Well.. our story started with a lie. We told all of our family that we met at the climbing gym through mutual friends (which honestly would have been extremely likely). As millennials in 2017, online dating was somewhat new and we were a wee embarrassed that we met online. It was December 2017. We finally decided to go on a date.. and boy it was awkward. Matthew is an outgoing person (if he knows you), and I, a "feeling sponge" started to feel awkward by default of him feeling uncomfortable. It was 100% clear to our waitress that this was a first date. I was quite nervous during the date and after we settled the bill I was caught in a conversation with Matthew thinking I was heading to the exit, but instead, I busted open the doors to a private dinner where I looked like a deer caught in the headlights. It was clear that the theme "awkward" was here to stay for the entire evening. I drove him home and we sat in the car in silence for a while until I said "so are you going to go?".

Fast forward a week of debating if one awkward evening was enough or if I should give it another go; I invite Matthew to come walk my roommate's dog. It became clear that he was more comfortable and his warm personality was showing through. For a guy who skied 7 days a week for work and pleasure & a girl who was new to the Bow Valley and trying to find her footing.. we spent countless evenings making late dinners, watching movies, and eating candy.

We now have a quirky dog named Vladimir (Vladdy for short), a beautiful home in the heart of Banff, and our sister/sister in law less than 2 blocks away. We live a beautiful life.