About Ayo.
I grew up in Nigeria and I have 3 siblings and 4 half-siblings. I got the opportunity to move to the United States in May 2003. I am bilingual; I speak both English and Yoruba (which Lindsay will never learn). I completed my Associates degree at Tacoma Community College and then transferred to Pacific Lutheran University to complete my BS in Nursing- I will be finished in Dec. 2008. After that, I hope to go onto Graduate School. Currently, I work in the ER at St. Joe’s hospital.

About Lindsay.
I have lived in Tacoma, WA, most of my life. I am the oldest of 6 kids. I have 2 biological siblings and 3 adopted siblings from Liberia, Africa. I graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a degree in Special and Elementary Education. In May 2008, I will complete my Masters degree in Technology in Education through Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. I currently teach 3rd grade at Lighthouse Christian School in Gig Harbor.

How We Met.
We met at the Puyallup Fair, yes…amongst the pigs, horses, food, and crowds! In September 2004, I (Lindsay) received my first job teaching 2nd grade at Zion Preparatory Academy in Seattle with my fabulous friend Rebecca (she created this website). Anyways, on September 17 we had our first field trip to the Puyallup Fair with the 2nd and 3rd graders. Ayo happened to be a chaperone on this particular field trip for his nephew Yele who was in 3rd grade. I did not notice Ayo at all but apparently he noticed me!?

With such bravery, he approached me and started up a conversation... neither of us really remember what we talked about. At the end, he asked me for my phone number and with much hesitation I gave it to him. I really did not think that he would call me, but boy was I wrong! On my way home that day, my sister Jill called me on my cell telling me that “some guy, with a weird accent just called here.” I was shocked and nervous! That night, I called him back and we talked (again, we don’t have a clue about what), and we planned our first date to Starbucks on Sunday, Sept. 19. The date ended with a hug that Ayo said, made him think that I was the one for him. We have been together ever since!

Our Engagement.
It was on May 2 (my birthday), and I had already had a fabulous day with my co-teacher Megan decorating my classroom from ceiling to floor and my 3rd graders throwing me a surprise birthday party! My day got even better when Ayo surprised me at school with a dozen red roses to wish me a happy birthday. He stayed until the very end of the school day and then said that he would see me later tonight. I began to get a little suspicious of whether he would propose today or not.

I called Ayo on my way home and he told me to meet him at his place and so I did. Ayo and I began to drive and we pulled into the mall and my immediate thought was “Great, he’s not proposing tonight, he’s taking me to look at rings again.” Well, he pulled into Red Robin and I believe I said “OH NO! You better be taking me somewhere way nicer than Red Robin for my birthday dinner.” With a little push, I finally got out of the car, but I was not happy with Red Robin. When we walked in I found my entire family and some friends waiting to celebrate my birthday with me. It turned out to be a very fun dinner! After, Ayo and I drove to Owens Beach at Point Defiance Park (now we have been here a lot and Ayo knows I love the beach). Now, I was really beginning to think that I was getting a ring tonight!

However, when we got there and got out of the car, it was already dark, it was raining, and I had to go to the bathroom! So, I tried one building for the restrooms but it was locked, the other building…thank goodness was open. When I walked out I found Ayo by the water so I walked over to him and he said “Hey Baby, I found something.” I looked down to find a ring size box on the garbage can. I grabbed it and began opening it, Ayo took the ring box back and opened it and said it was something really pretty and it was for somebody very special! I asked to see it but he said “No!” He looked at me and asked, “Baby, will you marry me?” I said "Yes!" 3 times (I think) and Ayo gave me the biggest hug and would not let go. I finally let go and said, “give me the ring.” I couldn’t see the ring at all, but I got it on... however, it was a little tight!

We immediately went over to my parents’ house to tell them and we called a few people as well. It was all very exciting!

Well, after all that, Ayo looked at my finger and said it was starting to look a little red and that I should try to take the ring off to get it resized. I tried to get it off but it was not coming off, I tried cold water, I tried lotion, and I tried oil, but nothing was working. Now, my finger was twice the size it should be. Ayo wanted to go to the ER to cut it off but I refused. I waited awhile to let the swelling go down and try again but it still would not come off. Ayo finally said that he was going to take me the ER to cut off the ring (good thing he works at the ER). I began to cry, I did not cry when he proposed, but I cried then.

However, I was not about to go to work the next day and tell everybody I was engaged with no ring on my finger, so I put medical tape around the back of the ring and wore it to school the next day! A forever to remember engagement story!