Valentines Day

Well here we are, its Valentines Day.  I used to hate this day with a passion.  In fact I think some friends and I made "Happy Singles Awareness Day" in college.  I guess everyone hates this day until they find their own valentine.  I know its a made-up commercial holiday (I told Randy not to get me flowers).  But honestly I don't see much wrong in having a day that focuses on your love.  Too often we get caught up in our lives that we take our loved ones for granted and its nice to be reminded to appreciate them.  Randy and I found each other about 4.5 years ago.  We met online and chatted it up for about a month before we had the nerve to go on a real date.  Our first date is one for the history books, if you know us, you know this story, but since most of you don't (and I love telling it) here it goes:

We met for dinner at Bricktown here in Dubuque.  I had to laugh becuase Randy asked if it was ok to meet at 5pm for dinner.  Up until then the only people I knew that ate that early were my grandparents.  So of course I had to ask about the early-bird special (to be fair we were going to a movie as well and Randy lived about 45 minutes out of town and it was a school night).  I thought he was so cute when I saw him for the first time.  We ordered dinner and we got mozzarella sticks as an appetizer.  When they arrived he picked up his knife and fork and started using them on the sticks.  I told him that I was not that kind of a girl and then nearly peed my pants I was laughing so hard.  It was then that we both were put at ease and we have been laughing ever since.

After dinner it was time for a movie.  I had suggested Chicken Little, but he said that his mom had seen A History of Violence and said it was good.  I thought it sounded a little rough for a first date, but his mom said it was ok so how bad could it be?  After the first 5 bodies were stacking up I looked at him and said "Great choice for a first date".  Now that I know Barb a little better she was not aware that Randy was taking her liking the movie as a suggestion for a first date and we still laugh about it.  So every year on our first date anniversary we watch A History of Violence and just laugh at the gore!

When he took me back to my car we shared that awkward first kiss should we / shouldn't we moment and then we went our separate ways.  I waited until I thought he was home and called to set up date number 2, the Vikings and Packers were playing on Monday Night Football.  I wasn't about to let this one get away from me (even if he is a Packer fan).

Fast forward a few months to our first Valentines Day.  I thought it would be fun to make stuffed animals for each other and then head out on the town.  Here is a picture of our animals we made that night.  Randy picked the white tiger for me and I make him a lion.  I'm pretty sure we were instructed to put a wish into the stuffing of the animal.  I know mine came true because a few months later Randy asked me to marry him and he is the best Valentine I could ask for!