That One Time We Accidentally Got Engaged

Last June, Casey invited me to his company picnic. I said I didn't attend work parties until there was a ring on my finger. 

Somehow, I still ended up at the picnic.

 Casey's work does an auction with company dollars they earn throughout the year. Then they can bid on different things like t.v.'s, vacation getaways, iPads, everything. Sometimes there is a mystery prize. Apparently, the last mystery prize was a vacation to anywhere in the United States (including Hawaii!) 

The week before the picnic some of Case's co-workers began talking about THE MYSTERY PRIZE. Casey really talked it up to be something good. If you know Casey you know he is stingy with his dollars so he had more saved up than anyone else in the company and he wanted the mystery prize. . . 

So when we got to the picnic Casey's boss pulled me aside and asked if I would help play a little prank on Casey. I was in. :)

Enjoy. 

Things to Note:
1. The guy in the red behind us, totally in on it. He is funny to watch.
2. I kept saying "Are you serious?" . . Casey replied "no". He then followed with "this isn't it"
I said "Are you serious?!?" He said "yes, I'm serious. but NOT like this."
3. Casey and I had already discussed "the M word" hence my agreement to the prank. His "no's" in this video only made me question our impending bliss slightly. I think he likes me. ;)
4. Casey claims to have been so worried that I would think it was really how he planned on proposing. I wanted it more private, which is exactly what he did { here }
5. We really didn't kiss that long. My hair is just blocking our videographer. This was a work party after all. ;)
6. Many of Casey's co-workers still believe this was our actual engagement. We discussed it again at the holiday party.

Casey’s 28th Birthday. Part 1

                I come from a family that believes in birthday weeks (or months. Smile. ) I began asking Casey what we should do for his birthday in May. After much hounding, he said he wouldn’t mind having a BBQ in the backyard. 

                I began thinking of invitations and themes. VETOED

                Casey said we should just text everyone to invite them. Party pooper. 

                After inviting everyone himself (he even changed the RSVP contact to himself. Lame), the party planning was underway. Casey and I had a horrible week leading up to his party Saturday. 

                He and I shopped for nutritional ingredients at Target the night before the party and went to dinner at Chili’s after. Since we were struggling I was worried about the party. Then after we left each other at the restaurant (we met up after work at Target), I caved. I followed him home. When I got there no lights were on. I was worried he hadn’t gone home. I broke in through the garage. {I’m not creepy at all.} I walked in just as he rounded the kitchen corner. Neither of us said anything for a long time. We just hugged. In the dirty bachelor pad kitchen. And, it was perfect. I knew we’d be fine. 

                Back to the party, Ashlee and I decided it should have a bit of a baseball flow (remember no themes). So off to Zurchers we went a few days before the party. I got a plastic tablecloth, centerpiece and OF COURSE a piñata. 

                The party was a hit. We disturbed the bees on the basketball hoop.

                All his besties came.

                After it all, we took a nap. 

                Casey’s favorite parts- the baseball cupcakes and everyone that came. He said it was the most people that have ever come to his birthday! Score 10 points for Kal right there.

                I’m not quite Betty Crocker yet, but he sure does love me.

First Real Date- March 10, 2012

     After our bunny hill adventures, Casey and I had a real date. You know- the kind where the boy asks the girl and she says "of course". For our date, Casey had a group of his friends over for a BBQ. Low key. Note: I FEAR eating in front of people. I'm not good at it. Work, dates, any eating events. I struggle! I'm left handed so I bump into other diners, scrape the plate with my knife. I need lessons! It terrifies me! Therefore, I really appreciated the chill atmosphere.
     Casey still teases me that I didn't like his grilling. Love his grilling, just hadn't eaten in front of him before. It's fine now, I eat like my cow at the feeding trough self.
      Then we played "Curses". Case ended up across the table from me so we proceeded to text each other during the game as well.
      Everyone went downstairs after to watch the Real Salt Lake game on t.v. Case and I played ping pong for a bit before chatting on the Love Sac.

Dear Love Sac inventor/ makers,

Thanks. Best second/ first date ever

 Love, Kal

      Of course, I'm leaving out a few details. Just know, Casey's cute. I have a pretty big crush on him.

Sittin On A Bunny Hill- March 7, 2012

I feel as if our posterity should know MY SIDE of our story. I foresee a Grandpa Casey giving his own tall tale many years from now. Let’s continue.

                After meeting Casey and hanging out a few times, he mentioned he liked to spend extra time on the mountain. In his family, lots of sports are played including snowboarding and skiing. Rewind a few months and you would know I just got a brand new snowboard (I had only been once in my life and for some reason felt good enough about it that I should have gear. . . uum whatever. I guess it worked out) So, I have this new snowboard collecting dust and it’s March. NEVER GONNA USE IT.

                I decide Casey and his brother Matt should be the lucky ones that get to accompany me on the bunny hills. I figured if I had a group go, they could leave me at my level and could go to the black diamond courses. Then I could say I went with a group, I still don’t have enough self-confidence to go alone apparently.

                I write Casey on Facebook (loser alert) and tell him we all should go boarding. He agrees and we plan a night after work to go night boarding (grown up jobs that make you work all day. BOO) Casey tells me to meet at his house at 5:30.

                I spent the day looking into nursing schools- great for my future, bad because I did not leave enough time to go shop for extra gear (goggles. Didn’t have time to get a helmet. STILL NEED ONE! Maybe for Christmas this year? Cough, Case?)

                I got to Casey’s house around 6. His brother Matt was just getting home off the mountain. I panic, I’m supposed to be going with everyone. If it’s just Case and I it’s like it’s a date. This can’t be a date. It’s a group thing. I CANNOT BE THE ONE THAT ASKED HIM OUT FIRST. UGH. I’m that girl. For forever.  Bad, bad, bad.  So, Matt takes one look at my board and starts laughing. I had put the bindings on all wrong- thank you google search. Fail. He and Casey begin to fix it as I go change. While changing I realize my snow pants from junior high are a little tight. Weird. Suck in the muffin top and let’s go. I walked out and asked Casey and Matt if this place took cards or I needed to run get cash. They looked at each other and said, “both”. (side note: I am famous for making things awkward, I’m still thinking/ wanting no date here. I asked him. Gross)

                The drive up to Wolf Mountain was so fun. Previous to this day, I thought Casey was nice and I wanted to be his friend, but that’s all I knew. He was quiet. And…mature. I just didn’t realize I was feeling his vibe. Back to the drive, I’m decent at coming up with enough random questions to fill drive time so that was good. I learned a little about Casey.

                We get to the hill, and begin gearing up- boots, hats, goggles (remember , I had to showcase my new purchase). I pulled out my debit card and asked Casey to hold it in his pocket. My pants were kinda tight. Just saying, don’t know if I could have held a debit card on my personage. He said “you don’t need this”. I exclaimed that I definitely did and he did not need to pay for me as we were just boarding and it was my idea.

                (oh, ps. Casey skis. Who is going to help me now? ) We go to the window to get our tickets. Casey buys two . He’s cute like that. I thank him and feel like a dweeb. Now he’s wasted money. I only bunny hill! He wasted money for me to bunny hill!

                Here’s where he starts raking in the points. I can’t even make it to the lift I’m so bad. Poor boy continues to sit with me every time I fall, help me up and just wait super patiently. I let Casey know that I definitely DO NOT do ski lifts. He assures me we will be fine. He had to essentially pick me up and put me on the lift. This “date” is so embarrassing! We get to the top. I’m beyond nervous. This is where I’m really really bad at snowboarding. Casey put his arm around me, pulled me in close, and carried me off the lift. Seriously, he is the sweetest boy in the whole world. I’m swooning. He didn’t leave my side for the next three hours. 97% of those hours were spent SITTING on the bunny hill. He was there every time. Never once did he leave to go ahead of me. He never once rolled his eyes, told me to hurry, or questioned why he came with me. He started making videos on his phone of my skills. …Maybe he just wanted to enter America’s Funniest Home Videos? He was a gem. Complete perfection. At the very end of the night, I did insist he go down a real run. I waited at the car happily. Snowboarding is freakin’ exhausting people!

                On the drive home, we talked more. I found out he went on his mission to Russia (find out more about our church here). I asked him to speak to me in Russian. And oh, speak to me he did. Amazing. Swooning. In Heat. Whoa, baby. We got home way too fast.  He helped me load all my stuff in my car and played with my phone for a really long time. (side note- of course he was doing some kind of number exchange, but let’s all pretend he was really sneaky. Good for a man’s ego)

                Sadly, all perfect first dates must come to an end. Sooner than we wanted since someone had to work the grave (yeah, snowboarding, grave, full day of work the next day. I’m a horrible scheduler).

                On the way home, I had a perma- smile. It hurt it was so big. You know how they tell you one person will be different? He is. I knew it right then. Of course, I tried to call my mom. She had a migraine and I got Dad instead. He was really happy and excited I had a lovely evening, but it wasn’t quite the mom reaction I was hoping for. I called Ash, his cousin. Then Allie. The smile just never left. It was too good. He is just perfect, everything I’ve ever needed.

                I got to Brigham City and decided to check out my phone. I had texted a strange number “hey. How are you?” Oh so Casey texted himself from my phone. I responded with “well, I don’t know how are you?” It continued from there. We haven’t stopped texting, calling, and spending time together since.