I'm linking up today with From Mrs. to Mama to answer a few questions about Big Poppa and I and our Love Story! I had to go digging for pictures because we've been together since before digital pictures (if that tells you how old we are!).
1. How long have you and your significant other been together?
We started dating our sophomore year in college, in the spring of 1998!
2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}
Big P lived with three guys that were high school buddies and one of my roommates went to high school with them, so we all started hanging out. In the beginning, I thought he had a crush on one of my roommates, but come to find out he was trying to find ways to get to know me! I was dating someone at the time so I didn't think much about it. One night, after a long day of hiking and then a few too many shots of cheap tequila margaritas at my apartment, he decided to spill his guts and then he kissed me in my kitchen! Needless to say, I needed a few days to recover from the tequila and then figure out how to process what had happened. Went out on our first date a few weeks later to the Olive Garden and to see Great Expectations and we've been together ever since!
3. If married, how long have you been married?
We were married on November 9, 2002 so this November we will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary!
4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?
We had a medium size wedding (about 130 guests) and we were married at the Magnolia Ballroom in downtown Houston, TX. We absolutely fell in love with the Magnolia Ballroom and it was the perfect setting for our wedding and reception.
5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another?
We call each other the tradtionals- babe, honey, mommy, daddy but I also call him JD sometimes and he sometimes calls me "Heth" or "tiger" (cute story from our dating days)!
6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.
He is the hardest working, most motivated person that I know. He's also the best daddy, husband and best friend that I could have ever asked for. He loves Miss K and I with all his being and puts our needs before his. We compliment one another in every way and he makes me want to be a better person everyday. It also doesn't hurt that he's a total hottie!! :)
7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?
I'll give y'all the condensed version...we graduated from undergrad in August of 2000 and since JD was on scholarship for football, he went straight into grad school. We moved in together that fall since all of our roommates moved away after graduation and we were going to be in Lubbock for at least another year. We took our first "real" trip together at the end of August of 2001 to Mexico and I was SURE we were going to get engaged while we were there. We didn't, and I was so upset. Come to find out, we were suppose to get engaged, but the jeweler that made my ring got the zip code wrong when they sent it to John so it got returned! Once John figured that out, he had them resend it to the correct address, and while it was en route from Pittsburgh, September 11th happened and it got suspended in the mail!!! Needless to say, JD was an absolute mess. It finally made it to him on September 18th, and he proposed that night after football practice, in our apartment while I was watching Center Stage! It wasn't his ideal proposal (or really mine) but it was perfectly us and we still giggle about it today!
8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?
I've never been a big flowers girl, especially when they're "expected" so I usually get something I've had my eye on, or a trip to the day spa. He's an excellent gift-giver so I never have to worry!
9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?
While dinner on the beach would be divine, we are somewhat land-locked in the ATL so these days we are more of a movie, couch and popcorn kinda couple. We do go out to nice dinners at least once or twice a month, just no beach involved!
10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?
We waited 7 years after getting married before having Miss K, so we have enjoyed traveling as a couple together. We are going back to Napa this year for our anniversary, as that is one of our favorite vacations (stateside) that we have taken. It will be our first real vacation (longer than a weekend) with just the two of us since having Miss K. We would love to go to Italy, Ireland and Greece and back to a few places in the Caribbean.
11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.
Since Valentine's is on a weekday this year, we're going to dinner that Saturday and may or may not go see a movie afterwards. We'll probably celebrate with Miss K by doing something fun on the actual day.
12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?
I'd like to upgrade my iPhone so hopefully that will be what I get! (hint, hint if you're reading this JD!)
13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.
I am by no means an expert; but for us, respect, unconditional love, understanding and friendship are the things that have kept us going strong for the last 14 years. I cannot imagine a single day of my life without him.
14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.
