Her side of the story: Even though we grew up the next town over from each other, our relationship started over the dating app, Bumble. When the day came to finally meet up over dinner at 7West, I was so nervous that I sat down at the wrong table and held a conversation with the wrong guy! When I sat down with Joe, time flew by, and we had great conversation and a lot in common. We've since gone on so many hiking adventures from the North shore to Costa Rica and each time is a blast! Joe makes me feel loved every day and I am so excited to live life with him.

His side of the story: She immediately had me laughing when I watched her walk into 7west taphouse for our first date and she sat down with a different person. I thought it must have been a friend of hers and she was just saying hi, but turns out she sat down with the wrong guy who was also on a first date with someone from an online dating app. When she got to our table and confessed what happened it was a great ice breaker. It didn't take long to realize that we enjoyed a lot of the same activities, had a lot of the same viewpoints, and most importantly shared the same sense of humor.

Of course, I dominated the impromptu speed dating competition that day but a few days afterwards I was on a 3 week vacation in Alaska. I figured she would have moved on by the time I returned, but as luck would have it we both made quite an impression on each other. I mean, she was almost late picking her daughter up from church so it must have went well, right?

I reached out the week I got back to MN and We met up for a hike in Silver Bay at the Bean and Bear Lake trail which turned into beers at Castle Danger Brewery and after a five or six hour second date I was hooked. I stopped at a friend's house in Finland and had a long drive up to Ely afterward and it was hard to keep her off of my mind the entire time.

From there it seems like time started to fly by every time we were together. We've gone on numerous adventures locally, but one of the biggest tests I thought was in our first year together we took a trip to Costa Rica. Neither of us had been outside the country before and neither of us spoke Spanish so this was going to be an interesting week. We had lots of fun and even some frustrating moments, but our relationship survived, and it was one of the most fun trips I've been on.

Alaina has shown me time and time again that when she has her mind set on something she is one of the most driven, motivated, and stubborn people I've met. Between her daughter, Lucy, who means the world to her and her dog Sage I'm glad she set her mind on making me her number 3 (occasionally number 4 if nachos are involved.) She has so much patience and grace toward my hectic schedule and my constant traveling between towns for work and hobbies. I'm excited to share the rest of my life with one of the most beautiful and caring people I've ever met.

Travel

Duluth Inn & Suites Near Spirit Mountain

Black Bear Casino Resort

The Inn on Lake Superior

Canal Park Lodge