Camping on the Maquoketa River in 2001 at a campground Kate grew up in. We stayed up all night talking. However the timing wasn't quite right. A year later Kate looked Derek up in the phone book, called the wrong house but got guided in the right direction. We met up, hung out every weekend and have been together since!

In July 2017 we celebrated our 15 year anniversary in Chippewa Fall Wisconsin. Rented a cabin on the river and spent our days fishing. While fishing at Lake Wissota State Park Derek approached me, put his arms around me, pulled a ring from his pocket and asked me to be his fishing buddy forever! We continued our fishing trip. I caught the biggest bass and we ate it for breakfast the next day. After fishing we toured the Leinenkugals brewery (one of our favorite beers), went back to camp and layed by the fire watching the stars!

We were both born on March 5th 1985 (Kate's a few hours older) We enjoy hunting, fishing, camping, and outdoor recreational activities together. We play co-ed softball every Friday night and kickball every Tuesday night throughout the summer. We host 2 legendary events every year, a summer kickoff badminton/washer tournament and an over night canoe trip we call "Skipidy Doo." Derek likes the Miami Dolphins and Kate likes the Denver Broncos. We both enjoy watching LA Dodgers games. Derek attended Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Phoenix AZ and graduated in 2009. He can fix anything you throw at him! Derek is now a maintenance supervisor for Grandviews Farms in Eldridge. Kate attended Upper Iowa University from 2011-2013 for her Bachelor of Science Degree, worked for the DNR as a seasonal for 4 years. However it's a tough field to get into and seasonal jobs don't pay the bills. So I'm now building cabinets at TM Woodworks in Preston. Photography is one of my favorite hobbies