Kate and Clay met in October of 2019 on a memorable fall evening at the cozy W.A. Frost bar on Cathedral Hill (St. Paul). In what may or may not have been a harbinger of things to come, Clay traversed the cities to arrive early at the bar where he waited patiently for Kate, who was running just a bit behind schedule. Given weeknight demands and city traffic, her tardiness seemed perfectly reasonable...until Clay learned that Kate's commute was merely a walk across the street from her picturesque apartment in the heart of the city. Alas, time quickly grew unimportant as the pair hit it off while discussing literature, life stories, and a love for activity and adventure. Both sides knew immediately that the connection was real and the future was bright. As months went by, Kate and Clay continued to spend more and more time together. They sought out the best Old Fashioned in the cities (Clay: Parlour, Kate: Commodore (RIP)), the best wings (Runyon's), the best hikes (anything on the North Shore, but specifically Tettegouche), all while dreaming of a potential future together. While things took a brief detour in the winter of 2020, it turned out to be nothing that a third-row experience at a Brandi Carlile concert couldn't rekindle. From that night forward, Kate and Clay started on the path to where they are today. By Spring of 2020, Kate had been introduced to Clay's children - Lily and Jackson (4 and 2 at the time). Kate came bearing gifts, as she - and her mother, Betty - would continue to do for years to come, and the kids were immediately enamored. They chased her around at the park and shared giggles and laughter. Lily and Jackson's love for Kate, like Clay's, has only grown over the years. Likewise, Kate is fully enamored with the two blonde-haired, blue-eyed, silly loves (now 7 and 5). And of course, all three know that there is no better daddy/husband to be found. On July 15, 2022, Lily and Jackson joined Clay on the dock in Annandale where they helped deliver a memorable proposal to Kate, leading us to where we are today. Kate and I feel incredibly fortunate to have found each other at this stage of life. We are grateful for the individual experiences that have shaped us into who we are today, and we are so excited to grow as a couple and family through the shared experiences that await us. We've made our beautiful home in Maple Grove with Lily and Jackson, where love abounds, and we so look forward to taking this next step in our relationship with all of our favorite people around us on October 6.