It all started when Heather & Courtney were talking about how great Russell was while we were all drinking the day after the infamous Keiter Christmas Party. I drunkenly added Russell on Instagram and within seconds we were "friends." Not more than two days later, my office had a cookie exchange that I posted on my Insta stories and Russell slid right into the DM's. ;) After messaging non stop back and forth and then bringing Russell cookies to the Nordstrom sales floor, he tagged along on a night out at Ozzie's Bar, that same week, with, my friends, Jocelyn & Ben (this unknowingly, at the time, became our first date). We were inseparable ever since!

Months before the proposal, unbeknownst to me, Russell had been planning it and designing the ring with Nancy, Ken, and Amber. We had discussed our future together and knew we wanted to spend forever together. We wanted to marry each other but I had no idea of when or how the proposal would come. A close friends and family trip to Hawaii, I thought to myself that it could happen. The morning of June 12th we all sat together for brunch, something new that we hadn’t done before. The view overlooked the sunrise and, of course, the 18th green of the most gorgeous golf course. Drinks, mostly mimosas, were served around the table. Russell stood up to make a beautiful toast, I spotted something in his pocket but it wasn’t a box. Halfway through, Chris Lane’s “Big Big Plans” began to play and I instantly knew this was the moment, it wasn’t a toast. Russell knelt down on one knee, reached into his pocket and pulled out a sea shell with the stunning ring inside. He asked me to spend forever with him and the kids and I, of course, said YES and the celebrating continued all week!