Becoming the Johnson's: For Posterities Sake

I woke up this morning around 5, like I've been doing the past 2+ weeks, unable to fall back asleep and I started thinking about how Pete and I became friends, our first date, the awkward phase of our friendship afterwards, to being engaged and married almost a year to the day we met.

So I thought why not write it down? I'm sure somewhere down the road one of our children or grandchildren will ask us the inevitable question, "how'd you and dad/grandpa meet?" and being able to remember the little details would be spectacular! Well, here goes nothing...

It was the first week of Spring semester in April 2013 and our stake was VERY into making us date each other and those in our stake. We even had a dating committee! Anyway, we had a dating activity with another ward and they were giving us free dinner, so why not go. The guys were suppose to sit at a table with girls from the other ward. Pete's roommates had already planted themselves down at a table and Pete turned and realized that he didn't know my roommates and I and we were in his ward, so he sat with us and he was hilarious! My little sister Monica was visiting for her Spring Break and we couldn't stop laughing at Pete and now looking back I don't think any of us girls paid any attention to the guys from the other ward at our table, oops.

Side note: A few months before this my roommate Lexi went on a blind date with Austin, Pete's roommate, and she ended up having a slight crush on him.

After that night whenever Lexi saw Pete she'd call him and his roommates, Austin, Jared and occasionally Keelan, over and we'd end up hanging out and just talking. We had a stake water activity a few weeks later, they had free food so naturally we went, and that's basically when the friendship blossomed. They wouldn't leave us alone ha. By the end of the activity we were throwing this orange back and forth between Lexi and Jared's cars and then I threw it and squashed it on Jared's windshield, it was a beautiful shot over a fence. Sadly, Lexi left for the summer after this and Pete, Jared and Austin kept coming over almost every night asking what we were going to do or what was for dinner. That's when I figured one of them liked me.

Throughout the summer we went to seven peaks, the Spanish Fork carnival, Mona rope swing, the Pioneer Day fireworks in Mapleton and many nights just sitting outside on the grass between our apartments. Pete often put grass up my nose or handfuls up Jared and Austin's shorts, I thought it was funny and often still laugh about it today. However, July 24th was the night Pete asked me on our first date, he kinda followed me home after the Pioneer Day fireworks to ask ha.

Our first date was as awkward as they come. We went mini golfing at Trafalga and then got ice cream at the Malt Shop. I still think the most awkward part was the end when Pete made me give him 3 different hugs because the first one was bad. I quickly went into my apartment and stayed there the rest of the night. The next day was Sunday and we sat next to each other in sacrament meeting and one of the guys, Justin Smith to be exact, asked us if there was going to be a second date and we both just sat there saying, "Uhhhh..." because there wasn't going to be.

Side note: I was going on dates with a few other gentlemen at the time and I thought Pete and I were better as just friends ha. Also both places we went on our first date are now closed. Bad sign?

When my roommate Lexi came back for the fall her and her little brother Jake would always say, "why don't you like Pete!" and then my sisters started saying the same thing. They'd even ask where he was when they'd come to visit.

We remained friends, we weren't as close as we were that summer but Pete always sat next to Lexi and I in church it seems like. One night before finals Pete showed up at our apartment because he couldn't study anymore and that was the night I finally admitted to myself that I liked him and he was one of my closest friends. He came over a few more times before the break started and I just remember realizing my feelings for him and talking to Kirstie the whole drive to California for Christmas. I'm sure she hated me by the end of those 11 hours ha.

While I was at home I remember sitting at the kitchen table joking with my mom that I was going to be married by the next Christmas, she laughed and asked to who and I replied Pete. I think she was taken off guard but knew we had been talking/snapchatting during the few days I was home.

I had to return to Provo to work for New Year's Eve and the days to come but Pete came down with Rory one night so Rory could do some research or something on campus. Pete came over that night and we just sat there and talked and then watched The Rescuer's Down Under. I put my head on his shoulder because I was to scared to hold his hand and Pete was going to chalk that up as a success.

I had also been planning to tell him that I liked him and that we should date, but I chickened out. I ended up just texting him that ha. He agreed and told me that the next time I needed to say it in person. He went back to Rexburg the next day and I was freaking out those 5 days till he came back!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I saw him again or what exactly was going to happen, but after he returned that night we haven't spent a day apart.

He started coming over every night after his internship and I'd have dinner made and we'd just sit on my couch talking and hanging out with Lexi. Her and her brother Jake definitely thought they're the reason we are together ha.

That first 3 day weekend I met Pete's family and I basically fell in love with them but mainly Sam ;) That next weekend Pete and I said I love you for the first time. Exciting I know. He made hot chocolate and we went star gazing up the canyon. It was freezing and we didn't stay very long since I couldn't feel my toes but there's only so long that you can say I like you, a lot a lot a lot.

Sunday was two days later and were sitting on my couch when one of my roommates walked in and Pete asked how long her and her boyfriend had been dating, it had almost been 2 years. We exchanged some words and then I said, "well we're suppose to date to get married" Pete asked, "so we're getting married?" and I said "Yep!" We then realized that the other was being serious and that's what we both wanted.

We called our families the next day to see what they thought and to get there blessings. They were excited and that next weekend Pete went ring shopping with Lexi.

For Valentine's day Pete thought it'd be funny to fake propose to me since all I'd ask is that he not do it on Valentine's day. So there we were on top to the Smith Fieldhouse roof and I turned around and he was on one knee but started laughing because he didn't have the ring nor was actually going to propose. Little stinker! We still thinking it's pretty funny whenever we see the Fieldhouse.

As date night the next week we went to Five Guys for dinner and then registered for the wedding at Target, Pete basically hated it ha. Before we went back home we stopped at a park. We swang for a little bit and then walked around to the slides on the other side of the park. There was this one that was covered and curvy. He went down first and then when I went down there he was at the bottom on one knee with my ring! He asked and I said yes, obviously.

Wedding planning wasn't nearly as stressful as I thought it'd be but then again my Mom and Monica did most of it ha. Plus Jann planned the luncheon.

April 19th quickly came and it was a beautiful day with all the blossoms around the Timpangoes temple. I wish I would've gotten more pictures with a few people that left to help set up the luncheon but now I know you make a list of the photos you want and give it to the photographer.

I'm not sure what else to say or what Pete would add if he was here, but here's the first picture that was ever taken of us and a few more. We don't take very many since Pete doesn't make normal faces haha, but we sure do have fun!