It truly is a boy's dream come true when the cute Camp Texas Counselor wants to spend more time with you...a couple years later and the Counselor and the Camper are engaged. Note from Peyton: No camp rules were broken and we were both juniors!

After a heated debate about whether August or February Birthdays were better, Peyton asked Josh out on a picnic date to celebrate his 21st birthday. We made an HEB Sushi run, grabbed a $3 bottle of Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill Wine, and headed to Longhorn Shores. The only issue was neither of us knew if it was a date...(and Peyton forgot the picnic blanket and basket).

As the world was reopening from COVID, we embarked on an ambitious trip to Manhattan and Boston. Peyton introduced Josh to one of her favorite cities, but didn’t bother taking him to a Broadway show. Josh made sure we explored four college campuses...and made us walk 30,000 steps a day...which destroyed Peyton’s knee (bad form). Fair trade, right?

We’re both two degrees hotter! Signed a lease together. Peyton starts a full time job. Josh finds out he is moving across the country in six months!?!?

A year of delayed flights, full-time jobs, FaceTime calls, online 2-player Catan games, and long discussions over where we would go next. Also a year of meeting lifelong friends, exploring the North East together and separately, self-reflection and growth, and starting annual trips for the girls!

Josh and Peyton emerged from the "dark ages" to meet in the heart of the Midwest: CHICAGO! We bravely moved in the dead of winter during the week of a polar vortex (a decision Josh still defends because of the great deal on the apartment), only to discover our furniture delivery was delayed. For the first week, we slept on the floor of our new, empty apartment, but it quickly grew into a home we've been able to build together. After a few months of exploring the city and making new friends, our family grew by one. We adopted Zuko, who fills our home with joy. Zuko may have graduated school, but he has yet to move out and remains a cherished member of the household. We've had an amazing time starting our adult life together and building our family in the Windy City!

Josh hatched a grand plan for the proposal, which involved what they'd been talking about for weeks: visiting the planetarium on its free day. As the day drew closer, Peyton started to grow suspicious of the underlying meaning of this date night. On the big day, Josh had them take a scenic two-and-a-half-mile walk there (Peyton was in heels), and by the time they arrived, they were both hungry, tired, and grumpy. After a few awkward minutes that felt like hours, he popped the question. She said yes, and they celebrated by finally going inside…for free (this is key). The planetarium felt a little underwhelming, but what wouldn't after getting engaged?