The first time we met was during Dr. VanOrpham's freshman-year General Chemistry class. We had many mutual friends since Hillsdale College was so small, and so we became fast friends as well. As you can see, Ben has always made Sydney laugh the hardest.

President's Ball, aka Hillsdale College Prom, aka the first time we really admitted to other people that we liked each other!

Our first Chi Omega Formal together! The very next day, in the car & after breakfast together, Ben asked Sydney to be his girlfriend on April 8th, 2018... and she said "sure" ;)

Our first date (of many) to the Zoo! @ Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

Ben's first ever trip to Kentucky, and Sydney's hometown!

Taking Ben's pumpkin-carving virginity! Lol

When you're both pre-med, you do A LOT of late night studying... although, Ben's "late night" is a little earlier than Sydney's... #IYKYK

Our first time at the Toledo Zoo Christmas Lights, a now almost yearly tradition!

Ben learned very quickly to be a die-hard fan of the George Rogers Clark High School Lady Cardinals basketball team if he really wanted to make it in Sydney's family.

Just one athlete supporting another athlete ;)

Our first vacation together! A trip to Disney World with Ben's family.

Chi Omega Halloween Date Party! Turns out, the roles are completely reversed now.

Ben's first Thanksgiving in KY!

Chi Omega Crush Party, and obviously Ben was Sydney's crush.

One of Sydney's last college basketball games, Ben drove to Ursuline College in Ohio to come and support, sporting his "My Charger, My Champ" t-shirt!

Sydney's senior year was cut short by the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020, when we started the long-distance part of our relationship that is still going strong to this day!

Our first time deep sea fishing in Alligator Point, FL!

The day Ben found out he might love someone more than Sydney... his soon-to-be niece, little miss River Leigh Jefferson. :'-)

Begrudgingly, Ben takes Sydney ice-skating every winter. He knows he will fall on his butt every time but he also knows how much she enjoys it :)

Long distance is hard!!!! Especially during the COVID pandemic. So we met halfway between Kentucky and Michigan in Dayton, OH to spend the day at the National Museum of the US Air Force, followed by dinner & dessert at the Cheesecake Factory.

Ben's graduation weekend!

The day Sydney got accepted to medical school!!! Ben cancelled his entire week of work to stay with Sydney to celebrate and prepare, and we even went down to Harrogate, TN to go ahead and start looking for an apartment!

Funny story about this night. While on vacation for the first time with Sydney's family and some family friends, Ben was asked to take pics of Sydney on the pier. As we walked out on it by ourselves, everyone behind us started yelling and jumping up and down saying "He is going to propose!" We just giggled, but Ben may have been a little embarrassed ;)

Our first vacation/trip completely by ourselves/on our own... was a disaster. Everything that could have went wrong, did, and many words were had between us. But at the end of the week we learned a lot about ourselves and each other, saw some beautiful views of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and came out closer than ever before.

A lovely visit to Sydney's medical school town (Harrogate, TN & Ewing, VA) to say goodbye to the long-distance for a week!

Told ya we always find a way to go ice skating!! This time was @ Campus Martius Park in Downtown Detroit.

Medical School Prom <3

Sydney spent her spring break from medical school showing Ben her favorite spots in Chicago since it was his first time there!

Our first time tailgating at Keeneland Horse-racing Track and Sydney's Gramma and Grandad really showed us the ropes, Jello-shots and all!

Hiking in Hawaii!

Hillsdale Homecoming! Crazy to think that we fell in love at this place!

Our first Family pics with Gryffy :)

Spring Break in Port St. Lucie, FL included time spent with family, thrifting, beach days, and a trip to Universal Studios!

Sydney's White Coat Ceremony, something she never could have accomplished without Ben helping her every step of the way.

Get the Led Out, a Led Zeppelin tribute band! An awesome birthday present from Ben to Sydney experiencing some of our favorite music together.

A nice weekend visiting Sydney in Whitesburg, KY had to include some 1v1. We're extremely competitive, but we still have some fun!

A nice long weekend in Pentwater, MI at Ben's family camper! Such a fun time with friends, sitting by the pool, and enjoying the beach of Lake Michigan (even if the water was only 50 degrees)!

The day that everyone THOUGHT we got engaged ;)

New Year's Eve! Little did Sydney know, she'd have an engagement ring on her finger in less than one month!!!!

Almost 6 years after our first date, during a regular old photo shoot where Sydney's photographer sister Cameron wanted to "test out studio lighting", Ben surprised Sydney with a ring and an engagement party surrounded by all of our closest friends and family :)