We made it "official" on 8-11-2017 -- Reed insists this trip to the Bayou Wildlife Zoo (a few days prior) was our first date!

Our first year of dating was full of high school events -- from homecoming, to winter formal, to prom, and Kimberly's graduation from St. Agnes.

Year 2 together was our first year of long-distance. Kimberly was in Evanston, IL as a freshman at Northwestern, while Reed finished up his final year at SJ. Kimberly was able to sneak away from NU for a weekend to attend Reed's graduation, pictured here!

Once Reed started at Marquette, we were able to see each other much more often -- the Amtrak became our best friend, as we'd take turns visiting each other on campus. We tagged along on the Jimenez family Disney trip for a weekend in March 2020, and ended up flying straight back to Houston as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down our college campuses.

COVID-19 did bring us one good thing (other than extra time together in Houston)... STORMI!!! We embarked on the 10-hour road trip to Arkansas with Kimberly's dad and sisters to pick her up, stocked with masks and puppy supplies. Anyone who knows Stormi knows why we can't imagine our lives without her!

As campuses opened back up, Kimberly finished undergrad (remotely) and began her Master's in downtown Chicago. Reed continued his studies in Milwaukee, and we were back on the Amtrak for alternating weekend visits. Kimberly finished her Master's in the summer of 2022, kicking off a year of long-distance between Houston and Milwaukee, as Kimberly moved back to start her new job in Houston and Reed began his senior year at Marquette.

Reed graduated in Marquette in Spring 2023 and was moving back to Houston! Long-distance was finally over!

After weeks of dodging Kimberly's many questions, and with the distraction of a particularly crazy day at work, Reed succeeded in surprising Kimberly with his proposal at Brenner's on the Bayou. After a lovely photoshoot and dinner at Brenner's, the real party started at the Casper house where both families waited to toast and celebrate the engagement (finally)!

Celebrations continued as Kimberly's parents threw a FABULOUS engagement party at their home to round out 2023. These families sure know how to throw a party... we can't wait for the big day!