HEA

It all started a few months ago when Tommy, Tricia's boyfriend, visited Eddie's parents in Texas.  He went out there to ask for their daughter's hand in marriage. They gave him a hard time, but also gave him permission.

When Eddie proposed to me, his whole family flew in and surprised me, so when we got back from the beach, my family and his family had gathered and were waiting for us.... I WAS STUNNED.  I had no idea it was happening and I had even MORE no idea that everyone was there for us! It made the day even more special to have everyone there to share in all the excitement.

Tricia has always said that when she got engaged, she really wanted her family to be there to celebrate too....

sooooo.... after Tommy asked for permission, he started emailing everyone in the Williamson family to try to figure out dates.  There were many factors to take into consideration:

• Spring Ball for TCU
• Carrie Beth (Eddie's other sister) has used her vacation days, so it needed to be on a weekend
• Andy needed to be weaned
• Masters Weekend

Once we threw out ALL of those (minor) obstacles, I threw out Friday the 13th.  My mom and I are taking our annual girls' trip this week, so I knew I would be done nursing by then, spring ball is over, the masters was last weekend, and we would do it on a weekend for CB.

That got the ball rolling! Once we had the date nailed down, the planning began.  Tommy is one of those "rare" guys.  He thought of seriously everything to make this weekend as special as he could for Tricia.  Literally.  EVERYTHING.

He titled this effort HEA (happily ever after), so the emails began and the subject of each email was HEA.  The emails were plentiful and there were nine people in the address bar, so my inbox has been filling up over the past few weeks with HEA stuff!  SO FUN!

So, Friday morning, my mom came over to keep the boys.  This was my first time leaving Andy and I was holding it together okay, but of course I lost it when she dropped us off at the airport.  I was telling Cal how much I loved him and I was crying so he started crying because he never sees me cry and then I was kissing Andy...anyway, I was a hot mess and I was glad we were going somewhere fun where there would be all kinds of happy tears and celebrating happening!

After a long day of travel, we arrived in LAX.  We waited in the airport for Eddie's parents and Eddie's sister to arrive and then we headed to one of Tommy's friends houses where we met up with Tommy's parents (who flew in from Colorado).  Tommy and Tricia went to dinner and once he received word that we were all in place, he took her to a spot to propose.  Do y'all remember that spot in the movie "Friends With Benefits" with the light posts? There are a ton of them and they are all lit up?  Well, that's where he did it.  Also-- remember how I said he thinks of everything?  He had a friend hide in the bushes to take pictures of the whole thing while he was proposing...sweet, huh?

Anyyyyway.... we had it all planned out how we would act when she called, and I must say, the Williamson people are some fabulous actors/actresses! Tommy explained that he really wanted to do it when the family was all together, but that it just wasn't possible right now and they were going to go to FW to see everyone soon... he explained that their friends, Mike and Kristen, were the only people in LA who knew and they were waiting with a champagne toast for them.  Tricia walked in and Mike's daughter said she had a surprise for her... she led her back to the bedroom and we were all there waiting.  Tricia screamed and burst into tears.  It was amazing. Her reaction in that second made flying across the country and leaving my little boys worth it.  She was so so appreciative and happy.  I love seeing people that HAPPY.

Tommy, again, thinking of everything, had contacted her boss to arrange that she have the weekend off, so we were able to have all day Saturday together too (we left early Sunday morning). 

I was in charge of pictures for the weekend, and I think I took about 200... I think I got some good ones!

waiting for news that he popped the question (again...looong day of travel!)

she was calling!!!! Patty didn't answer, though, because she should have been asleep (TX time), and she sleeps with her phone in the kitchen....

she called Carrie next, and since Carrie should have been asleep too (DC time), she thought she should actually lay on a bed when talking to her...hahaha

next, she called Eddie's dad, who pretended to be asleep, who then passed the phone to Patty, who also pretended to be woken up. She stayed on the phone with Patty while Tommy parked the car at this house and they were about to walk in.

she's on the wayyyyyy!!!!!!

quick little dance party before going into hiding

MOB and MOG going into hiding in the back bedroom

click on this picture for the full effect...

she just saw the next wave of people...

yet another wave of people...

tommy and his mom

tricia and her dad

happiness

retelling the story

we insisted on a kiss...they made it a good one!

bling blilng!

the girls!

the williamson boys were supposed to be on the ends, but after the above kiss, big ed decided he better stand in the middle...

Saturday morning, we met for breakfast in the hotel lobby and then we gave Tricia and Tommy some little gifts. 

the boys wanted to contribute from NC.  I printed this off and had it in the bag :)

Tommy got a new TCU golf bag and some clubs (welcome to the family!)

tommy's mom found this, which was prefect after all of our HEA talk

luggage tags: His, Hers, more Hers

we hiked Runyon Canyon after that and got some fresh air

making fun of all of us...showing off her ring and kicking up a leg (I have a tendency to kick up a leg...)

my groom :)

Saturday night we went out to eat at Lowry's. It was a fabulous dinner and a great way to end an amazing weekend.

Big Ed and Patty were celebrating an anniversary and Tricia and Tommy got cake for their engagement.

Now, let the wedding planning begin! 

I could not be happier for Tricia and Tommy and I am SO thankful that we were able to share in their proposal story...I am even more thankful that they even wanted us there.  Good times, great memories.


One more story, that I just have to share for memory purposes (don't worry, mom....I am sure no one has read this far down the blog anyway...)
My parents kept the boys and Hank while we were gone (THANK YOU!). On Saturday, we were shopping in the Tory Burch store having the best time laughing and trying on shoes.  My phone rang and it was my dad.  I thought he was calling to give me an update on the boys.  He immediately told me the boys were both doing great and were already asleep, but they could not find Hank.  My heart stopped, I swear.
 They thought he got out of the house while they were loading the boys in the car and they didn't realize it.  They left the house, put the garage door down and went away for roughly 7 hours.  (cue my hysteria, please). 
I didn't want to upset Tricia, so I walked outside of the store and burst into tears.  Hank wears a collar with my number on it, so if he had been gone for 7 hours, why had no one called me? I was in a total panic and I just KNEW he had been hit by a car...or someone awful picked him up and was not being sweet to him.  I was a mess to say the least.
My parents had asked our neighbor to send out an email via the neighborhood list serve, which they knew I would see, so they wanted to tell me before the email came out. 
My parents had already contacted shelters, been to the fire station, and driven through the neighborhood looking for him and saw no signs of him. 
again-- cue my tears. 
Five minutes later, my mom, I think in an act of desperation after hearing me so upset, walked out in the driveway and started screaming for Hank.  She turned her head and was eye to eye with him. Sitting in the drivers sear of my car. Smiling at her.

Apparently..... they let him out and he went back in the house. Dad was taking Cal golfing, so while mom was loading up the boys, dad opened the house door to get something, then opened my tailgate to take out Cal's clubs. Before shutting the tailgate, he turned to put the clubs in his trunk.  During that time, Hank ran out the door and jumped up in my car.  His "spot" is in between the boys' seats.  He loves it there.  Well, he laid right down and got comfy, ready to go for a ride somewhere fun. Little did he know he was going to be sitting in the driveway for 7 hours.  At least we know he wasn't hungry-- there was enough food thrown on the floor to feed him for a while!
He was no worse for the wear, had no accidents and was happy as could be when they opened the doors. 

PHEW. My heart was racing and I started crying all over again.  Y'all know how much I love that dang dog! He is my first born and I am obsessed.  SO glad he is okay and SO glad my parents didn't have to call me with some bad news...!

Let me say it once more: PHEW!

haha... memories!