Our story began thanks to some mutual friends at The Bristled Boar Saloon in Middleton during a Packers game. After the game was over, we continued our afternoon at a local brewery. There was an instant connection between the two of us, and we quickly realized we had a lot in common. By the end of the day, Alex asked Kendra for her phone number! A few days of texting later, Alex asked Kendra on a date. Since Alex was living in Wisconsin Dells at the time, our first date took place at Knuckleheads—where Kendra beat Alex in both mini golf and bowling and our competitive sides were introduced to eachother. From there, it didn’t take long to realize this was something special. We had a lot in common, shared similar values, we laughed ALOT and being together just felt easy. We continued to go on dates when we could and before we knew it, we were officially dating. The next year brought long distance. Alex stayed in the Dells while Kendra continued travel nursing, which meant lots of driving, weekend bags always packed, and carefully planned visits. Thankfully, phone calls and FaceTime helped bridge the miles. When we were together, we made the most of it—attending sporting events and concerts, exploring the outdoors, vacationing in Mexico, and even spending ten unforgettable days adventuring through Ireland. Eventually, we closed the distance and moved in together in Prairie du Sac—perfectly located between Madison and Reedsburg for work. After a year of planning visits and counting down days, it was a big change—but in the best way. Trading packed weekend bags for shared closets and long drives for everyday routines felt surprisingly natural. The transition from long distance to living together was seamless, and building a home together confirmed what we already knew: life was better side by side. In the fall, we set off on a 10-day trip out west, exploring Las Vegas, Arizona, and Utah. From the Grand Canyon to Horseshoe Bend and Utah’s “Mighty Five” national parks, every stop was more breathtaking than the last. On our second-to-last day, Alex planned the ultimate surprise and proposed at Bryce Canyon National Park. Despite a rainy and gloomy morning, it turned out to be absolutely perfect—and turned out to be the day we said yes to spending forever together! Now back home, we continue to fill our days by spending time with friends and family, listening to live music, traveling, enjoying the outdoors, and cheering on our favorite sports teams. In October, we added one more very important member to our family—a boxer puppy named Bentley. He has been a perfect addition to our little family. He keeps us on our toes and brings even more love and laughter into our lives. We have many things to look forward to, the most exciting/important one being getting married, and being able to celebrate with all of you in January! We cannot wait!