Our Love Story

I am so excited to be linking up with Becky today to share Skip's and my love story! 

Here are the questions Becky asked:

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

The day we started dating

Skip and I have been together for 8 1/2 years


2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}
We met back in August of 2003.  His best friend from high school and my best friend from high school were both dating.  One night Skip was over her house and describing who is perfect girl would be.  K said she looked right at him and said, "I know her!"  They then invited me over the next night to hang out {I had no idea it was a semi set-up}  We hit it off that night...all hug out a few nights later....had our first date the night after that, and even though he took me shooting I still wanted to see him again!!  It was rough in the beginning because I moved back to college in Connecticut two days later and Skip was in the police academy here in Jersey, but we made it work.  Lots of phone calls and visits back and forth.  He "officially" became my boyfriend on September 20, 2003. 

The bench we met on

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}
We've been married since July 2005....6 1/2 years!!!

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding? If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?
We got married at the church I grew up in, and the reception was at the same place my parent got married.  It was a smallish wedding with just 70 guests.  I liked it better that way, because I felt like we were able to just hang out and relax with everyone.  I do wish Pinterest had existed when I was planning my wedding, as there are a few things I would have done differently, but overall I had the most wonderful day.

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!
I call him Skip {obviously} Skipper, or Skipper Man.  He calls me Mandy, Wubbie {because he says he "wub be" lonely without me} or The Wub.

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.
1. He is honest and straightforward.  He never played any "dating games"
2. He is one of the most generous people I know, with his time, love, and money
3. He is the best dad I could have ever dreamed of for my girls.  He jumped right into the job head first and has never looked back.

Holding Little M

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?
Skip was activated by the Marine Corps in May 2004.  He did two weeks of training in PA before heading out to California for two months of pre-deployment training.  Before he left for CA he gave me a promise ring.

My promise ring

He told me it was "A promise he was going to come home safe from Iraq and a promise he was going to spend the rest of his life with me."  Because of this I didn't think we would be getting engaged before he deployed.

Saying goodbye in PA

I spent some time with Skip out in CA over Fourth of July weekend.  I thought it was going to be the last time I saw him before he deployed.

San Diego

 But on August 6th, I came home from work and he was standing in my bedroom waiting for me!  He had gotten five days of leave to come home one more time.
That Sunday Skip said he wanted to hang out with his sister for a bit.  Totally understandable.  I was going to be at my grandma's house celebrating my cousin who had just returned from Iraq.  I just asked that Skip not be gone the whole day, since I wanted to see him for at least some of it.

Long story short, a few hours turns in 5pm and now I'm really mad.  And when I accuse Skip of not wanting to see me, he just starts laughing {because he had just bought an engagement ring!} and I get REALLY mad and hang up on him.  Thankfully I soon went up to his parents house, and after bringing me into the backyard, Skip proposed.  All that anger was quickly forgotten!!

First picture as an engaged couple

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

If I had to pick, I guess flowers and chocolate kind of guy, mainly because those are two things I love!  But honestly, we really don't make that big a deal out of Valentine's Day for each other any more.

First Valentine's Day as a married couple

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

On the beach in Punta Cana

Sunset dinner on the beach.  Anything on a beach is better than not being on the beach!  I am my most happiest on the sand and in the water.

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

After Skip retires, we have big plans to travel Europe for six weeks, spending most of our time in France again.  I can't wait!

Don't go to Paris 10 weeks pregnant...trust me

 

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

Other than taking Baby C to the doctor that morning, we have nothing planned yet.  Skip is actually off this year, but it's hard to find free people that night, so we're just going to stay in.  We might take the girls out to lunch or try and do something else fun with them.

March 2005...Celebrating Valentine's Day a little late..after Skip came home from Iraq

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?
Honestly, nothing.  We've never really been that big on Valentine's Day gifts and with our upcoming trip to Florida, all extra money is going towards that!


13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.
Talk to each other.  Tell him if you're mad, or sad, or how much you love him.  Life is too short to be vague with people.  Also, always kiss and tell each other you love each other before you part.
14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.

"Distance cannot separate two hearts that really care"

Our family is complete