You have bewitched me body and soul - even though I ruined Christmas

Ok... I may not have ruined Christmas... but I certainly ruined altered Tommy Thompson's plan for  asking the biggest question of his life.

Long story short - I SAID YES.

Long story in Shannon terms...

We've been talking about marriage since the day we decided to be an 'us'. It was always our plan. The last few months conversations about this moment started happening frequently and we even went so far as to talk dates. In Shannon land that means Game.On. It's one thing to be a woman pining for her wedding day, add in that said woman plans events for a living - watch out. Poor Tommy Thompson has been the most patient man ever.

After many conversations about the wedding I began not sleeping worrying about not having enough time to find the perfect wedding dress. It is beyond insane that those pretty little things take six months to arrive! While driving to work in March I asked Tommy Thompson if he would be ok with me making an appointment to buy a dress - no pressure. Like most things he said if it made me happy he supported it. I set a date a month out for a day of dress shopping with my girlfriends and mama. A month came and went and the day before shopping day (coincidentally our birthday) I decided to cancel the much anticipated event. Weather was bad for friends to drive up , some could not longer make it - bottom line it just didn't feel right. Tommy Thompson had yet to propose and I was starting to think that it would never happen (can I get some cheese with this whine???). When I told him I canceled he emailed back 'WTF!'. (Seriously??? What on earth does that mean?)

We had a nice quiet birthday evening at home that night, however I couldn't help but think I had ruined his moment by setting up dress shopping. And to my defense Tommy Thompson certainly added to that thought. The next day I had brunch with some girlfriends, after which Tommy Thompson and I planned to have a picnic on Castle Gray-skull (our 'fort' on the front of our property - this is one of our favorite past times). I came home from brunch resolved to not mention the word wedding ever again.

Tommy Thompson was running errands so I relaxed on the back patio until a young boy came running through our yard. If you know our house you know that this is not normal - you don't 'accidentally' come onto our property. An argument ensued with this boy and I called the police. Tommy Thompson pulled up as the officer was meeting with us. Shaking like a leaf I went inside thinking the whole weekend was a bust. Tommy Thompson suggested I pack a picnic and we go ahead with our plans and make the best of the day. I thought it was odd that he was pacing outside while I was making lunch but chalked it up to frustration over the trespasser. We loaded up in to Bessie (our farm vehicle) and instead of driving to Castle Gray-skull he headed down to the lake.

About five minutes after arriving there I asked Tommy Thompson to hand me something (I can't remember what) and in his hand was a beautiful ring shimmering in the sun. I must have stared at it for five minutes before I looked up - in an emotional voice he asked me by my full name to marry him. Best moment ever. After all the feelings that I had ruined it and that it would never happen he managed to completely surprise me in the most perfect way possible. He popped a bottle of champagne that he had hidden in a box of tools and told me about the moments he asked my parents permission to marry me, about asking The Little One before anyone else, about the ring he picked and all the excited friends he had told. My face hurt from smiling so much. We are getting married!!!

I later learned that this was his Plan D to propose, I had interfered/changed plans (unknowingly) for his multiple plans to propose leading up to this day - and while I regret that to an extent our perfect moment happened just the way it was always meant to be. (Previous plans included our birthdays, even the morning I was to go dress shopping - hence the 'WTF!' email.)

I knew the moment I met Tommy Thompson that he would be in my life forever - him being my husband forever is a dream come true.

As it turns out we were able to spend the day together - just us two, there's no other way I would've wanted it. The next morning my three amazing parents came over for brunch (served on my Grandmother's china!) and a 13 year old bottle of Dom Perignon mama has been waiting many years to pop. We drank more champagne over the weekend than I ever have. Just as it should be.

I never thought I'd be wearing muck boots the day I got engaged but nothing could be more us. 

I hadn't even combed my hair!!

YES!!!

Brunch celebration Bocce Ball. 

Happy Birthday to US!

If I could have created a person to spend my life with it would be Tommy Thompson. When I think back about the guy I dreamed up I nearly nailed it. I wanted a tall guy that had character and attitude. Someone that took charge and who's presence made people turn when they walked into a room. Someone who was fiercely protective of me and challenged me. Someone that made me laugh yet could also sit in silence and 'just be' near me. Soft yet strong. When I painted a picture of this man to friends it was guy on a Harley holding a puppy. Hard exterior yet soft inside. Enter Tommy Thompson. While he prefers street bikes to Harley's - it still counts. And as far as the dog goes, the man that once hated dogs can be found baby talking, snuggling and loving on our Sweet Lucy daily. Nearly nailed it.

Today I turn 27 for the sixth time. And as if that weren't rad enough I get to share my special day with my most favorite person in the world. My best friend, my soul mate, my love. It's not too often that you meet someone you share a birthday with let alone the person you would do life with but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Best.Birthday.Gift.Ever.

We decided in lieu of gifts each year we would take a trip. Last year we celebrated with close friends at George Straight's last and final concert in Dallas and I can't wait to see what we decide on this year and years to come.

Happy birthday to us!

(And for the record, Tommy Thompson is six whole entire years older than I am. For the record.)

Also for the record I will not be making birthday cakes this year thanks to an upcoming trip to Miami but if I were... I'd be making my favorite, Grapefruit Poppyseed Torte with White Chocolate Mousse 

George Straight's last and final concert, Dallas, summer 2014

We both have the same favorite bar in Las Vegas... coincidence??

Easter in Knoxville, TN

Easter was extra special this year as we had a chance to take a vacation to East Tennessee to visit Grandpa Bob (GB). GB is Tommy Thompson's grandfather and he had never met the Little One so it was great timing that Easter and Spring Break coincided.

We spent the first morning dyeing Easter eggs after the biggest breakfast I have ever eaten thanks to Auntie Dawn while Tommy Thompson was able to help GB around the house with a few projects. GB is very particular about his Easter eggs - everyone needs an egg with their name on it... we found out why the next day. That afternoon the three of us toured downtown Nashville and World Fair Park. Downtown reminded us a lot of Boulder, kinda hippie, kinda hipster with lots of great people watching and shops to peruse. GB's house smelled incredible when we got home thanks to his famous super secret shack sauce slow cooking. We relaxed and threw the football (the Little One's favorite birthday gift) before our shack sauce dinner. This shack sauce is no joke, and after several failed attempts to get the recipe from him I found one online that seems close, although I never did get to see the recipe at GB's. He did admit though that the key is black pepper and slow cooking. When the table was set GB gave us all a tutorial on how to make a proper BBQ sandwich - it is not to be messed with.

1. Take a plain bun and add smoked pulled pork
2. Add coleslaw (and by coleslaw I mean just the cabbage, no sauce)
3. Drench in shack sauce

It. was. awesome. Not to mention we were eating a dinner prepared by Tommy Thompson's 87 year old grandpa but to see his face light up when he taught us how to assemble the proper sandwich - that may have been better than the sandwich itself. (maybe). After dinner GB took his very first selfie  - I'm glad we could teach him something too. We even taught him a new use for shack sauce the next morning when I fried eggs and topped them with pulled pork and shack sauce - excellent.

Sunday was Easter and the Little One woke to an Easter basket and no hidden eggs - parent fail. 15 minutes of him walking the property looking for eggs to no avail - I was heartbroken. I promise every Easter from this year forward regardless your age or where we are I will have Easter eggs hidden.

After a fabulous Easter service at GB's church we headed to the hills. Tommy Thompson has fond memories of the Smokey Mountains as a kid so I was anxious to see them. The drive was gorgeous, spring time in Tennessee is so much greener and lush than Colorado. We got to the top and I was surprised to see there were no mountains around us... you can take the girl out of Colorado but you can't take Colorado out of the girl. We stopped for lunch at Dick's Last Resort in Pigeon Forge - the Little One was shocked when the waiter threw silverware on the table and said 'Kid set the table'. When we told him that he was joking and even let him play back with the waiter he had a blast. (If you're not familiar with this restaurant, wait staff are rude and makes fun of you). It was one of his favorite parts of the trip. Oh to be 11...

We got home late in the afternoon and Auntie Dawn was hard at work on Easter dinner and wouldn't let us lift a finger. We enjoyed our daily 5:00 Old Fashioned and cigar on the porch with GB and his lady friend before the big meal. The Little One and I set the table - enter the personalized eggs. A man after my own heart, GB likes an Easter table set with Easter egg name cards.

Monday we woke early to make our way to Dollywood in Gatlinburg. Known as ' The Disney of the South' this place was amazing. The rides were fabulous, the shows were incredible and the park was perfect. We lucked out with the weather AND crowds, in fact we were able to ride some roller coasters back to back without waiting in line. This months' theme for the park is Festival of Nations, so the shows we saw were from all over the world. Our favorite by far was a Canadian act with lumberjacks that perform cirque du soleil acrobatics with live music and ax throwing. Sounds like a crazy combo but it was fabulous.

Tuesday morning came too soon - we woke up super early and checked the Little One in for his very first solo flight before heading to Nashville for work. I had the most incredible time meeting GB and Auntie Dawn and cannot wait to visit again!

 

This kid can find a candy store anywhere. 1 pound jawbreaker - endless entertainment. 

 

Happy Birthday Little One!

How is it already April ?!?! 2015 has been a whirlwind of year. Instead of being disappointed in myself for letting my blog go by the wayside the last three months I'm committing to more frequent, shorter posts.

Today is the Little One's eleventh birthday. Eleven whole entire years old today. He is about to graduate fifth grade and we're tackling the mountain that is selecting a middle school. He loves playing sports, enjoys the guitar, is a guys guy in so many ways yet the most kind and sensitive little boy I've ever met. I love watching him and Tommy Thompson together. They have the most adorable inside jokes and giggles. I caught them last week reading one of Tommy Thompson's favorite childhood books before school - melt my heart. I'll be late to work any day of the week to watch those two together.

In preparation for Easter I asked him if he was going to write the Easter Bunny a note - I was crushed when he told me that he wasn't sure the Easter Bunny was real. I asked if that meant his beloved Elf Jingles and Santa were real and he confessed to seeing a picture on my iPad on where to hide the Elf... major fail. While he may be entering the age of no more Santa's I feel so lucky we had a believer for 10+ years. His creativity and imagination are something to endeavor for at any age. 

Tonight we're celebrating at his favorite sushi restaurant, followed by cake and presents at home and I cannot wait!! Birthdays and presents are fun but it's a whole new level of fun with little guys. He asked for his favorite, funfetti cake - and asked that this time I make it 'funfettiiier'. It's a word - trust me. I'm not a cake mix person so I called in my mother to help make my recipe 'funfettiiier'. She suggested I add some maraschino cherry juice and almond to the batter, and while I've yet to try to finished product the batter definitely tasted 'funfettiiier'. 

Happy eleventh birthday little one! I am so thankful to be a part of you and dad's life and I look forward to watching grown into a fabulous young man!!

For my funfetti cake recipe go here. I added 2 teaspoons of maraschino cherry juice and 1 teaspoon of almond extra to the batter.