We don’t remember when we first met because we were kids. My best friend from grade school, Kim, lived on a dead end street with other members of her family. Her cousin, Chris, was one of those relatives. So as teens we all hung out together- her friends and his friends. We spent a lot of summer nights having bonfires, watching movies, and driving around with just a few close friends. We were always together and that’s how it stayed!

He took forever to pop the question, as most people know. But he did it on one of my favorite days of the year- the day we put up the Christmas tree! I love Christmas and had always assumed he’d do it on Christmas. It’s a popular day for proposals and he figured I’d expect that. Well I love putting up the Christmas tree. My parents always made it a fun occasion. We’d play Christmas music, play Christmas movies, and have snacks and coke in the little glass bottles. So we’ve continued that tradition. On that day, while opening an ornament, the ring fell out and I was so confused. My brain literally tried to make sense of it and I even thought it was just an ornament that I couldn’t remember (which, looking back, was so stupid of me!). It finally hit me when he got down on one knee and grabbed the ring from me.

As many people know, one of our favorite things to do is stay at the lemp mansion with friends. The first night I ever stayed was actually with my friend, Kim, and my sister, Kelsey, along with Kim’s mom and grandmother. That night was 11/9/2007, 12 years ago from our wedding day. Ever since then, Chris and I have stayed there close to 20 times along with a mix of friends.