Neither of us took any pictures during this time, so you get random past Halloween photos instead.
I promise we won't chronicle every date, but the first few were very critical in the development of our relationship.
I had some weird health stuff pop up during my sophomore year at BYU. Among other things, I was frequently severely dizzy, shaky, and numb in various places. I went to several doctors and none were successful in diagnosing it so I learned to live with it. During the summer, most of the symptoms went away and I thought it was gone. A couple weeks before Blake and I began dating I got sick, donated blood, and ran a race with my mom (we actually took 2nd or 3rd place in the parent/child team division!). Somewhere in all that, my symptoms came back. Things were really bad the day of our second date. I think I tried to go for a run that morning and had to stop because of the dizziness. I was really frustrated to see it all come back because it was very unpleasant and interfered with both running and playing the piano—my two favorite hobbies and stress relievers.
As Blake mentioned, on our second date we went to a Divine Comedy performance the next Saturday. Blake's roommate Cody took my friend Caralee. She and I have been friends since we were babies, so we always had a lot of fun together. The show was very entertaining, as always. Despite my grumpiness, I was still quite interested in Blake and made sure to keep my hand available, just in case he wanted to hold it. He didn't. But it was only the second date, so it wasn't a big deal.
After the show we went back to the boys' apartment for some hot cocoa and conversation. I think it was at this point that my bad mood reared its ugly head. It wasn't anything over the top, it just wasn't helpful in trying to win Blake's affection. I think I was just sarcastic. The only thing I remember specifically was when Blake went off about his Beatles poster hanging on the wall. The poster shows all of their albums with their release dates. He was pointing out how incredibly fast they put some of the albums out. After his whole enthusiastic shpeal, my response was, "Fascinating," said as sarcastically as possible. I felt horrible about it as soon as it was out of my mouth, but it was already said. I don't really remember how that date ended, I just remember I felt yucky about my behavior and I really wanted to apologize to Blake.
So, I tried to talk to him immediately following Ward Prayer the next day. Unfortunately, shortly after I found him and began a conversation, someone else walked up and began talking and he turned his focus on them. This exact same scenario happened THREE TIMES!! I was feeling pretty dejected, but I wasn't ready to give up. Jimmy lived across the hall from Blake so I decided to walk back with Jimmy and wait for him there. While we were waiting, Jimmy and I got to talking about how we were both ready to find a serious relationship with someone and maybe think about marriage. After almost forever, Blake finally showed up. I asked him if I could talk to him for a moment and he agreed. But before I could even begin, his roommate opened their door and told him he had a phone call. Aargh!!! So, I told him to go ahead and take it and that we could just talk the next day when I brought him a cinnamon roll. I was making cinnamon rolls and had promised to bring him one (it was kind of like a peace offering since I felt I hadn't been very nice).
Well, I woke up the next morning feeling like maybe I wasn't all that interested in Blake, if he was just going to blow me off the way he had the night before. But I did still owe him a cinnamon roll. I planned on baking them in the evening and taking one by later that night. Then Jimmy called me that afternoon to ask if I knew of anyone he could take to see "The Scarlet Pimpernel." He totally knew that was my favorite musical (at the time). His date couldn't go last minute, so he needed a replacement. I quickly suggested myself. He reminded me that I was supposed to be volunteering at the MTC. But I was more than willing to skip it for a musical. So, we went to Thanksgiving Point. It was AMAZING. And it was after 10 PM by the time I got home. But the cinnamon rolls were sitting in my fridge begging to be baked, and this was college so the night was still young. I baked the cinnamon rolls, frosted them, and took one over to Blake.
This conversation went really well. I apologized and he said he hadn't thought anything of my attitude the night before and seemed quite surprised by the apology. So, I gathered up all my nerves and invited him to come with me to my friend's ballet later that week. And he never responded. He just talked about something else. I had never asked a guy on a date before (besides asking boyfriends to a girl's choice dance), so that was incredibly difficult for me. I tried to follow the conversation while desperately trying to determine in my mind if he hadn't heard me, or if that was just his way of letting me down nicely. And in total contrast to my normal self, I asked him again. This time he said "yes".
The Second Date
In a continuation of my journal dated November 24, 2002 I didn't have too much to say about my date with Cheryl. But I did have something to say about what led up to the next date.
"On Saturday we went to the football game and BYU lost to NM. Yikes! We really are bad this year. The date with Cheryl after the game went really well though. On Monday Cheryl brought by a cinnamon roll because she thought she was "grumpy" on the date. I honestly thought she was going to tell me that she didn't want to go out anymore. Phew! Well, I asked her to have a football party with us for the big U game. She said she could, but that she would be going to a ballet that night. Later my mom asked me to baby sit Friday night and Saturday afternoon while she and dad went on a cruise to the Caribbean. When Cheryl dropped by on Tuesday I told her I couldn't make it to the party, but had she already bought tickets for the ballet? We decided we would go together. I saw Cheryl again on Wednesday night and then we hung out together at the Enrichment activity (we went to an assisted living center and recorded favorite Christmas stories). Wow, 4 nights in a row!"
I really don't remember Cheryl being ornery on the 2nd date. I was, after all, just getting to know her. I did feel a little stung by her comments about The Beatles, but it was water off my back. She didn't give off a stuck-up impression and one little comment wasn't the end of the world. It must have been my insecurity that made me think she wanted to end it with me. Maybe because I really liked her and wasn't sure if she liked me. The night of ward prayer I kind of avoided her and talked to other people. I think I just wanted to show that I was desirable. No girl had ever told me to stop contacting her so I'm not sure why I thought she would want to call it off.
The next day I expected the inevitable and waited for a while. I even was napping in bed until late at night wondering if she had decided to not come at all. When she finally showed up things started looking up again, although I remember things a little differently – I asked her out first
This is the only photo we got the year Blake dressed as a pregnant woman (to break the news of my pregnancy with Bryce). He looked great--and he totally got busted for cross dressing at our ward party!
Thing Two
Who knew something so small could get me so fired up?
Wow. These are some pretty big shoes to fill!
This is what I love about small children. They're enthusiasm never dwindles. You'd think he never saw a stick before!
Don't miss the smile on Kayli's face as she gathers leaves to throw at her brother!
This was the best I got. Bryce is not peacefully lounging, like it looks. He's throwing a tantrum over being asked to sit in his sister's lap. Ahh... my sweet children.
Kayli's kind of obsessed with mushrooms. And why not, they're gross, like so many of her obsessions. She found this gnarly one down by the water. I thought it was pretty cool.
And of course, Nathan The missionary. This was one of our first dates Freshman year. It had a 70's theme, but I was the only one in our group who dressed the part. Really cool.
And I just realized this is from a prior Halloween. He went as a long-haired caveman (I think), the year we met.
My roomies and I decided to be really creative and go as cowgirls. You wouldn't believe how long it took to get all those ringlets in.
Bryce injured his finger a couple weeks ago. Well, he injures fingers almost daily, but this one was a little worse. The photo doesn't show it very well, but it was the best I could get. You can tell that the middle fingernail looks kind of dirty. That's what I first thought when I saw it. But when I pulled it closer to clean it, I discovered that the dirt was really crusted puss and ooze. Nasty! And the fingernail was actually raised off of the finger. Nastier! So, we made a quick trip down to my pediatrician's. Incidentally, I LOVE my pediatrician. I cannot imagine a better doctor. So, the finger is infected and the nail is only attached at the base. Every now and then he tries to pull it off. I clipped it down as far as I could so it doesn't look as bad. But it still kind of makes my skin crawl.
I love how the leaves look reflected on the water. And the really nice weather we've been enjoying--no jackets!
This "pond" is right by our house. I can't believe how big a body of water can be and still be called a pond. This is a lake when you're from the desert.
We found this on the ground by the pond. I don't drink, but I do know that champagne isn't supposed to come in a can. We thought this was kind of funny.
Chicken Parmisan
9 years ago
