A Couple of Cheeseheads

Can't you just see this picture on the cover of an Ensign Magazine?

That is what the Best Man at our wedding called us. We were a couple of Cheeseheads and perfect for each other. We still are- both of those things- I'm sure this post will have plenty of cheese! This is an interesting year because it is also the same day of the week that we were married 11 years ago. Yes, a Tuesday. We wanted a weekend wedding of course but we were doing everything so quickly that there weren't a whole lot of days to pick from and we just wanted to get married before school started again. You see, we met on a blind date in May of '97. I was 19 and just finished my first year of college. He was 21 and just returned from his mission to Madagascar. The point of the night was to set my roommate up with Hans, a guy I worked with and for him to set me up with a friend as well because I had been dating a guy that was turning out to be a loser. Peter got roped into it against his will. He did NOT want to date yet. I remember that night really really well.

Peter and his best man Hans

It was a Sunday and I had pretty much given up on Russ, my then-boyfriend. While I was home visiting he had gotten to know another girl (who he later married). I guess he even went on a trip to Vegas with her and didn't tell me about it. Well, he came by that day as I was making brownies for my blind date that night. He was trying to be all lovey dovey and tell me how beautiful I looked and maybe we shouldn't stop going out. LOL! I was loving it and told him he was nuts and I was going out that night and he could go out with whats-her-name. It was funny- not uncomfortable or anything and he apologized for being a dork and we went our separate ways. Hans-my friend and our best man- picked up my roommate and I and took us to Peter's house to play some games. We played a little pool and Scattergories and watched a movie. Peter and I continuously picked the same words on Scattergories! I remember on the line for "4 letter word" the letter "r" was up and we both put "rake." We talked movies and books and we had much the same taste there. Not many people have seen and loved the movie "Solar Babies" right? We followed the games with a movie during which we played a little footsie- lol! I gave him a hug at the door and my friend took us back home. The next day Peter had to ask Hans what my name was again-haha! He called the night after that first date and we have spoken or seen each other every day since. Our courtship lasted an entire 4 weeks before Peter popped the question. We thought about getting married at Christmas but that seemed SO far away so we thought about another break in school for Thanksgiving. It seemed a little too much to squish a wedding in during that holiday too so we thought we may as well move it up to before school even started. We were going to spend eternity with each other, we had just spent 4 weeks talking non-stop about every subject under the sun- money, kids, school, work, religion, hopes and dreams, so why not start eternity as soon as possible? So August 12th was decided on. I knew Peter for almost a full 3 months on our wedding day.

My family didn't get to meet Peter until the week before the wedding- although he had talked to them on the phone. I woke up to a rainy day and our reception was outdoors. I knew I didn't want an outdoor reception but I think it was Peter's mother's dream or something because she really wanted it and I'm not bridezilla so we let it be in her backyard. It stopped raining (but was still overcast as you can see in that first picture) for the wedding and for enough of the reception to get good pictures. After the rain stopped we had a beautiful double rainbow which stands for good luck! It was beautiful.


On our way to the hotel at Snowbird we got a little lost. We forgot to get directions before we left but we both "kind of" knew where it was so we just thought we'd find it eventually. I don't even remember what town it was but there was a little town having a fireworks show! We stopped and watched the fireworks on August 12th that seemed to celebrate our union. That is a fun memory ;) We did eventually find our hotel and have lived happily ever after to this day.

I just love this picture and that grin! I'm surprised he could find my leg in all that petticoat!

I do think that we lead a charmed and blessed life. We are both still as cheesy as ever but maybe that's a special hidden ingredient for a happy marriage. We love to talk about our dreams and where we see our family in 5 and 10 years and what we'll do when we are empty nesters.

Baby, I can't wait to spend the rest of forever with you. I'm so glad that you are my partner in parenting and in life. I am so glad that I have you to watch with me as our children grow and learn. I wouldn't want to share that with anyone else. I feel so blessed to have found such a caring man that is such a wonderful husband and father. You are my opposite when I need it and my match when I need that. I hope that I can be the same for you. I love you.

Your Girl