We would be lying if we said we didn't know each other before August of 2020. Robbie and Alex's younger sister hung out regularly throughout elementary and middle school. They all rode the same school bus together - elementary school through middle school. All through elementary school, Robbie lived around the block from them, and the second they would get off of the school bus Alex's sister, Kait, would run into the house and yell "we have to ride our bikes past Robbie Carver's house!"... of course, they always did - the thing that makes this funny, is that Robbie was Kaitlyn's first crush in elementary school (they never dated though). Kaitlyn and Robbie hung out all the time in grade school - which means, Alex also hung out with them (given how close Alex and Kait are). Eventually middle school, high school, and after high school plans caused them to drift apart - but never meant that they stopped following each other on social media... cause how else do you keep in touch? Fast forward to 2020 pre-pandemic, Alex was swiping away on Bumble and Robbie shows up. Alex swiped right and it was clear he did too because they matched. Bumble is one of those silly apps where the girl messages first and then the guy has 24 hours to respond before the match ends. Robbie never messaged back. The pandemic was in full swing by August of 2020. It was August 5th 2020 at 9:13pm (yes, Alex went back to the beginning of the messages) - she was laying on the couch watching some TV show with her parents and she got a DM on Instagram from Robbie. All it said was "So funny story, I just turned my bumble back on and looks like we matched way back in the spring lol". They continued chatting there for a little while before she got annoyed by switching between apps sending messages to friends and gave him her number. He did text me right away there... and two hours later, they were still texting. After a couple days of texting back and forth, she asked him if he would like to meet up for a drink sometime to catch up. They met on August 12th at Griffin Claw BFD. It was there that she got a little tipsy and invited him to go camping with her and her friends 3 days later. He did. It was the best second date she ever had. The thing that really sold him for her, was that her dog Lexi, absolutely loved him from the start. From there, the rest is history! He really slid into her DM's. Throughout 2021, they traveled all over Michigan for motocross races where Robbie took State Champ in his class, moved in and created a home together with their dog in 2022, and were engaged in May of 2023!

We decided to take a trip out to Colorado in May. During this trip, the plan was to see friends from when I lived there, go to the supercross race, then head up into the mountains. Two days before leaving for our trip, we went to a baseball game with my parents - I suggested leaving Lexi there instead of taking her home and adding more driving the day we leave. Robbie replied "That's two whole days with out her! I will take her there before we leave on Friday.". I thought it was ridiculous, obviously, but went with it. Prior to the trip, there were multiple times the "what if" thought popped into my head, but many friends told me to not go into a trip with that thought because then I could end up disappointed rather than just enjoying it. Friday, May 5th, Robbie drove me to work, drove Lexi to my parents, then picked me up from work, and we promptly left for the airport. Once we arrived in Denver, we went to my old roommates house to hang out - everyone there was asking Robbie "When is the wedding!?" His response was "There's going to be a wedding!?". The next day, we went to the supercross race. The morning after the race we drove for the mountains! Our first stop was hiking St. Mary's Glacier. We hiked it, we sat there and soaked in the views, then left for lunch. Lunch was at a fabulous brewery in Georgetown. Then we left for my favorite city in Colorado, Steamboat Springs. Per usual, I fell asleep on the drive and promptly woke up when we arrived (Passenger Princess!). The plan was to go on a small walk to view Fish Falls. Robbie asked me if I wanted to head to the hotel to check in and get cleaned up before going - I said "No" and we continued to Fish Falls. When we arrived, a good portion of the hike was closed due to avalanches. There were two areas we could walk. We started with the lower portion and when we got there, the bridge to the rest of the hike was covered in "do not cross" tape. Robbie asked if we could take a full body photo instead of a selfie - so he set up the timer on my phone against some rocks. It was at that moment that I saw his hand shake (he said his hands were cold), and I thought "Is this it!?" then immediately thought "No, Alexandra, get that out of your head just be in the moment." We took some photos, all of which we hated because of the construction tape. From there, we walked up to the top of the viewing point - mid walk, it started to rain, sleet, and hail. It was miserable - We sat under the pavilion for a minute. Once the rain slowed, I stepped out and started taking all of the photos. Robbie joined me and asked again to take some timed photos. After each one, he would run back and look at it and say "No, not good enough". By this time, I said, "Why don't you ask that family over there to take it?" He said "No, I don't want to bother them" to which, I rolled my eyes. He took so long setting it up, that the family was gone. This time, it was not flashing like a normal timed photo, and per myself, I go "It's not going." He ran back and goes "Ugh, it's on video!" I responded with "How in the world did you do that?!". He set it up again, and when he ran over, it was not flashing so again, (and I am not proud of this) I said in a snarky way and pointed "It's still not going." He said "Fine, then you go over there and fix it." So I walked over, not looking or noticing anything at all, and said "ha! You're still videoing!" and promptly pressed stop. Silly silly me, because it was the second I pressed stop that I noticed he was down on one knee. Immediately, I said "What is that!? What are you doing!?" and then realized what he was trying to do and I ruined it. I tried to start the video again, but he told me to let it go and just come over. That's when I dropped down (and I think I was able to start the video, but my phone died - so I have a couple of burst photos) and cried and he said "Well, do you believe me now? I love you, will you marry me?"

I wanted to do another trip to a supercross race out of state so we decided very early on in 2023 to do Denver again. I got to see a race and again she got to visit old friends. At the time of booking flights, hotels, and rental cars that was my only intention. Just another vacation for us to relax. We originally booked a nice hotel downtown for every night so we were close to the stadium and nightlife of the city. Fast forward a few months and I still don’t exactly know why but I decided to start thinking about proposing. I knew that I wanted to marry Alex early on but could not put my finger on when or how I wanted to ask the big question. I think a bit of reassurance and convincing came from one of my best friends Chris after what was an early round of spring golf and just really beating around the bush as far as ring and wedding questions go. To be honest, I had never once looked at a ring and had no idea how long it would even take to get one. So I decided I would go to a jeweler after that and start asking the questions I had and figure out if it was possible to pull it off in a few weeks. It took more time to figure out which jeweler I was going to walk into based on the company's “jingle” versus what ring I was going to buy. You know them, “Every kiss begins with Kay,” “Tappers, Tell us your story,”, “He went to Jared,” etc. Well, long story short, Jared was on the way home from a very busy day at work and I knew Alex was nowhere in the area to possibly spot my truck. I waited a few days into the trip so it could be somewhat scenic for pictures or a video so at least there was something cool to see afterwards.So I started checking out what Steamboat Springs had to offer because that was our next destination and according to Alex her favorite place in Colorado. The highest rate place to go was called Fish Falls.Of course when we get there it's raining and pretty crap weather but I was sick of carrying around this ring that I was bound to lose sooner or later. Naturally nothing goes to plan and of course the main hike was closed due to the risk of an avalanche.So there were two paved trails that at least got close enough to the waterfall for pictures. Spot number 1 was a no go for pictures because they had yellow caution tape everywhere so people wouldn't go across the bridge.So at this point I am just praying that the upper lookout had something better to offer. So we make our hike to the top and it starts pouring rain and sleeting. Thankfully there was a covered area for shelter and we decided to wait it out. Of course as soon as the weather stops a bunch of people show up when we’re about to take pictures.Wasn't going to have that.So I fiddle with setting up a timer on my phone and we take some pictures and I waste a bunch of time waiting until the people left.I truly wanted to get it on video instead of pictures.So at least she could rewatch it.So I set the phone up on video and run back acting like it's supposed to be a timed photo but she instantly knows it's either not started or not on a timer.So I play it off and go back acting like I'm fixing it. All part of the plan because it's still on video. She pretty much throws a tantrum saying its on video not on timer so I said “Well why don't you go over there and fix it then!” All part of the plan.So as she's walking back to the phone I got the ring out and got down on one knee.There could have been a tornado, Godzilla, or a Tyrannosaurus Rex standing right behind me and she would have never noticed anything in my direction.I could see her face and she's not even paying attention. All she's doing is turning off the video and getting ready for the next picture. Finally she starts walking towards me and she finally realizes why I'm kneeling in a puddle in the rain.She had no words or expressions at first and just froze so I said “Will you just come over here.” I said Will you marry me and through all the snot, tears, and crying I think I could just make out a yes.