After coming back from our Chicago trip, we decided we wanted to go see snow together. My family and I usually try to go on a Skii Trip annually after the New Year. Unfortunately, this year we couldn't sync up our schedules. Tim and I were still very determined to go on our first ski/snowboarding trip together. My mom convinced me to go to Devil's Head Ski Resort in Wisconsin, because Tim had never gone skiing before and we thought Colorado moutains would be too advanced. We decided to take a long weekend away the last weekend in Febuary, and we were looking forward to this trip together so much! 

Fast forward to what would end up being the most memorable snow vacation I could have ever imagined. After flying up and spending a few days together, I got an unexpected surprise from my parents. They were in town and were coming to spend the day with us! After a whole day of snowboarding down mountains and riding the skii lifts up together, it was getting dark and the snow was getting a little icy. Tim told me that it was getting too slippery so him and my stepdad decided to go get a drink together. My mom and I decided to take another ride down the moutain with my GoPro because it was getting dark and we only had battery for one more video. As we rode up the lift, my mom and I were talking about how happy she is that Tim and I found each other and how genuinely happy we make each other. It was already such an amazing trip, and I had no idea how much better it was about to become!

We got to the top of the moutain when my mom convinced me to give her a head start so she could time me going down the mountain. I thought this was weird, but it made sense because I was faster on my snowboard than she was skiing. I gave her a head start while I took in the views of the white moutains and thought about how truly lucky I am and how blessed I was to be so happy. I started navigating my way through the moutain trails, no one else was on the moutain, it was just me and the snow. After a blissful ride down the moutain, I could see the bottom. I started searching for my mom, but instead I noticed fireworks! What was going on? As I got closer to the bottom, I noticed Tim and my family standing by a big banner and beautiful fireworks going off by them. I slide up next to Tim, nearly taking him out I might add. He caught me and gets down on one knee. During my ride down the moutain I felt like everything was going by so fast, but at this moment I felt like time stopped. I can still imagine how I felt when I saw Tim get down on his knee and tell me how much he loves me and that he wants to spend forever and always with me. I was breathless. Everything came together so perfectly, my parents were there, I felt so special, and most of all we were traveling which is what we love doing. After the most romantic proposal I could have imagined, of course I said yes to someone I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. A beautiful ring and champagne later, I was engaged! To this day, I still can't believe how he planned this whole day/vacation! 

I knew exactly how I wanted to propose to Sandii for months before our trip to Wisconsin, I asked her parents on Christmas Eve for permission to take her hand in marriage. This is when we started planning the best proposal I could have ever imagined! After we took a fall trip to Chicago, Sandii talked about taking a ski vacation after the holidays and I was hoping that would be the perfect time to ask the big question!   I started thinking about a memorable way to propose and decided on making a big banner that I could put at the bottom of the mountain for Sandii to see while she snowboarded down. I had already asked Sandii's parents to come surprise her, because I knew she’d want her family there to celebrate with us. So we planned on them coming for the special moment, they were able to arrive the day before the proposal and brought all of the supplies I needed to make the occasion special that I would never have been able to get by Sandii (she always has final packing approval anyways). Plus I think we would have gotten in trouble if I tried packing fireworks in our luggage at the airport!

I was waiting for the perfect moment to ask the most important question of my life... and when the time came I knew exactly when to go for it. As our second day of skiing came to a close and the sun began to set, I decided to tell Sandii that I was done skiing for the day and that she should take a couple more runs without me.  On her second trip down the mountain Sandii’s parents helped me get the duffel bag with all of the supplies, including a custom printed sign, fireworks and champagne. I had kept the ring in my pocket throughout the day (which survived the multiple falls I took) waiting for the right time and as the sun began to set I knew the moment was right.

As Sandii left on the lift to go on her final run, her parents and I set up the 6 foot banner with fireworks on each side. We buried a bottle of champagne in the snow... I was unbelievably excited for Sandii to make her way down to me. When she came into sight, we lit the fireworks and waited for her to pull up... everything seemed to move in slow motion as I told Sandii how she is the love of my life and that I could not imagine a day going by that I was not able to spend with her. I asked her to please do me the honor of being my wife and was so excited when she said YES. I still can’t believe how lucky I am and can’t wait to spend the rest of my days with Sandii Angelika.