The Proposal

We headed out to Chicago after work on Thursday.  Evan had just come out of an extremely busy week at work and we were both overjoyed to be starting our vacation.  The plan was to drive to my sister and brother-in-laws Thursday night, attend Wizard World on Friday during the day, and then take the train into Chicago for dinner at the Signature Room Friday night.  I was so excited for the trip.

Wizard World was fantastic (another post on that later) we spent the majority of the day there and it was quite an experience!

After the comic book convention we headed back to my sister's and got ready for dinner.  I have to admit, I had a hunch he might propose at dinner, apparently my entire family was suspecting it too.  My sister gave me strict orders to call her and the rest of the family when it happened, assured me that they would all have their phones on etc...  Evan and I were dropped at the train station and headed downtown.

We got to the restaurant a bit early, so we sat in the lounge and had a cocktail (believe it or not, my drink was the martini and Evan's is the tropical thing - it actually is a tequila drink but they made it look a bit fruity).

Then we had an amazing dinner and a fabulous bottle of wine.  The atmosphere was perfect, the food was delectable, the company was outstanding.  It was a fabulous night.

We were having such a great time together, I honestly, completely forgot all about the proposal.

During dessert Evan asked about the Observatory level of the John Hancock building.  He had never been up there and wanted us to check it out.  I agreed and we went to wait in line for the elevators to go down to the lobby, and then we would head back up to the Observatory level.  However, it took us 20-30 minutes to get an elevator down.  Once we were finally on our way down, we asked the woman working the elevator if the Observatory was busy, I think she kind of let out a sigh and assured us it was the busiest she'd seen it in a while.

Evan and I went outside and discussed whether we wanted to brave it with all the people.  I left the final decision up to him, and he decided we should skip it.  We hailed a cab and headed back to the station to catch our train.

Once we got closer to my sister's, I called her to let us know what time to pick us up from the station.  She said "No news for me?"  I said "No." and I think she may have cursed.  I was fine though, we had had an amazing night and I was so happy.  I wasn't even thinking about the fact that he didn't propose.

The next morning I woke up about 6:30am - we had been sleeping on my sister's couch and each morning I had been waking up early with a back ache.  Evan was awake too and he rubbed my back as I woke up. 

Then he began talking - kind of seriously.  I was a little bit crabby from the back ache and it being so early and he was saying all of these wonderful things about our relationship.

Finally I thought to myself, "Why is he talking so weird?" and then he gave me this. 

At 6:30am, before I had brushed my teeth, or gotten the sleep out of my eyes, he asked me to marry him.

I was so completely surprised, and completely touched.  I think I may have exuberantly exclaimed "you need to put it on me!" while shoving the box at him.  It was a great moment.

We celebrated by heading out to Starbucks for a celebratory chai (haha) and then came back and patiently waited for my sister and brother-in-law to wake up.  Once they did they were so excited but I believe my sister did confess that she was pretty ticked off at Evan for not doing it the night before.

Evan managed to not only surprise me, but my entire family.

Yep, this is pretty much how we both looked when we got engaged.

Thank you all for your kind words and congratulations. 
Evan and I cannot believe how loved and supported we are, we're so blessed!

Comments

[Nicole]

I'm so glad for you! Man, I wish somebody'd propose to me (I don't care how haha!). But I guess I'll need a boyfriend for that first. And we'll have to get to know each other, end up being deeply in love, getting into a relationship. Sigh. haha!

[Nicole]

I'm so glad for you! Man, I wish somebody'd propose to me (I don't care how haha!). But I guess I'll need a boyfriend for that first. And we'll have to get to know each other, end up being deeply in love, getting into a relationship. Sigh. haha!

[egan]

Fantastic story Alissa. Congrats on the ring and that it was a surprise. I proposed to my wife in the Chicago suburbs as well. There's something about the Windy City.

You two seem great together. The fact that you could sense something was up in the morning is a great sign to how well you know each other. I very much approve of the chai at Starbucks as celebratory drink. Congrats once again!

[brandon]

congrats! marriage is a big commitment, so i'm sure you've thought of these things but, i'm still curious. are you moving into the same blog? are you thinking about names for any new blogs you create? (there's plenty of blogs out there to be adopted in case you go THAT route). and not to put a damper on this, but make sure you work out a custody arrangement should the courts have to decide who gets to keep the blog in case you decide to move onto other platforms down the road...

[kerri]

i also love that your sister was going to revoke the R if evan didn't propose! haha. god i love your family. please please adopt me!!

[Karl]

Geez, I'm kinda getting something in my eye. Damned dust or something.

Congrats again, both of you. Most triumphant.

[sandra]

I love it. He proposed when you guys were both so...you. Albeit with bed-head. :)

[Paul Davidson]

Wow!! Congratulations!!

[kerri]

ha, for a minute there i totally thought that was an R box that Evan made as well!

[Andra]

What a great story, That "R" for Roath is the cutest engagement gift ever!

[evan]

jdub - haha. that would have been kinda fancy, but can you imagine carrying that big metal R around in your pocket? :)

[jdub]

I was actually wondering if evan made the R for the ring box, or as a pedestal for it or something... ;)

(and I can totally see you two designing your own wedding rings, perhaps with a little Green Lantern emblem on the inside...)

[ms. sizzle]

ok you got me all teary again and i've already heard this great story! it's the sweetest story and you know how i feel about the celebratory chai- too perfect for you alissa. hee hee.

[evan]

oop. too slow...

[evan]

that was out gift from andra and oliver. when she gave it to us, she said, "we bought this for you the other day, but if you weren't going to propose i was going to take it back!"

specifically, it stands for 'roath', alissa's new last name :)

[Alissa]

It is a gift from my sister and brother-in-law, for Evan's last name.

[jdub]

yay! great story. one question: what is the giant R in the lower picture?