Tanner and I met at Brigham Young University two weeks into my Freshman year in 2006. This is how it went:
PART 1
There I was, sitting at a table in the Wilkinson center, just a random Tuesday morning, anxiously writing in my day planner as I did every day tracking my classes & assignments so I wouldn't get behind, (that lasted about a month and then I got lazy haha), and a boy and his friend sat down next to me. I looked up just out of reaction and then quickly pretended I wasn't listening in on their conversation. As a journalism major, one is always looking for a possible story in someones conversations. So, they continued to talk and I glanced up a few times, thinking they were unaware that I was doing so every few minutes. Then the boy at the table looked at me and asked, "I'm sorry, are we bothering you?" I quickly responded, "No not at all!" Well that broke the ice and he asked me the general questions one asks when meeting someone in college: where are you from, what's your major, how old are you, yada yada yada. I gave him my answers but fibbed on the age, since I was still 17 and was turning 18 in just a few days, I told him I was 18 (not such a bad lie, I thought, since I'd probably never see him again anyway). Well, after getting into a conversation together, his friend left for class which left us alone to talk even more. We talked for about 15 mins and then I realized I had to go to work, reluctantly; I was really enjoying myself but I quickly stood up and he quickly asked me for my number so we could finish our conversation some other time. I gave it to him, waved goodbye, and left excited that he was semi-interested enough to ask me for my number!
PART 2
Most boys would wait a few days to call a girl after he asked for her number just so he didn't seem too anxious (this is what my husband told me at least) however, he called me that night which was totally untoward by his standards, but he was just too excited to date me he couldn't help himself :). (I know this because he told me later). Anyway, he asked me to go out to dinner with him on Thursday night and I happily obliged! (My first date in college, YAY!) I anxiously awaited Thursday to come, tried on at least 5 outfits and chose what I thought was the most flattering. He knocked on the door and I hurried to answer it. I was nervous because he never stood up the first time we met and a man's height is on the top of my list since I grew up with a dad who is 6'4. Luckily, as I looked out the peephole, all I could see was his chest. Good sign, I thought to myself, he's tall, which means I can wear heels and still be way shorter then him. As I opened the door I was astonished to see how tall he truly was, 6'5! I got lucky! We drove to the restaurant and he did all the gentlemanly things, opening the door, etc etc. As we sat down I noticed our table was rather large for two...actually very large for two. Then I noticed an older man and a younger kid sitting at the table already. That was a little strange, I thought to myself. I guess what happened was a little bit of a miscommunication...Tanner had talked to his Dad who happened to be in town doing business and mentioned he was going to dinner with me. I guess his dad didn't realize it was a date and decided to tag along, bringing his 13 year old son and inviting his daughter and her husband as well. This actually made Tanner quite upset because the majority of the date I was talking to his dad and not him. Actually, I pretty much ignored him. Not on purpose of course but his dad was grilling me with questions. Needless to say, it wasn't the great first date one could have, but I had fun. He also found out that I was still 17 at dinner and he kind of laughed and went into a little bit of shock. He later told me that if he knew I was so young he never would have asked me out since he'd had so many bad dates with younger girls. Still, he acted nice towards me anyway, but pretty much felt it was a failed date. After dinner we went to his house, talked a little more with him family and then he took me home.
He waited about four or five days to call me again but asked me to go out with him again to dinner...this time, I wasn't too surprised when some of his siblings and dad were at dinner again. This time, it went better. His dad didn't overrun the conversation and Tanner and I were able to talk more. After dropping me off on our second date, he asked me at the door to come to his intramural flag football game the next day. I told him yes, and planned to see him the next night. That was the first night we held hands running to his car after his game. It gave me the biggest butterflies ever!
PART 3
Since I'd already met some of his family twice on our dates, I asked him to come up to stay the night at my families house. He obliged and after two weeks of semi-dating, hanging out, he kissed me at the top of my parents staircase and asked me to be his girlfriend. From then on, we were inseparable.
It was February 11, 2007 and after dating five months he took me up to Salt Lake City to walk around Temple Square and go to dinner. After we walked around the Temple, he took me up to the east side doors and told me to sit down next to him. After doing so he waited about two mins, nervous as all get-out, he faced me and knelt on one knee. I looked at him astonished, not realizing this was his plan all along until that moment. He asked me, "Amanda, will you marry me?" I responded, "A thousand times yes!" I didn't even look at the ring (which he thought was really neat) and wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged and kissed him and we both cried. Then, he put the ring on my finger which he designed himself and I still love it to this day.
PART 4
We were married on May 10, 2007 in the Salt Lake City Temple for time and all eternity. I married my best friend, he's still my best friend and after all these years I look forward to waking up next to him everyday. After three and a half years of marriage we've moved 6 times, lived in Provo, St. George, and American Fork. We hate moving and look forward to when we'll have our own home! We were blessed with a gorgeous, intelligent, baby girl on January 29, 2009; her name is Sophie. And we're expecting a baby boy on February 26, 2011. We couldn't be happier! We're now living in Provo while Tanner finishes up his undergrad at UVU. We look happily towards the future and what it will bring!
