We’re getting married!

It’s kind of a long story, so hang with me. We first met in middle school, back when my family (The Laylans) moved to Green Bay. As I started adjusting to this “new life” in this new place, I met some new people that ended up being some of my life-long friends. At that time, one of my best friends, Cheryl, had a twin brother that I saw around the house whenever we had a sleepover or were just hanging out. At the time, I didn’t think too much of her twin brother, Robert, just that he was fun to hang out with, especially when we played outside with a group of the neighborhood kids. One particular activity that Robert and I always did was race each other to see who was the fastest (at that age, it was always me...even though he will deny it to this day). I didn’t have much interest in boys at that point in my life, of course I wanted to be noticed by them, but I was going through a rough patch at this moment in my life. During this time period in middle school when my family moved from La Crosse to Green Bay, it had a huge affect on me and I became very depressed. I dealt heavily with bullying, self-esteem issues, friendships, anxiety, and, quite honestly, a complete shift in my personality over the years. I cried all the time and constantly prayed, begging God to move us back “home”. I continued my journey through middle school, with a few interactions with Robert here-and-there. We mostly just saw each other whenever the “friend group” was at The Neyrinck house for a sleepover. I mean, I didn’t even really consider Robert and I “friends” at this time because we didn’t talk much, we just had encounters because of his sister. But we grew to be friends, very slowly, and I began to enjoy his company, often wanting him to hang out with the “friend group” too. I didn’t know it at the time, but everything happens for a reason.

This was how it went on until high school, when I started hearing that Cheryl’s brother had a “crush” on me. I didn’t really know how to react, part of me thought that it couldn’t be true because he literally never paid any attention to me, but I still was curious and the thought of someone liking me made me feel important and attractive. Our Freshman year of high school went on, and, despite what others were saying, Robert was oblivious to the fact that I knew he liked me. Actually, he would avoid talking to me, which I took as a huge sign that he, in fact, did NOT like me. We had some classes together, including band and health class, which are the two classes I remember the most in terms of our interactions together. The truth, brace yourself for “young Kassie and Bob”: I can honestly say that I would feel so awkward, and I had this overall feeling that I was doing something wrong based on Robert’s LACK of physical interest in me, the lack of any type of “flirtation” or conversation for that matter, and the overall shyness and avoidance toward me. That’s why, after our “Band Awards Night” (yes, nerdy and proud) on May 17th 2010, it took me by surprise when Robert asked me to “go out” and eventually be his girlfriend. Everything happens for a reason. We continued on through high school, with our ups and downs as every couple experiences. We grew with each other, had some bad days, took a few “breaks” along the way, but stuck by each others’ side. High school is hard in general, you’re trying to find yourself, get good grades, and “fit in”. But our relationship survived, from the glaces at each other in class to the awkward (but low-key sweet and innocent) hand-holding in the hallway, we made it. It wasn’t perfect, but we made it through high school together. Everything happens for a reason.

From there, we both attended the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. We continued to learn and grow together, in a healthier way than high school for obvious reasons (a.k.a. drama). He was still my cheesy and awkward guy and he will be the first to admit it because there’s no shame in the way you love and support someone. Robert still held my hand as he walked me to class, gave me a kiss on the forehead or cheek whenever he left me, and always texted me “goodnight” or “good morning” no matter what. But don’t be fooled too quickly, we continued to work hard at our relationship including the studying that came first but “got in the way” of us sometimes, the tired and moody days from the draining classes and work, and the negative mindset from whatever else was going on that pulled and tested our relationship. We saw each other in more of a “true light” now because we weren’t living at home and we spent more time together. Eventually, we started having a more serious talk together about what we wanted, and we were both in each other’s future plans (obviously). And so we continued on, learning and growing TOGETHER. In May of 2018, Robert graduated UWGB with his finance/accounting degree and received a job right away as an accountant. At this point, we were both living at home, with our parents, as I continued as a student and he started his first job. In May of 2019, I graduated from UWGB with education and a minor in theatre-dance and received a job shortly after as a teacher. Even though you personally don’t have the specific details of it, because that would take far too long and everyone goes through these types of points in their life, I’m sure you can imagine how life pushed us and pulled us and tested us through college, and we ended out stronger because of it. I’m proud to say that he is the only other person I’ve been with or dated and vice versa. Like I said, everything happens for a reason.

For Spring Break, we decided to do something special together, something to celebrate all of our accomplishments so far and to have a “little break” to our every day lives apart (remember, we were both living back at home at this point and didn’t see each other as often for this reason). I had been wanting to go to City Museum (where you climb, crawl, slide, and explore this massive art building) for a while (seriously, check it out, it’s so cool) and so we planned a trip to St. Louis, Missouri! We originally planned our trip to start Sunday, March 25th because Spring Break at my school started the next day, but our plans quickly changed when I found out that Michael Bublé (a.k.a. my FAVORITE artist) was going to be performing in St. Louis on Friday, March 23rd! It didn’t take much convincing, seeing as Robert knew I would never forgive him if he didn’t take me to that concert. In the months leading up to our vacation, we also planned to see some destination points and spend some much-needed quality time together. Early in the morning on March 23rd, we drove down to St. Louis. That night, I was SO EXCITED and even cried while I was getting ready for the concert as I thanked Robert for taking me to the concert of my dreams! From our hotel room, we walked (I actually skipped/ran-walked from excitement) to the Enterprise Center, the night couldn’t get any better. I loved every second of the concert, although it seemed short as Michael Bublé left the stage just about 2 hours in. Bob was confused as our tickets said “8:00pm-11:00pm” while I was upset because Michael Bublé hadn’t performed my favorite song, “Everything”. I didn’t know it at the time, but Robert was actually very nervous and began sweating as he had the ring in his pocket. He started to wonder and panic about when he was going to propose if Michael Bublé didn’t come back on the stage, as nothing would measure up after this concert...

Finally, Michael Bublé came back for an encore (but I’m serious when I say “finally” because it actually took him a very long time to come back on the stage, some people seriously left because we all thought that it must be over) to play a few more songs, one of which being my favorite song. We were standing there in the audience and, it sounds so cheesy and “made-up”, but I was looking over at Robert frequently, to sing along with him, but he started to kneel down. I don’t know why, but in this moment my brain immediately thought he was going to tie his shoe for some reason, and so I reached my hand toward him to help him up (his untied shoe could wait) so that we could enjoy our song together. At this moment, he grabbed my hands and said something along the lines of, “I know it’s been a long time coming, but it was worth the wait. All of these years together have been the best years of my life. I love you so much, Sweetie, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you make me the happiest man and marry me?” I wasn’t expecting it. Honestly, it had been a running joke by others that we were never going to get married because we had been together for so long and still weren’t engaged. I immediately started crying and shaking and screaming when I realized what was happening. I will never forget the feeling I had that washed over me, I never thought this day would come. He picked me up as I was crying, hugging me so tight, and he had to ask me again, “Will you marry me?” because I didn’t answer the first time out of complete shock. The kind stranger behind us got it on video and sent it to us (check it out on my facebook page if you haven’t already seen it), even though she didn’t know us, so we have that memory to share and look at for the rest of our lives. After 9 years, I honestly was genuinely surprised and overwhelmed when he FINALLY got down on one knee. I said YES to forever!