Our story begins at Willmar Senior High School when Patrick was in his 5th year of teaching and Aubrey was beginning her student teaching. Aubrey and Patrick noticed each other early on, but it was thanks to their students that they began to get acquainted. Several baseball players in Ms.Hill’s class would casually talk about how “cool” and ‘cute” Mr.Courtney was. All while they rushed off to Mr.Courtney’s room after class to fill him in about Ms.Hill. The students often requested Mr.Courtney come out into the “pod” if Ms.Hill was out there. Ms.Hill’s student’s final request of her was to go on a date with Mr.Courtney.

On Aubrey’s last day of student teaching at Willmar, Patrick took the advice of his students and asked her on a date. Aubrey was nervous, but she said yes. What she later learned is that this wasn’t just any date, this was a 12-hour date, starting at 5 am… with Patrick’s entire family there. This date to watch the Minnesota Gophers play football would turn into a regular thing for the couple. Aubrey and Patrick now enjoy going to as many Gopher games as possible.