"I was extremely nervous before the proposal and was going back and forth with everyone trying to make sure everything went as smoothly as possible. It was LMU family weekend for Tait so Addy's parents were already in town. She thought we were going to brunch in Manhatten Beach with them so I was hoping she wouldn't suspect anything. I called an Uber to "brunch" and I think she had a feeling it was going to happen because we were both silent not looking at each other. Addy would say some odd comments that I don't remember so I felt like she was nervous too. Instead of arriving at brunch, our Uber dropped us off at Bruces Beach and there was a setup with Champagne, blankets, & flowers. We walked over to the setup and Addy began to cry with excitement. We stood on the blanket, holding each others hands, and I started talking but blacked out and remember none of it because some guy came up behind us and started talking to us mid proposal. He said " wow, this is a kodak moment. Do you want me to take some photos?". We tried to ignore him and eventually I got on one knee and asked her to marry me. She said yes which was a huge relief! My sister was up in the bushes taking photos and Tait & Channing were hiding in the bushes as well because they helped set it all up. I had them come out and we took a ton of amazing photos. Addy then assumed we would go to brunch and see her family but I told her we had to go to the Bush's house first because we borrowed all the props from them (thanks again Bush family for everything). She thought nothing of it so we went to the house, parked, and walked up the stairs to the top. What was waiting shocked her as it was all her family, my family, and friends waiting to celebrate. A lot of our friends even flew in for it, and she was the happiest girl in the world. We drank, took photos, shared the story, and eventually made our way to Shell Backs to drink the night away as we celebrated the happiest day of my life." - Connor Carpenter
"When I first saw Addy, I vividly remember seeing this cute blond girl doing her laundry in the local freshman dorms Laundromat. No, I was not creeping in a bush with binoculars but simply saw her in passing. I knew who she was because of the freshman facebook page but I never saw her on campus. I ran up to my dorm room and told Brandon, "I just saw Addy Thompson!" I was like a kid in a candy shop excited. I was good friends with Andie from San Diego and she had made friends with Addy. Andie and I would always go get lunch and hang out because we didn't know many other people yet. I remember one day, we were driving back to campus, and I told Andie, "I'm going to date that girl" Andie immediately laughed and told me that she had a boyfriend and I had no shot. I told her "give me 3 months". 3 months or so later, with several hangouts through Andie, I asked her to be my girlfriend in the dorms." - Connor Carpenter
Addy and Connor's first date (and photo!) together in 2018 at the Getty in Los Angeles.
As most people know, Addison was diagnosed with a brain tumor shortly after her and Connor graduated college. Connor was, and is, by her side the whole time - and still is the reason she's getting through it. He's now her at home nurse and gives her all her injections, despite being terrified of needles. They spent lots of time cuddling Cash during her brain surgery recovery.
Having started dating freshman year of college at LMU, Addy and Connor had always talked about their dream of doing study abroad. When Junior year came around, they both applied to various programs and Addy ended up getting into Florence and Connor into Madrid. Not wanting to be apart, Connor called the study abroad office multiple times a day for days trying to switch into the Florence program even though it was full. He called so many times the woman got so annoyed and just let him in. And then they were off to Florence for their favorite semester of college!
Connor and Addy's favorite thing to do is travel. They've been to many different countries together, including Croatia for Connor's 21st Birthday!
From Kristine Thompson - “New Year’s Day 2023…..we were skiing in Park City and everyone was worn out from NYE. There was also a crazy snow storm, so no one was out driving. We had rented a place on Main Street and there was a nightclub across the street - so around 10 pm Connor challenged me to go to the club with him for one drink. OF COURSE I said YES! We walked across the street and were the only 2 people in the club. We DJ’d, we did karaoke, we even had ‘bottle service’ for the 2 of us. It was this night that Connor turned to me and said, “I want to spend the rest of my life with your daughter.” I started to cry, and said “Are you sure? You are taking on a lot of unknowns with her disease?” I really needed him to know that we understand their future could have challenges. He immediately said, “I wanted to marry her before this brain tumor, and I still want to.” I am so blessed to call him my son-in-law!!!! Needless to say our one drink ended up getting home at 1:00 am.
Octoberfest! One of their favorite trips while studying abroad. Lots of fun, lots of friends, lots of beer... and the beer won because Connor did have to carry Addy home that day.