Our Story
How They Met
In August of 2003 Matt and Mel moved into their dorm in Columbia, Missouri to start their college years at Mizzou. In good old fashioned Midwest weather it was 100+ degrees and the humidity was through the roof. Of course back then there was no air conditioning included. The heat persisted for at least the first week and the only relief was the air conditioned lounges on each floor. After several restless nights of no one sleeping, many students migrated to the lounges. One night, Matt drug his mattress to the lounge and shortly after, Melissa curled up on the couch. We introduced ourselves and the rest is history.
Matt’s Addition to this story: After this night, I was determined to find out who this girl was. I spent the next weeks getting to know Melissa and her roommate, Misty. I used every excuse I could use to hang out with them, I even used Randall the corn snake as a tactic to gain her attention. I was completely sold on Melissa, she however was currently dating someone. When that ended, I asked her to go out with me and received a stern, soul crushing, “No”.
If you talked to me at all during this time, I probably mentioned Melissa and rambled on about her as well. If you lived in the dorm with me, you wished you had enough money to buy noise canceling headphones or an apartment so you could get away (sorry Heff). Needless to say, I was ruthless. I spent all of my time with Melissa, despite her no.
Then it was time for Winter break. I was determined to make sure that there was no way that Melissa could stop thinking about me, so I called her every single day, sometimes more than 3 times. I had to make sure. At one point, I even got her to admit that she missed me. When we came back from break, I had pretty much brainwashed her with my attrition. The rest is history.
How They Got Engaged
One night in November of 2008 Matt and Mel decided to take a weekend at Copper Mountain. Matt claimed their friend Jaymee knew someone that could get them a discount at the romantic restaurant at the top of Keystone. Originally, Matt told Mel they could just stay with Jaymee at Copper Mountain But since Keystone is a small drive from Copper and it would be late when they would get back, Mel suggested to Matt that he reserve a hotel close to Keystone. When Mel asked a few days later if Matt had reserved a room he said he had, which Mel thought he had taken care of considerably fast, but she still wasn’t suspicious of what was to come.
So everything went well, they had a wonderful day of skiing and snowboarding in the snowfall at Copper and a cozy cabin at the base of Keystone. They were on their way up the gondola to meet Jaymee and his date at the restaurant when Jaymee called Matt sick saying he had to cancel. Matt and Mel were saddened, but continued on to supper. A wonderful meal was cooked, sixth course came out and they expected an amazing dessert to follow an amazing supper. At this point, Mel had no idea what was going on, but Matt knew exactly what was coming next. But when sixth course came out, it wasn’t dessert, for they had lost count of courses and still had one to go before dessert. So Matt sat anxiously through one more course before dessert, before the big event.
Finally, dessert came out, Matt had a chocolate parfait dessert while Melissa had a dark chocolate lava cake, a perfect evening for a chocolate lover. On top of the chocolate lava cake was ring pop. Melissa looked at it a little confused, thinking, well maybe the chef wanted to end on an abstract art type of dessert. Melissa looked at Matt and he told her how he actually planned to have that ring pop on the dessert. Melissa finally figured out what was going; they always had anside joke that Matt would propose with a ring pop! Matt got up from the table, got down on one knee, and proposed. Of course Mel said yes as Matt put Mel’s engagement ring on her ring finger which had been handed down from her grandmother. As they walked back to the hotel it began to snow, a perfect ending to a perfect night!
The Kitties
In the summer of 2005, Matt and Mel walked into the Columbia Humane Society “just to see” some kittens and pups. Of course, a month later when Matt and Mel walked into the humane society to take home one lucky kitty they didn’t realize they were having a cat and a half sale. Now everyone knows one kitten does better with a friend, so Matt and Mel walked out with TWO kittens: Abigail and Amber.
Abigail (the gray one) is definitely the princess of the two with everyone working around what she wants. Amber (the tabby one) on the other hand is the most laid back cat anyone has ever met.
Cricket
In the summer of 2006, Matt and Mel walked into the Columbia Humane Society “just to see” some kittens and pups. And of course, there were two adorable dogs Matt and Mel fell in love with. In the kennel was a mother and her full grown pup, Cricket. They had been chasing bunnies in an area a researcher had been trying to track bunnies; he became upset they had been preventing his research so he turned them into the humane society. Cricket and her mother were the only two dogs not barking and jumping up; they sat patiently with big brown sad eyes. Matt and Mel left and two days later they had to go back. Cricket’s mother had already been adopted, and a few minutes later Cricket joined the two kittens. (And yes that is her in the kitties’ bed box, she steals it)
Their Free Time
Matt and Mel love to go skiing and snowboarding at Copper Mountain and Winter Park during the snowy seasons. Summer months include hiking and camping in the mountains and taking Cricket to dog parks. They also enjoy hanging out with friends on the weekends, their monthly poker, soon to be euchre tournaments, and movies at the theater.