Occupation 

Owner and operator of a local bicycle shop

Education

Some college

Hobby

Biking, tinkering, day trips to experience & explore new places in the state

Favorite Food

A good steak or pizza

Favorite Music

Classical rock

Favorite TV Show

Modern Family or anything on the History Channel

Favorite Holiday

Halloween

Occupation 

Training Manager

Education

Some college

Hobby

Baking, cooking, hiking, biking & enjoying the outdoors (warm or cold)

Favorite Food

Sushi

Favorite Music

All genres of music & true crime podcasts

Favorite TV Show

The Office

Favorite Holiday

Thanksgiving

Our Story

It all started 20 years ago. Andy and I were attending two different high schools, but our friend group interweaved. It was over multiple run ins and get togethers where we developed a friendship. From the get-go, we connected over our love of dogs, music, and, funny enough, old toys we had as children. That last part is what influenced Andy’s theme for our first date; he took me to a local toy store. We spent hours just walking the aisles and reminiscing about our childhoods, which grew the conversations into our families and backgrounds. It was an unforgettable first date and one of many unique and memorable dates throughout our relationship.

Over the next 12 years, our relationship grew and blossomed, while individually, we were working to establish our career paths. Andy spent several years in the semi-professional /professional Bicycle scene while I laid the groundwork for my career, with the end goal being leadership. Some of our fondest memories were our long road trips to different bicycle races. We would spend hours just talking about our lives, future plans, and goals, and of course, there were lots of laughs.

In December of 2014, we were engaged. Our plan was to have a small destination wedding. We wanted to keep things simple but still have fun. In October 2015, we had an official ceremony at our local courthouse with friends and family. March 2016 was when we traveled to Mexico and had what I consider to be the wedding of our dreams. We were able to share that time with 14 of our family members and friends. It was truly magical to share that time with so many who had been part of our lives throughout our relationship.

Our Home

We moved into our 4 bedroom home in 2013. It is located in one of the safest and most secure neighborhoods in the area, which was one of the main reasons why we chose to live here. We have a big yard, which gives us plenty of space to play, explore, and even garden. The house is located close to a beautiful park, which is always a favorite spot for our nieces and nephews. In December, our family comes over for ice skating at the park, followed by hot cocoa and cookies.

Our neighbors are some of the kindest people we have met, and we often share baked goods or work on neighborhood bikes together. Being located so close to local schools and the park means that there are lots of families in the area, and it's not unusual for us to see children of various ages playing outside or making their way to the park together.

We are located in a popular suburban area. Our community and surrounding areas are scenic, peaceful, and perfect for our rather low-key lifestyle. While we are in a setback neighborhood, we are just miles from several community event centers, a children’s museum, a wildlife sanctuary, an amusement park, and shopping centers. There are many local and state trails near us that we often use and visit while walking the doggos or taking a long weekend hiking trip.

One of our favorite things about our community is how many friendships and relationships we have been able to build, being the owners of our town's local bike shop. We have met so many wonderful people and we love hearing about what brought them in, a little about their life, and how we can help. Being local, most of our customers are repeat, so it allows us to really get to know folks and their families. It is not uncommon to have local kids stop by the house for us to fix a chain or a neighbor checking to see if we have a tube on hand to help them out, Andy is happy to help.

I grew up the youngest in my family. I have one brother, and we spent most of our childhood in Illinois. My family has always been close, and we continue to be to this day. My brother has 2 children with whom I’m very close. All of us live relatively close to each other, and we see each other on a weekly basis. My parents own local assisted living facilities, and I help them with the shopping each week. I am lucky to have such a strong bond with my parents, and we are happy they recently relocated to a home on the water just 30 miles north of us. It is the perfect location for our family to sit on the back deck and watch the local wildlife, take the pontoon boat out, or watch the kids and doggos play. My parents can’t wait to share new memories with our future child. They can already picture the many warm summer days building sandcastles on the beach and cool winter evenings cuddled up watching the waves roll in from the Bay. I also have a very large extended family, who are all very close in location. I have always been close with my uncles, and each of them made sure to share their interests with me as a child, whether it was music, cycling, or hockey, I carry each of those memories and interests to this day.

Mandy's Family

I grew up in Green Bay with 2 brothers with me in the middle. I have always been close with all of my family and built bonds with my brothers individually as we have grown. My older brother, his wife, and 2 children live in Vermont, but we keep in contact daily with pics and fun stories, so I have been able to watch and be a part of my 3 year old nephew and 1 year old niece. They were able to visit this past summer, and I was able to bake them their birthday party cupcakes. My younger brother and his family are just a few miles away. He has one biological child, and they also fostered and adopted my other niece and nephew. We are incredibly close, and I take so much pride in being a part of their lives. While my parents divorced when I was a teen, I have always been extremely close with each of them. My mom and I talk daily just to catch up and share little life updates. My father remarried when I was a young adult to a lovely woman who is now one of my closest friends. Everyone is so excited to have a little one join the family to add to the laughter and good times. My niece Charlotte, 15, has already designated herself the official babysitter. While my extended family isn’t as large as Andy’s, we are all very close, even though some are located further away, even in Germany. One aunt and uncle, who own a local tree farm, are excited to bring a new little one out to the farm to experience the hay rides, beautiful trees and decorations, and a visit from Santa himself.

Andy & Mandy - A Look Into Our Life

Meet Sophie & Maxx

Andy and I have always loved dogs! While Andy had many dogs and cats growing up, I became a first time dog-mom at 21 to Sophie. She is a Lhaso-apso-Shitzu and is now 15 years old! While she may be older in age, she is a puppy at heart. She loves to play with her toys and loves her walks. She can’t go as far these days, but we make sure she gets to experience the fresh air and nature, so it is often our neighbors who will see us out for a walk with Sophie leading the way in her dog stroller. She has always loved kids, growing up with our little nieces and nephews around, she quickly learned staying close to them meant lots of treats.

Maxx is our 8 year old rescue dog, he is an Australian Shepard lab mix. Maxx has one of the sweetest soles I have seen in a dog, he truly just wants to love and care for those around him. After we brought him home, we quickly noticed he paid extra attention to the children. You will often see him diligently watching over the kids and smaller dogs at family events and get togethers to make sure they are “safe”. We did some gene testing and found those are skills in both his breeds, to be a herder and protector, which he certainly lives up to. Maxx truly loves everyone he meets: babies, kids, adults, squirrels, and he will want to be friends.

Sophie and Maxx, while very different in appearance, are buds, and I know they look forward to bringing a little one into their “pack.”

Adventures

Together we love to see and experience new places, people, and foods! We appreciate the beauty of the world around us, and try to soak in as much as we can each year, whether it's around our home or a far off destination. As of late, we like to stay closer to home but we still enjoy thinking about our times in Mexico over the years.

Fall Fun

We love every and any Holiday in our home and family! Halloween, we go all out, from dog costumes to decorations to special treat bags for the kiddos in our family and neighborhood.

A tradition we are looking forward to is attending the zoo boo at our local zoo where you can view the animal habitats not only from the ground but also from the treetop as you walk through the Canopy trails.

Thanksgiving has always been a special occasion for Mandy’s side of the family. Prep begins weeks prior. There is delicious food and fun games for the kids. Mandy’s brother Shane is the official Turkey carver with Mandy’s dad overseeing.

Merry & Bright

Christmas has a lot of traditions as well because we have so much family close by, and we want to be sure we spend time with everyone, Christmas is typically a 3-4 day event for us. We first Celebrate with Mandy’s mom’s side, with the traditional rib roast being the main meal and fun games (for adults and kids); last year was going through the house and counting the amount of Shepard figurines....there is always more than you think! Next up is Andy’s family, where you can count on great food and lots of great conversation in the kitchen where everyone gathers. At Mandy’s parents, we enjoy lots of appetizers and desserts and, of course, games! Our favorite is “The Price is Right,” where everyone brings items, and we guess the price. I can’t tell you how many times someone forgets their bag, and we end up guessing on items from the local gas station; those are always the best and most interesting! A tradition I especially look forward to sharing with a little one, is wearing matching PJ’s on Christmas Eve, watching Christmas movies, and building gingerbread houses!