Did You Hear?? I'm Engaged!!

Mr & Mrs Sean and Ashley Tillman....sounds good right?? :)

September 28, 2009 - the greatest Monday ever!

This day was the beginning of a random work week for me. This day I didnt have to go in until 1230pm, but I woke up earlier than expected so I really got ready...curly hair and all...and left about noon. Just before I left I got alot of questioning from my mom who was supposedly getting ready for a photo shoot at Mountain View. I thought it was weird and blew it off. Now normally Sean and I meet for lunch when one of us is off, but today he had lots of 'errands' to run...another thing I blew off. I had planned to get gas and pick up McDonalds for lunch and eat in the parking lot so I pulled into work about 1215 and noticed that Sean's car was in the parking lot. So I proceed to text him thinking that he was back and that he could come hang out with me for a few minutes. He tells me that his parents had 'randomly' showed up to take him to lunch...? At this point I was starting to get suspicious, but I convinced myself he wasn't going to ask me at work and finished lunch.

I walked into work and was immediately approached by my boss with a very serious face on claiming that she needed to talk to me asap. So I took my time setting up my work station hoping she would forget, but she did not. At this point I was extremely nervous and even more so as she asked me to follow her not just around the corner, but around the corner and down the hallway! As we approached the breakroom she stepped aside and I came around the corner to find my parents, two of Sean's brothers, and Sean! Sean was standing at the end of an isle of balloons, streamers, and more balloons behind him. I was so surprised that it took me a second to actually make it to him lol As soon as I started down the isle his brother started playing the guitar and Sean sang "I Wanna Grow Old With You". At some point we both started crying which made it hard for Sean to finish, but he did and after a quick kiss he knelt down and uttered those amazing words 'will you marry me?' I said Yes! and with shaky hands my perfect ring made it to its rightful place on that finger that has forever previous been bare. That was followed by clapping and kissing, hugging and photos! Everything went perfectly!!

After that I worked the rest of the day, but was surprised to be allowed off early by our boss, then Sean and I proceeded to Grimaldi's where a surprise engagement party was held for us! All of our families were there and we had a great time re-telling the engagement and examining my ring! It was such a fun day and boy were we exhausted by its end!

Now that has been almost 3 weeks ago....since then we were finally able to book the Temple...March 13, 2010 11:15am and the reception hall 12 West Main for that evenings festivities! I bought my dress! just waiting for alterations. We've asked our four bridesmaids and four groomsmen. We've ordered wedding bands. We've chosen periwinkle and silver for decoration colors, just trying to figure out a color that matches for bridesmaid dresses. We're almost 100% decided on invitations. We've started looking at apartments and townhomes. and our honeymoon is planned for Jamaica!

Things are progressing quite fantastically!! Wedding planning is definitely more stressful than I would have thought. Making sure my ideas match Sean's, and then getting those across to my parents :/ we're still focusing on us time though and enjoying this time being engaged and not letting the next 146 days...who's counting...be solely about the wedding.

:)

Utah Surprise #2!

This next surprise happened just this last weekend! Michelle and I drove up to Provo, Utah Thursday morning so she could be there for family pictures and her brothers wedding Friday. After I dropped her off I got to spend the evening with Jason and Shandra at their super cute apartment and eating dinner at Red Lobster. Thanks again for dinner McBrides!! :) After dinner we were soaked by rain as we ran to our cars and I was on my way up to Salt Lake to pick up my parents from the airport. After getting them, and not getting lost mind you, we found our hotel in Lehi and got settled for the night. Friday morning we had made plans with my best friend Kristin's parents for breakfast. Little did she know that we would be showing up! She was so surprised! It took her like 5mins to get up just to hug us!! Happiness was achieved :D We enjoyed a very long breakfast before I took a nap back at the hotel and we all got ready for Kristin's graduation from BYU. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Physiology and Developmental Biology with plans to attend PA school next year. She was also chosen as one of four student speakers and did an Amazing job! Of course we took tons of pictures, a few are below, and we ended the day with a big family and friend bbq and even some bff bonding time at Sammy's! I can't wait for her to come visit in a few weeks :)

So basically life has been fantastically busy!! I'm just one week away from starting school for the fall, 3 classes 9 credit hours every Tuesday and Thursday plus working at least 20 hours at Chase! I'm also packing up my apartment and moving back home by the end of August....yikes everything seems to happen all at the same time! And things with Sean and I? are...well...I'm in love with this boy...I can't wait for what the future has in store....:D!

Utah Surprise #1!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - Today is my first day off in a long time that hasn't been spent out of town, at the lake, with family or with Sean that I can remember! I was up randomly last night at 3am and made a good list of things to get done today so I had lunch with the boy at 11am and have been very productive since then. I was just doing my daily internet check and for some reason I read back a few blog posts of my own and realized how much I miss blogging about my life...I know that probably sounds egotistical, but blogging is like a journal to me and so by re-reading my blogs even just a few months back I get to relive and remember. :)

In just the last month, I've pulled off two of my very best surprises, both in Utah in fact and I just realized I haven't told about them. My first was the weekend of July 17. My roommate Michelle and I drove up to Bryce Canyon, Utah on that Friday and then Saturday morning I left there to drive to St. George. I made it just in time for the luncheon of two of my very good friends Jason and Shandra. Now Shandra has a very large family so their luncheon was quite involved and I assumed she knew I would be coming for her most important day. Turns out she did not know I was planning to come and so when I walked toward the front of the cultural hall as she was putting down her plate of food and I told her not to sit down yet, she turned to me and let out the biggest squeal of joy and practically ran to give me a hug! She was so surprised and her elation absolutely made my day and the trip totally worth it! I enjoyed the rest of the luncheon and reception meeting all of her family and getting to know them and we even did some dancing toward the end of the night. But the best part of the trip was being included in the Wheelbarrow Run. You see the groom pushes the bride in a wheelbarrow down St George's Main St. Those who can run or sprint as Jason seemed to do follow them on foot and those that can't drive by honking and shouting! This continues until the getaway car is located! Oh it was so much fun! Here's a few pictures:

Surprise #2 will continue in my next post....<3

New News!

Not only have I been to Hawaii, bought a new car and registered for Fall semester classes this Summer I've also gotten to know this amazing man. The amount in which he cares for me is obvious in the way he treats me not just sometimes, but All the time.

Our story is quite a good one: We met almost 4 months ago and slowly began to hang out more and more. When I thought things were getting too friendly we had the dreaded 'we're just gonna be friends talk' and things remained the same. We even went up to Roosevelt Lake with my parents for the weekend and had a great time as just friends. Well July 16 rolled around and we headed to different states for the weekend. I went to Utah for a wedding and he went to Cali with his family. Saturday, Sunday and even most of Monday went by with no communication, something that had never happened. Before this weekend I could tell that our friendship was reaching a fork in the road. We were either going to date or be friends that didn't spend as much time together. Well after not speaking for just those 3 days I realized I couldn't let us just be friends without giving things a shot so I broke the silence and texted him Monday afternoon. He immediately made dinner plans and I was excited to finally see him. That night, July 20, we finally cuddled for the first time :) Now, 2 weeks later, things are fantastic! We just recently took a trip to Sierra Vista his home town so he could show me around and meet some of his friends and family. And this week we have loads of fun things to do with my birthday party, wedding receptions and dinners for two we are quite the busy pair!

<3

Grown-Up

June 18, 2009 - Mark it down as a significant day in the History book of Ashley Apple, this day will live on for what seems like forever, this day I purchased my very own brand spankin' new car!!! A 2009 dark gray Chevy Malibu is now MINE! I drove it off the lot with a mere 17 miles on it :D I Love it!

Maui, Hawaii

Most of my pictures are still in Hawaii with my parents who got to stay 2 weeks instead of just one, but here are a few of my favs!

The sand is my most favorite thing about Hawaii!


Lindsay and I did it! We Parasailed 800ft!

The sunsets are Amazing! This was taken from our balcony!



This picture is after our Luau...the boy on the left is my favorite!!!

More to come when my parents decide to head back to reality....;)

~Vacation~

Welcome to the one word that brings just about everybody pure joy...Vacation...oh the joy that i'm currently experiencing! I worked a full day on Wednesday and do not work a single day until June 10! The only problem that I found myself facing today is the lack of things to do. Now the only reason I'm having this problem is because I (along with my entire immediate family) are in countdown mode. You see we all fly out this Monday at 1045am for Maui, Hawaii! That day is when Vacation truly begins! But in the mean time I'm stuck in Arizona ''getting ready'' to leave. I have 2 full days left and the only things on the list? Pedicure and packing. The first will take place Saturday afternoon and the second begins Sunday night and ends after getting ready Monday morning. The waiting game is testing my patience! :)

In other news, it seems like I'm dating the entire world already this summer! Really, I'm not but it's a pretty good answer to the all too common question of 'So are you dating anybody?' that finds its way to me quite often. Nobody seems to be sticking around...YET, but I know everything will be fine because I trust the Lord! Oh and I'm already in countdown for next years Easter Pageant!! Hopefully its in my cards once again :)