Cole and Payton went to high school together, they spent many years as class mates and friends who enjoyed shared interests such as hiking and snowboarding. As the years went on, they reconnected in 2018 and decided to go to a morning movie and noodles and company. Ever since then, they have been inseparable. It is a rare occasion you will catch them without each other.

On this day 08/18/2023, Cole and Payton headed north to spend a weekend away at Tiger Musky Resort, a place where Cole’s Dad (Mark) and Bonus Mom (Kelly) own a “tiny home” with gorgeous views and easy access to various lakes. It is a place Cole and Payton have thoroughly enjoyed each time they visited. When Cole and Payton were 20 minutes away, Kelly called to say that they had rented the boat for the weekend and gave instructions on where Cole and Payton should park so they could “go straight to the boat!” This is the first time Payton had a strange inkling something weird was going on. Upon arrival, Kelly explained it was urgent because she and Mark found a nest of baby eagles and she HAD to show them right away! Once they all got on the boat and ventured out on the water, Cole insisted that he and Payton sit up near the front of the boat, so they could “view the baby eagles together.” This, right here, would be the second time Payton thought to herself “what is happening? Why is he being so weird?” As if Payton needed another confirmation that something strange was happening, as the boat was approaching “the baby nest,” Kelly brought out her binoculars and insisted that Payton use them because "we’re coming up on the nest, its over by that tree" and pointed off into the distance. For what felt like forever (but actually like 2-3 minutes), while Cole tried to maintain consciousness, Payton searched the shore line for what she thought were baby eagles. At long last, Payton came across a sign decorated with 2 baby birds. The sign was propped up on a mound of driftwood and read "Payton, will you marry me?" After Payton recovered from the shock and screams of “What!”, she turned around to see Cole, down on his knee with a ring, said those four amazing words: Will you marry me? Payton, fighting against her own body shaking uncontrollably, excitedly hugged and kissed Cole right away without saying anything. To this day, it’s still unclear what her response was. And that, dear friends and family, is where the hashtag #Shedidntsayno came from!