Let's set the scene-- Sean (Lauren's twin brother -- if you didn't know) qualified for the track & field NCAA championship in 2022. The Peterson family was happy to fly out to good ole Eugene, Oregon to support Sean. One of Sean's friends and former teammates, James, also decided to make the trip out to Oregon. Much to Lauren's chagrin, Rosann (mother of the bride) graciously offered to not only pick James up from the airport, but also to crash the family party for the whole week! Much of the initial disappointment about having to drive to the Eugene airport on a Saturday afternoon disappeared when Lauren saw James for the first time and thought, "This is my husband, he just doesn't know it yet." James also thought Lauren was cute, especially noting the colorful bandana that was worn to cover her greasy airport hair from the day before. The rest of the week consisted of plenty of hiking, exploring the city, watching track races, and awkward flirting (which was apparently VERY obvious to everyone else). Several weeks passed, and in the heat of the summer, the heat of romance also heightened. Eventually, Sean begrudgingly allowed James to take Lauren out on their first date to the Independence home days. The first date was truly magical, allowing the couple to experience being together without extraneous Peterson family members in their midst for the first time. The couple shared a wonderful evening, and the rest is history!