Once upon a time...there was a calculus 2 class at the Milwaukee School of Engineering library. The scheduling fates had put Jeremy and Lina in the same course with Professor Chorna.

As time went on, Jeremy had noticed Lina sitting at the front of the classroom like the math nerd she was. This prompted the first time Jeremy would ever sit at the front of the class...

Luckily for Jeremy, despite Lina's love and skill at math, she was a terrible test taker. Jeremy...just needed a lot of time to finish the quiz. When the weekly Friday quiz would roll around, few would be left until the very end. Jeremy seized the opportunity one Friday afternoon to talk to this mysterious girl (his words).

And from then on, in every class they'd sit together and after every class they would talk as they walked across campus. They'd talk about the latest memes on iFunny, and Jeremy would laugh about Lina's hair blowing in every direction in the wind tunnels that are the downtown Milwaukee intersections. Lina showed Jeremy how to navigate the perpetually confusing science building to avoid the winter air outside. And Jeremy would follow Lina to the Campus Center (where she had her next class) under the guise that he had something to do there too. He didn't actually have a reason to go to the CC, but it meant more time to walk together, and he could get some food on the third floor.

While Jeremy had been hoping for this outcome since he noticed her, Lina was unaware. It was a fluke, but she did notice that it was surprisingly easy to talk with Jeremy. At MSOE, the social awkwardness of engineers is all around and something you try to just push through, but there was something different with Jeremy. They'd talk the moment they left class and have to cut it short as they went their separate ways on the stairwell of the CC. It was effortless.

In the words of Matt, "But wait!...there was a problem. She had a boyfriend :( " And so that's the story of 2014. Winter quarter and calculus 2 came and went, and Lina and Jeremy remained just friends.

Until 2016!

Up until then, Lina and Jeremy continued on with their lives. Jeremy switched to UW-Milwaukee to pursue his dreams in architecture, and Lina continued to suffer under the grueling work of engineering at MSOE.

As life took it's course, Lina and Jeremy couldn't quite let each other out of their lives. When the time was right, Lina came to her senses....sort of. In a very not-Lina-like fashion, she wanted to take things slow. So they nervously went on a first date of driving around Milwaukee, now their most common date, and watching a movie at Jeremy's Oakland Ave apartment where Lina promptly fell asleep and missed most of the movie. Classic. It took several more attempts at watching Interstellar before she finally saw the whole thing. She still isn't sure she knows the whole movie.

Lina and Jeremy continued to "hang out" as the kids called it. Driving through Milwaukee, going to state parks and watching movies. One evening Jeremy prepared a dinner of corn dogs and fries just for the two of them. They would spend whatever time they had left after school and work with each other. When Lina moved into her first apartment by herself, slightly terrified of being alone, Jeremy spent the night to keep her company.

After so much time spent, so many sweet gestures, there was an understanding that while they could be so different, there were a handful of things at their cores that connected. Adventure, music, laughing about silly things, and complete acceptance of one another. So on a Sunday in October, Lina truly came to her senses, and they became official!

October 16, 2016

P.S. Jeremy should have relished Lina's uncharacteristic desire to take things slow at that time because she never would again.

P.P.S. This date is not only special as their anniversary, but Lina especially with October being her favorite month (yay for birthday!) and 16 being her favorite number for many years (so eager to drive -- also a cornerstone of their relationship).

Now let's skip ahead to spring of 2018. A recap of the last year and a half, Lina and Jeremy enjoy spending time together wherever they can while working their internships and going to school. They spend their time listening to music, watching John Mulaney comedy specials, getting food from Chopstix and OG's (Oakland Gyros) and of course just driving around. Finally! At the end of the school year, Lina graduates from MSOE! She gets a job at Siemag Tecberg, but first, a big trip.

While working away through school, Lina and Jeremy started plotting a big trip. Meeting at Panera, they began laying out a road trip all across the US. With Jeremy's big aspirations and Lina's careful planning, they put together a spectacular trip. As the days got closer, it became clear that a trip ALL across the US was too aspirational with Lina needing to start her job, so it was capped to just three weeks and focused on visiting the west.

The day after Lina's graduation, they set off in Jeremy's Hyundai Elantra (Cilantro) packed full to South Dakota on their first stop. This trip was really a test, could they stand each other for three weeks on the road?? They ventured to Mount Rushmore, Billings Montana for Jeremy's concert, Yellowstone, Seattle, Portland, Coos Bay, Redwood National Park, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, a failed trip to the Four Corners, Albuquerque, and then an intense drive up to Denver surviving the worst hail storm they ever experienced, and then heading back home. In the end they survived the trip, had great memories and strengthened their relationship from then on.

Then at the end of 2018, Jeremy graduate from UW-Milwaukee! With both of them out of school, they began their journey as adults in the working world. Plus, more time to spend with each other!

As mentioned, Jeremy would live to regret Lina's full-steam-ahead eagerness from then on to keep their relationship moving. After much discussion, and a few questionable rental tours (one where Jeremy toured while Lina sat nervously in Germany on her work trip - they did not move in there), Lina moved in with Jeremy and his roommate Ben in their new rented home on the east side of Milwaukee. It was an exciting time and Lina felt at home back on Humboldt, the very same street she lived in her early childhood.

Their sense of adventure did not diminish with their move-in. It only grew, spurring a spontaneous trip to Utah that same summer to visit Bryce Canyon NP, Zion NP and a very hot 105F Arches NP (where Lina hardly saw anything because it was too hot for strenuous activity). They rounded off the trip with another visit to Denver, an easy stop on the way.

That fall right after their return, Jeremy impressively began graduate school for Architecture.

Somewhere along in this story, they agreed to take in Matt's cat (legal name Bass) temporarily. As these things go, it was not temporary at all. The cat, from then on known as kitty, kitter, critter and ket (ket catthew campbell), became part of the Humboldt house family. Lina and Jeremy, staunch self-proclaimed dog people, slowly opened up to this funny little creature in their home and opened their hearts to also become cat people.

And then 2020 happened. Need I say more?

Lina can distinctly remember the nonchalance of conversation around the Corona virus as they all partied at the Shamrock Shuffle on water street. Weeks after, and upon a return from Lina's business trip, things became serious as it seemed the whole world shut down.

Now for a true test, as Jeremy had to shift to online graduate school, and Lina worked from home for a few weeks. Could they withstand the constant time together in the house? Much like the trial of three week road trip together, they survived. It wasn't always easy, but communication and growth came from these stressing times. And many walks on the lower east side to get out of the house.

A particularly memorable trial came from making their own bed frame. Lina and Jeremy quickly learned of the expense to have decent things. Rugs cost over $100?? A bedframe that would work for their lovely comfortable mattress? Easily a few hundred. They embarked with Jeremy's architecture skills and Lina's engineer skills on what seemed a simple job. As many professional architects and engineers know...working together can be a nightmare. It was several days of arguments, disagreements, missteps, and mis-measures. Eventually they had

"tHe pERfEcT bEdFRamE"

a mockery as it was anything but....but it did do the trick and it was sturdy.

As the pandemic continued on, Lina realized that this job was not it. She had greater passions for her skills, and eventually enrolled at UW-Madison in the Sustainable Systems Engineering program (conveniently a program already online even before the pandemic). Leading a double life, working on mine hoist by day, and taking sustainability courses by night, Lina took on even more during the pandemic than before.

To gain some sanity and fresh air, they planned another road trip that summer to Badlands NP, Yellowstone NP (to see the rest of it), Grand Teton NP, and of course, a stop back in Denver before heading back to Milwaukee.

If you hadn't noticed, there's a theme of "Denver" in their life. In addition to Lina starting a new career path, the pandemic made them reflect on what else was out there. What are we doing? And where do we want to go? The answer is, I don't know and Denver. Together. So in their biggest adventure of all, Lina and Jeremy planned their move to Denver.

Some may know that Lina used to have an unknown draw to Colorado. In her youth, she was secretly obsessed and even did a report on Colorado for a school project. She even considered going to college there. Those things eventually faded with other things in life taking forefront. It wasn't the time for Colorado, she would've never met Jeremy. No, as many coincidental things happen, she was meant to go just a bit later, with someone who understood that draw.

The beginning of 2021 began slow as Lina and Jeremy both worked through grad school. But behind the scenes, they were putting the pieces together.

At the end of the school year, Jeremy graduated from UW-Milwaukee with his Master's of Science in Architecture.

With that, they took off for the east. In addition to the big adventure of moving to Denver, they couldn't pass up the opportunity of being "so close" to so many things they wanted to see in the east. They were going to be 1,000 miles further than before. So they packed up the car yet again and headed out on the open road. Starting at King's Island amusement park, on to Mammoth Cave NP, Nashville for some hot chicken (and stress...it's too busy there for Lina). They moved on to Great Smoky Mountains NP, Congaree NP, Carowinds amusement park, New River Gorge NP, King's Dominion amusement park, Shenandoah NP, and D.C. (a stressful place especially in the dead of summer with the heat and humidity...wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for the humidity). Glad to be leaving the D.C. area, they continued on to Baltimore for some seafood, then to Philadelphia for a cheesesteak, and then to the great NYC. After a chaotic trip to the city, the went on to Dorney Park amusement park (rode possibly the oldest theme park ride in the US), a quick jaunt up to Niagara Falls, then back down for Cuyahoga NP and ending at Cedar Point (where Lina proceeded to get very sick...who would have guessed after touching so many surfaces in such a short amount of time), and finally heading back home for the last time as "home". Anyone else tired yet? Yeah, them too.

As they regained their energy from such a great adventure, they began the final pieces of packing up, and then leaving for Denver in August. A bittersweet time, but with so much new adventure ahead.

They found the perfect (albeit small) apartment in Westminster, with Jeremy already employed at his new job Rodwin Architecture. Lina continued on her studies and worried constantly about finding a job herself as they setup their new life. In the meantime, Lina began to learn how to ski. A mistake to not take lessons and just have Jeremy teach her, it was a colossal shitshow. Despite Lina's insistence that she's always wanted to snowboard, Jeremy insists back that skiing is easier to learn. Lina does eventually learn to ski...and Jeremy proceeds to abandon her for snowboarding. She will never let him live this fact down.

Right before the close of this momentous year, Lina gets a job at Ambient Energy which was acquired by Mead & Hunt during her onboarding. Where do you ask, is Mead & Hunt headquartered (you know...as most people wonder..), why they are based in Wisconsin. Funny how life works that way.

They opened 2022 with finally everything in place. They had moved! They had a place to live! They both had jobs! Things were working out, and Lina was no longer falling every time she skied. Life was good.

They continued to enjoy Colorado and what it had to offer. They went a small road trip of the other Colorado National Parks (they had been to Rocky Mountain NP a few times now), Great Sand Dunes NP, Mesa Verde NP and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP (Jeremy's personal favorite).

They lived their lives, working, skiing, hiking, and getting to know the Colorado versions of themselves - especially enjoying shows at Red Rocks Amphitheater (Lina's new favorite music venue).

At the end of the year, they decided to forgo the usual Christmas plans, and plan a small road trip instead. So off they went, a few days before Christmas, starting at Arches NP (giving it the full experience with much more comfortable weather), moving on to Canyonlands NP, Capitol Reef NP, a quick stop at Bryce Canyon NP (how can you not? With it so close and seeing all the other Utah parks this trip), and finally landing at Zion National Park. They hiked up to beautiful Angel's Landing on Christmas Day, where Jeremy proposed.

December 25, 2022

Such a special day, special moment and special place, they were excited to keep their adventure going. They ended their trip with a little ski vacation at Crested Butte, CO, and then headed home with the excitement of their perfect little vacation.

And how could you possible top that? Well, 2023 delivered.

Lina had begun to master skiing, and decided it was finally time for snowboarding. As a gift to herself, she bought all new gear and started over.

Also, after much hard work, Lina graduated from her Master's program and was free to enjoy her evenings again.

With the excitement of all things dying down...settled in Colorado, jobs, done with school, building hobbies, they said...we need to shake up our entire lives again!

Just kidding...Lina was innocently browsing Zillow to see all the impossible options out there, when she finds a house. THE house she thinks. She shows Jeremy, and he ALSO thinks its THE house. Working on the instinct they have come to embrace, they go after that house.

And don't get it.

It was such a sudden whim, and the first house they ever considered. They are told, this is normal, and no one gets the first one. Feeling a bit dejected, they move on, but this has opened a whole new world. The idea that they could maybe buy a house. Or a bank could buy a house and they could owe them a ton of money. The millennial dream.

After several iffy house tours (this is feeling familiar) they find THE HOUSE. No this is really the house. Its even better than the last one. Healed from the wounds of the first battle, they come ready to fight for this one. With lots of money offered, and the smallest bit of luck, they win.

They have a house!!

Well, they can keep their belongings there while they spend the next 30 years paying it off to eventually become their house! Again, the millennial dream.

They spend the next couple months, busy as ever. A new house, lots of personal and work travel, just living the whirlwind dream. In the midst of the whirlwind, they finally give in to a deep desire for the last two years. When they left Milwaukee, they left behind many loved ones, but one guy in particular was too dearly missed - ket. While they understood his purpose, and that he would deeply loath the drive to Colorado, they were sad to leave him behind in the good hands of roommate Ben. But they had a cat shaped hole in their heart. Sad to move on from ket, they began looking for a new house critter to keep them company in their much larger space (their last apartment was no room for a cat and his litterbox).

And then they met Ted.

Although his name wasn't Ted then. They were allowed to see two cats that day. Jeremy had his mind set on a grey cat named Pluto, so Lina would pick the second cat. It was so hard to choose! They could take them all! They wanted to rescue them all! But in the end, the little black cat spoke to me, just like ket. His name was Shadow. Of course. He was shy, but eventually warmed up. After being taken back to his cage, he looked on jealously to see who was now in the room with them. They tried to take them both, but the shelter wouldn't allow it. The shelter wanted to make sure the one cat got on well enough to stay placed forever. Lina and Jeremy had a hard decision, but eventually went with "Shadow". While waiting yet again in the waiting room (they would spend something like 5 hours in that shelter), they settled on Ted. It seemed weird for a cat to be named Ted, but Lina had heard a dog being called Ted earlier that day. And Ted was the main character of a favorite show of theirs...an architect in fact. They finally left that shelter, hungry and excited about the mewing critter in his carrier.

Theodore (Ted) Evelyn Mosby.

They really feel like things are together now. Degrees, jobs, a house, a cat. This is the life.

As a celebration and reward from the intensity that was 2023, they go on another small road trip. To Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, Arches NP and then Glenwood Springs to finally experience the Colorado hot springs. Peaceful.

And so they end 2023, finally settled and ready to plan a wedding.

And here we are...

Now we're actually planning the wedding!

Stay tuned for more details as we work them out. Wedding planning is stressful and there's no rush. We want to enjoy this process and really soak it in for what it is. A fun celebration with the people we love. We want to do it right and we want to do it our way.

Can't wait to see everyone there!!