Mike and Nikki met online, as it is these days. They bonded over the mutual love and respect they had for their grandfathers. Nikki's was a USS Arizona Survivor and champion for Veterans causes. He served during the attack on Pearl Harbor and WWII. Mike's granddad shared his loved of adventure and travel with him and was truly larger than life. They met at The Post Chicken and Beer restaurant for their first date. According to Mike, if it bombed he at least got fried chicken. Thankfully it didn't bomb, and the rest they say is history.

Every year the Baumgarten, Tuley, and Brown clan heads to Table Rock Lake for a week, a place John Tuley (Mike's granddad) spent nearly every summer at for 50+ years. On a Tuesday morning, Mike walked Nikki out to The Point, which is a spot of land jutting out into Table Rock. It was calm and quiet and they did a little fishing, definitely no catching that trip. As they were preparing to leave, Mike dropped to one knee and asked Nikki if she would marry him, with the most gorgeous perfect Swiss Blue Topez ring. Nikki said yes, and Mike handed her the ring. When she asked, why don't you put it on me? Mike responded with, "I don't know what finger it goes on." As they walked back hand in hand, they knew that the first person they would tell is Mike's Granddad, John and Mary Jo. It was a joyous celebration for everyone. That night, Bob Baumgarten (Mike's father) surprised the happy couple with a champagne toast in John's cabin.