People are gearing up for Valentines day this weekend by planning their dates and buying specials gifts for each other. In fact, it’s estimated that Americans will spend around 18.9 billion dollars this year, and 1.7 billion dollars is expected to be spent on candy alone. In the spirit of this lovely holiday, Orono couples tell us their favorite things about each other, their most awkward moment together, what they’re doing for Valentines day, and much more.
Amara Hobbs & Will LeNeave
Q: How long have you two been dating?
Amara: 2 months
Will: …2 months
Q: Where is your favorite date location?
W: Ooooohhhhh…..
A: I know where mine is… the ice skating rink…
W: Klapper?
A: Klapper!
Q: What’s the dumbest thing you argued over?
W: I don’t know man, probably like…
A: I’m pretty sure we’ve argued over the spelling of something…. and I was wrong.
Q: What animal best describes your relationship?
(after moments of deep discussion)
A: A puppy?– A KOALA BEAR!
W: A koala bear!
Q: Why?
A: Because they’re cute!
W: ‘Cause they’re cute and cuddly.
Q: So what are you guys doing for Valentines day?
A: NOTHING! He’s going to Canada! Just kidding…. we’re going to see ice sculptures.
W: We’re going to the ice castle in Eden Prairie.
Mitch Albers & Kate Edwards
Q: How long have you been dating?
M: Almost 2 months.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about each other?
K: Ummm… his sense of humor I guess.
M: Her attitude.
Q: What was your most awkward moment together?
M: This interview.
K: I don’t know…
M: We don’t have that many… I mean I did meet her entire family once.
K: My uncle was wearing a kilt.
M: Yeah that was interesting.
Q: What’s the dumbest thing you have argued over?
M: Lunch. Yeah probably lunch. Like what to get.
K: Yeah that was stupid.
Q: What animal best describes your relationship?
K: You can answer this.
M: Hmmmm….
K: A moose.
Q: Why a moose?
K: I don’t know. I love moose and I decided that he should like moose too.
Q: What are you doing for Valentines day?
K: What are we doing for Valentines day?
M: That’s a secret. She doesn’t know.
Hunter Larson & Maddy Schliinz
Q: How did you two meet?
H: I don’t even remember.
M: So my dad umps softball and Hunter went up there, and I didn’t want to play catch with my brother, so he played catch with my brother.
Q: How long have you been dating?
M: About a year and four months.
Q: Where is your favorite date location?
H: We usually just go to my house and hang out with my siblings.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about each other?
M: My favorite thing about Hunter is that he can always make me laugh and he always cheers me up.
H: Same thing with her, and she’s athletic.
Q: What was your most awkward moment?
M: We were at a Renaissance festival and we both walked to the porter potties because we both had to go to the bathroom and his mom called out, “no making out in the porter potties!”
Q: What’s the dumbest thing you’ve argued over?
M: We argue a lot so…
H: I can’t think of anything.
Q: Okay what was the last thing you argued over?
M: He says I’m too clingy.
H: Probably when I’m trying to get her to do something and she won’t ask her parents if she can.
Q: What are you guys doing for Valentines day?
H: We don’t know yet.
M: He might leave me and go out of town.
H: Not by choice! Not by choice!
Ellie Kimmes & Alex Sellers
Q: How did you two meet?
A: Well, she used to play hockey and I’d always see her around the rink, and then I was with Ethan Larson
E: I was with Paulina.
A: Yeah she was with Paulina and Ethan wanted to pick up her (Paulina) and she (Ellie) was with her and we kinda just drove around.
E: We went to McDonalds!
A: Yeah! Romantic.
Q: How long have you been dating?
A: Almost two years in April.
Q: Where’s your favorite date location?
E: Maybe Sakana?
A: Sakana.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about each other?
E: His smile.
A: I was going to say that, but umm….either her eyes or her smile probably.
Q: What’s the dumbest thing you’ve argued over?
E: I get SO mad at him when he says he wants to buy a car before college freshman year. I think it’s really dumb. He’s going to buy a super expensive car–
A: Alright alright.
Q: What’s your song?
A: Probably “Follow Me” by Uncle Kracker
E: What’s that song by Ed Sheeran?… “Thinking Out Loud.”
Q: What animal best describes your relationship?
E: Probably my dog Roxy she’s just kinda–
A: Wild. Energetic.
E: Wild? Cute and little and funny.
Q: What are you doing for Valentines day?
E: I’m going to be in Florida.
A: So I’m going to be spending Valentines day alone! We’re celebrating on Friday night, after the hockey game we’re going to go to dinner and exchange some gifts.
Sam Sustacek & Sarah Harrison
Q: How did you two meet?
Sam: I was in third grade and it was my first day at Orono and I got on the bus and sat next to her and she ended up throwing up on me and her little brother.
Sarah: That’s 100% true.
Q: How long have you been dating?
Sarah: A year and a half?
Sam: No it’s been longer than that. 17 months?
Sarah: Sure.
Sam: 17 months.
Q: Where’s your favorite date location?
Sarah: Mesa was fun.
Sam: Mesa was really fun. Mesa pizza.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about each other?
Sam: I’ll go with her eyes.
Sarah: I like his hair
Q: What was your most awkward moment together?
Sarah: I farted on you once.
Sam: Ahh true.
Q: What’s the dumbest thing you’ve argued over?
Sam: She likes the Land Before Time, that’s her favorite dinosaur movie, and I think that’s the dumbest thing ever. I prefer documentaries on dinosaurs.
Q: What’s your song?
Sarah: “You and Me?”
Sam: “You and Me” by Lifehouse.
Q: What animal best describes your relationship?
Sam & Sarah: A Narwhal.
Q: Why?
Sarah: Cause they’re cool.
Q: What are you doing for Valentines day?
Sam: Well I’m going to be in Hutchinson for basketball, but I think we’re going to hang out that night after I shower. That’d be a good thing to do. Probably exchange gifts.
Clare Swanholm & Trip Renard:
Q: How did you two meet?
C: He just kind of started talking to me in world history last year.
Q: How long have you been dating?
C: A year and two months? A year and three months? Over a year.
Q: Where’s your favorite date location?
T: Punch.
Q: Why?
T: It’s good.
Q: What was your most awkward moment together?
T: There are some good ones. For sure. Probably when I elbowed her in the head.
Q: What’s the dumbest thing you’ve argued over?
T: This interview.
C: We haven’t really had any big arguments.
Q: What animal best describes your relationship?
T: I’ve gotta get a clever answer…
C: I don’t know…
Haley Sawatzke: You guys are dogs ‘cause dogs are cute and you guys are cute.
C: Yeah I’d agree. We’re probably a dog.
Q: What are you doing for Valentines day?
C: We’re going to dinner and then going to watch the state kick.