that he LOVED the fact that I was a redhead. His mom confirmed this when she told me, in one of our first conversations, that Ryan was obsessed with redheads. My first thought was - Heck yes!!! Thank goodness I'm a redhead cause I want this guy to like me! My second thought was - Wait, how many redheads has he gone after?!?! Lol. So, I don't know if I have attracted lots of guys with my red hair, but I do know that I got the guy of my dreams with it!
Now, about this feisty, combustible temperament... I will admit that I do not have a filter. My mouth has ALWAYS gotten me in trouble. I tend to say it like it is. Again, Ryan said that was one of his favorite things about me - as long as I am being feisty about something else besides him. Ryan's dad mentioned once that he knew Ryan and I were perfect together because I was the only girl that would take Ryan's sarcasm and jokes and then turn around and fire it right back at him. :)
Although I will never understand the reason for Gingers being so popular with guys (if there even is a reason), I have to say that I am happy to be one! And Ryan and I REALLY hope that we have a cute little redhead girl one day too! Watch out!
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