Matt and Natalie don't actually remember how they met. There’s was probably no true introduction but more of a on the soccer field identification situation. Someone probably said... “See that #8 in the mid-field? That’s Matt Klaus”.
They do remember their first impressions....
Natalie saw Matt’s freshly prepared dorm room at Graceland University and glanced at pictures. She remembers thinking “ oh he’s super cute.” But due to his decoration choices she thought he's probably kind of a dork!! Little did she know 9 years later that super cute dork would be oh-so-smooth and text her at the most perfect timing.
New Year’s Eve 2013 Matt asks Natalie what she’s going for the new year....
I went to one of Matt’s soccer games at The Dome. It was winter so it was dark outside already and I remember being so nervous!! After they played, a whole bunch of guys just sat around drinking and making fun of each other. It was really intimidating. But it was really fun to watch them play. Everyone immediately started joking around with me and I held my own and gave it right back.
On the way home that night Matt told me if they were picking on me that means I was in with the group. So I was pretty much on cloud 9.
The first time I asked Natalie out she ditched me.
It happened on the most beautiful day in June in 2017. We had gone to Matt's house the night before to have drinks and let Otto run around. We had a big Saturday planned and we needed to get up and get going, but I was feeling a little under the weather.... AKA too many margaritas from the night before. So Matt greeted me with a big glass of water and offered me a walk to get some fresh air. He said it was beautiful outside. So I begrudgingly agreed. I threw my sunglasses on and gave him a look of near death.
I watched him do this little heel spin with his hand deep in his pocket and I thought for a split second.... Does he have a ring box in there Nahhhh no way. We have too much to do today.
Matt and I held hands the entire walk, but for the most part he was silent. Not typical for Matthew. I glanced across the pond and saw something, but I couldn't make out what it was. He pointed me to the opposite direction making some silly comment about the round pin being over grown. HAHA!
As rounded the corner that leads you to a pretty peninsula, Otto zooms past with his nose to the ground. Then I see a bouquet of roses and I knew instantly what he was about ready to do. He walked me over to the end of the peninsula and got down on one knee. I remember him saying sweet words but I have no idea what he actually said. I do remember him saying Natalie, you are my person and my...... and then it goes blank. He tells me I said yes immediately. I remember hugging him and starting to cry. He had to break the hug so he could put the ring on my finger!!
My favorite things about the proposal are the pictures Susan (his mom) caught while she was hiding in the bushes. She hid so well, that Otto didn't know she was there. Once she popped out to start snapping pics Otto started barking and running towards her and it made for one of the BEST PICTURES EVER!!!
