Newport News has a direct flight to Denver and I am so grateful I didn't have a layover somewhere. I had to carry my dress in a garment bag and that doubled as my carry-on, and everyone looked at me like I was crazy. While waiting for the flight there was a mom with two young twin boys and one happened to be named Turner so I talked to her about Patrick and Jess since one of their names they like is Turner. She gave me some good advice for them: "Take a lot of pictures because the first year is going to be crazy and you won't remember it". This woman only had the two boys; I really can't imagine having two young girls, also. I know if anyone can do it, however, it will be them! I finally boarded my flight and of course the plane didn't have a closest so I had to shove my dress in an overhead bin and hope it wouldn't get to wrinkly.
Four hours later, I landed in Denver and Brandon was ready to pick me up. As I was walking of the plane, I noticed my french manicure on my thumb had chipped and I was kinda freaking out about that when I got to Brandon. We were able to stop and pick up the stick on french manicure set and I proceeded to use them throughout the weekend because they ended up chipping a lot. The shellac did not work too well this weekend!! Brandon had to be back at USAFA at 11, but I was staying with another girlfriend (well actually fiancé), Emily in the hotel. I would have been a lot more nervous about staying with someone I had never met, but I have been in a group message with her and two other girlfriends, Lily and Erin, for a long time, so it was like I already knew them. Emily and I had fun talking and ended up going to bed around one that morning (3 a.m. EST). BUT then I woke up at 5:55 and could not fall back asleep; I was in for a long day.
Around 9ish, Lily came and picked Emily and I up and we headed to pick up Erin from DIA, and then all four of us headed to get our hair done. We thought we were going to be early but we ended up getting caught in traffic which called for a picture opportunity:
Left to right: Erin, Emily, me, Lily
Once we made it to the salon, they took a lot longer than we had planned to do everything so we were kinda rushed to get back to USAFA, dress, then be ready for pictures.
We made it back, got dressed super quickly, and then I headed to meet Brandon. Of course, it HAD to be raining and I was having a hard time carrying my bags while trying to keep my dress from getting messed up before anything even started. Oh, and I haven't really spent much time at USAFA since Brandon has been there so I had no idea where his room was. He came out and met me and then graciously carried everything the rest of the way for me.
Awe so sweet! :)
I know I had been excited about this dance since I first heard about it and I couldn't believe that the day was finally here! I wanted time to slow down, but that did not happen. We ended up taking a lot of pictures as a couple and then with his friends. It was also the first time Brandon got to wear his Mess Dress and it is pretty good looking! ;)
The Cadet Chapel is SO pretty!
The ceremony then started at six and it was a pretty interesting and entertaining ceremony, but I was anxiously awaiting the food! One banana did not keep me full for too long so once I was able to sit down for a second I realized I was starving! I had also heard that in years before girls had passed out and I definitely did not want that to happen! There were a few speeches and then we finally ate. I was also given Brandon's ring, and although I could open it, he wasn't supposed to see it, so I couldn't take a peek, as much as I wanted to. Once we finished dinner, it was time for the passing of the rings. Now, most will probably find this a little disturbing, but I thought it was pretty cool. I took the ring ad dropped it into my glass of champagne like so:
And then I drank the champagne and put the ring in my mouth and kissed it over to Brandon, where he then put it on. Brandon would be a Firstie in just a few days!!! How exciting!! We had to head across the terrazzo to where the actual dance was for a few minutes before leaving and I wish we cold have stayed longer, but we had to be on the bus at 9:15 for our ride to Steamboat Springs. Brandon and his roommate, Ryan, went back to their room to get a few things, including my bag that I needed. It was raining pretty hard now and we were a few minutes late to reaching bus. I had to take two dramamine because I get car sick so easily and I definitely didn't want to get sick on the bus because the driver would have charged 250 dollars per spot! Crazy! The party bus was fun! Brandon and I stayed up for the six hour trip and had a good time enjoying the party bus. We finally made it to the house at 3 a.m.! We ended up staying up two more hours and then fell asleep around 5:30 a.m. Only 25 minutes short of staying up 24 hours. I was bound and determined to go hiking in the morning though because I had packed everything for it, which I didn't even need since the weather was really nice.
We determined we would hike Fish Creek Falls, which is about a seven mile hike roundtrip (but we probably only did 4 or 5). Brandon went down to ask if anyone else wanted to join us while I got ready to go. I thought to myself that no one would want to go with us,but seven people were actually going to go. I was pretty shocked when he came and told me a bunch of people were.
It wasn't that far of a drive, but we did have a hard time finding a parking spot. I guess everyone wanted to go hiking since it was a nice day. Right at the beginning of the hike was a waterfall, and it was gorgeous.
We kept heading up the path and thought we had made it to the top of the trail after only about ten minutes of hiking. It wasn't the view we were expecting, and learned we took a wrong turn though if we wanted to keep going up. We finally found the right trail and hiked for about an hour with few breaks. Brandon was the only one to bring water with him in his Camelback, so it wasn't that much. Luckily I got a sip or two before it was all gone! Finally we reached a spot where we could rest and it had a very pretty view. We could have gone up higher, but I was thinking this would be a good place to stop because it was close enough to the top anyways. We were all a bit thirsty, hot, and hungry by this point. We sat there for a good fifteen-twenty minutes, so without questioning, I told him we need to take a picture together up here. He took awhile getting over to the place I was standing and I saw there were three people with cameras of some sort. I should have thought something of it but I didn't. If you know my mom then you know we have to get the same picture with every camera in the room! Well here I am just ready for the picture. I did not really expect what was coming next!
Brandon says a few things about the view "and what not" (Brandon's favorite add-on) ;) and then he got down on one knee...
which is where he asked me to marry him...
and I kissed him (a few times) and told him YES!
We were both happy!! :D
After the most amazing proposal ever, we headed back down the mountain. On the way up the mountain, I was very concerned with making sure my shoes didn't get wet or muddy, but on the way down I did not care about my shoes at all. I know I stepped in quite a few puddles but I was more concerned with keeping my hand up. Brandon teased me the whole way down because it looked like I was holding my hand up to show the trees my ring. He is probably right though; I love it!!
On our way back from SteamBoat Springs!
Our rings!! <3
The rest of the weekend went by in a flash. I was able to see my first parade which was very neat and then attended an awards banquet after that. I finally felt like I had seen Brandon in military action and it was kind of weird, honestly! I am used to the Brandon I know and not some military man but there he was; it is pretty awesome!
After the Parade!
The Thunderbirds flying around USAFA
The two white things on each side of the Chapel are the planes!
Brandon dropped me off in Denver that night where I stayed in a hotel to catch a plane the next morning and I don't know if I had ever cried so much saying goodbye. I was so thrilled and on top of the world with Brandon this past weekend. I could not have asked for anything better, yet I knew I would no longer get to spend time with my boyfriend…err fiancé..until August. Not the longest (that has yet to come) but I love spending time with Brandon and I can't wait to marry him!! AHHH!
