It's hard to determine where our story really starts... do you consider when we first met or when we first decided that we might be "more than friends"?

Alex and I first met in college at The University of Nebraska- Lincoln in 2013. Alex was kindly referred to as "Frat Al" and was a bartender at The Brass Rail... the hottest bar in Lincoln!!

Fast forward to the summer of 2016.. Alex and I were two of the inaugural "Denver Squad" to move here from Nebraska post college. Alex was here for an internship and I was starting my teaching career that following August. During this time, Alex had a girlfriend and I was enjoying my time being single in "Menver"!

After that summer, Alex moved back to Nebraska but continued to visit Denver annually. One of my favorite memories of "just friends" Alex is when we went to a Falcons vs Bronco's football game! That's when I started to realize that Alex and I could possibly be more than friends. Alex is a die-hard Falcons fan and we had the best day giving each other crap about our opposing football teams!

FINALLY, we make it to November 2019... Alex was finally single and was visiting his friends in Denver for his birthday. I also happened to be out that night for a friends going-away party! Our friend groups met up at a bar and Alex tried to impress me by drawing directions on a napkin taking us from the brewery we were at to a dancing bar. Which is hilarious because he is not great at directions! The song "Pure Water" came on and Alex decided that was the best time to make his first move! (If you don't know that song.. it's a rap song and NOT romantic!!). The next week was Thanksgiving and Alex took me on our first official date!

We officially started dating in May 2020, in the middle of COVID! After dating long-distance for awhile, Alex made the decision to move out to Denver so we could be closer together. The rest is history!!

A few weeks before my birthday, I was talking to my friends about what they were doing during my birthday weekend. I realized all of them were out of town or had plans… so I booked a trip to Denver to see Cody.

When I got there, Cody forgot it was my birthday. I wasn’t very impressed with my friends that weekend!

But my friends being busy was the best thing that ever happened to me. Because I got a chance to see the girl I had a major crush on for years.

The crush started during my internship in Denver and never really went away. Every time I’d come to visit my friends, being able to see her was always in the back of my mind.

This time, on my birthday, Shyann and her friends ended up meeting me, Cody, and our group at a bar. Shyann and I continued our pattern of flirting. Usually, this would end with a hug goodbye followed by a few more flirty snapchats days following.

We were at Mile High Spirits. Pure Water by Quavo was blaring at a decibel that accelerates hearing loss by at least a few months. These beautiful lyrics must have spoken to me in ways never before, because I finally decided to kiss her in the middle of the bar. Thank you, liquid courage.

So that started it all. Nightly FaceTimes, to me moving to Denver, to getting engaged and planning our move back to Nebraska. On my 26th birthday, I got the best present anyone could ask for.