A Winter Break To Remember…
Well if you have not heard by now…Ashley and I are engaged. I proposed while we were down in Puerto Vallarta on December 28th. Here is the story of how it happened….
School ended in mid-December and I came back home to Socal on December 20th. Christmas was really fun as the family headed down to my Aunt’s to celebrate. The next morning I took the family to the airport as they were heading down to Mexico and I was waiting one more day for Ashley to arrive. On the 27th I picked her up early in the morning and we celebrated Christmas in a near by Taco Bell parking lot…I know - very romantic :-) We waited a few hours and then hoped on a plane to meet up with the family in Puerto Vallarta. The next day was pretty routine of our trip. Sleeping in and going down the pool to soak up the sun. We had dinner reservations for six o’clock…or so Ashley thought. Around 5:45 her and I were both ready to go but the rest of the family was not. We were sitting on the balcony enjoying the view when I asked Ash if she wanted to go down to the beach for a little walk before dinner. I knew we had some time and were probably going to be late for dinner anyway. T o my surprise Ashley had no interest in going down for a walk. Very happy and content where she was I asked again, and again she had no desire to go since we needed to leave soon. I knew I had to pull out the big guns so I did the first thing that came to my mind…I started to pout. Sure enough it worked and we were on our way down to the beach for a little walk…As we neared the beach Ashley ever so nicely told me she had no intention of walking on the sand. She had just taken a shower and we were about to leave and didn’t want to get dirty. I thought in my head…where did this girl come from? The Ashley I know has no problem getting her feet in the sand. Well again I had to pull out the big guns…yes that means pouting…and again it worked….
Earlier in the day I had asked my dad if the beach would be crowded around 6ish. Ohh no, he replied!! Well lucky for me he was wrong and it was crowded. Nothing else had gone to plan so why this, right!? Well I could not turn back now and we started to walk. Not knowing what to do and me being me, I start to hum songs trying to by time as I thought about what to do next. Well we walked and walked and I thought and thought. I think Ashley finally had enough of the walking and humming as she asked when we were going to turn around since it was now past six o’clock and we needed to get back so we could go to dinner. I did not know what to do and my mind went blank so I said the first thing that popped into my head and I told her that she was no fun. Yeah, probably not the smartest thing for me to say at that exact moment…
This was it…I had to ask her now…I could not go back to the condo w/o asking since my parents knew what I was up to. As the sun was beginning to set I turned to her and asked her the same question my dad asked my mom…Ashley, what would you say if I asked you to marry me right now? She seemed shocked as she replied that I wouldn’t ask her right now because I did not have anything to ask her with. A smile ran across my face (as of course I knew I had something since I was home during Thanksgiving break) as I asked her what if I did have something to which again she replied that I don’t have anything since we were going to go looking when we got back to California (I told her we would look after vacation so she wouldn’t be expecting anything while we were in Mexico). Again with a bigger smile I asked what if I DID have something? This time I took the ring out and asked her one more time what she would say if I asked her to marry me right now? Of course she said YES and we were officially engaged. After she calmed down I told her that dinner was really at seven o’clock and that her family and my family knew already…
From there we had a great trip going whale watching, shopping downtown, and more relaxing by the pool. W e came home for a few days and then headed up to San Francisco for a few days to spend time with my Uncle Claudio. Ashley had never been there before and Claude did not disappoint. We had an amazing trip as he spoiled the both of us rotten as we went sight seeing, ate lots of food, walked over the golden gate bridge and never had a boring moment. I know we are both dying to go back again…
The night before Ash and I left to go back for our last semester of Grad School my parents threw us a little going away/engagement party at their house. It was a great time with plenty of food and drinks. We have been back home for about a week now as school starts tomorrow. Look out for plenty of updates as we both job search and begin to plan a wedding. We have tons of pictures of our trips and as I learn how to post them here I will. Thanks to everyone for a great time home….
January 16th, 2006 at 12:46 pm
Congratulations to you Nick and Condolences to you Ashley.
This is great news and happiness for everyone.
January 16th, 2006 at 11:46 pm
Congratulations, Nick and Ashley! Nick, I always love reading about your wonderful family, how close everyone is, how your mom makes every event and occasion a holiday and a celebration! What a wonderful place to get engaged…Puerto Vallarta! I looked at the photographs from the engagement party and the pictures of your family’s condo. I saw your mom’s pet tiger, too! Good luck with your new blog and God bless you and Ashley and your wonderful family. Keep me posted. Classes begin today [Tuesday] so I gotta get some sleep. HFF…Roger
January 17th, 2006 at 12:59 pm
Congratulations on your engagement Nick!! I found your website courtesy of Matt. So when are we (your Chino High buds… Smit, Zack, Christina, etc. etc. ) going to meet Ashley?? Can’t wait… keep me posted on any engagement parties.
Love ya!!
Linda
January 17th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
Hey Nick, glad to see you’ve got this up and running now. Takes the pressure off of me to post to my site (ha!) - now that you’ve told everyone to look for pictures there. Guess I better get cracking and post, huh? I’ve got some good ones of our little get together as well as some of Big Bear…but I guess snow doesn’t impress you that much anymore, tho, does it?
Hey Dick, that’s my son you’re talking about…only I can say that about Nick. Better make sure Danny doesn’t put something rotten in your food!
January 22nd, 2006 at 5:11 pm
Congratulations Nick and Ashley!(and Robin and Danny) I am very happy for all of you! Nick, I am sure that Ashley is loads of fun and it sounds like she will keep you on your toes! Ashley, I believe you are going to be very blessed in your marriage because Nick has had the most wonderful of role models! You are a lucky lady and I’m sure Nick is the luckiest of all!! I can’t wait to meet you someday and Nick I can’t wait to see you again!! Please keep me posted on wedding plans! May you both continue to grow in your relationship with each other and as strong individuals full of life and laughter to share with the other. Love to you both, Beck