We met freshman year on the University of Michigan rowing team, and truly got to know each other after winter break when we were placed in the same boat. Steve was at stroke seat and Emily was coxswain, facing each other every day. After a summer apart, we began dating at the start of sophomore year. We fell deeper in love while cooking together, going on little adventures, and finding ways to stay close even when co-ops took us to different places.

After undergrad, we adopted Dakota just before starting Steve's masters degree at Michigan, which kicked off a deep love of the outdoors and escaping whenever we could. A move to Boston for a PhD led to countless hikes across the White and Green Mountains. After 12½ years together, Steve proposed in the White Mountains, right where so many of our favorite adventures had taken place.