{andrew}
Hmmmmm....it all started out during a soccer camp at Greenlake when I saw her show up. I was immediately taken away by her beauty and her smile. I introduced myself but was too scared to say anything more for the remainder of the camp.
LOVE STORY
{kelli}
It all started with a random message from Facebook (of course), that lead into a dinner date at the Greenlake Bar and Grille. I distinctly remember him being from Montana and answering all of my questions the right way, thinking to myself, "Uh oh, he is actually what I am looking for."
{andrew}
I dropped Kelli off at home after our first date and immedaitely realized that it is very rare to find such a beautiful girl who was very funny, smart and easy to talk to. I had to ask her out again...
{kelli}
We met up a few more times, each time an adventure. I realized that this could really go somewhere. So, I quickly got out...and dropped him like a bad habit.
{andrew}
I absolutely enjoyed our next 5-6 dates and was really starting to like her, especially because of the fact that she liked soccer and could hit a ball ALMOST as good as me. Soooo, I quickly got out...and dropped her like a bad habit.
{kelli}
6 months later, I texted him finding myself at a crossroads in life. I decided that life at a kids soccer camp up in the woods was a better choice than a stuffy desk job. A week later after I quit my job, I found myself up in the mountains, staring at the calves of my new boss.
{andrew}
After 6 months of being alone and finding out what I wanted to do with my life, I got a text from her randomly and ended up convincing her to quit her job and join me as one of my employees at the Fewing Camps. I knew at that moment that this could be the start of something special so I made the decision to go all in and sweep her off her feet.
{kelli}
I wasn't expecting a summer full of playful flirting, romance, and late night walks under the stars.. but that is exactly what I got. And it was a whirlwind.
{andrew}
The last night of camp we were laying under the meteor shower talking about life, when I heard something behind me. I turned around to see 2 gigantic elk literally 10 yards away from us. I immediately covered her mouth and told her to not say a word or freak out and run. But elk like beer and they got too close. It felt like they were right above us, so we jumped up and ran like we've never run before.
{kelli}
We both didn't have a plan for life... so once the camps were done we decided to celebrate. What better way than a spontaneous road trip? I hadn't known Andrew (or Kreiter? ... what was I supposed to call him?) for too long so my little brother thought it was better to be safe than sorry. He tucked a wicked S.O.G. knife, fit to kill any assailant, into the glove compartment of my car just in case. Off we went without looking back.
{andrew}
At the Oregon coast, we explored caves, had sandy sunsets with wine and hung out with bad ass sea lions. We had no plan and had no rush of heading back to Seattle, That was until I received a text telling me that my dream teaching job at Loyal Heights had just opened up. It was mine if I wanted it but I had to start the next week!
{kelli}
We had no plan and no rush of heading back to Seattle. It was perfection. Although he found out he started work in a couple days, we took our time exploring and enjoying the last little bit of zero responsibility. We started the road trip almost strangers, we came back and I knew I would never be with anyone else. He was it. The wedding planning had started... for me at least.
{andrew}
The following year was incredible. Dream job, dream girl and took dream trips to Hawaii and to my hometown in MT. The more time we spent together, the more we began to fall in love, so I let her know that in our hike to my favorite spot at my dads land. It is a place with untouched land as far as you can see.
{kelli}
We bought a house together, well he bought a house and I paid rent, and worked hard on the home improvement projects. We spent every day together laughing, joking, and loving each other. Each of us pursuing our own careers. With all of the adventures the year flew by. Soon enough, it was Thanksgiving again and we were on a plane back to Montana.
{andrew}
I had a huge proposal planned. Basically, I was going to propose in the same place I told her that I loved her (at my dads land) but I also wanted both of our incredible families to be together for Thanksgiving. Therefore, I planned for all of her family to fly in and join my family, and surprise her in the biggest way possible. Holy $%#@ was it tough to keep a secret from her!!
.
{kelli}
Everyone had been acting so funny around me so, naturally, I went to get my nails done. I woke up Thanksgiving morning hoping that maybe it would be the day. We were going to his land. It's been long enough. It had to be the day. Halfway up our hike, I knew I must be wrong. We fell in the snow every other step, were soaking wet and muddy, and he was acting way way too casual for someone that was supposed to propose. We got to the top, exhausted, and he said that we had to hike back up here every year until we were 80. I said yes. Then he got down on one knee, told me everything I hoped to hear and ... I said YES!
{andrew}
She said YES!
{kelli}
It wasn't over. After spending time up on the cliffs soaking it in and enjoying the feeling we hiked down, giddy with excitement, and drove back to his house. We walked in the door ready to show his Mom and Dad when I saw it. There were banners and champagne and my ENTIRE family was there.. in Montana.. crying. There were hugs and laughs and good food. I lost the ring, found it again and then there was more hugs, good food, and happiness.
{andrew}
We spent the rest of the weekend showing Kelli's family all that Montana has to offer. We took a fun trip on the antique yellowstone park bus, like we used to own, and had plenty of laughter and drinks together. It was the fitting start to two famillies becoming one.
And there is the prelude! .. the real story starts August 9th.
We will see you at the wedding!