It wasn't spaghetti and meatballs...but it's still a great story!

July 26th, 2011. Just another normal day at work. Nothing special...nothing notable.

Josh emailed me around 4:30 asking me to text him when I was on my way home. He was working from home that day and thought he might be on a conference call when I got there. He didn't want the dogs to start barking their heads off when I was coming in the door. (I guess it's not professional to have your dogs yapping in the background while you're on a conference call.) :)

We knew we were going to find out about the Tax Trek sometime in mid to late July. And for the past week, every time Josh called, emailed or texted me, my heart would skip a beat thinking that we got it.

So when he emailed me to ask that I tell him when I was coming home, my imagination started running wild!

What if we got it and he's going to surprise me?

What if we got France and he's going to have a mini statue of the Eiffel Tower on the counter?

What if we got Germany and he's got some German beer waiting for me?

What if we got Italy and he's got some spaghetti and meatballs waiting?!

These were my thoughts as I drove home. I texted him when I was a few miles from the house. "I'm almost home!" He answered with a single, "K."

The excitement was building the closer I got to the house. I pulled in the driveway, threw the car in park, grabbed my purse and latop bag, threw open the door to the house...and there he was...

At the desk. Still in his work clothes. With his laptop opened to his work email. Typing away.

Oh...he's actually working...boooooo. :(

I was bummed. He got up (he wasn't on the conference call yet) and kissed me hello like he usually does. I guess I wasn't hiding my disappointment well enough because he asked, "What's wrong?"

"Oh nothing." I said. "I just thought we got the Tax Trek and you were going to surprise me with German beer or spaghetti and meatballs."

As I was saying this, I wasn't looking at Josh. I was busy putting my purse and laptop bag down and kicking off my shoes.

Josh said very slowly and nonchalantly, "We're going to Italy."

My head snapped up and I looked at him with disbelief. And he had the goofiest smile on his face...

"Nu-uh...no we're not..." (He just stood there, smiling.) "Don't tease me like that..." (Still standing and smiling.) "You're kidding, right?" (Still smiling.) "That's a mean joke!" (Still smiling.) I punched him in the arm.


He laughed, "Owe! Holly, I'm serious. We're going. I got it! We're going to Italy!"

And THAT'S when I started to believe him! "REALLY?!?! Oh my god!!!!"

The few minutes after that were filled with me acting ridiculously excited, asking a million questions, and giving Josh a HUGE hug and kiss. It was one of the most excited moments of my life!

Italy, here we come!!!