Cassidy and Matt meet each other while taking Organic Chemistry 2 at UNC Charlotte. They got to know each other by studying for their exams together.

Matt surprised Cassidy with a trip to a very nice steakhouse. While they had been seeing each other for a while at this point, they were both in college and most of their dates were to the Waffle House or getting Harris Teeter sushi take-out.

Matt's first trip to Clarksburg for the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival! This was his first pepperoni roll.

Matt's birthday is September 5th, their anniversary is September 17th, and Cassidy's birthday is October 6th. Being college students (and honestly, just being practical), they rolled all three occasions into one. Hence, the "anni-birtha-versary" celebration, where they go all out on one date instead of having three smaller dates, was born.

Matt graduated from UNCC with his Bachelor's degree in chemistry.

Anni-birtha-versary #2!

Cassidy graduated with her Bachelors' degrees, but since this was COVID time, the only person who was there to celebrate with her was Matt... who was behind the camera like a good boyfriend.

Somebody very special entered the family. Marigold was adopted in July of 2020 and has ruled their home with an iron fist ever since.

Anni-birtha-versary #3! It looks a little different than the others, but that's okay.

No big outing for Valentine's Day this year. It's a good thing Cassidy and Matt are good cooks.

Mr. Moose was tossed into their lives (literally).

Celebration dinner to celebrate Cassidy defending her Master's thesis! She would then move to Raleigh while Matt stayed in Charlotte to finish his degree.

Anni-birtha-versary #4!

Cassidy made the executive decision to bring Muppet home with her, Matt had zero objections.

Celebration dinner to celebrate Matt finishing his M.S. in chemistry (while also being in Las Vegas).

Anni-birtha-versary #5!

They may have been a little late taking these graduation photos.

Matt proposed to Cassidy on the hillside of Mt. Vesuvio in Pompeii, Italy. He may have put the ring on the wrong hand, and she may have known it was coming, but she said yes.

Anni-birtha-versary#6!