It all started in Michelle's classroom, a few weeks before the first day of school at Karen Acres Elementary in Urbandale, IA. Michelle remembers Mitch being there, but for Mitch, that early encounter is a sweet mystery lost to time. According to Mitch, they met "online," for he best remembers Michelle's voice, beauty, kindness, and intellect (and boss-bitch energy) on Zoom during "New to the District" information sessions. Regardless of when and where they first met, what followed was a genuine friendship, built on laughter during group happy hours and deeper conversations over solo dinners. Then came a series of snow days that produced a cozy twist of fate. Here was Michelle's plan: Invite Mitch over to her apartment to watch movies. He was a gentleman and didn't make any moves, much to her dismay. However, another surprise snow day prompted Mitch to invite himself back over in order to continue their binge-watching spree, turning back-to-back snow days into two days of cinematic bliss. Nothing screams romance like a horror/thriller series. Michelle and Mitch had their truly Hallmark moment late one evening while at a friend's home, the Pawlowski's. How it exactly started is lost to memory, but a cozy night of snacks, drinks, and critiquing the school board meeting quickly erupted into a playful snowball fight outside with the kids. Naturally, it was boys versus girls, and it wasn't looking good for the guys . . . In one desperate move to secure victory, Mitch charged the frontline under heavy snowball fire and tackled Michelle to the ground, nearly resulting in her getting a concussion! Everyone (yes, even Todd and Kristin peeking through the windows) smirked as they saw their laughter and affection for each other grow. The turning point for them came when Mitch, with a charming lack of awareness, asked Michelle on what he declared to be a "hot date." What exactly constitutes a hot date, you may be asking? For Mitch, nothing was better than sledding before finger food and wine back at his place. When Michelle arrived at his house, not even the surprise development of his friends, Isaac and Meredith, joining in could derail the fun. Fortunately, they made happier (and less concussion-inducing) memories in the snow. Later that very night, Mitch made the first move with a kiss, igniting the spark of their adventurous relationship. Their love story continued to unfold even as miles separated them when Mitch was accepted into a graduate program at CU-Boulder. That memorable Shakespeare phrase in Romeo and Juliet, "parting is such sweet sorrow," never felt more true for them, for they made many plans and spent several hours in airplane seats in order to see each other. Eventually, the pull of their connection brought them both to California as Mitch continued to pursue his aspiration for an advanced degree in literature: a difficult decision and move that made Mitch love Michelle even more than he could have possibly known. Over four wonderful years, their bond deepened through countless shared moments: sun-drenched picnics on the beach, exploring local craft breweries, spirited games of Sequence, cozy mornings in coffee shops, delicious (Mitch-cooked) vegetarian meals, creative craft nights, and cherished trips to visit loved ones. On a beautiful day in May, amidst the breathtaking scenery of Yosemite (or was it Yellowstone?) National Park, our happy couple took a long and winding hike up to a stunning waterfall. First off, it was a "Mitch Plan," so the details were already vague. They were both surprised by steep and slippery steps, a sheer drop-off, and drenching downpour; it was a trip that Michelle was not sure she was going to survive. Luckily, they did. At the top, next to a still emerald pool, Mitch got down on one knee. Without hesitation, Michelle said: "of course!" And now, the next chapter of their story is about to begin. We are overjoyed to celebrate our love with all of you in June!