Morgan Lee Keyt coerced the two friends that she spent months trying to set up to go on a New Year's Day hike at Mansfield Hollow State Park in Mansfield, CT. Three days later, Daniel and Abby went on their first date to see a movie Morgan recommended... They both hated the movie, but sure liked each other!

Abby graduated from UConn and Dan got to meet the extended family!

Daniel and Abby went on their first trip together to upstate New York where they visited the Women's Rights National Historical Park, Taughannock Falls State Park (pictured), and Watkins Glen State Park.

Daniel set foot in Maine for the first time (EVER!!!) on a his first trip to Acadia and to visit York Camp at Beech Hill Pond.

Their first couple's costume for the Halloween birthday! Carl and Ellie from 'Up' were a big hit, as was the Adventure Book scrapbook.

Anniversary #1 was spent at the place where it all began: Mansfield Hollow State Park!

They survived lockdown and took a trip to Niagara Falls, Letchworth State Park, and Chimney Bluffs State Park.

Another Halloween birthday and the couple's first pumpkin carving, featuring Smokey the Bear.

Anniversary #2 spent at Mansfield Hollow State Park, their "spot."

After a yearlong, COVID-related delay, Daniel actually got to walk for his graduation! They returned to campus to take some graduation photos and recreate the photo for Abby's graduation.

Daniel moved to Pullman, Washington to pursue a graduate degree in Cultural Anthropology at Washington State University. Abby traveled with him to get him all settled in before returning to Connecticut.

When Daniel was back for the holidays, the couple celebrated their third meet-iversary at Mansfield Hollow State Park!

Abby officially moved out to Washington. They made the cross-country drive in about a week and visited a few friends and some parks along the way!

They moved into their first official apartment as a couple at 921 SE Klemgard Street (Apt. D5!) and spent a lot of time in the summer exploring their new surroundings, including one of their favorite viewpoints, Steptoe Butte.

While living out west, they tried to see as much as they could! They visited Glacier National Park, travel to Boise, ID, and did a cross-Washington road trip with Daniel's parents when they visited for his graduation in Spring 2023.

Daniel successfully defended his Master's dissertation and earned his MA in Cultural Anthropology at Washington State University!

The couple officially said goodbye to WSU and the Inland Northwest and began their trek back east!

Again, they visited some new parks and stayed with some friends while they drove back to Connecticut. Well, Abby drove...

...and Daniel slept.

Daniel and Abby set off for a two week vacation in the summer of 2024. They spent one week with the McCloskeys in Washington D.C. before heading off to Ireland for a trip with the Yorks!

On their last day in Ireland, they spent the day in Howth. When they returned to Dublin that evening, they were officially an engaged couple!

Once they returned to Dublin, they visited Cloud Nine Ice Cream, brought their cones across the street to enjoy them by the River Liffey, and Abby proposed to Daniel with his ring in his ice cream cone!