https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2018-12/tribal_ceded_areas_in_washington_state.pdf

If you are curious about how we met or about our engagement story - here they are!

Alex (Paco) and I met during his Junior year in his undergraduate program at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. It was my Freshman year there and we met in October when Alex joined the Athletic Department's Work study crew. We spent plenty of time together recording Soccer games, chasing down baseballs and dealing with drunken attendees of the football games on campus. As the year went on, I started taking a Spanish class and needed help (BADLY - I still do). So Alex, being fluent in Spanish and also a Spanish major, offered to help me study for class. We spent hours together just chatting and began spending more time outside of working and studying together. Alex gave me homemade baked goods like muffins, cinnamon rolls, and raspberry lemon bars that definitely won me over. Here we are today getting ready for our wedding and I am still eating all of Alex's food...

Every year Alex/Paco and I go on an anniversary trip that he plans as a surprise. So I only know a few days (sometimes weeks) before we go so that I can pack. Paco drove us up to Spicer reservoir and, after countless efforts, was able to find a double kayak to borrow. We kayaked until we found a place where we wanted to camp - about a mile and a half in and then set up camp, relaxed, read books, hiked a bit, and after our hike they decided to build a fire. Alex brought up this being our five year anniversary trip and how we loved being together and Alex began asking about how long I was planning to live (this is an ongoing conversation because I have made it clear that Alex has to live longer because I cannot handle it if he dies first). Alex then said while were sitting by the fire, "Well so we should get married in the next five years in order to have our fifty year wedding anniversary" He pulled the ring out of his pocket and opened the box. I immediately started crying and lovingly tackled him with hugs and kisses and said," If I didn't already say it - Yes!" Alex laughed and then said, "I didn't get to ask yet." I practically yelled, "Ask me! Ask me!" Meanwhile, I'm a sobbing mess. Alex asks, "Olivia, will you marry me?". I tackled him again and said, "Yes! Yes! Yes!". Later Alex shares that he had spoken to some of Olivia's parents prior to the trip and that he had the ring custom made for her in Ireland! The Claddagh symbol being an important symbol to them both representing love, loyalty, and friendship.