One of those moods...bahaha!

How did you meet?
We met in March of 2009, though the story started long before either of us were aware of it. Shay comes from a town outside of Toronto, Ontario called Cambridge and served in the Wisconsin Milwaukee mission. About a year into it he trained a young American Forker named Tyce Henderson...who lived down the street from me pre-mission (though I didn't even know it). Shay and Tyce became super good friends and he stopped by Tyce's house a couple times on road trips through the states to pick up packages, etc. so he could take them back to Tyce on his way home to Ontario. Shay ultimately checked out the schools here to see if he could find something to his liking, and crazily enough, UVU made the cut. He packed up his car, took $1000.00 and two passports and left home. He stayed at Tyce's parent's house for a couple weeks until he could get settled in Provo. That's where I come in: Shay came to my singles' ward a few times during that period and became good friends with my sister, my ward friends, and even a group of my friends in Orem. He was everywhere all of the sudden and all by what seemed to be coincidence. It took us a few months and many more adventures, but soon we were inseparable. :)


What's a funny dating memory?
Our first date was funny and tragic all at the same time...he invited me to his house to make cakes for his Canada Day party (July 1st, celebrating Canada's "independence"). Afterwards we went to Trafalga to play miniature golf with friends, during which he thought he'd be funny and poke me as I tried to putt. I started swatting his hand away without looking and missed one time...welllll, missed his hand anyway. I hit him somewhere else with my club that caused him to buckle over and collapse on the nearest bench. I was so embarrassed and we were both laughing even though I felt horrible and he was in pain. We tried to hide it and act like nothing happened, but Mandi yelled out, "What happened? Did you hit him in the crotch?" At that point I lowered the daisies onto the grave of our first - and what I thought would be our last - date. Guess I underestimated him a bit. :)


What was your first kiss like?
Basically...it was the most perfect first kiss ever. :) And I truly mean that. You know how first kisses are always so awkward? I had always been kissed for the first time on the doorstep, and it never ever went well. Somehow Shay got the timing exactly right. We planned an outdoor movie at our friend Scott's house in his backyard, and Shay brought over his HUGE lovesac for us to cuddle in. We had been doing this nuzzling thing for a few days where we'd never really quite kiss, but I could tell it was on his mind big time. :) I could also tell he was scared, so this time I just held very still during the movie when he started the nuzzle move, and what do you know. It worked. :)


How did you fall in love?
That's a hard one to answer, and I bet we'd both have a different one...hmmm. For me, stubbornly...he basically held my hand (both figuratively and literally) the whole way. I even remember him reminding me very subtly that this was a good thing, it wasn't killing me, so why should I be so scared? He was always very patient with me. He finally told me he loved me one night after about three weeks of dating, and I responded after a long pause, "Really? Are you...sure?" (Doh!!! Score one for team Allison!) To his eternal credit he didn't run right then and there. I think that was one of the things that made me love him the most. He answered, "Yeah...I don't really know what else to call it." Then he told me I didn't have to say it back if I wasn't ready, he just needed me to know. I heard the Colbie Caillat song the next day called "Fallin' for You" for the first time, and that did it. I told him two days later that I loved him too. And I shook the whole way through those three words. :)


What's your favorite thing about each other?
I'll have to guess for him...I think he loves that I love him. It's as simple as that. I think he loves the way that I try to take care of him and the way that we communicate about everything. I think he loves that I love the gospel and that I support him as a priesthood holder. And he likes my eyes and my giggle. :) I love that he is and has always been my best friend. That we can go from a serious conversation to a tickle fight to determine who gets the pirate ship (couch) all in one night. That I can tell him everything and that he not only wants to hear it, he remembers. That he always makes sure that we pray before saying goodnight. That his eyes remind me of California. And that he somehow makes me forget everything I'm stressed about with the most perfect hugs in the world.


What would be your theme song?
Hahaha...he'd say "Knock You Down" by Keri Hilson, or "Super Human" by Chris Brown. I say it's either "Easier to Be" by Lifehouse, "When You Come Back Down" by Nickel Creek, or "Then" by Brad Paisley.


How are you two most different?
I stress out, he's laid back. I read, he dances. I doubt, he trusts. I sing, he pranks. He drives safely, I drive fast. :)

Hitting the pause button.

Sometimes I have found myself needing to take a deep breath through all these plans...like my life has gotten stuck on fast forward in anticipation for what is coming in less than two months and I have to make a conscious effort to stop, look around me, and actually see what is going on.

And sometimes there are days when it hits me all over again...

I'M GETTING MARRIED.

*squeeeeeaaaaaaaallllllll!*

One of these times occurred the other day when Shay and I were sifting through the 100+ engagement shots we took last Saturday in the hopes that we would find one, maybe two, possibly three that would pass my ever-so-rigorous-and-slightly-overly-critical-judgement and make it onto the official announcement. Surprisingly there were 20 or so that passed...some more than others...which is something I am truly grateful for as it's yet another thing that has been successfully crossed off our "to do" list. During this quest for the perfect picture, one of them caught my eye and made me stop completely. As I gazed at the picture in awe and noticed yet again the little token of love and affection that had been carefully placed on my finger with more sacrifice than I'm probably aware of, I was completely blindsided. These were my engagement pictures. There was my fiance, who would someday be my husband, the man who would lead and guide my children and I throughout the rest of our lives, my very very very best friend and the biggest blessing I have ever received.

And in 55 days, 13 hours, 46 minutes, and 10 seconds I get to officially keep him forever.

Needless to say, that puts a ginormous smile on my face. :)

I used to wonder who this man would be that I would someday fall forever in love with...what his name started with, what color his eyes were, whether or not he'd laugh at all my corny jokes, what kind of music he liked...and the list goes on. I never would have nor could have guessed what was in store for me, but I'm glad that was the case. I like that the surprise I got is the best one of all!

Here's a sneak peak at the pictures that made the cut:



The ducks behind us were quite amusing. :) Their flight south for the winter was apparently delayed and they were so starved that they literally followed us around the pond as we took the pictures, hoping that we had come instead to feed them. A couple had even lost a foot somehow but were still able to keep up with the others...it was pretty cool to see how they had adapted. :)



This "dock" was questionable...much less sturdy than I remember it being as a little kid. Then again, I never used to care about that anyway...as long as I could hang my homemade fishing pole off of it and catch gazillions of huge imaginary fish, it was the best place in the whole world.



I always wanted a picture like this, but never knew it until now... :)



He was trying to dip me. Without warning. And I was like, "Nuh-uh." Right after I stopped laughing. :)



Kissy-face! :) His poor ears are so red, we were both freezing! I probably shouldn't have procrastinated so much on getting these taken, Mother Nature didn't want to wait as long as we did. :P



I always wanted a picture like this too. Only I knew that one beforehand. And I rigged the shoot so I could get one. He wasn't being very cooperative for very long though...



...and this is where we ended up. Gosh I love him. :)



One of my favorites, hands down. :) I think we'll have cute blonde-haired blue-eyed little ones someday. Yep. :)



Another fave, which will probably be one that ends up on the announcement itself.



And this is how the adventure ended, as most everything should in my opinion. :) Sealed with a kiss!

Taking the plunge!

I have been getting comment after comment after comment about how "married" people have to have a blog...or even people in general these days...so here it is: we're taking the plunge headfirst into the blogging world! Doesn't everyone start out with a blog like this as their first one? Yay for following the crowd! :) Thank you Kami, Alyse, and Shan'tel for your most encouraging thoughts on the subject. I love you all. :)

In a way, this is kind of a much needed release...anyone that knows me well knows that I adore the written word, both my own and not. It's been a huge part of my life from the time I was little. As a toddler, my mom was spending 45+ minutes in my room before bed just for story time. By the time I was in elementary school I was spending hours of free time devouring book after book, and by the time I hit high school I was going through multiple books a week--with most of them being 400-500 pages or more. Anything less just wasn't worth reading. I was also in LOVE with the idea of creating my own world and characters in it someday...a dream I haven't given up completely yet. :) Needless to say, reading and writing have probably shaped my personality more than few other things and I'm super excited looking forward to this little adventure.

As to an update on our lives: for me, it's been school, wedding plans, work, wedding plans, showering, wedding plans, eating, wedding plans, sleeping, wedding plans, and catching up when I can with friends. Luckily I was released from my calling as the single's ward FHE leader so I have lots more time and a serious decrease in stress. It was a wonderful experience...but I'm grateful someone else gets to have it now. The semester is almost over and the days seem to last between 20 minutes and 200 hours (depending on how well the day is going of course), and there are only 65 days left before I have yet another shiny little band on my finger and introduce myself as a Petrone. :) I wonder sometimes if it's physiologically possible for a human being to spontaneously combust due to excitement....As for Shay, he's enjoying his classes in the automotive collision repair program and keeping my head on straight when it starts spinning out of control. He's probably the most perfect husband-to-be on the planet, and I'm not even saying that because I'm biased. It's just the truth. :) He's had the opportunity to DJ a few dances lately that have given him lots more experience and the fun chance just to use a talent he shows off so well. He misses his friends in Canada and the adventures to be had there (Utah's lack of nightlife and diversity still gets to him sometimes, though I try to make up for it and most of the time I succeed) but he still likes it here and seems pretty happy he came. :) I'm sure details in every area and more will surface as this thing grows - as well as more of my personality - but I think this should be good enough for the first little bite right? Right. :)