David and Kaia first met each other playing soccer in Indianapolis. Kaia noticed this really handsome man with blue eyes that was subbing on her team, and her first words (always known for being PC!) to David were, "Are you bald by choice?" Unfortunately the team got destroyed 7-0 that night... so no first dates were arranged. Thankfully their paths crossed again, largely in part due to soccer teammate Emily (who has known David since they were little tykes). Their first date was Pizzology. Of course David was punctual, cleanly shaven, sharply dressed, and had appetizers on the table waiting for Kaia... who was fashionably late on her bicycle, in flip flops, coming from a wilderness medicine lecture. When she tripped into the restaurant, all was forgiven, and the rest, as they say, is history.

David and Kaia backpacked the Cumberland Gap region along the Kentucky/Virginia border for one of their few weekends off together in 2016. The weather forecast was 80% chance of severe thunderstorms... but hey, adventure. They went paddle-boarding all day and had a "quick" 3.5 mile hike to their campsite. Mislabeled maps might have tacked on another 3 miles, but gave David a good excuse to wake Kaia up at 5:30AM the next morning for a sunrise hike. Thankfully that morning was perfect weather with sun popping out over cloud covered hills (cliché and romantic!). Kaia was taking "nature" photos, and when she turned around, David was down on one knee. He grabbed her hand so she wouldn't back off the cliff before she said YES!

Our parents finally met each other a year and a half into our relationship. We feel fortunate that we have TWO families who are incredibly loving, supportive, and unintentionally matchy =).