We met in college through our mutual friends, Jake and Jessica - Go Cougs! But as they say, timing is everything! We both knew there was chemistry between us, but with college graduation right around the corner we went our separate ways. Fast forward to July 30th, 2015: Jake and Jessica's wedding. We ran into each other at the bar and the chemistry we both felt in college was instantly back. We were inseparable that evening, talking and catching up, getting to know each other and laughing and dancing through the night. We shared our first official date a week later and our relationship grew from there.

It was a Wednesday, I can’t tell you which one because I didn’t put it on my calendar for fear of Nikki seeing it, and I met Keith for lunch at the Fireside Lounge in Cle Elum. We watched the Mariners win one of their six games this year and had a great lunch. After the pleasantries Keith got down to brass tacks and asked me point blank, “Alright, so what the hell are we doing here?” I was taken aback a little but somehow mustered up the courage to ask him for permission to marry his daughter. To my luck, Keith said he couldn't be happier that Nikki and I found each other and would gladly give me his blessing. After lunch, I had to race back to Issaquah to meet up with Nikki for a night of skiing, but couldn't tell her a thing. Most of you know that I’ve wanted to marry Nikki for a while and had been planning the proposal weekend with my friends, Don and Tracy, for over a year. We planned a ski trip for mid-April at White Pass where Nikki grew up skiing. It was the end of the season, but we couldn’t have gotten any luckier with the weather. It was snowing all day and we had fresh powder on every turn. We had plans to stop by our favorite mid-run yurt for beers and attend a “beach party” to support the local ski patrol (thanks for the tip, Cindy!). On our way to The Yurt, I skied by Don and Tracy and told them it was go time! Once we got there, Nikki learned that The Yurt was closed for the season. Luckily, I planned ahead and brought some extra beers in my backpack. I called the week before and knew the place would be deserted, which was perfect because it was just the four of us. Nikki took some photos of our friends and then asked them to take our photo, she couldn’t have set it up any better. I got down on one knee, ready to recite the speech I’d been practicing, but was only able to blurt out “Nicole Elizabeth Houser, will you marry me?” To which she asked, “For real?!” I responded with a smooth, “For realsies!” and the rest is history!