A couple of weeks ago, Ryan asked Jenny to marry him! And the best part of it (for us) was that we all got to be there to celebrate! You see, about six weeks earlier Ryan called my parents and asked if we could secretly fly up to Denver for a surprise engagement party, and of course they said YES! So on Friday February 15th, my family (including Grandad) snuck into Denver and hid out for the night. I flew in the next morning and joined them at the Thompsons' house in Littleton. Here I am in the getaway car from the airport.
Several of Ryan's family and friends also came in for the surprise. We all converged at the house on Saturday morning, but we weren't able to set anything up because Ryan and Jenny were planning to stop by around lunch time before they went on their most memorable hike EVER. Ryan had prearranged for this to be set up next to the lake behind their house, so after the stage was set and everyone was hidden away in the basement, we were ready for the moment.
Lindsay (Ryan's sister) and I went back out to find a hiding spot near the lake for pictures. When Ryan and Jenny came by the house, Ryan's parents acted like they were busy with household chores. They even had the ladder out to change the air filter! Then Ryan and Jenny set out to walk around the lake as they had so many times before. Eventually, we spotted them. They came down to the lake, and Jenny tested the ice that she had stood on a week earlier. Then she looked out over the mountains to the right. Ryan then coaxed her to look left where the bench was set up with the scrapbook. They spent the next several minutes looking at the scrapbook he had so thoughtfully put together. I am sure Jenny thoroughly enjoyed it, but to me and Lindsay, it seemed to take AGES! I bet Ryan felt the same way, in anticipation of what was to come next.
Finally --- he asked Jenny to stand up and he got down on one knee...
There was much embracing (and kissing) before he shouted, "SHE SAID YES!!" At that point, I headed toward them, but I realized that Jenny still had no idea I was in Denver, so I decided to head back to the house instead, not wanting to spoil the surprise that was yet to come. Meanwhile, all the friends and family who had come to celebrate had decorated the house and gotten lunch ready. For a second eternity, we waited in anticipation!
Finally, they came back across the fence and approached the house. When the door opened, we knew that we had actually surprised her!
It was such a wonderful feeling, to be there to celebrate with them and to find out that we had actually pulled it off! My sister is no dummy, and I really wondered up until this point if she had not figured us all out. It's a tricky thing sneaking 5 family members into another state without getting caught. Altogether there must have been about 30 people who came to join in the celebration. The picture below shows JUST family that was there.
I wonder why we didn't invite a minister and just go ahead with the ceremony while we were all in town. But, now we have 4 months to plan that shindig because the wedding is set for June 22nd! May the celebration continue.
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