Finally!

Most people don’t know this but we met online (long before Tinder when you weren’t supposed to meet strangers from the Internet). We had our first date in Laguna Beach on July 4, 2008 where we watched fireworks together and spent hours laughing on a park bench.

We arrived at the Grand Californian Hotel in Anaheim to visit Santa for a photo as we had each year in the past. Our friends Lauren and Chance joined us that night for photos and planned to have drinks afterwards. When it was our turn I sat with Santa and chatted while Cody set down his jacket. When I looked up at Cody he was holding something-an ornament. On the ornament it said, “Marry me?” and as I read it I looked up to see Cody on one knee holding a ring box. Unlike any other girl who would have started crying or shouting, I began repeating the words “shut up” over and over in utter disbelief until Santa told me to stop-I had waited for this moment almost ten years! After hearing him use my full name and saying those magical words, “Will you marry me?” I, of course, said ‘yes’ and the entire hotel applauded. Little did I know Lauren and Chance had gotten it all on camera and had been in on the plan all along!