In typical Carlos & Monique fashion, they met at the gym. One wearing Dodger blue the other Angel red to commemorate the start of baseball season - you can guess who was wearing what! Carlos shyly struck up a conversation asking who the Angels were playing that day, then immediately shooting himself in the foot by telling Monique that she was incorrect and there was "no way" her team could be playing the Cubs. That was the end of that conversation. Not one to be told she is incorrect, the next day when she saw him at the gym, Monique strolled up to Carlos to ask if he caught the game, and proceeded to inform him that the Angels did indeed play the Cubs. That marked the start of a easy-going friendship and a loving and adventurous relationship a year later.

The plan was to take her back to the spot where we first held hands (Oceanside, CA), and when we were becoming more than just friends. -Side note- In July of 2017, Monique accompanied me and my family to Oceanside to celebrate my nephew’s birthday. On that trip we walked to the end of the jetty where we first held hands-Back to the proposal- The plan: to have family from both sides go to the very same jetty where we first held hands, to greet both Monique and I in a “circular” shape with sunflowers in their hands (her favorite flowers) when I popped the question. -Side Note-Family is very important to both of us, and I wanted to show that both our families were coming together as one.-Back to the story- In order to get Monique to Oceanside without giving away what was really going on, I planned a trip for us to go there for our 3 year anniversary. We arrived to our hotel, went to the beach, got something to eat, and a few hours later began to get ready for dinner while everyone gathered at the jetty. I told her dinner was a surprise, covered her eyes, and headed out. We finally made it to the jetty, and parked our car. We started our long walk to the meeting place where everyone was waiting. My heart was racing, my palms were sweating, and we almost got ran over on our way to the jetty! .... Just kidding. My heart felt like it would burst out of my chest. Finally, we settled in the center of our families, got down on my knee, and asked her to open her eyes. She looked down and tears of joy rolled down her cheeks, and then... I looked into her eyes, told her how she made me feel, how she makes me happy, and how I wouldn’t want anyone else in the world by my side, (I also mentioned how she always beats me at thumb wrestling. True story). Without hesitation she said yes! I got up as quickly as I possibly could, and kissed her! The rest, is how you say, history!