Emilia and Chad first date was May 4th of 2019. They both had no idea this date would be the beginning of a life together. Chad took Emilia to a UofA baseball game and even when she had no idea what was going on at the game soon started to learn all about it. Emilia had always loved the stadium feel and Chad was bringing this joy into her life again. Between baseball games, partying with friends and cooking together the relationship kept flowing and strengthening. Emilia soon started joining family dinners and immediately fell in love with Chad's family too. Moved together in March 2020 (starting the COVID pandemic) in a 2 bedroom apartment with Sarah. Chad had to go out to the balcony to get some space alone LOL. The living together had a rough start considering Emilia also lost her PhD advisor (blessing in disguise) and job and had to start in another lab to continue her doctorate. Chad master’s degree got pushed back for another semester since schools closed and he could not complete the internship time. At least Sarah Emilia and Chad found a wonderful home at Warren St that allowed all to have some space to work at home for some time. Things soon started to go back to the new normal and settled but this only made the relationship even stronger. Lots of live games (basketball, baseball and football) together, trips filled with food and long walks, music festivals, family and friends made this the easiest most enjoyable adventure together. Year 2022 started with the search for a home. After numerous open houses or home tours and offers rejected we found our home in 2 nd St by mid-March 2022. April 2022 Chad and Emilia went to Ecuador (first time Chad was meeting Emilia’s dad and some family) and this adventure had Carla, Clayton, Sarah and Remington too. Emilia planned all the trip (excursions and visits) including going to the Galapagos Islands not expecting anything other than a fun trip and having Chad meet family and home country. Chad made sure to keep telling that proposal was not in plans since just bought a house a month ago LOL. Well… proposal happened in Galapagos Islands (Isla Isabella) on April 19 th 2022, after Chad had showed the ring to Maria Teresa and Felix and got a tear filled approval. The most amazing deserted beach and it went like this “Laura Emilia Basantes Alvarez, will you travel the world with me for the rest of our lives? Of course I would guapi! (Emilia turns around to finally realize the ring) Pure happiness”. In the middle of planning a wedding, visa approval taking way longer and not being able to make it happen by 2023. Chad offered Emilia the best message ever Emilia reads: “Should we get a puppy?” They met 2 days after the message in Green Bay and went to the Packer ProShop and got Nitschke’s first collar. Puppy was now a YES and picked up our baby that next week from Safford ,AZ. Now Chad, Nitschke and Emilia are adding more and more adventures to their life and happiest ever. Looking forward to officially becoming the Erickson family.