The first holidays together as a couple. They loaded up the car and headed from Sacramento to Chico to spend Christmas Eve with Todd's parents and family (many family members Anna hadn't seen in years or ever even met before). Combined, Todd and Anna have seven children. Five of the kids were in attendance.  After visiting for a while, it was realized that there something missing for dinner. Todd volunteered to go to the store; Anna went along for the ride.

Anna's oldest son, Dixon, was on leave, serving in the United States Navy. Along East Avenue in Chico, members of the Chico community currently enlisted in the military have banners displayed. Anna had complained that Dixon's was still not up after a year of service. Todd was on a quest to "find it."  While looking, they past by Hooer Oak Park. Todd asked if they could walk around because he hadn't stepped foot on Doryland Baseball Field soil in years.  Anna agreed, despite the rain (not that that would matter; rain is her favorite weather).

They walked over to Doryland, only to find it completely fenced in. To Anna's confusion, this seemed to irritate Todd more than it should. He attempted a variety of ways to get in. As we stood next to Home dugout, he said this will have to do. He pulled out his cellphone and said he needed to read something to her.  He proceeeded to read a text that he sent to each of the children. In this text, he had expressed his love for Anna and desire to have each child's blessing to marry her. He then read each of the children's responses. Then, on bended knee, he asked for Anna's hand in marriage. He sentence wasn't finsihed when she blurted out "ABSOLUTELY."