We both grew up in Mound, MN. We went to the same middle school but didn't know each other since Lexie was in the class of 2008 and Jeff, 2009. Jeff moved to Michigan before starting high school but stayed in touch with his friends from Mound and visited regularly. Jeff then moved back to Minnesota for college to attend Minnesota State University-Mankato. PSA: Jeff will correct you if you call it Mankato State University. Lexie attended the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and graduated in 2012. Our friend circles crossed paths a few times before we officially met. We had our first close encounter when Lexie gave Jeff and a friend a ride home from a party in Mound December 2012, but Jeff didn't make a peep from her back seat. Jeff graduated college in 2013 and moved into an apartment in St. Paul with another mutual friend of our's from Mound who Lexie had become good friends with at the U. We were introduced at their house warming party in September 2013 and over the next year became close friends spending many weekends together and nights at 508 and Cowboy Jack's. Jeff finally asked Lexie out on their first date in November 2014 after it was clear they were becoming more than friends.

After 4+ years together, marriage was becoming a topic of interest for us. Lexie initiated the conversation that she wanted an equal part in the engagement so we went a non-traditional route and planned when we would officially get engaged together. We decided to plan a staycation at Hewing Hotel, across the street from our first apartment together and the same area where we had our first date. We didn't plan how the proposal would actually happen so Jeff took the opportunity to surprise Lexie. Jeff set up string lights in the entryway of our home, rose petals on the floor, and put a heart bandana on our dog, Goldie. Lexie knew something was up when she got home from work and the living room blinds were down. When Lexie walked in she knew what was happening and was greeted by Goldie sprinting over to her while slipping on the rose petals and crying of excitement. Jeff got down on one knee and asked Lexie to marry him and Lexie asked the same to Jeff. We both said yes while Goldie jumped on us to signify her approval of officially becoming a family of three.