THE BEGINNING

WE MET IN GYM CLASS (POWER VOLLEYBALL) AT CHAMPLIN PARK HIGH SCHOOL BACK IN 2010. KATE WAS A SOPHOMORE, AND I WAS A SENIOR. SHE'LL TELL YOU SHE HAD A CRUSH ON ME LONG BEFORE WE OFFICIALLY MET THAT FIRST DAY. LATER THAT SEMESTER, WE WERE RANDOMLY PAIRED UP AS TEAMMATES FOR THE INFAMOUS SPEHAR FRIDAY CHALLENGE, A KING OF THE COURT STYLE TOURNAMENT WHERE THE WINNING PAIR EARNS A COLD GATORADE AND BRAGGING RIGHTS FOR THE WEEK. DESPITE KATE BEING A VARSITY VOLLEYBALL PLAYER (SHE SAYS THE NERVES OF BEING PAIRED WITH HER SENIOR CRUSH WERE ULTIMATELY TOO MUCH TO HANDLE THAT DAY), WE DIDN'T EARN A SINGLE POINT. IT TOOK A WHILE FOR THE LOSS TO FADE, BUT TWO YEARS LATER, WE WENT ON OUR FIRST DATE…WHICH KATE INITIATED VIA SNAPCHAT. WE MET AT LAKE CALHOUN AND WENT FOR A LONG WALK ALONG THE WATER. WE SPENT THE SUMMER OF 2013 TOGETHER, RIDING BIKES AND HANGING OUT AROUND LAKE MINNETONKA IN EXCELSIOR BEFORE KATE MOVED AWAY FOR COLLEGE IN ARIZONA.

THE IN-BETWEEN

LIFE HAPPENED FOR BOTH OF US OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, BUT LIKE CLOCKWORK, THE WORLD UNRAVELED ITSELF SHORTLY AFTER KATE MOVED BACK HOME FROM ASU IN 2017. WHILE OUT ONE EVENING, WE BUMPED INTO EACH OTHER, AND OUR SPARK WAS REIGNITED. OUR (SECOND) FIRST DATE TOOK PLACE AT LOUIS ROOFTOP IN ST. PAUL, AUGUST 2017. WE CAUGHT UP QUICKLY; IT FELT LIKE WE WERE MEANT TO BE BACK TOGETHER. OUR FAMILY GREW IN 2019 WHEN WE BROUGHT HOME OLIVER FROM COCO'S HEART DOG RESCUE. OUR FAVORITE TIME TOGETHER USUALLY INCLUDES THE FARMER'S MARKET, A GOLF COURSE, OR A DIVE BAR. WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH FUN OVER THE YEARS, MAKING NEW FRIENDS AND ENJOYING LIFE TOGETHER.

THE ENGAGEMENT

THE NEXT CHAPTER WAS WRITTEN ON DECEMBER 23RD, 2022. KATE'S DAD, TIM, WAS IN TOWN FROM THE EAST COAST. I WANTED HIM TO BE THERE WHEN I PROPOSED TO KATE. FOLLOWING DINNER AT RED SAUCE REBELLION, WHILE STILL IN EXCELSIOR, I DROPPED TO A KNEE RIGHT ON WATER STREET IN FRONT OF OLIVE'S PIZZA! IT WAS -12 DEGREES… KATE WAS SHOCKED THAT I DECIDED TO PROPOSE OUTSIDE IN THE FREEZING COLD, BUT SHE EVENTUALLY FOUND THE WORDS TO SAY YES. (A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR GOOD FRIENDS JAKE & JORDAN FOR BRAVING THE COLD TO CAPTURE THE MOMENTS IN REAL TIME DESPITE THEIR FROZEN FINGERS!). I CONVINCED KATE WE SHOULD SLIP INTO A BAR FOR A CELEBRATORY DRINK, ONLY FOR HER TO FIND MORE FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT EXCELSIOR BREWERY. I HAD ARRANGED FOR A SURPRISE ENGAGEMENT PARTY; IT WAS A NIGHT THAT WE WILL NEVER FORGET WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

THE FUTURE

SINCE THE ENGAGEMENT, WE HAVE MOVED WEST AND PURCHASED OUR FIRST HOME IN MINNETRISTA. KATE AND I APPRECIATE THE CHANGE OF PACE, AND WE ARE EXCITED TO MAKE THE NEW HOUSE OUR HOME. OLIVER IS GRATEFUL FOR MORE SPACE AND MORE NEIGHBOR DOGS TO PLAY WITH.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO LAYING ROOTS AND STARTING THIS NEW CHAPTER OF OUR LIFE TOGETHER. IT’S BEEN 14 YEARS SINCE WE WERE RANDOMLY PAIRED UP AS TEAMMATES IN GYM CLASS; THIS TIME, WE'RE MAKING IT TEAMMATES FOR LIFE.

WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SPEND THE DAY WITH THOSE WHO MEAN THE MOST TO US AND CAN'T WAIT FOR THE BIG DAY!

- TRAVIS