For Valentines Day I wanted to let Dave know how much I love him. I decided I would do a post dedicated to us. I must warn you it might be a little boring for those who are not involved, ie Dave and I. So feel free to skip!
When and Where did you meet? Dave and I met in a singles ward in Layton. It was created specifically for the Layton East Stake. Heather Hollow Ward. Dave was serving as the Elders quorum president and assigned himself my home teacher. One time he came to visit me and he was asking me about my plans for the future. I told him that I was only planning on living there temporarily. He was completely devastated. Needless to say I ended up staying in the ward.
Who asked Who on the first date and what did you do?
Dave asked me on the first date. We ate at Corbin’s in Layton.
It was really good food and I discovered Dave and I had a few things in common, we both like asparagus. After dinner Dave told me he had a stake tournament basketball game. So I went to cheer him on. While there I informally met his parents. His dad was kicked out of the game for talking back to the referee, which I later found out he actually said nothing it was Braden Godfrey (Nate’s friend). They were playing against another Layton stake and a crazy guy ripped off his shirt. After the game Dave asked if I still wanted to hang out or call it a night. I really wanted to hang out but didn’t want to seem desperate so I just said I didn’t know. Dave said he would go home and get cleaned dup and then give me a call. He did and he suggested we just call it a night. I was devastated!
When and where was your first kiss?
Dave had spoken several times about how he was an AMAZING kisser. He was probably saying that trying to instill in me the desire to kiss him, when in all actuality it did the opposite. After we had our 1st DTR (define the relationship) talk our conversation went a little like this.
“Now that you are my girlfriend I can kiss you whenever I want”
“NO!” Said in a shriek,
A while later I am not sure of the exact time I informed him it was ok to kiss me whenever he wanted. That night we were talking in my parent’s basement. I was sitting on the floor next to the couch and he was on it. He kissed me.
How long did you date?
We dated for about two months until we got engaged. Then we dated for almost three months before we got married. It went really fast but both Dave and I had dated several people and knew what we were looking for. We both prayed about it and knew it was the right thing to do.
Who said “I love you” first?
Dave wrote “I probably love you” on my back when we were sitting in sacrament one Sunday. I really didn’t know what that was supposed to mean, so I asked him. He just shrugged his shoulders with a smile. That is such a strong memory that I really don’t remember when he actually said it verbally for the first time.
How did he propose?
It is actually a long story it was a long but wonderful evening. Dave picked me up at my parent’s house with some roses for me.
Then we went out to the car and on the floor was a box. I just kind of nudged it aside with my foot so I could get in. Dave got in and asked me what was in the box. I looked inside and there was two baby ducks!
There needs to be a little explanation for these, I had a couple baby ducks before that had been killed by our neighbors cats. I love little ducks and was sad when they were destroyed and always wanted to new ones. We took them back inside and then headed to Salt Lake. We went bowling at Fat Cats.
Dave said that if I beat him then I would get a present. I beat him, like I always do, and the present was pink batting gloves. We played on a family softball team with the Grondels. After bowling we went to eat at Ruth’s Chris it was scrumptious
They asked us if we wanted some bottled water. We said yes and we ended up drinking three bottles. Our bill came and they charged us like ten dollars a bottle! After dinner we went back to the car and on my seat was a teddy bear dressed in a nursing outfit. (I was going to start nursing school in the fall) and a card. I read the card and Dave asked me to look in the heart the bear was holding. A ring was in the pouch. I said “O this is different” Dave started laughing his head off. He told me it was not an engagement ring but rather a CTR.
In my defense it was in a dark parking garage and he had planned all this stuff and we went to a really nice dinner so I was assuming it was coming. After dinner we went to Temple Square. Dave wanted to go up to the Christus statue but it was closing soon. They let us up anyway.
We sat on the bench and talked for a little while; he shared some of his patriarchal blessing with me, then got up to leave. As we were walking out Dave put his hands on my shoulders and I turned around and he got on his knees and asked me to marry him.
THE LOOT!
When did you get married?
We got married July 20th 2007 in the Logan LDS temple.
We had a reception the next day, July 21st 2007 at the Victorian reception Center.
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
We drove to Lake Tahoe.
We borrowed Dave’s parent’s truck and drove to the lake.
The last Harry Potter book was released the day we had our reception so we read it while driving across the states.
While there we went water parasailing, it was amazing the water was so clear and blue, it was gorgeous.
We also went on what they call a mini cruise. We listened to a time share spill and so we got to go on this mini cruise at no cost to us (we were a poor just married couple). It was on a Mark Twain style boat with huge propellers in the back, it was pretty sweet.
They served dinner which was not so great it had potential of being wonderful but it tasted like it came from a box. It was steak and seafood. Entertainment and drinks were provided for the remainder of the trip. It was only a few hours long and Dave got sea sick and felt like vomiting most of the time, luckily he didn’t and he felt better after we got off the boat. It was an adventure to say the least. We just spent the rest of our honeymoon touring the town and shopping. It was very relaxing and enjoyable. Unfortunately we had to come home and get back to work and school. The night we drove back we had family softball game.
How long have you been married?
We have been married
years and months
YEARS &
MONTHS!!!!
What is your favorite feature about Dave?
One feature that I absolutely LOVE about Dave is his smile. He has the friendliest, cutest smile. I learned later that he had practiced and practiced that smile in the mirror until it was perfect. Let me just say he got it right on!!!
This is what he was going for
(I also like his lips which I think contribute to his smile; they are always perfect when they connect with mine!)
What is your favorite quality of Dave’s?
Dave is very caring, I know some of you may start laughing at this point but he really is. He is always willing to help people in their time of need. He is very thoughtful and aware of things people are going through.
He is extremely loyal his family means everything to him. He is willing to give and do anything to help them out.
He has a strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and is very knowledgeable. He always has answers to my questions or at least knows a place where we can look it up and search the answer together.
He is a great father. Even though Dave doesn’t always realize it McKay is watching every move he makes. He copies EVERYTHING that Dave does! I love watching Dave when he is playing with McKay; they are like two peas in a pod.
Dave is very stylish, again this may sound a little weird but every time he picks an outfit for me I get a million compliments on it.
The thing I like the most about Dave is that he likes to hold my hand and cuddle with me when we watch a movie.
What is his favorite sport?
Dave enjoys sports in general. I think his most favorite is basketball.
He does enjoy football, soccer, softball/baseball and tennis as well. He is not a big fan of wrestling but he has a great respect for those that do it and doesn’t mind watching. In high school he played Tennis, threw the javelin and played football for a short while.
What is your favorite thing to do together?
We just like going for drives together, we can look at the pretty scenery, talk and sometimes just listening to music is enjoyable. We also like to go to movies, bowling and sporting events. I think the thing we enjoy to do the most together is play board and card games, we are constantly getting new ones to try.
Where is his favorite vacation spot?
This is a hard question to answer because Dave’s favorite things are always changing. He loves to try new things and discover the world. I don’t think he has discovered his favorite vacation spot yet. He wants to travel all over the world and discover new cultures and experience new things.
We recently traveled to Mexico and I know he enjoyed that.
He also loves to go camping and we get the opportunity to do that every summer.
Do you have any nick names for him?
I call him Davey that is pretty much it, O and the occasional babe.
Do you have any children?
Yes one crazy, sweet, loveable, curious, on-the-go, funny, adorable, talkative, active, 18 month old. McKay David Grondel.
How many kids does he want?
Dave comes from a big family and he loved it. They have six kids in his family and he wants about that many. The only problem is he wanted them all within a year and half of each other, I guess we missed that dead line
How old is he?
Pretty Soon he will be an old man!
What does he do for a living?
This is also a hard question because I am not really sure. He works at a marketing company called Progrexion Marketing, which is backed by Lexington Law.
The point of the place is to fix peoples credit. So Dave calls people and tries to get them to pay the lawyers money to fix their credit. I THINK. Which makes him a telemarketer, I guess?
He is also going to Weber State, with a hope to major in communications. I say hope because when he started he intended on getting a degree in business and someday owning a group of companies with his brothers.
He also sometimes does rock chip repair.
What do you admire the most about him?
I admire his capacity for knowledge and his desire to discover!
I love you Dave!!!
It was really good food and I discovered Dave and I had a few things in common, we both like asparagus. After dinner Dave told me he had a stake tournament basketball game. So I went to cheer him on. While there I informally met his parents. His dad was kicked out of the game for talking back to the referee, which I later found out he actually said nothing it was Braden Godfrey (Nate’s friend). They were playing against another Layton stake and a crazy guy ripped off his shirt. After the game Dave asked if I still wanted to hang out or call it a night. I really wanted to hang out but didn’t want to seem desperate so I just said I didn’t know. Dave said he would go home and get cleaned dup and then give me a call. He did and he suggested we just call it a night. I was devastated! 
We sat on the bench and talked for a little while; he shared some of his patriarchal blessing with me, then got up to leave. As we were walking out Dave put his hands on my shoulders and I turned around and he got on his knees and asked me to marry him. 
THE LOOT!
The last Harry Potter book was released the day we had our reception so we read it while driving across the states. 
