We met through friends in Appleton WI. Andrea bartended at CU Saloon and Nick frequented it with a group of friends. We remained friends for a few years. However, when we did exchange phone numbers, Andrea was entered as "Andrea, Jim's friend, Cutie." (Andrea's name is still saved that way). Nick's name was saved as "Nick Katsondanis." (Andrea did change it to the correct spelling).

Andrea left the Fox Valley to go to school in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. We did get back into touch while planning hotel room's for Jim's wedding. Nick sent Andrea an "accidental text" (wink wink), and communication started from there. It wasn't until the wedding that sparks flew. Andrea was on break between trimesters and went to her parents house after the wedding. We talked on the phone for hours. Andrea felt like she was in school again, talking to a boy on the phone for hours from her in her old bedroom, with the door closed. A couple days later, on her way back to the cities, she swung through Madison for their first date, followed by $2 margaritas and tacos with Mary and Evan who were in school at UW Madison at the time (So, Nick met Andrea's sister on their first date.) The following weekend, Nick came up to the cities to hang out with Andrea. That Sunday, they were invited out to Baldwin for a grill out for Andrea's cousin, Sam's, birthday. Andrea was impressed that Nick was open to going without hesitation. So, within two weeks of dating, Nick had met Andrea's: -Grandma - Grandpa - Aunt Debbie, Uncle Dave, - Cousins: Sam, Josh and Michael - Dave's Sister Joan, her husband Steven, and their daughter Annie Close, her husband Jason and their Daughters. - Sister and Sister's boyfriend (at the time, now, husband) Evan Andrea remember's staying in Baldwin for awhile after to go weed the garden on the Farm. She was having a conversation with Aunt Debbie and remembers Aunt Debbie saying "yeah, I was really surprised when you said you'd be bringing a guy around. I know you're happy being single right now...then when I saw him get out of the car I was thinking...'Oh, now I get it' ." So with Nick's dashing good looks, and willingness to hang with (lots of ) family at an early stage, Andrea thought that we should give this dating thing a shot.

We did the long distance thing. (2013) Andrea moved to Madison. We dated in the same city. (2014-15) We dated under the same roof. (2016) We bought a duplex! After renting one side and living on the other while we remodeled it, we are still together. We now live on the other side and are remodeling that side (2017 - Current) We have gotten to know each other quite well over our travel and life adventures. Now we are ready to take the MASSIVE HUGE GIGANTIC step of LIFE-ing together and are pretty excited about it.

Oøli is the best dog, ever, in our opinions (no offense to any other dogs reading this). She is a fun little ray of sunshine in our lives that ought to be mentioned somewhere in here. Oøli and Andrea hit it of right away. Nick, however, did not want a dog. So it was a bit inconvenient when he decided to date someone that already had one. Oøli quickly cuddled her way into Nick's heart. Now, they share meals together, start and end their day together trading belly scratches. Andrea is lucky when she is invited on one of their walks, snuggle parties or snack dates. All together, the three of us make a very happy family.