Tara and Parker “met” back in fourth grade at their elementary school, but ironically enough, didn't care for each other or interact much besides very basic class interactions (you know, the kind that just "happen" when you go to a small K-8 school!). Since they went to a small school, they had a lot of friends in common and their friend groups started to overlap slightly.

In December of 2012, they both ended up at a New Years Eve party and starting talking that night! Parker sneakily asked for Tara's number and they texted and talked for weeks to come, becoming friends very quickly.

In January of 2013, they were in the same elective ("mini course") together, where they were both on tech crew for a production of The Music Man. At some point in the tech process, Tara had injured her knee and Parker sat with her throughout all of the healing- including the cast party at a local trampoline park (I mean, what 14 year old boy misses out on that?!).

That same month, they were placed in another mini course together where they were to deliver mail to teachers around the school. This was a great opportunity to chat and get to know each other better, and eventually led to the start of their relationship!

On January 25, 2013, after consulting many mutual friends who had also sneakily consulted Tara, Parker asked Tara out with a "Check 'yes' or 'no'" notecard. Followed by minutes of "Are you serious?" and "Really?!", she said yes!

Parker and Tara finished their time up at their middle school and went to the same high school together, where their relationship got to develop over the course of 4 years, as well as their interests and activities.

Throughout high school, they never took a break, even when it may have been tough. Through much convincing (*basically forcing*), Parker got Tara to audition for choirs, plays, and musicals with him, leading to them spending 2 years in choirs together and 3 years of main stage shows together (Select favorites include: Sweeney Todd, The Odd Couple, Shrek! The Musical, and Les Miserables)! These experiences together formed a lot of great memories that they share and enjoy looking back on. They say singing can really bring people together...

Outside of school settings, they got to experience traveling together, learning to drive, and of course, those summer swim meets that everyone loves! High school was truly a special time because they had one constant thing throughout what felt like 4 years of change... each other!

When it came time to move on to college, Parker and Tara didn't look at schools together intentionally. They knew that deciding on a school to attend was a very personal decision and shouldn't be taken lightly, which should explain why they ended up in San Antonio, Texas and Des Moines, Iowa. After numerous conversations during their senior year about whether or not to stay together, the decision was clear: staying together made more sense than breaking up, even if it meant long distance! They were up for the challenge, and after already 4 ½ years together, they were confident they could do it.

If you have ever talked to a couple who did long distance for a portion of their relationship, they have probably said something similar: it is hard, but so worth it in the end! Parker and Tara managed to do all 4 years of college long distance, seeing each other in either Iowa or Texas once a semester and meeting up over holiday breaks and summers (except for the one summer they continued long distance!). If anything, long distance made their relationship stronger. They were forced to communicate better than they ever had, and although encountered a couple challenges along the way, made it work through weekly FaceTime "dates" (which turned into nightly calls) and focusing on making sure the time spent together was well spent.

During their senior year of college, Parker decided to plan a small getaway for the two of them in the Aspen/Snowmass area in Colorado. It was over this trip that he was planning to propose, in the week between Christmas and the start of the new year.

After almost 8 years together and numerous conversations about their future, this was the natural step in their relationship as they were about to graduate and start their new lives together back in Colorado!

Parker proposed to Tara on December 28th, 2020 and of course, she said yes without any hesitation! They then got to spend the rest of that week celebrating their engagement and, of course, taking their 9th New Years Eve photo together, one of their favorite traditions.

After graduating in May of 2021, they moved back to Colorado, starting a new phase of life.

They are so excited to start the rest of their lives together. After being together for so long, it only seems right. :)