We met while in college at CU Boulder through mutual friend (and bridesmaid) Elise. After being friends for a few years, we started dating in 2007. Hannah taught Jason to love Buffy and the Broncos, while Jason taught Hannah to love Star Trek and metal. In 2009 we moved to the DC area, where Jason works as a statistician at the Department of Energy and Hannah is getting her PhD at Georgetown University. We are planning to move back to Colorado in 2014.
Jason proposed to Hannah on Christmas day 2012 when he secretly flew into Denver to surprise her. Despite the very peculiar actions of Hannah's friends and family she had no clue and was still completely surprised.
Hannah's (verbose) account:
Jason and I never really spent Christmas together. With both of our parents being divorced and in different parts of the country it's just too much traveling. This year Jason planned to go to Oakland for a few days to spend time with his grandparents. On the other hand, I would spend a few days visiting my dad in San Diego and a few days visiting my mom and friends in Denver. Just another Christmas spent apart.
On Christmas day I went to dinner at my grandparent's house. They had planned a big, family dinner but at the last minute everyone cancelled but me! Sitting at the table filled with food for eight, I decided to spend some extra time at their house to make up for everyone else's absence. Meanwhile, I was getting weird texts from my mom and my step-sister: "I'm so bored. Dad is telling weird stories. Come over and save me!" I thought it was odd and a bit rude that they were trying to get me home so fast - I hardly get to see my grandparents and I was their only guest for Christmas! Geez guys have some empathy!
When I eventually left and got home I was welcomed by a deadbolted door. Really weird, because we never deadbolt the door and I didn't have a key to open it. I rang the doorbell and Mom let me in. Once inside I immediately called my best friend Elise. Mom and Erin seemed annoyed, but I had already made plans with Elise - I didn't want to break them! Elise answered her phone and said "come here. Come over here. I'm here in your house." Oh!! Elise emerged from the living room and I was shocked to see her, but didn't think much of it. "I told Elise to come over cause I was so bored" Erin explained. Meanwhile, from the living room my step-dad exclaimed "Elise!!! When do you get here?!!?" Pretty much everyone was acting crazy, but that's family right? I didn't think anything of it.
Mom, Erin, and Elise led me into the living room. I sat down on the couch, noticing that my step-brother had also come over and that my family was shockingly watching Star Trek. I immediately picked up my phone and proclaimed that I needed to call my dad and wish him Merry Christmas before it got too late. Everyone freaked out, telling me "geez Hannah, just wait!!! Look over here!"
As I looked up I saw Jason emerge from the next room. I was shocked to see him and figured he must have flown in to surprise me for Christmas. Then as he walked towards me he pulled a ring box out of his pocket.... Holy crap!!! Finally I had caught on. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him as I burst into tears. I said yes, hugging and kissing him as my family and best friend erupted into applause around us.
In retrospect, I can't believe I didn't suspect anything because everyone was acting very weird. But I was still totally, 100% surprised!
