Braden's take on the proposal

This is Braden blogging here. I figured I'd better give how I saw the proposal, too. :) I woke up Christmas morning to my 2 younger brothers waking me up with "SANTA CAME!". I managed to drag my butt out of bed and go open all our presents while I was still half asleep. The second the clock hit 8:30 am, though, my body jumped into overdrive and I was as fervous (nervous...) as someone can be and still manage to function!

I don't think I've ever showered that fast, nor packed things into the car like I did without breaking something, but everything went smoothly until the drive to Britt's house. THAT was a nightmare.

Imagine this with me...Christmas morning. Driving. There is NOBODY out on the road. I think I saw maybe 20 other cars driving around. So I think to myself as I pull out of the driveway "This'll be cake." No. EVERY SINGLE light on the way to her house was red. Every one! What the heck?? I can honestly say that was the most stressful drive of my life.

I finally get to Britt's house and go inside to give presents to her younger brother and sister. I'm shaking the whole time and am barely managing to talk without smiling like an idiot. We get the present for my parents (we had gotten pictures of me and my siblings taken) and head out the door to deliver them. On the way to my house, however, I took the "scenic route" and headed to our spot on Wasatch. We pulled up to the first street and Britt said "Our spot!" with a smile. I said "Yeah, I've gotta give you day number one!" :). So we pull up and I put on a song for her and say "Listen to this song once, then come outside". (I think she knew at this point what was going on...but I dunno. Ask her. :) ) So I get out of the car and step into a torrent of snow and wind. Not good. I was planning on having her open the present in the trunk of my car and then proposing, but that won't work with the wind. So I improvised. I set up the tiny tree with a hideous ornament on it and the huge present that took her sister and I 45 minutes to wrap in the back seat. I tell her I had to improvise and she can come open it now, even though the song wasn't over.

Britt and I get out and stand in the freezing and snow and wind and wet for about 30 seconds when Britt says "Let's go inside!" so we hunkered down in the back seat. Britt opened her present and my hand reached into my pocket where the box that held her engagement ring was. I felt my hand shaking through the jacket and pants...I was so fervous!! :)

Britt opened up her present and I watched her face fall as she looked at the ring pop. She looked at me and said "Brade, that's not a shiny engagement ring" "I know" I said, and opened the door, knelt down on one knee in the snow and asked "Brittany Prince, will you marry me?" as I opened the box and showed her the ring. "YES!" Was all I heard as she took the box and put the ring on her finger.