Chapter by chapter
The Story of Us
Every love story is beautiful, but this one is ours. Told in third person, because some stories deserve a narrator — and in Steve's words, where only his will do.
CHAPTER ONE · 1996–2000
Before there was an “us”
They met in the 6th grade — two kids in the same hallways, the same classrooms, the same small orbit, with no idea the universe had already made its plans. For years they were simply Steve and Kadee, two names on the same attendance sheets.
Then came early 2000. Steve was a sophomore in high school when friendship quietly turned into something neither of them could ignore. There was no grand gesture, no movie moment — just two people who kept choosing each other, starting then, and never once stopping.
“I knew her for years before I knew. Then one day I just knew.” — Steve
CHAPTER TWO · 2002–2005
Young love, loud amps
The prom photo from 2002 is a classic picture they have together — him in a tux, her in that dark sparkling dress, both of them grinning like they'd gotten away with something. In a way, they had.
CHAPTER THREE · JULY 7, 2006
The day it became official
After six years of dating, Steve and Kadee stood in front of everyone they loved and made it forever. July 7th, 2006 — the date this whole website celebrates, twenty years later to the day.
He wore pink because she asked him to (but he says it is Salmon). She wore a smile that glowed. Somewhere between the vows and the last dance, two high school sweethearts became a family of two — and started quietly dreaming about how much bigger that family might get.
“Marrying her was the easiest decision I ever made. I'd have done it in the school parking lot.” — Steve
CHAPTER FOUR · 2007–2008
Building a life
The first years of marriage were a blur of firsts: Steve's college graduation and his first real job, a trip to New York where they felt like the only two people in a city of millions, parties with friends, and a growing zoo of pets — starting with a little pug named Louie who would guard their hearts for the next fourteen years.
They were young, broke in the way that only feels romantic in hindsight, and completely certain about exactly one thing: each other.
A one-bedroom budget, a two-person dream, and a pug who thought he ran the place.
CHAPTER FIVE · OCTOBER 21, 2009
And then there were three
On October 21, 2009, Lucee arrived — and everything Steve and Kadee thought they knew about love got rewritten overnight. There's a photo from that week of Steve just staring at her, like he couldn't quite believe she was real.
Kadee finished her college degree with a baby on her hip — graduating in 2010 with Lucee in her arms in the photos — because that's who she is: the woman who does the hard thing and makes it look like grace.
First came love, then came marriage, then came the girl who made them a family.
CHAPTER SIX · APRIL 3, 2012
Aubree joins the band
April 3, 2012: Aubree arrived with a full head of opinions and a smile that could end arguments before they started. Lucee became a big sister, Steve became officially outnumbered, and the house got louder in the best possible way.
Those years were sticky-fingered and sleep-deprived and absolutely golden — first bikes, preschool backpacks, Easter dresses, and two little girls who turned every ordinary weekend into an event.
Two car seats, one exhausted pug, zero regrets.
CHAPTER SEVEN · DECEMBER 27, 2014
The grand finale
Two days after Christmas 2014, the best gift of the year showed up late and made it fashionable: Phoebee, the baby of the family, born December 27th with curls on the way and mischief pre-installed.
Three girls. Steve looked around the delivery room, did the math on future prom dresses, and grinned anyway. The family was complete — five hearts, one home, and a lifetime of glitter ahead.
“People ask if I ever wanted a boy. I never needed one. I have three sweet, beautiful girls.” — Steve
CHAPTER EIGHT · 2015–2020
The adventure years
Disney trips where the girls met princesses and Steve met his credit card limit. A cruise where Steve and Kadee remembered they were also still a couple, not just a mom and dad. Jamaica. Chicago. Beach weeks and lake days and a minivan that has seen things.
Along the way the family grew in four-legged ways too: pugs Fern and Mia joined the crew, following in Louie's pawprints. And somewhere in these years, three little girls found the sport that would take over the family calendar forever: cheer.
They stopped counting vacations and started counting memories.
CHAPTER NINE · 2020–2026
Full house, full hearts
Blink, and the babies became big kids. Lucee turned sixteen and got car keys. Aubree began High School. Phoebee traded the slide for a soccer field and never slowed down. The bows got bigger, the music got louder, and the grocery bill became a rumor Steve refuses to discuss.
Through every season — every competition weekend, every first day of school, every goodbye to a beloved pug and hello to a new one — two constants have held it all together: Steve and Kadee, still choosing each other, every single day, just like 2000.
Twenty years married. Twenty-six years in love. One story, still being written.
Want to see it all?
Scrub through every year, or sit back and let the movie play.