We met on the Oregon Coast while crossing paths during work at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. For our first date, we agreed to meet at Nana's, the local Irish pub. Anthom arrived first and sat inside. Alyssa arrived shortly after and sat outside. Our waiters continued to check on us, while we continued to insist we were waiting on someone and silently wondered to ourselves if we were getting stood up. Finally, we realized what was happening, and Anthom met Alyssa outside! After dinner, we both realized we weren't ready for the night to end and headed to the beach for a bonfire. More dates soon followed! We spent the summer getting to know each other and falling in love while adventuring through Oregon, watching the total solar eclipse from the top of Yaquina Head, and traveling to the rainforest and epic beaches of Olympic National Park.

Alyssa returned to Death Valley for another winter season, and we tackled long distance for a few months. Anthom visited during Christmastime, and brought Alyssa and her roommates a Christmas tree! She shared one of her favorite parks with him, and we spent a freezing cold night at the tallest sand dunes in California, camped in the rugged Alabama Hills, and visited the trailhead for Mt. Whitney.

Alyssa accepted a permanent job at Yaquina Head and returned to the Oregon Coast! We spent the next two years exploring the waterfalls, rivers, lakes, mountains and beaches of Oregon, hiking endless miles of trails, and camping at secret spots. We also took trips to Wisconsin, Disney World, Seattle, Mount Rainier, New Mexico, and South Carolina to spend time with family and friends.

We officially moved in together in Corvallis, Oregon, and Rowan was very happy to finally always have all three of us in the same place. We continued to explore all over Oregon, slowly but surely checking places off our bucket lists, but never fully making progress because we were always adding more. There were also more trips back to Wisconsin, South Carolina, New Mexico, and different parts of Washington.

We celebrate 5 wonderful years together! Half a decade?! Whoa!

A day later, Anthom wakes Alyssa up really early (like 4 AM early), but wouldn't say where we were going or what we'd be doing. Shortly after we left the apartment, Alyssa proceeded to fall asleep. An hour later she woke up, just before we pulled into a small airport parking lot. Confused, she got out of the truck and walked across a dark and damp grassy field, to find a hot air balloon!! Just before sunrise, we floated high into the air, to a view of all the Cascade & Coastal Mountains and towering trees.

We're engaged!! Midway through the flight, with epic views in all directions, Anthom asked Alyssa to be his adventure partner for life, and she said yes!!