snu
01-01-2009, 11:32 PM
We just got home from our Christmas vacation in Florida, so I can finally post our engagement story! I spent a lot of time in Florida as a kid, so I was excited to show FH some of my favorite places, which is how the story begins....
Wednesday 12.24.08
We left for Clearwater Beach around noon. It was very amusing for us to be driving to the beach on Christmas Eve. It was 80 degrees outside, so we had the air conditioner cranked up. The grass was still green, and it was strange to see all the snow themed Christmas decorations, with no snow or even a chill in the air! When we got to Clearwater, we started to wander around the beach. The water was a little chilly, but I rolled up my pants and got my feet wet. We walked along the beach and picked up seashells, which is one of my favorite childhood memories of being in Florida. We tried to go to the end of the pier, but they charged an admission fee, and the small gift and tackle shop was closed so we couldn’t go out all the way. We had originally planned on staying at the beach longer, but we decided we wanted to do more exploring. We ended up at St. Pete beach, and by the time we got there (stopping at various places along the way), we decided we wanted to find a place to watch the sunset. We eventually made our way to Pass-a-Grille Beach and decided it was perfect.
We got there about two hours before sunset. We parked the car, got our snacks, and headed out to the water. We walked along the beach and collected more shells. We eventually made it to the pier, which was the perfect place to watch the sunset. We were supposed to be back at my grandparents’ house for Christmas Eve dinner by 6:00. We were an hour and a half away, so I didn’t think we were going to get to stay to watch the full sunset, which was going to happen at 5:37 PM. I suggested to Kelley that we head home by 5:00 so we wouldn’t be too late, but he wasn’t having it. He insisted that we stay for the full sunset. While we were waiting, several groups of people wandered over to the pier, and I could tell Kelley was getting frustrated with them. He kept insisting we be alone at this romantic place. There were a lot of birds to watch in the area, and we even saw some dolphins (which made the day really special, as they are my favorite) As the sun finally began to set (and we were finally the only two people on the pier), I started snapping pictures like crazy. I wanted as many perfect pictures as possible. At 5:45 PM (I know the exact time because of the time stamps on my camera!), I turned around to tell Kelley something, and I saw him down on one knee, with the ring box open! With his eyes locked on me, with the sweetest voice, he asked me to marry him! It was perfect! Of course I said yes and we had a nice hug and a kiss, and once again I began snapping pictures, but this time of my ring with the fading sunset in the background. :)
By this time, our parking meter had run out, but we didn’t care. I began taking more pictures of “our place” and the area around it. I had to document the whole thing. Eventually we headed back to the car, and thankfully we didn’t get a parking ticket. As soon as we started driving, I started texting all of our friends! :bblol: We waited to tell our families until after we told my grandparents. We got back to their house at 7:30 and told them right away! They were both so excited. We also found out that they were engaged on 12.24, so it was really special for all of us!
A few days later, we went back to Pass-a-Grille so I could find some souvenirs and take more pictures. We realized then how lucky we were to have been alone on the pier at sunset! The beach was much more crowded the second time we were there. It really was the perfect proposal on the perfect day!
Pictures coming next!
Wednesday 12.24.08
We left for Clearwater Beach around noon. It was very amusing for us to be driving to the beach on Christmas Eve. It was 80 degrees outside, so we had the air conditioner cranked up. The grass was still green, and it was strange to see all the snow themed Christmas decorations, with no snow or even a chill in the air! When we got to Clearwater, we started to wander around the beach. The water was a little chilly, but I rolled up my pants and got my feet wet. We walked along the beach and picked up seashells, which is one of my favorite childhood memories of being in Florida. We tried to go to the end of the pier, but they charged an admission fee, and the small gift and tackle shop was closed so we couldn’t go out all the way. We had originally planned on staying at the beach longer, but we decided we wanted to do more exploring. We ended up at St. Pete beach, and by the time we got there (stopping at various places along the way), we decided we wanted to find a place to watch the sunset. We eventually made our way to Pass-a-Grille Beach and decided it was perfect.
We got there about two hours before sunset. We parked the car, got our snacks, and headed out to the water. We walked along the beach and collected more shells. We eventually made it to the pier, which was the perfect place to watch the sunset. We were supposed to be back at my grandparents’ house for Christmas Eve dinner by 6:00. We were an hour and a half away, so I didn’t think we were going to get to stay to watch the full sunset, which was going to happen at 5:37 PM. I suggested to Kelley that we head home by 5:00 so we wouldn’t be too late, but he wasn’t having it. He insisted that we stay for the full sunset. While we were waiting, several groups of people wandered over to the pier, and I could tell Kelley was getting frustrated with them. He kept insisting we be alone at this romantic place. There were a lot of birds to watch in the area, and we even saw some dolphins (which made the day really special, as they are my favorite) As the sun finally began to set (and we were finally the only two people on the pier), I started snapping pictures like crazy. I wanted as many perfect pictures as possible. At 5:45 PM (I know the exact time because of the time stamps on my camera!), I turned around to tell Kelley something, and I saw him down on one knee, with the ring box open! With his eyes locked on me, with the sweetest voice, he asked me to marry him! It was perfect! Of course I said yes and we had a nice hug and a kiss, and once again I began snapping pictures, but this time of my ring with the fading sunset in the background. :)
By this time, our parking meter had run out, but we didn’t care. I began taking more pictures of “our place” and the area around it. I had to document the whole thing. Eventually we headed back to the car, and thankfully we didn’t get a parking ticket. As soon as we started driving, I started texting all of our friends! :bblol: We waited to tell our families until after we told my grandparents. We got back to their house at 7:30 and told them right away! They were both so excited. We also found out that they were engaged on 12.24, so it was really special for all of us!
A few days later, we went back to Pass-a-Grille so I could find some souvenirs and take more pictures. We realized then how lucky we were to have been alone on the pier at sunset! The beach was much more crowded the second time we were there. It really was the perfect proposal on the perfect day!
Pictures coming next!