Kate and John met as many modern couples do -- on Bumble, an online dating app. Their first date was to the climbing gym, followed by a visit to a local dive bar called the Nite Hawk. Kate impressed John with her climbing and beer knowledge and John impressed Kate with the sweet camper truck he welded together and his corny jokes. They bonded through climbing, surfing, skiing, home projects, and dreaming of their future shared lives together. Kate loves John for his generous spirit, always happy demeanor, his strong work ethic, and his handiness around the house. John loves Kate for her sense of adventure, kind heart, and being an encouraging and loving partner.
September 04, 2019
Our first picture together at Caitlin and Chris's wedding at Ski Bowl. Kate learned that night that John can really tear up the dance floor.
September 10, 2019
Our first multi-pitch climbing adventure on White Satin at Smith Rock- Kate might have thrown John in over his head a bit...you can ask him about his experience!
November 28, 2019
John visited Chicago for Thanksgiving and met Kate's family. Other highlights included White Castles, Chicago Pizza, and Do-rite donuts. :)
January 29, 2020
We love to ski/snowboard together. Last year we celebrated Brendan's birthday with a Scanlan family trip to Colorado.
February 19, 2020
Prior to Covid we went to Mexico together to climb in Potrero Chico with our friends then met up with the Scanlan folks for some fun in the sun in Puerto Vallarta. While there we adopted a baby sea turtle named Otto and released him to the ocean. Long live Otto!
May 11, 2020
In May of lockdown, with the help of the Covid Pod, John fulfilled Kate's longtime dream of having a home climbing wall. John's best man, Tom, designed a beautiful Princess Mononoke-themed mural for our wall and thus the wall is called Wall Ghibli. (Thanks Tom!!)
July 05, 2020
Covid lockdown was a challenge but we managed to get out in the Chinook and do some local camping and climbing.
August 23, 2020
In August our little family did a cross country road trip to visit the Scanlan folks. We stopped in City of Rocks, Yellowstone, Ten Sleep, the Badlands, and a very buggy humid road side state park in Minnesota. We slept in the Prius the whole way. Alma wasn't sure how she felt about the whole thing but we loved it!
October 25, 2020
On October 25th we got engaged at Ecola State Park! Kate might have been putting the heat on John... and poor John forgot the ring at home. But he powered through and asked her with a key ring off his key chain. Then he secretly got April and John Froyd to decorate the porch back home so he could propose a second time with the actual ring.
October 31, 2020
We got through lockdown this past year with lots of family meals with our Covid Pod thanks to chefs Brendan and Alyssa. For Halloween they made Spooky Ravs and we wore terrible costumes.
November 19, 2020
Outdoor time is our favorite time, whether it's climbing, skiing, surfing, or hiking. This photo was on our first Christmas card this year. (Thanks for the photo Brendan!)
December 25, 2020
This year we celebrated Christmas at home with our Covid Pod, but we made the most of it with a matching PJ party.
March 20, 2021
This spring we traded in the the beloved Chinook and got ourself a more off road worthy camper set up. We road tripped down to Saint George to pick her up and got to climb a bit there too!
May 12, 2021
Thanks to vaccinations we got to go home to Chicago to see all of Kate's most loved family and friends. We even got to stop in at the Art Institute with mom and dad for the Monet exhibit.