It all started in February 2021 when they both swiped right on a dating app. The crazy part was that they both grew up in La Crosse and had a lot of connections but had never met before. They went on their first date at 608 Brewery a week later. The date was great and they decided they'd like to see each other again. Oh, I forgot to mention that Ryan gave Joelle his old Aaron Carter CD when he picked her up. She knew in that moment he was different. :) The next couple of months they spent a lot of time together watching the Bucks, eating dinner (that Ryan made), and playing cribbage. Eventually, they started to do some simple projects around Ryan's house like tearing up carpet, laying down flooring, and painting all of the bedrooms. Maybe they knew at the time that this house would eventually be home for both of them. Summer was spent going on a trip to Phillips, WI with Ryan's family, taking a road trip to the Badlands and Yellowstone, playing/watching softball, spending time with family/friends, lots of cuddles with Nala and watching the Bucks win the NBA Finals! Joelle also decided to sell her house and move to the Prairie. Fall meant the start of the school year for both Joelle and Ryan as well as the wedding season! They had so much fun celebrating the weddings of their friends. They also continued to do projects around the house and really made it feel like their home.

December 2021...Ryan had some plans. He was going to propose while they were in Birchwood with a bunch of friends for New Years. But then the ring came early and they had plans to go to 608 Brewery on Friday, December 17th with Joelle's cousins. Ryan had a present wrapped in a box that he told Joelle was for Nathan and Amy. Joelle didn't think anything of it. They went to dinner at The Dugout and then headed to 608. Ryan told Joelle that he was going to get them a table while she got them a couple of drinks. At the table was the present for Nathan and Amy which wasn't actually a present for them. It was a box that contained pictures of them and other objects from around the house. Ryan went through and told Joelle how each of the objects was part of their story. At the end of the box, Ryan brought out a pair of Joelle's grey pajama shorts (part of her groutfit he loves so much) and unraveled it to show a ring box. He got down on one knee and asked her to marry him! It was the easiest "yes" she has ever said.