We're Getting Married!

In many ways, we feel that the story of how we met is especially unique and what makes our relationship special. We met on a blogging/social networking site called Tumblr around 2013 when we were both sophomores in college, on opposite coasts on the county (Amanda was at the University of Connecticut, and Kyle was at Cal State Fullerton). Amanda created an account her freshman year after her new roommate said Tumblr "is a great way to waste time". Within the span of a year or two, we independently decided to follow each other over our mutual interest in the Baltimore Ravens (NFL). Amanda commented on one of Kyle's posts about an especially exciting game. We began messaging each other back and forth and realized we enjoyed talking to one another. Eventually messaging became Skype (pre-Facetime) calls, and then text messaging. Many, many text messages. After about 9 months of talking, we realized there was probably something more. Getting over mountains of young adult anxiety, worrying about what friends and family might think about our "internet relationship", we finally decided to make it official. About 5 to 6 years of a long-distance relationship followed with many coast-to-coast flights. Amanda moved from her DC home to LA to start graduate school at the University of Southern California and we finally were in the same area (for the most part). At the end of that year, Kyle accepted his job in San Jose, and once Amanda graduated, she moved up north to start working at Stanford University. 8 years later, we are so excited to start this next chapter of our adventure, and we can't wait to share it with you!

The proposal was a long drawn out process, longer than Amanda would have liked, but Kyle eventually got around to it after saving up for a few years to buy a nice ring. After several requests and photos of rings, Kyle waited until she left San Jose to help her parents move back to the Bay Area post-retirement before finding and purchasing a ring. Surprisingly, it was a well kept secret for a few months as Kyle had to navigate the finale of the Sharks pandemic season before taking a well-deserved 'vacation' to Napa - it was really all a ploy to propose to Amanda. On June 10, 2021, the day we arrived for the first time in Napa on our first actual vacation together, Kyle proposed in Veterans Memorial Park in downtown next to the Napa River. He couldn't fit the box in his pocket (or wear a jacket in 85+ degree weather) so he stashed the ring in some bubble wrap and held it in his pocket until the time was right. On first glance, Amanda thought it was another 'fake' proposal and though the bubble wrap was just another piece of trash before she realized what was actually inside it. She quickly said yes and Kyle thankfully didn't have to taste wine alone the next few days.

Amanda was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in Bethesda, MD, a suburb of DC. She is an only child. Growing up, she was always active in sports, first starting with soccer and basketball, and then joined the rowing team in high school. All of Amanda's extended family live in Northern California, so summers were often spent visiting relatives in California or taking road trips to Maine. After graduating from high school, Amanda moved to Connecticut to study at the University of Connecticut (Go Huskies!) where she achieved a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science and Dietetics. While studying, she rowed for UConn's D1 Women's Rowing team. She has always been passionate about nutrition as well as the desire to help people lead healthier, better lives. After a few years working in community nutrition, she earned her Master in Public Health from the University of Southern California (Fight on!). Since graduate school, Amanda has continued to work in the public health field. She works in Environmental Health & Safety at Stanford University and has felt challenged and rewarded by her job. She has left rowing behind, and now enjoys running or working out, watching reality TV, and just hanging out with friends. She also enjoys spending time with Kyle's cat Annie, or her two other cats Pinot and Stanley, who live with her parents.

Kyle was born in Orange, CA and grew up as the middle child with two brothers, Brian and Chad. He went to St. Norbert's Catholic elementary school before moving to Cerro Villa Middle School followed by Villa Park High school where his dad went. After graduating from VPHS, he attended Cal State Fullerton, majoring in Communications Broadcast Journalism, graduating with a four-year degree in 2015. Kyle is an avid sports fan across the board, and found a passion that he pursued endlessly for several years, trying to make a name in the world of hockey. He got his start as an intern in the 2014-15 season with the Bakersfield Condors, driving three hours nearly every weekend to Bakersfield at five-o'clock in the morning only to work the next 15-17 hours setting up a building for an ECHL hockey game. Thankfully, family friends in the area were gracious enough to let him stay with them at their house rather than sleep in the nearby hotel, his car in the parking lot or worse, drive home only to return the next day. He worked with the Condors for one season until the internship expired and found a second internship the following season, this time with the Rockford IceHogs. He moved out to live in the midwest in Rockford, IL for another season figuring out what it was like to live on his own, but also work full-time for a professional club. Again, it lasted one season before moving back and working for the Los Angeles Kings part-time. In 2018, he landed his fourth internship, this time with the hometown Anaheim Ducks. After his fourth (and final) season as an intern, Kyle was hired by the SJ Sharks and has been with the team for four seasons and counting. Kyle loves the outdoors and enjoys taking excruciating hikes when he can in the offseason, watching Formula 1 and playing video games. Kyle is also a cat dad to Annie, who he adopted in 2014.