4th of July is probably my favorite holiday. It makes it hard to celebrate properly when it falls in the middle of the week and we have to work the next morning. Although we didn't go out and see fireworks, Pete more than made up for it in making his own.

July 3rd, 2013 was a typical Wednesday night, except we didn't have to work the next day becuase of the 4th of July holiday. So even though it was 90+ degrees outside, Pete and I decided to have a small bonfire in the backyard to get rid of some brush that had been accumulating since we moved into the house. 

We made a couple of cocktails, set up the lawn chairs, and started breaking up the branches to fit into the fire pit. After some time, Pete went inside with the dogs. I noticed he had been gone for quite awhile. I thought, "What on Earth is he doing in there?" I looked up and saw his shadow on the kitchen cabinet and he was just standing there. I thought maybe he was in refreshing his drink, when I looked beside me and his full drink was sitting next to me. Odd, but nothing to be concerned about. Finally, he decided to rejoin me outside but he left the dogs in the house. That in itself is out of character for him because they always follow him wherever he goes. I asked him why he left them inside and he said it was "Because they just need to cool off in the air conditioning." Again, I thought that was weird but just let it go. I continue to break up these branches and he just kind of sat and watched me for a minute. Then he came over and gave me a big, long hug. I can't lie, at the time I was slightly annoyed. I was just thinking, I love you, but I'm hot and sweaty and just don't want anyone touching me right now! The rest of the story is a bit of a blur. To this day, I am still not entirely sure word for word what he said to me. I just remember thinking, is he doing what I think he's doing right now? What is happening? Is this for real or am I dreaming? And then he got down on his knee and said those magical 4 words "Will you marry me?". You all know the ending to the story, I of course said "YES!"