Welcome to our story, the beginning of our forever.

Fast forward to our first vacation to Puerto Rico. The kids and Ivan conspired for something epic. Our last day on the island we had planned a ziplining excusion in the El Yunque Rainforest. Now personally I was completely oblivious to what was happening around me, lots of whispers that I didnt think anything about. All I could think of was its not going to happen here. Afterall I’ll have a helmet and harness on, I’d be wearing leather gloves and probably would be sweating like a pig in those rain forest temperatures and humidity. Jokes on me!!!! Of course he’d do it then, he knew I’d never expect it. I’d been taking pictures and videos of everyone taking turns ziplining but like any mom I didn’t have any pictures of me so I asked Ivan to take some on the last zipline. The kids had all went first followed by Ivan who took pictures and videos of me coming down the last zipline. I wasn’t thinking about anything except the excitement of the highest zipline. I survived the final ride and had no idea for what was about to occur. Ivan met me on the platform and we walked up a series of stairs to the top where the kiddos were waiting. Ivan was ahead of me and I paid no attention to the fact that Katherine was video taping with her phone. Ivan walked up ahead of me and as we got the top of the stairs Ivan turned around and dropped to one knee. I’ll see if I can post the video for you to see how surprised I was. I’ll never forget his face or his words as he professed his love for me and asked me to be his wife. Watching the video you can hear all the kids laughing and clapping. I said, “yes”. I had to take my leather gloves off to don the beautiful rose gold and diamond solitaire. He placed it on my hand and stood up so we could embrace and kiss. After that the kids jumped in for congratulatory hugs. It was at that moment we knew we were going to be a blended family of 8. As we walked out of the excursion Ivan picked me flowers straight from the Rainforest.