The Simple Life with Addie and Ellie: Show and Tell Tuesday: Groundhog Day :)

Today, I am linking up with Andrea from Momfessionals for Show and Tell Tuesdays! I absolutely love the idea of this post, but I must admit I had such a hard time deciding which day I would repeat over and over. While the happiest day of my life, so far, has been my wedding day, it isn't the day I would love to relive. As I am typing this, it sounds so bad! But trust me-- it isn't because it wasn't amazing; I just have other days that beat this day out!

True to form, I can't decide on just one to day to re-live-- so you will have to endure reading about two days :)

First Groundhog Day: Marriage Proposal

I should probably preface this post with the fact that I knew I was going to marry my husband almost immediately. Did that freak me out? Yes! How could I know so soon? I just had a feeling. It wasn't something that I planned on feeling so early on in our relationship, but if you have read some of my other posts about dating, you know that using an online dating site does speed up the dating process a little bit. By the time Jim and I met, I felt as though I had known him for years. We connected on a level that was far from the superficial level that some of my other relationships never progressed beyond. My fear was that he didn't feel the same as me. He loved me (yes-- we had said "I love you" within the first month of dating), but I was afraid he wouldn't either be ready to marry me or want to marry me. We actually had a difficult conversation probably about 7 months into our relationship about the fact that I was ready to marry him. While he knew that marriage was in our future, he wasn't quite sure when that would transpire. That completely freaked me out! I was afraid that I was headed towards a familiar path, and I wasn't ready for that heartbreak again. Jim, being the reassuring and calm person he is, told me that just because he didn't know when, didn't mean that it wasn't going to happen. Looking back, I should have known to trust him.

Fast-forward to December. Jim and I decided to take a day trip to Nantucket for the annual Christmas Stroll. We had been looking forward to this trip for months. We both absolutely love Christmas-- the decorations, the food, the smells; absolute perfection! During this weekend, local shops and restaurants decorate Christmas trees outside their shops, decorate the inside of their buildings, and some places even prepared Christmas- themed food and drinks. In addition, the Nantucket Whaling Museum displays about eighty trees that are all decorated by the locals. We booked our ferry tickets from Hyannis, MA (another beautiful place), and we were off! When we docked, I couldn't stand myself. First of all, the island is beautiful no matter when you visit. The downtown area is historic and preserved, everyone you meet is friendly and helpful, the unique and quintessential architecture is breath-taking, and to see everything decorated for Christmas was a dream. Although it was cold and windy, Jim and I had so much fun walking around and heading into all of the shops. We stopped at a local place for lunch, ordered clam chowder, and it was delicious. I am an island girl that's for sure! We started walking off the beaten path, "investigating," as we like to call it. Little did I know that Jim was scouting for the perfect place to propose :).

Just as we were heading back towards the center of town, Jim stopped. He said "Are you sure you want to marry me?" And I replied "Of course I do!" He then proceeded to get down on one knee, and I starting inching backwards! Who does that?! I just couldn't believe this was really happening! I remember asking him "Are you sure? Are you sure you want to marry me? I can be crazy at times!" Jim just laughed and said he was sure. He then said the words that will forever be in my heart, and I said yes! Before I even got the ring on, a sweet old woman came over and asked us "Are you getting engaged?" I said yes, as Jim quickly put the ring on my finger. She asked us if we wanted her to take a picture, and of course we did!

Right after the proposal! Obviously newly engaged because the ring finger is no where to be seen! :)

After the proposal, Jim and I shared a celebratory drink at an amazing little outdoor bar. I was in still in disbelief. We then went to the Whaling museum where we were amazed by all of the beautiful Christmas trees decorated. What made this day so special? Besides getting engaged to my person, my one and only, my perfect match, my best friend, it was the fact that we spent the day together. That is what I truly always wanted-- someone to share life's journey with. It truly is the little things in life that make it so great.

Jim is an extremely smart man :) The trip wasn't a surprise for me; the proposal definitely was! Since I am such a planner, Jim knew that his plan would never work if I wasn't directly involved in it! He knew I would be suspicious, so he picked a day that was already planned out. I was so involved in the preparations for the trip (I was the one who booked the ferry tickets), that I had no idea the proposal was coming. And that, my friends, is a guy who knows his girl well :).

Finally a picture with the ring! We eventually got the hang of it!

Second Groundhog Day: Mini-moon :)

Because Jim and I got married in mid-December, we decided against taking a full honeymoon right away. Christmas was right around the corner, and we really wanted to spend it with family and friends. We decided to save our full honeymoon for the springtime, and opted to take a mini-moon in the White Mountains. This is where my second groundhog day option comes in, our third day of marriage :). I would love to relive the Sunday after our wedding. Jim and I stayed at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, NH, and it was the best, most relaxing weekend we have had in a long time!