Our first date was lunch at Union Jack Pub & Restaurant in Winchester, VA. After talking for hours, we realized we didn’t want the date to end, so we continued on to our “second” date at Valerie Hill Winery. A 9 hour first date must be a record!

Officially started dating

Andrew says “I love you”

Katie says “I love you”

First vacation together to Myrtle Beach, SC. This was also Katie’s first time to a beach in a decade! We explored food places and the mall, spent some time by the water, went mini golfing, and built (and dismantled) the 3,955 piece Home Alone Lego set

Attended Rennfest in Annapolis, MD together (Katie’s first Renaissance faire)

Attended our first wedding together (wedding party member Kathryn’s!)

Celebrated Hanukkah and Christmas together for the first time. There was our first joint purchase (a fake tree), new stockings, several gingerbread houses, and menorah candle lightings!

We celebrated our first anniversary week together in style - visited George Mason’s Gunston Hall with Andrew’s mom, packed up all of Katie’s big furniture in Winchester and brought it back to Manassas, explored Skyline Caverns in Front Royal, VA, took the VRE into DC and walked the entire Tidal Basin area to catch all the sights before almost missing the train back, took a 2-day trip to NYC to see the off (off) Broadway show “Lewberger and the Wizard of Friendship” and explore NYC and Weehawken, NJ, did some exploratory engagement ring shopping for the first time, and took a trip to IKEA!

Katie officially moves in and we had a housewarming party with both our families to celebrate!

We got engaged outside of Katie’s old apartment in Winchester!

Our first faraway vacation together, which was to San Francisco, CA! We explored Alcatraz, rode the cable cars, toured a chocolate factory, walked across the Golden Gate Bridge, went to an Oakland Athletics baseball game, watched a Harry Potter parody burlesque show, saw MANY plants, and averaged 20k steps a day!