Chase and Sydney met at Moonshine & Ale (a popular piano bar) in downtown New Braunfels, TX on Sydney's 26th Birthday. Sydney was celebrating with friends when Jace (Sydney's best friend Heather's husband) and his buddy Chase, who had just graduated from Texas A&M University and moved to New Braunfels, walked in. Sydney, with a little bit of liquid courage, marched right up to Chase and introduced herself. After a few group hangouts and running into each other on the weekends in downtown New Braunfels, Sydney knew Chase was a catch. So much in fact, she tried to set him up with one her good friends. The more Sydney talked Chase up to her friend (who was already involved with someone and uninterested in what Sydney had to say lol), the more she discovered she actually wanted to keep him for herself.

Chase and Sydney started casually snapchatting/messaging each other. These short conversations started as 1-2 times per week to everyday, all day. On July 4 2018, Chase and Sydney were snap messaging about Sydney wanting to find some Fourth of July fireworks to watch that night. Chase decided to shoot his shot and asked Sydney for her phone number so they could make plans to do just that, find some fireworks to watch. Chase invited Sydney over to his house so they could jump in his truck and start the firework search. After an unsuccessful hour or so, Sydney and Chase ended up at Sydney's parents house where Sydney knew they would see some. Sydney and Chase sat on the top deck of the boathouse, cracked open a beer, and talked for a few hours while enjoying the fireworks from all over the city.

The chemistry between Chase and Sydney was undeniable. Chase admired Sydney's quick wit, charming personality, sense of humor, and was impressed with her level of independence. Sydney was drawn to Chase because he always made her laugh, could match her smartass flirting (this was a MUST for Sydney), reminded her to not take life so seriously, and obviously she thought he was super good looking. :) Chase and Sydney spent a lot of time together at Chase's house in New Braunfels until he was offered a new job that would sadly relocate him back to where he grew up in Calallen, TX. Sydney did her best to talk him out of it (he was also offered another lower paying job that would keep him in New Braunfels) but Chase being the logical and rational minded guy he is, ultimately ended up taking the position and moved back home. Chase and Sydney kept in touch here and there and Sydney would go visit every so often but that was about it until February 3rd (the day before Sydney's birthday). Chase and Sydney hadn't spoken in a couple months until out of the blue Chase texted Sydney stating (not asking lol) that he would be taking her to dinner that night in New Braunfels. Sydney was like "yeah ok I'll believe it when I see it" and sure enough Chase showed up to her apartment just in time for dinner and to continue his tradition of wishing her a happy birthday at midnight but this time was even more special since it was in person. After that spontaneous dinner date, Chase and Sydney were talking everyday and Chase came to New Braunfels again the following weekend for Valentines Day. At this point, Sydney was in love and knew that Chase was the one. Chase apparently felt the same way because on March 26, 2020, Chase officially asked Sydney to be his girlfriend. Then the COVID shut down happened.....

COVID took over and completely changed the way we had all been living. Since Sydney had started teaching virtually, Chase and Sydney decided that Sydney could do that from anywhere, including Calallen, TX. Sydney unofficially moved down to Calallen and had the unique (but awesome) experience of living at Chase's parents house while Chase was in the process of looking for a house. Fast forward 5 months, it was time for the next school year and Sydney had to go back to New Braunfels for school. For the entire fall semester Sydney drove back to Calallen on Friday afternoons and back to work on Monday mornings, every single weekend. In January of 2021, Sydney made the courageous (and terrifying) decision to officially move to Calallen, move into a house with Chase, and teach 4th grade Math alongside Chase's mom, Sandra, for the next year and a half until Sandra decided to retire from her 32 years of teaching.

Over the next couple years Chase and Sydney learned how to live with another person (that was fun lol), Chase started two companies while still keeping his day job, Sydney got her dream job of being an instructional coach in Rockport, TX, took up golf and EXTREMELY competitive nightly rounds of playing Darts (Sydney is the MVP), created at least 10 new nicknames for our children (dogs) and learned how to do life together as a family of 4.

In October of 2023 Chase had been shopping around for a new watch and one day asked Sydney if she wanted to go to the store he had been shopping it with him. Sydney reluctantly said yes (watches weren't an area of interest for her) and tagged along. They looked at watches for a little bit, Chase had Sydney try on a couple and all she was thinking was " I don't want a freaking watch with diamonds on it, I just want ONE diamond" lol. Chase must have been reading her mind because next thing you know, Chase had made his way over to the engagement rings. Sydney blacked out and doesn't even know how they ended up on that side of the store because she was so in shock. Sydney tried on rings, Chase took pictures, and they left. About a month later, they were back at the same store trying on rings again, but this time Chase purchased a watch which meant that Sydney would have to wait even longer for Chase to save up for a ring.... she was not happy. (obviously) On Christmas Eve when Chase and Sydney were on their way to Chase's parents house, Sydney saw a ring shaped box in Chase's center console wrapped in wrapping paper She knew it couldn't be a ring just out in the open like that and it was confirmed when Chase asked her to open it in the truck, on the way to his parents house. He told her he wouldn't be able to afford a ring for at least another year, Sydney understood (even though she didn't like it) and just said okay.

New Years Eve was coming up and Chase was itching to go to a party (which was weird to Sydney) but she reached out to Sandra (Chase's mom) asking if we could have a get together at her house. Little did Sydney know, she was actually helping plan her own engagement party. Chase was very adamant about Sydney inviting her parents to the party (which should have been a MAJOR give away). She invited them assuming they would already have plans but, the day before New Years Eve Sydney's parents said "it would be a good opportunity to get to know Chase's parents better so they were going to make the trip. Chase's sister, Kiersten, was in town since Christmas and asked Sydney if she wanted to go get her nails done (another give away that went right over Sydney's head) but, Sydney already had fresh nails so despite Kiersten's persistence, politely declined. On the way to Chase's parents house Chase brought up proposing and emphasized to Sydney that it would not happen tonight but "maybe in 2024." Sydney had not even considered it would happen that night and requested that Chase propose in the Spring so she would have time to plan the wedding. (lol) Chase and Sydney spent the night hanging with friends and family, setting off fireworks, the usual. It was about to be midnight and, as Sydney had done for the last few years, had to hunt Chase down to make sure she got to give him a big smooch at midnight. The clock turned midnight, Sydney grabbed Chase for a kiss and then looked back to tell her friends Happy New Year and when she turned back towards Chase he was down on one knee holding up the most beautiful ring. Before Chase could say anything, Sydney (in complete and total shock) proceeded to say "What are you doing?" (lol) and then tackled Chase to the ground for who knows how long because for Sydney, time had stopped and it was just the two of them. It was the most perfect and special moment. Who would have thought that a few flirty snapchats would have led to this moment 6 years later, definitely not us! We are FINALLY getting married!!!!