Her Version
The first time Matt & I met was at work. We constantly have new shop employees being hired and fired in our office. I was used to shop guys making excuses to come into my office and talk since I was one of very few girls in the entire office. And I had mastered the cold shoulder. When Matt first walked past me my only thought was…Oh geeze another shop guy… and then he walked past again…and again…and finally stopped to talk to me. He could hold a conversation but something distracted me the whole time…the 4" long goatee that hid his face. After an hour of chatting I told him I had to get back to work and didn't give him a second thought. He persisted and came by my office to chat quite often. About a week later I was taking a stroll through the shop when a shiny beautiful black and red motorcycle caught my eye. I asked who's it was and no one could give me an answer…I was on a mission to find out who's it was and if they were worth taking a ride with! In time I figured out it was Matt's…the shop guy with a goatee. Yes, it was the bike that got my attention at first! Eventually I caught him getting ready to take off on it and asked for a ride…it was a short ride but apparently that's all it took. Next thing I knew we were spending breaks joking and talking and I found he wasn't such bad company! Within a couple weeks Matt asked me for a date. Of course he used a motorcycle ride as an excuse. Our first date consisted of dinner at Applebees were we sat and talked for 3 hours. It was during this time I finally found my way past his goatee and saw that he had the cutest dimples and baby blue eyes. If this was to go anywhere I would have my way with the goatee and a pair of scissors! After dinner we took a long and cold motorcycle ride ending at my apartment where we continued talking until 1 am in the morning. The sweetest part about the entire date was that at the end when I was kicking him out of my apartment he asked permission to give me a goodnight kiss. Though I turned him down he took it well.
After the first date we spent more and more time together and found more in common than we could have imagined. Matt also came with a bundle of joy, Andrew, his (now) 4 year old son. I have always loved children so this was no big deal to me. Andrew is such an intelligent and sweet boy and we have a lot of fun with him. I never envisioned myself as a step-mom, but I love Andrew and enjoy watching him grow up and learn new things. After only a mere 6 months of dating Matt proposed to me. It was a shock to both him and me that it came out of his mouth at that time but it shocked me more when I replied with a Yes and never felt better! He didn't have a ring but he that was perfectly ok with me considering I wanted something very special. He told me I could pick whatever I wanted. I decided that I wanted to take my Grandma's ring she had given me and re-use it. I had the Aquamarine stone taken out and re-set in a beautiful setting. The ring means so much to me and there isn't another like it! Matt & I both love originality decided he should also have an engagement ring. He picked out a black Titanium band. (It had to withstand being beaten while working on engines of all sorts!)
When we are not with Andrew we both love to quad, camp, hike, shoot guns, go see movies together and do whatever captures our attention. We both love a variety of animals and have acquired a zoo in our house consisting of 2 cats, 2 turtles, 3 Parakeets, and a ton of fish! And I'm sure it won't stop there! When we are with Andrew he keeps us plenty busy with games, toys, walks and trying to keep up with him. Matt is learning design at our company and I am always on the run at work. Matt is learning a lot and very fast and will continue is his career as a Fire Sprinkler Designer. While I also continue to grow in my career I am continuing my education at Mesa Community College. Eventually I plan on having my bachelors in science for Construction Management. With all this work, school, fun and Andrew we are busy bees! Though we always take time for our friends and family!
Matt & I never had the intentions of making a serious relationship. We both had different ideas about how our future would work out. But I wouldn't change one thing about our relationship and lives together! I enjoy every minute with Matt and Andrew! I have gained new family and friends and I love them all! Matt & I have so many plans for our future together and our wedding is only the first step! I am looking forward to spending the rest of my life and adventures with Matt. And of course... Matt now has a close cut goatee and clean shaven face! And those dimples and baby blues still get me!
We are both looking forward to sharing our special day with all our family, friends and loved ones!
His Version
I first saw Stephanie at work and did a double take. Honestly I had planned to just casually date. I asked her on a motorcycle ride (girls love bikes). We went to Applebees for drinks and appetizers and had a wonderful conversation. Then after riding around for a few hours I dropped her off at her apartment. I tried for a goodnight kiss and what do you know, as slick as I thought I was, she shot me down. The more we talked at work the more I wanted to talk to her (not very productive as far as work goes though). So I started taking her out on dates whenever possible. We had a blast hanging out, watching movies, bike rides, and whatever else as long as we were together.
One night we were up late watching movies (we both love movies) before she would let me stay the night at her apartment. So I left to go home on my bike and I was tired, I almost fell asleep riding a motorcycle down the highway at 65mph. That was the end of late movie nights for me. Then I think she started to miss me because not long after she started letting me stay the night. Oh and she did eventually give me a goodnight kiss. Next thing I know I am spending all my extra free time with her and falling in love. We moved into an apartment closer to my parent's house. I say we but I only lived there part-time. My son is with me half the time and his mother the other half. On the days Andrew (my son) was with his mother I was at the apartment. On the days when Andrew stayed with me I usually stayed over at my mom's house. On the weekends when I had him we would stay at the apartment a night or two. Stephanie was completely understanding. Now we are renting the house I was raised in, from my dad. We work the same hours now so we carpool almost every day; we eat lunch together every day, and still don't get tired of each other's company. I can honestly say that even though I am not looking forward to the high price of weddings these days, I will pay it with a smile on me face because on October 4th I get to marry the most wonderful women I could ever be lucky enough to know let alone spend the rest of my life with.