December 2022 became a meaningful time for us—Mitchell made his first trip to Buffalo to spend the holidays with Marissa’s family. What was planned as a 4-day visit quickly turned into 3 weeks after a blizzard left us snowed in! It didn’t take long for Buffalo’s charm to win Mitchell over. He became an instant Bills fan, attended his first Bills game, and got to experience real Buffalo chicken wings (thanks to Marissa). For Marissa, it was so special to see Mitchell fit in perfectly with her family and embrace her hometown. From that extended trip, we knew our love was only growing stronger.

Life in Colorado has been an adventure! Whether we’re hiking, camping, or catching a concert at Red Rocks, we love making the most of the beautiful outdoors. Our sweet girl Lola is always by our side, joining us for daily walks and all our adventures. From Rockies games to road trips, we’ve made amazing memories and discovered some favorite spots for dinner and picnics. Marissa had the chance to meet Mitchell’s family during Labor Day weekend 2023, which was unforgettable, and Christmas in Florida was the perfect way to meet the rest of his family!

Our biggest adventure yet took us to Oahu, Hawaii! Over four incredible days, we rented a Jeep, drove around the island, swam in the open ocean with sea turtles, explored the Hawaiian jungle, and enjoyed the most amazing food. The most unforgettable moment happened on Lanikai Beach on May 18th, 2024. As a storm passed and we watched the green sea turtles come in to feed, Mitchell—being the hopeless romantic he is—got down on one knee and asked Marissa to be his wife. It was just the two of us and a dozen sea turtles, making the moment truly perfect.