Laurel was along for Soda's weekend excursion in the mountains to vet her new boyfriend, Luke. Aaron was tagging along to follow Luke and Soda's wheels down the extreme slopes of Mammoth Mountain's bike park. Neither knew that they would be roommates for the weekend.

Laurel likes to be surprised, so Aaron made big plans for New Year's Eve and simply told her, "We are going away for a few days over NYE." When Laurel asked what she needed to pack, Aaron responded, "Skis, boots, winter hiking clothes, wool socks, swim suit, flip flops, shorts, tank top, sunglasses, sun screen, and your pass port." You know, to keep her guessing. Aaron woke her up at 3am, put her in the car and promptly hit the road east. Laurel woke up and found that they were on their way into Yosemite Valley. But when Aaron turned away from the Valley's camp sites, she was confused. Aaron turned left on Glacier Point Road and parked at the snow covered ski slopes of Badger Pass. She had no idea there was skiing in Yosemite and she had no idea what was about to happen next. After a day of skiing, they spent the night back in the Valley at Curry Village. Aaron and Laurel got up with the sun the next day and started a hike up Yosemite Falls. Once above the Lower Falls, Aaron led Laurel down a "secret" trail that required a little scrambling to get to an overlook, equally breath-taking as it is terrifying. If you don't already know, Aaron has an overwhelming fear of heights, which was a convenient cover for how much Aaron was shaking at this point. He, not so gracefully, pulled Laurel close and began to say the words he had so carefully scripted. Laurel, expecting to hear yet another gratuitous compliment, did not really hear what Aaron was saying until he dropped to one knee and said, "Will you marry me?" Laurel responded lovingly, "You...xxx!!!" Not exactly what Aaron was hoping to hear, so they sat down. Aaron explained how he had fallen so deeply in love with her and why they should commit the rest of their lives to each other. Rational and measured Laurel, who had inexplicably fallen in love with this unpredictable yet devastatingly handsome man, was persuaded by his explanation and graciously accepted his proposal.