Ooey gooey, Lovey-Dovey

Autumn tagged me for a LOVE STORY tag a while back. Very fun. It's always nice when I don't have to think of something to blog about. And I LOVE stories about couples so this was a fun one for me.

So my little Love D-Spencer, this one's for you:

Valentine's Day 2001

How did you meet your spouse?
Spencer lived upstairs from me. We lived in a little four-plex during our college years. There were two apartments of girls and two apartments of guys. I never knew 16 people could get along so well. All of us spent our weekends together...church activities, football games, sledding in bathtubs down Old Main Hill, impromptu dance parties, you name it. Spencer and I just shared the same group of friends.

I don't often share this whole story...but here it goes. Permanently posted on the World Wide Web. When Spencer and I met, I was engaged to someone else. Spencer came along and swept me off my feet. That's not quite how it happened. Spencer's intentions certainly weren't to break up our engagement. But there was this one Friday night when Travis, Spencer and I were hanging out. I knew that night that I would marry Spencer. It took me another week or so to be sure about that and get up the courage to break it off with Travis. Travis was a great guy and I have no doubt he would have been a great husband. It just wasn't meant to be. I feel that engagement was a necessary step in my life. I learned things about myself I wouldn't have learned otherwise. And I truly believe if it weren't for that engagement, Spencer and I would never have even dated. Although it was months before Spencer and I went on our first date, Spencer later told me that he knew that same Friday night that he would marry me.

Where did you go on your first date? And who asked who out?
Spencer had a room mate who was a pilot and took me on a ride in a little two seater airplane from Logan to Salt Lake for some hot chocolate. I just thought Nate wanted to hang out...we were friends, afterall. Come to find out, Spencer was reinacting junior high days and he sent his friend out first to see if I "liked' him. And even still, it took Spencer some time to ask me out after that.

And when he finally did ask me out...I didn't even know he was asking me out. We were going down to Bryce's (his other roommate) parents house for dutch oven cooking and then to see the Christmas lights at Temple Square. His room mates were going and so was one of mine. I just thought we were hanging out like we usually do. I about invited another room mate along. It was the day before when I finally realized it was a group date.

Spencer asked permission to hold my hand. I was in high heaven. Spencer was so cute...23, but very new to the "girlfriend" thing. He never had much interest in dating just for fun. I was loving that. The awful picture is the only thing I have to document that first date.

How long have you been together?
We met in the summer of 2000. The above mentioned first date was in December. We have been eternally together since May 10, 2002. Sealed in the San Diego, California temple.

Who eats more?
Eats more what? More french fries? Always me. More ice cream? Always him. In general he eats more. During pregnancy, I give him a run for his money. The picture is of us as newlyweds roasting mallows...something we both enjoy eating.

Who said I love you first?
Spencer. For how long it took him to ask me out and even longer to kiss me, I was surprised how quickly he said this. We were on a walk and he seemed very distant...very nervous. I seriously could not imagine what was on his mind. I knew he wasn't about to propose. I was afraid he might be breaking up with me except that we were holding hands and acting like a couple very much in love. When he finally got it out I was thrilled. I felt the same but had NO IDEA he loved me. I very awkwardly said it back. I really wasn't prepared for it, but I meant it. The picture was taken on a trip to CA around the time he said the BIG words.

Who is taller?
It depends on what shoes I'm wearing.

Who sings better?
I would say Spencer. But we both enjoy singing. We're one of those annoying couples who sing parts when we sing in the car or in the bathroom or while doing dishes. We have plans to take our act on the road one day...the picture was taken shortly after performing "Honey Bun" at a ward talent show.

Who is smarter?
I would say it was me, but Spencer would say it was him. Actually I hate that question. Education and lifelong learning are important to both of us. I think we're both smart. We have different areas of interest and different subjects we excel in. If our kids get both of our smarts, they will be unstoppable.

Who does the laundry?
Me, begrudgingly. Spencer's mom is the queen of laundry. She can get any kind of stain out of anything. Her whites are always white and her colors are always bright. I think we both wish she did our laundry.

Who does the dishes?
Nobody. We both hate doing dishes. They just pile up until we need to buy more...now you know why I have so many dishes.

The picture is while engaged at one of the many apartment parties we held.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
If you're laying on your back,...I sleep on the right. I like to sleep on my right side and I like to face outward. I hate waking up to the smell of morning breath so I just have to face out.

Who pays the bills?
Spencer. He enjoys it. I have threatened several times to take over because he's not very organized about it and I spend more time at home than he does. But truthfully, I'm glad he does it.

Who mows the lawn?
Me. Almost always...up 'til 8 months pregnant even. It's one of the only outside chores I enjoy so I always call it first when we're working in the yard. I'd much rather mow than weed or clean up after the dog.

Who cooks dinner?
Me. Although Spencer is a really good cook. He learned to cook some pretty fancy French food on his mission. But it's always a huge production for him. He dirties every dish we own...and we own a lot of dishes. And if there is baking to be done, it's Spencer's job, too. He bakes cakes and rolls and the best homemade pizza crust I've ever laid taste buds on.

Abbey took this picture when I found out I was pregnant with Parker...
the last time we really took a picture without kids in it (sort of).

Who drives when you are together?
Always Spencer. Even on a road trip. I don't even spend five minutes behind the wheel.

Who is more stubborn?
Me. Hands down. Unfortunately Parker has inherited that.

Who is the first to admit when they're wrong?
Well considering I'm never wrong....

Whose parents do you see the most?
We visited Spencer's family several times a month our first year of marriage when we still lived in Utah. But now, we see my mom the most. She visits regularly. We trade off going out to see our families.

Who kissed who first?
Spencer kissed me. On Valentine's Day. On one of our many and ever famous doorstep scenes at Crestview Apartments. The picture is an example of such a doorstep scene.

Who Proposed?
Spencer did. January 25, 2002. The guy I worked for asked me every night I left if I had a "red hot" date that night (meaning was I going to get engaged). That night I told him no. We had plans to meet up with some of Spencer's high school friends down in Salt Lake that night. I didn't assume Spencer would propose on a night we had other plans. Much to my surprise...I came home form work and Spencer was waiting in my living room all dressed up and already on his knee. I really don't remember what he said...he prefers it that way. It was really romantic and rather cheesey. I got so excited that I forgot to say yes. Which, even through my excitement, made him a little nervous. The picture was taken a few hours after Spencer proposed.

Who is more sensitive?
Probably me. But Spencer is too sometimes.

Who has more friends?
Definately me. Family is enough to satisfy Spencer. We've been in Texas for five weeks now and I am doing all I can to make friends. Spencer wouldn't care if he went his entire time here without a friend. The picture is the only recent picture we have of just the two of us taken ourselves at a Buckeye game.

Who has more siblings?
Spencer. Thank goodness. As previously mentioned, Spencer doesn't have many friends. If it weren't for his 5 siblings, he'd have even less.

Who wears the pants in the family?
Our song is "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On." Does that tell you anything?

May 10, 2002

Thanks Babe for eight hot Valentine's Days. I look forward to an eternity more.

I'm tagging a whole list of people. I don't know the stories of most of my blogging friends and their spouses. I LOVE the stories of how people met. So here's my list and you better play: Brittnee, Cindy, Erin, Jeanine, Jenni, Jessica, Lisha, Pennie, Ryanne, Shalece, Traci, and Violet. The rest of you I believe have already played. Jenn, Heidi and Betheny have answered a similar set of questions, but if you want to answer these, too...I'd love to read them.