We met on a hike in a San Diego city park. Our first date was interrupted by Nora getting text messages about the governor shutting down California due to the then-new COVID pandemic! Our second date was a strange new reality: sitting 6 feet apart outside on the front lawn, eating mac and cheese out of paper bowls, watching the local gopher for entertainment.

Since everything was shut down, we spent a lot of early dates outside getting a little creative — wandering a Japanese garden, a picnic up an unofficial trail on Mt. Soledad, and pitching a tent together on Catalina Island.

Jonathan became the ultimate tour guide, taking Nora to hidden slot canyons and introducing her to her favorite San Diego spot, Cuvier Beach. (All while Jonathan's hair grew longer and longer, a true marker of pandemic life!)

After a year of lockdowns, 2021 marked a return to seeing loved ones. Nora got to meet Jonathan’s parents when they came out for Passover in San Diego, and Jonathan, Nora and Jonathan’s mom made the trip to Arizona to visit Jonathan's long-time family friends. Pictured is us surviving the searing Sedona energy vortex.

More family time! We went to Washington to celebrate Jonathan’s brother’s college graduation and visit Jonathan’s Seattle family while exploring (and falling down) waterfalls. Jonathan finally got to meet some of Nora’s family when they joined her aunt, uncle, and cousins, jumping into a river off a rope swing in Northern California.

After a year and a half of pandemic dating, we moved in together, bringing together (what Nora remembers as) an overwhelming amount of stuff.

With pandemic restrictions easing, we got to visit each other’s families and childhood friends in Denver and Chicago. We also settled into a more normal everyday life together - bonding over cooking, exploring new restaurants, and hiking adventures. And a return to in-person interactions would not have been complete without a healthy dose of board game competition with close friends.

Nora discovered the joys of Jonathan’s family’s yearly vacation tradition - the whole family flew to Puerto Rico! Even more than exploring San Juan or waterfalls in the rainforest, a highlight was a day at the beach where we encountered the biggest waves we have ever seen.

We welcomed two adventurous orange foofs into our lives, who became the center of attention at home with their adorable antics and boundless energy. From then on, our life was filled with a lot more mischief and cuddles. Nora immediately vowed never to live without cats again.

In 2022, we attended several weddings, putting front and center many of the wonderful friends in our lives. For everyone who got married in 2022, we love you!

Life was good at home, especially with the growing and playful cats bringing their energy and joy to the space. For Nora’s birthday, we celebrated with an at-home gathering, followed by a picnic in the park with close friends.

Jonathan’s mother invited us on an unforgettable trip to Spain. We indulged in delicious local treats, from refreshing sangria to warm hot cocoa and churros. We especially loved the patatas bravas (deep fried potatoes), berenjenas (deep fried eggplant) and boquerones (deep fried little fish). Highlights of the trip include the breathtaking Alhambra and the dramatic cliffs of Caminito del Rey.

We visited Texas to celebrate Nora's father’s birthday and spend time with Nora's family. We enjoyed exploring the Dallas Arboretum and had fun carving a pumpkin together with Nora's brother.

In June 2024, we celebrated a major milestone—Jonathan’s PhD graduation from UC San Diego. Jonathan's family came out and joined Nora and local family and friends in watching Jonathan defend his dissertation and playing BINGO while Jonathan walked across the graduation stage.

From one whirlwind to the next. Jonathan proposed to Nora in the quiet of our home. We then took an unforgettable trip to Europe, stopping briefly for good beer in Munich before making our way to the Italian Dolomites to hike amongst the most breathtaking mountain landscapes. We spent the last week of the trip in Rome, trying our best to balance the dual needs of eating bounties of delicious food and staying cool in the summer heat!

For us, the end of 2024 was a season of transition, nervousness and excitement, filled with job searching, preparing for a big move, visiting Nora’s family, and even getting measuring tapes for Christmas. Meanwhile, Nora celebrated a major milestone at work — securing a huge grant, expanding her team, and finding renewed meaning and momentum in her career.

Jonathan landed a job at the California government’s Energy Commission, and soon after, Nora and Jonathan made the move to Sacramento, settling into the charming neighborhood of Midtown.

For their 5-year anniversary, Jonathan took Nora out to a fancy dinner and gave her a special engagement ring, reflecting on shared memories and the exciting journey ahead.

We can't wait to celebrate our wedding with you on November 15th at our home in Midtown, Sacramento as we begin this new chapter together. The adventure continues!