In a 300 seat lecture hall, Caleb decided to sit right in front of Kelly during Thermal Analysis Fall Semester of 2018 (because who said homework problem after homework problem about heat exchangers and cars wouldn't be the start of a budding romance?). In typical, slightly introverted engineer fashion, we both proceeded to ignore each other for the next two months since we were both sitting next to good friends of ours. Flash forward to mid-October. Kelly decided to join some friends at the bar after Chi Omega's semi-formal. Keep in mind Rolla only had two bars at this point and the 50/50 odds were in Caleb and Kelly's favor that they just so happened to end up at the same bar where Caleb was celebrating his friend's birthday. Used to only seeing boys who circulated the same five Pat's sweatshirts, there was something about Caleb that caught Kelly's eye that night. The first words Kelly ever spoke to Caleb were "I like your scarf." And the rest is history. Our first official date was when Caleb took Kelly & Ollie (our sweet, somewhat spastic pup) to his favorite sunset spot to hammock and share a bottle of St. James wine that we bought at Phillips 66 gas station on the way. Less than a month into "officially" dating, Kelly is spending her winter break skiing with friends in Michigan when Caleb calls to tell her that he is transferring to a college in St. Louis, but "wants to give this relationship a shot". Summer of 2019, Kelly was in St. Louis for her summer internship and there was not a single weekend that Caleb didn't happily act as tour guide in his own city. From all the free seats for shows at the Muny to endless picnic dates with 50 cent Jack in the Box tacos to rooftop celebrations when the Blues won the Stanley Cup, that was a summer together that we will never forget. In February 2020, Kelly & Caleb signed their first apartment lease together. And then Covid happened. While it was difficult to transition from our life of "go go go", the pandemic really brought us closer together. Homecooked Sunday brunches became a staple (besides vacation, I don't think we've missed a Sunday yet!). Trips to Caleb's family's lake property became a routine. And thank goodness for grandparents with backyard swimming pools because we got to spend time with loved ones while still socially distanced! Kelly enjoys sharing her love of travel with Caleb: Memphis, Seattle, the Black Hills, Michigan, Ireland... the list goes on and on. But the most special place we have gone together is Panama City Beach, Florida. That is where Caleb (finally!) popped the question on December 26th, 2021 with Kelly's great-grandma's ring. The engagement celebration was short-lived because the week Kelly & Caleb came back from Florida, they began looking for their first house together. While the housing market is crazy, the odds were in our favor and we bought a home where we can't wait to grow together. We are so happy to share a little bit of our love story and look forward to celebrating our wedding with you all on March 18, 2023!