We were being set up by two of our best friends. Actually, Matt was supposed to join Cristina's birthday celebration but had a last minute baseball tournament. The next weekend, Cristina and Matt met and went on their first date at UNO's followed by a night of dancing (and a chicken giving out Easter eggs) at the Singapore bar in Fitchburg. Head over heels already, Cristina attended Matt's first coaching gig - a high school scrimmage. It was the beginning of April, 40 degrees and raining but it was Matt's head coach who predicted the future and said to him, "You're going to marry that girl, Matty"....and the rest is history.

Let me back up a bit...Our first fancy dinner date (no chicken costumes involved) was at the Gibbet Hill Grill in Groton, MA. Later that summer we went back to explore the hill behind the restaurant which is home to Bancroft's Castle. Fast forward two years and Matt told me that we were meeting some friends for dinner at Gibbet Hill Grill. Now, a 2 hour drive for some steak should have given away the surprise (but it's really good steak and I was just excited to indulge in some garlic mashed potatoes and catch up with friends). Pulling up to the restaurant Matt insisted we go for a walk up to Bancroft's Castle "for old time's sake". It was the at top of the hill that he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife and I couldn't be happier!