We first met in 2021, but things didn’t quite work out the way we had hoped. Let’s just say Sonny seemed more interested in playing with the kids tablet at Chili’s than talking to Val during date #4! The first time around, Val decided to end things. Flash forward to June 2023 when Sonny reposted a video on social media and Val decided to reply. We messaged back and forth catching up on life. In early August, we went out on what we call our "second first date." But Val tried to get out of seeing Sonny a few times, using excuses such as helping her parents paint cabinets during their kitchen renovation. Through all of this, Sonny, of course, stayed patient and understanding. For our second first date, we went to Tapville Social. Sonny drove two hours home from work and then another 45 minutes to get to Tapville just to take Val out. After that, we went on several more dates. Sonny didn’t waste any time, about three weeks after that Tapville date, he officially asked Val to be his girlfriend. From 2023 to 2024, we spent a lot of time together with friends and family, mini golfing, going to baseball games, trying new restaurants, watching movies, cooking new recipes, and, eventually, moving in together in August 2024. Then, on July 31, 2025, Sonny surprised Val with a proposal while they were downtown watching the Navy Pier fireworks, bringing things full circle since we had our first kiss under the fireworks (Val's favorite!) years earlier. Her brother Dennis and best friend Megan were there to witness this special moment!