On July 28th, about a week before her birthday, Michelle and James found themselves at the same bar. James offered to buy Michelle a drink and, even though she wasn't planning on getting one, she thought he was cute and accepted. That Michelob Ultra led to an invitation to her birthday party the following week (which he would end up bailing on and she won't let him live it down...to this day). He will only admit it now that he thought she was cute, too, but Michelle knew that day there was something about him she wanted to get to know better.

On April 20, 2016, Michelle was focused on making plans for James' birthday. After going back and forth all day, he finally agreed to go out to dinner....but then Michelle had to find someone last minute to watch 3-year-old Colin! Auntie Brenda came through, almost too easily looking back now, and the plan was to head to Daniella's. On the way, James got a call from his friend Chris. Chris was the go-to for all vehicle purchases. Chris started hinting about another Corvette purchase over the car Bluetooth, but James quickly cut him off. After they hung up, Michelle calmly asked for clarification on whether James was ACTUALLY considering buying another Corvette (the previous purchase of a 2-seater after their son was born was still a sore subject), but James quickly brushed it off. When they arrived at Daniella's, Michelle zoned in on the black Corvette parked outside with a giant bow on it! She asked James, "Did you seriously buy yourself a Corvette for your birthday?!" He laughed and encouraged her to at least get out of the car and go look at it with him. While she agreed it was a beautiful car, she could not believe this was happening. Then, out of the adjoining hotel doors walks Chris...and Michelle started to panic that this was real life. Chris tried to calm Michelle down and suggested that they all just go in and enjoy a nice birthday dinner for James and talk about it later. Not wanting to cause an argument or scene, Michelle followed them back through the hotel doors - also odd looking back now vs. going through the restaurant door. After entering the doorway, Michelle quickly realized that just about anyone and everyone she loved was standing in front of her - friends, family, co-workers, even her sister from Washington! Knowing this was a last-minute dinner for James' birthday, all she could say was "I'm so confused!" She turned around and James was on one knee. He said, "I've already had the Corvette. Now all I want is you." Michelle said yes and he put a ring on it. They spent the rest of the night celebrating with their closest friends and family...all of them admitting the bets they were placing on Michelle's reaction to the Corvette outside as they all were watching from the window! It would be one of the great gestures James would pull during their relationship. It was the most confused and happy Michelle had ever been.