E+M met at Whitewater Voyages Guide School. Emily was learning to be a raft guide and Matt was visiting the Kern River for the first time. They became friends as Emily visited for long weekends and stayed at the guide house with Matt and their rafting friends.

E+M reconnected their friendship during the first commercial Forks trip of the 2022 season. They also went on their first fun boating and R2 (2-person rafting) trips together that May.

More R2 trips, more hanging out, and then one day Matt cooked Emily a delicious homemade spaghetti dinner...

This led to an official first date of Thai food after a day of thrifting.

E+M spent more time together boating, adventuring, thrift shopping, and meeting each others' friends and family. Little did we know, we were building our own family here in Kernville - our river family!

(Many folks not pictured)

Matt traveled to Coloma to work on the American River. Emily stayed in Kernville to start her yoga teacher certification and be a substitute teacher. After being so close all summer, they realized they did not like being apart, so snuck in a few camping trips and attended their first river festival together - Featherfest!

E+M attended their first wedding together, road tripped to Colorado, and explored Matt's hometown in Connecticut. It was there that Emily first discovered autumn foliage and corn mazes, thanks to Matt.

Matt returned to Steamboat Springs, Colorado to guide dog sledding tours. Emily continued substitute teaching. They spent A LOT of time facetiming each other. They committed to finding a way to visit each other once a month during their season apart.

Monthly visits included a trip to Disney World, Dogsledding, and a Temecula winery outing!

Emily also started a new job teaching elementary music in Riverside.

Matt ended his dog sledding season, packed up all his belongings into a Uhaul, and moved himself to Kernville! Emily visited on weekends until the school year ended. Duff started getting settled into his new home and life as an adventure-dog.

BIG WATER ON THE KERN!

Emily's school year ended, and the summer season began! Lots of highs and lows surrounded by river family.

Duff and Matt became besties.

Rafting season kept going and going and going...

Emily started a new job teaching music in the local Kern Valley school district.

Big Water season came to a close. Another family Disney World trip!

M+E hosted their first Thanksgiving in Kernville!

(Matt did most of the cooking, Emily did most of the supporting)

Winters are slow here in Kernville. Lots of family time, DND with friends, adventures with Duff, and crafts.

(The snowy picture was taken 5 minutes before Duff treed his first bobcat!!!)

One full year as Kernville locals! Emily finished her first year teaching in the Kern Valley. Matt started his first rafting season as a manager in the Valley. New adventures galore!

The engagement!!!!!!!!

See you in April ;)