The story of how Michael and Alex met will change depending on who you ask.

For the record, Alex’s story is the correct story.

It was a random Friday in the middle of June 2022. Alex and her best friend / roommate Erica had just come home from the gym and were bbqing some delicious chicken. Whenever they bbq’d they would always treat themselves to a crisp glass of wine while they waited for their food to cook.

One of their friends decided to drop by for a visit & to bless them with some of his homebrewed Mead he had made especially for them. He mentioned he was on his way to meet a few of his friends. They asked him where he was going and who he was meeting. He was going to his coworkers, boyfriend’s, brother’s apartment located in Anaheim and then going to dinner at the Anaheim packing house and possibly getting a few drinks at a local brewery afterwards. After a few sips of his mead Erica asked if we could join them. This was not like Erica at all, so of course Alex went along with it.

They finished their chicken, got ready for the night and met them at a brewery called Monkish. As Alex walked into the extremely small brewery little did she know that she was introducing herself to her future husband, brother in law (James) and sister in law (Debbie). Alex was taken by Michael pretty quickly but because of Michael’s shy demeanor she couldn't get a read on whether he liked her or not. That however did not stop her from trying. They spent the rest of the night together hopping from bar to bar throughout Anaheim and bonding over their love of Snakebites. The whole time Alex dropped not so subtle hints until finally while she was in the bathroom Erica smacked some sense into him (Michael) by telling him that it was clear that Alex liked him and he’d be stupid not to do something about it.

That night he walked her home and they became inseparable.

A few weeks into them getting to know each other Alex was getting frustrated that Michael had never asked her on a proper date. Finally, on June 24th 2022 Michael took her on a date to a local restaurant & mini golf after. Alex being Alex dressed nice and wore her favorite pair of heels. Michael being Michael did not share with her that they were going mini golfing. He hustled her and Alex lost her first ever game of mini golf. She knew at that moment she had met her match.

About a month into their relationship Michael mentioned he would be going to San Diego with his brother, James for his 28th year of ComicCon. It was a big tradition for his family but he had one dilemma, his dog Ronin had no babysitter. Alex offered to watch him thinking he would say no because who lets a girl you have only known for a month alone in your apartment. Michael immediately said yes. She responded shocked that he would allow her into his home alone. He responded with “Ronin is chipped so I know you can’t steal him”. Michael cared more about his dog than his apartment. Right then Alex knew her and Michael would be a great fit and he was clearly a person with similar values to hers.

During Alex’s Birthday celebration in 2022, Michael told Alex he loved her for the first time.

In March of 2023 their 7 minute walk from her door to his became zero when they moved into an apartment together.

In July of 2023, Alex, Michael, Michael’s mom, Julie and their dog Ronin took a 9 hour road trip to Reno to visit Michael’s family. Alex got the approval from his family immediately when she mentioned she was a fellow Cowboys football fan.

In October of 2023, their family grew by one. Winston, their brand new fur baby arrived.

Michael and Alex lost many nights of sleep and many pairs of socks due to their newest addition but their family finally felt complete (for now) :)

After months of planning and many spreadsheets later (made by Alex of course) their long awaited, overdue vacation finally arrived in October of 2024.

They spent 4 days in Chicago with her mom Debra and her step dad Ray. They ate at all her favorite restaurants and attended her cousin Seth's wedding. They had a great time and this was the perfect way for Michael to meet a majority of her family.

Michael got the thumbs up from Gramma when he solved a riddle for her in no time at all.

After Chicago, they flew to Disney World where Michael planned to propose. He had been planning this proposal for a year but upon arrival to Florida there was one major roadblock. A Category 5 hurricane was expected to hit Orlando. His plan was to propose on the 18th hole during their planned round of golf. By the end of the round, both were covered head to toe in mud and the proposal was postponed. Day after day the trip was spent in on and off rain and eventually they were put on lockdown at the Polynesian hotel for 36 hours.

Eventually on Saturday, October 12th 2024, their last day on the trip, the weather finally cleared up, Alex finally wasn't drenched in rain and he was able to propose.

Almost immediately after he popped the question, it started to pour down rain and the two of them started laughing. Michael kissed Alex in the rain and said “ Our dads approve and these are their happy tears”.

Alex’s dad, Clinton passed away in 2014 and Michael’s Dad, Danny passed away in 2023. They clearly got their approval. All that they ask is that they don’t cry on their wedding day!