Throwback Thursday to our engagement

So the other day we went on a super fun hike. 

It was so beautiful! 

So green and awesome. 

Because of how awesome it was we didn't turn around as soon as we should have and it got dark before we made it out. 

We only hiked in the dark for a little bit and we made it out just fine so it wasn't a big (except for the part where a rattle snake scared me to death! but anyways..)

But it totally reminded me of when we got engaged

And as I was thinking about it I realized that I'm pretty sure I have never actually written that story down.. That's bad! 

We tell it all the time, so I don't think I've forgotten anything, but I definitely want it written down.

So here it is

It was September 7, 2011

The day before Matt insisted that we go on this super awesome hike that he knew of.  I love hiking, but I was feeling like I was coming down with a cold, so I was a little hesitant, but after he insisted over and over I agreed. (little did I know that he had got the ring that day in the mail and he wanted to propose as soon as possible)

So the next day we headed up to our hike.  

Actually I need to back up a bit.  

We picked out my ring together in Utah and then had it mailed to matt's mom's house in Idaho.  We both knew it was coming and were anxiously waiting.  

I asked Matt if he had heard anything about where the ring was the day before the hike.  

He told me had called them and they said that it hadn't been sent out yet and it would still be a while.

We were both super bummed 

Then later that day Matt's mom called him and told him the ring had just come to the house!

He kept his cool though and didn't give it away.  

That's when he suggested a hike.. 

So this whole day I thought for sure he didn't have the ring because they had just told him it would be a while! 

so anyways, we head out to the hike. 

The drive took about an hour or so and then we started hiking.

  

We were having a good time, but the end was never coming! 

Also we were like bush wacking cause we couldn't find the trail haha

Just so you know this picture is NOT my definition of bushwacking haha 

So I was getting really tired. 

Matt kept telling me that we could turn around whenever I wanted to.

But I had a sneaky suspicion that he maybe might just propose at the top.

I was really scared that if we didn't make it that he wouldn't propose! 

So I kept pushing myself.

by the way he told me later that he would have proposed anywhere I wanted to turn around.. There was no way he wasn't proposing that day

So close!!

So we hiked and hiked and FINALLY made it to the top!

The view was totally worth it

So when we got to the top Matt was telling me to go take pictures in different places and when I'd leave he would get ready.  

Really all he had to do was pull this out of his pack

My awesome husband drilled a hole in a rock and put my ring inside!!

My rock in a rock :)

So When you put the top part on you can't tell that there is anything inside.  It just looks like a plain old rock. 

So as I was walking around he took the rock out of his backpack and set it on the ground.  

Then he said that we should put the camera on self timer and take a picture of us together.

We got it all set up an ran over to take the picture.

Then Matt bends down and says look at this rock

What? why are you looking at rocks we are trying to take a picture!

That's what I'm thinking

Then right as the camera takes the picture, BAM! 

He opens the rock and there is my ring!!

Pretty sure this will forever be my favorite picture 

You can just imagine how surprised I was!

First off my man just broke this rock in half and then there was my ring!! 

The moment was so surreal.

it took a minute to register what was going on.. 

I started to cry immediately I'm not even sure if I said yes haha

He put the ring on me and I forget all about the crazy hike we just did and how tired I am

So happy

We were engaged!! I was so excited

But the story doesn't end there.

So we start to hike out.. 

It's getting a little late and Matt was scared to go back the same way we came in because there wasn't exactly a trail.. If it got dark we might get lost..

So he was pretty sure there was a short cut back to the car if we kept going a little ways down the trail.

We go to where the shortcut is and we can't find it. 

Pretty much our only option was to keep going on the loop

The 20 mile loop

The most I had ever hiked in one day was probably 5 or 7 miles.

I was already so tired.

So we just kept going cause that was pretty much only option!

Luckily the excitement of being engaged kept us pretty happy and excited

Till it got super dark haha

Luckily my man is always prepared and he had headlamps

So we hiked with the headlamps and it wasn't too bad.

But the trail never ended!!! 

20 miles is super long! 

After a while Matt let me lead because I was freaked out of some wild animal 

sneaking up behind me haha

So I cruised out there. 

even though I was dead tired I was flying down the trail 

We kept saying that someday this would be a great story

if we survived.. haha

So finally finally we did it!

we made it back to the car without getting lost, eaten, or just giving up

but then we still had an hour drive

It was all we could do to keep each other awake.  

We didn't make it home till like midnight or after.

The next day Matt brought me flowers cause he felt so bad 

about taking us on that huge hike.

But really seeing how concerned he was for my safety that night only made me love him more :)

So that's our story!

It was crazy in the moment, but we love it now :)