On January 1st, while having friends in town for the New Year, we went on our first obligatory hike in Chautauqua and little did I know we were there to scout out a place for Kay to propose the next day! 
We took the short hike, I snapped some pictures of our friends, and we talked about how it would be great to grab some food and find a place that we could have brunch with a view the next day. (Blog post of that day here)
The next morning, January 2nd,  I got up early to catch a yoga class with the ladies (which I wound up missing because I was not fast enough to get ready, so I went back to bed) and Kay went to meet up with the boys to get food (and call my family for permission to marry me) while I continued to sleep in. 
We eventually rounded up everyone and met up at the Chautauqua trail head, where I was still clueless about what was going to happen. We hiked up and Kay got a phone call that he had to answer, Kay urged us to leave him behind and that he would catch up to us, later saying it was his uncle Klaus in Germany, "…wishing us a Happy New Year." 
We could not find the picnic table that we thought would be on the trail so we settled for an off-the-trail open space under some trees and a beautiful view of Boulder. We opened our Snarf subs and chowed down as we popped champagne and poured the bubbly into throwaway plastic flutes. And with nowhere to sit in the snow, and only one blanket, we gathered into a circle and finally made a toast. Kay led the toast talking about how he was happy that all of his best friends could be together again. He talked about how these friends were family to him, especially because his family is so far away in Germany. I have to be honest, at this point I remember thinking maybe Kay had been drinking too much because I was confused to why he was making such a long speech and he hadn't even mentioned me being there! haha. WELL… he then said "…which brings me to you… I love you and you are the most important person in my life…" --gets down on one knee-- "…WILL YOU MARRY ME?" I don't think I remember the whole speech because I was in such shock. 
With my hands full (and probably a mouth full of Snarf) I had to throw everything on the ground and finally say YES (after a few mins of complete shock and hysterical laughing/crying). 
He then tells me that he had been trying to get ahold of my dad for permission to marry me. My dad of course was in Pennsylvania, in the mountains, with no cell service. So Kay asked my mom for permission first and she happily gave him permission and some phone numbers to try and reach my dad. Well, that phone call while heading up the mountain was actually my dad finally getting back to Kay. It was definitely perfect timing. And it really meant so much to me that he talked to my parents first. 

Kay and I could not be happier. We are overjoyed by the love that our friends and family have been sending our way. And man, I cannot stop staring at this sparkly thing on my finger. Can this fuzzy feeling please never wear off?

6 years & 10 months to the day, we are engaged!

If you are wondering about a wedding date? We are thinking possibly Fall 2016.