It was our first day at New England Tech, and the first class was Hand Drafting 101, in the Architecture and Interior Design Studio with Professor Hayes. We sat at drafting tables diagonally from each other, and Ian quickly learned who the better drawer was. ;) We became good friends for the first year or two, as we were both dating other people. Strangely enough, a lot of our professors and classmates could tell that the two of us had a connection.

Once we both became single, I started going on dates with other guys, so Ian asked for one of his own! On our first date, Ian picked me up and we had a casual dinner with our friends, Adam and Laurie Desroches at Madeira Café (Angela's family restaurant). After dinner, we went to the movies and watched Tammy with Melissa McCarthy (hilarious!!). However, during the movie, we got into a popcorn fight....do I need to say who won that one? I dumped the E N T I R E bag of popcorn on Ian's head! At that moment, he knew I was the one. ;) We shared our first kiss that night in Ian's pickup truck as he dropped me off at home and we said goodbye...I figured it was the least I could do for the popcorn!

Our second date was at the drive-in movies... I had never been before! Laying in the bed of his truck, Ian asked to be my boyfriend... I said no, hehe. Even so, we had another great date, and as the week went on, Ian continued to ask to be my boyfriend a couple of more times... but I still said no! I mean I am 2 and 1/2 years older than him...me date a younger guy?.... absolutely not! Of course, I eventually caved, he was just too cute ;) and so our adventure begun!

Ian planned a surprise getaway to North Conway, New Hampshire for New Year's Eve. That night, we had a great 6 course dinner at Max's restaurant at the Snow Village Inn. After dinner, he planned to take me to a big firework show at The North Conway Village and Park, in the center of town....or so I thought. Upon arrival to the park, he continued to drive by....and we continued to this location where the road into his destination had not been plowed...You would think that would indicate some red flags or “plan B,” but nope...up and over the snow we went into a small parking lot. It was the entrance to the beginning of a hike up to Cathedral Ledge, a beautiful viewing area about 90' up that overlooked the park in North Conway, which we could watch the fireworks from. Ian, not realizing that the gate would be closed at the bottom of a mountain, so that you can't drive up, since there was a foot of snow of the ground!!! So we climbed...and climbed....oh and did I mention that it started snowing and it was dark out? We made it 3/4 of the way up (a 2.8 mile hike) when we decided to call it quits. He looked at me and said "You're the only one that would climb this mountain with me" and then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him...in the dark. Do you think at the point, surprising me with his plan to climb a mountain, that I didn't know what was going to happen at the top? Of course I did! Which is why I climbed it!! To be honest, I was so happy when he asked me that I was a bit lost for words. I told him I was going to make him stay down there (kneeling) for a while longer, hehe... I then said "sure" which made him question my response to which I replied with "well, I didn't say no" haha.....We celebrated and then as we turned back, Ian replied with "well, it's all down hill from here"...literally. It was the best night and I wouldn't change it for the world. We're so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you. See you in Maine!