Zach and I first start chatting on Bumble in Feburary of 2019. It didn't take long to feel a spark...Zach actually typed in full sentences (hard to come by for those who know online dating...lol) After a few weeks of chatting, Zach and I thought let's give this a try in real life. We agreed that a movie would be fun and for some reason chose 'A Star is Born' because neither of us had seen it yet. I was a bit nervous and suggested maybe we'd start with drinks and appetizers at Houligans, because it's a nice restaurant just down the block from the theater. Zach got to the restaurant first and when I got there, he stood up from his seat at the bar, said how nice it was to meet me and kissed me on the cheek! What a gentleman ;) We quickly got to chatting and just could not stop. We realized going to a quiet movie was not going to work for us and agreed to spend more time talking and laughing. We clicked immediately! (Months later when I finally watched 'A Star is Born,' I realized what a smart move we'd made haha) When we kissed, it was like we'd been waiting all our lives for each other. The rest is history...and our future... :)

The first night Zach came over to meet Kennedy was just a few days after we'd brought home our adopted rescue pup, Dante. In a matter of days, K and I went from the only ones in the house to adding two boys to our lives. What could've felt awkward felt more normal and comfortable than we ever could have imagined. It took just minutes for K to show Zach one of her favorite books and then suddenly they started a living room pillow fight. They laughed and clicked just as quickly. We knew in a short amount of time that Zach was the puzzle piece we'd been missing. Months later, when I told K that Zach was my boyfriend, she was thrilled. She even told everyone he was going to be her stepdad someday. She was right. K and I feel extremely lucky to have found a man who's not only strong enough to take care of his girls, but sensitive enough to understand what it means to be an inclusive blended family and how to add to the happiness of a child who gets to have two dads.

Zach and I had talked about getting engaged a few months before it actually happened. We decided to plan a special Christmastime weekend away at the Charmant in La Crosse...the hotel is located right across the street from the incredible Christmas Rotary Lights display. I had a feeling this weekend might be the weekend he decided to ask. I'd told him before that I didn't need anything super special or planned out...that if he decided he just wanted to ask me in our own home or room, just the two of us, that it would be just as beautiful. He ignored that. After dinner at the hotel, we walked to the Rotary Lights. After we'd done one lap, Zach suggested we get in line to take a picture on the main stage, in front of a fireplace. I told him we didn't need to do that, as we'd taken a million photos together there already and didn't really feel like waiting in line in the cold. He insisted...which was very weird! He never has ever cared about taking a photo haha. We finally got up there and had a woman take our photo. She handed his phone back to Zach and Zach handed it to me so I could look at the photo before we got off the stage. I looked at the photo and when I looked back up, he was grabbing my arm and getting down to one knee. In front of dozens and dozens of people waiting their turn to get their photos taken!!! I don't remember much except squeaking and crying and him holding me so I wouldn't fall of the step. I also remember that he didn't even ask anything but, "Well?" and I said "Yes!!!" When we walked off the stage, I saw Zach's sister Kristi and her wife Leigh waiting for us, taking photos and videos of the entire thing! I had no idea they'd been trailing us the whole night, waiting for him to finally pop the question. We went back to the hotel to grab some champagne, but the bar was already closed. Instead we said our 'cheers' that night with two Pepsi's from the vending machine. It was the perfect night! When we told K, she said, "Finally!"