In winter 2015, we met for the first time at a volleyball league night in Minneapolis. We both left league that night curious about each other and even inquiring with our mutual friends about one another. A few months passed by and in late spring, we went on our first date. We decided grab a drink after work nearby our offices downtown Minneapolis, where we proceeded to talk about all the things you do NOT talk about on a first date (think politics, religion and sports). We hit it off so well that Clay forgot to ask Nicole for her phone number following the date and ended up having to send her a message on social media to get it. A second date followed soon thereafter at Ciderworks where we sat outside enjoying casual drinks and food trucks. When Clay went to drop Nicole off, they decided it went so well they should instead keep their date going and went and found another restaurant patio where they continued talking for a few more hours instead of going home. We kept dating, knowing that there was just something "special" there. In October 2015, Nicole was offered a promotion which required a relocation to Chicago. We kept dating long distance between Minneapolis and Chicago for the next two years. After countless flights and telephone calls, Clay moved to Chicago in January 2018 to start our next chapter together. The rest is history now!

Clay asked Nicole's Dad for permission to marry her in early fall. When Nicole's parents were visiting Chicago for Thanksgiving, following a day of some sightseeing in the city, Clay got her Dad to say he really wanted to go that evening to a new restaurant down on the lakefront to see the view. As everyone got out of the taxi, Clay told Nicole they should walk out further on the lakefront to the water's edge. Mind you it was November in Chicago, so not quite knowing what was going to happen and the freezing cold Chicago wind blowing the background, Nicole tried to get them to turn around a head straight to the restaurant instead. Clay said he wanted to walk out just a little bit further. As we got out to the lakefront trail, Clay got down on his knee with the Chicago city skyline lit up in the background and asked Nicole to marry him. Nicole happily said "yes" and now here we are planning our wedding!