Engagement Pictures in Santa Barbara

Since we can't stay apart for a full 4 weeks, Matt came down for Thanksgiving! Since time together is short we decided to make the most of this weekend and take our engagement pictures. Matt's friend Sophie is a great photographer and she is from Santa Barbara. Neither of us had been there so we took a nice drive up the coast to see the town and get our engagements done.

The drive up was gorgeous and slow with traffic. But when we finally got there we quickly changed and met Sophie for our shoot. We were so rushed for time and I am always awkward in front of the camera but thanks to Sophie they turned out just like we wanted!

here are some of the pictures

The next day we got some free bikes at the Presidio Motel and rode around all day! We love to bike ride, we love Santa Barbara. There is nothing like 75 degree weather in november and the ocean, trees and mountains all within eyeshot.

The Proposal.

It all happened one seemingly calm and quiet night in the Midwest... I, Rachael Lynne Rylander, had just landed and was minding my own business in the Indianapolis Airport when BAM! Matt appeared out of nowhere and scared me half to death (which isn't very hard but is still very rude). There he was, the love of my life coming to pick me up like the gentleman we all know him to be. While at the baggage claim carousel he was hugging me and explaining how airports had sort of become "our thing." And it was so true; from our very first trip together we had a missed flight, problems, and delays galore! That luck has never quite left us... but it has given us some unbeatable (until today) memories! Back to the story, my bag came out and as I grabbed it my lotion fell out of my purse. This very nice lady started calling my name and running after me so that she could return it...aloooong with a rose! I just chalked it up to the Midwesterners being so darn nice but there was something different about this flower-it had a small strip of paper attached to it saying "the most fun." My curiosity peaked but still thought it was too soon to get my hopes up for any fantastic event. A few steps later I had another stranger calling my name and running after me to hand over a rose donned with a slip of paper bearing one of my many great qualities! And then another! And another! Until a dozen strangers and beautiful roses later we were in the parking garage, our friends chad and Beckah were in our faces with a video camera, and my dear dear Matthew Keeler Olsen was on a knee with a ring in his hand! I wish I could remember everything he told me but I was just so frustrated that his lips were so far away from mine! Long story short, we're engaged :)

Some Highlights of Dating

This was the first time I we saw each other on the dance floor. We had our last first date the next night.

This was our first Earth Day. Poor plant didn't last long...

R.I.P. Alxlice

This was our first group setting as an official couple. Matt's old Bishop, Dana Beck, took us each aside separately to advise that we get married.

When we first started dating I told Matt that he could never call me "baby girl." He said that was fine as long as I didn't call him "Lover." Of course we used them on a daily basis and even made T shirts with the initials of our pet names.

My first time rock climbing. The first of my many firsts with Matt.

First time Matty made me dinner.

We FINALLY had that shooting date we planned in august of '08.

This is the weekend Matt met my family.

Six Flags was definitely the highlight of that trip

May '09

My first time to North Dakota.

June '09

On this group date we rode horses, zip lined, went on a rope swing and jumped on the trampoline. Oh we also did our double back walkovers later that night.

Killing Matt's gift certificate at the batting cages.

Before he moved away Brian, Dan and I threw him a little party. Everyone loves a room with 100's of your pictures plastered all over the walls.

This was my first visit to Chicago after he moved away.

Matt says he knew he wanted to marry me after I came to visit. But I say it was just the combination of Rachael AND U2 that blew his mind. Here we are ready to go into the concert.

More Olsen...

This is Rachael. I love her.

Here it is folks, the official (and gratuitous) Matt and Rachael Olsen blog! We have a lot of fun together, and we hope you enjoy when we share.

For this, the first, post I will give a brief time line to outline our relationship so far. Here goes...
July 18: First date. BBQ with friends and Batman, Dark Knight.
July 22: Lunch at Guru's
July 23: Iron Giant at Sundance.
July 25: (Matt) Got stood up for our shooting date.
July 29: Rachael apologized.
July 31: Lunch. Last event until January 2009.

January 7: Second first date.
January 7-25: We dated.
January 25: I (Matt) broke it off. I was really busy.

February 24: Psuedo-hangout 1.
February 27: Psuedo-hangout 2.
February 28: Last first date.
March: More dating.
April: More dating...first mention of mission.
May 12: "I love you."
June 4: Matt to California.
June 16: Decision to attend Purdue.
June 24: Rachael to Fargo.
July: More dating.
August 5: Matt move to Indiana.
August 19: Rachael mission call to Argentina.
September: More dating, more flights.
October 18: Decision to get married!
November 3: Proposal!

March 13, 2010: The wedding! Come!
Salt Lake City, Utah.