Our first beginning: a track trip to South Carolina.

We played many games of Trivia Crack. (Sam won most of them).

And spent many hours in van rides, talking about music and movies.

After we got back from South Carolina, we went on three dates. But an evening at the Dakota jazz club ended with "let's just be friends."

Fast forward to senior year. Round Two. Annessa was back from Chile and reconsidering the whole "let's just be friends" thing. Sam was embracing his role as track captain and... oblivious.

Track trip #2! Same hours-long van rides, same movie nights, but this time in California.

Our second first date! Trivia (again) but this time at Pizza Luce. We repeated a couple of our First Round dates, including the Dakota Jazz Club, but this time around we made it past the third date.

With spring came outdoor track meets and The (Unauthorized) Meeting of the Moms.

Coach Andrew Rock took credit for "setting us up..." as he does for all Bethel track couples.

Annessa's graduation. Sam graduated too!

Our "long distance" summer. Sam was working back in Olivia, but we got to see each other for friends' weddings, Sam's job interviews and an orchestra concert.

Sam knew the way to Neil's heart, Godfather's Pizza and puzzles.

Sam found a job back in the cities and moved in with friends five minutes away from Annessa.

The proposal! Everyone knew it was coming except Annessa... roommates, siblings, co-workers, roommates' co-workers. Sam popped the question at Silverwood Lake a week before our dating anniversary.

At family reunions and cabin trips, Annessa was warmly welcomed into the Gardeen clan. She lost a game of Acquire but earned a couple "DQ" points by paddle boarding across the lake with cousins Amos and Axel.

Up north with the Gardeen's!

Glacier with the Ihde's!

Another beginning...