We met at band camp at Lakewood Ranch High School. It was my freshman year, Jared's junior year. I thought Jared and all of his junior and senior friends were so cool and that the popular trumpet player would never look twice at a nerdy freshman in color guard. Jared claims one day in the band room before school I was staring at him across the room. His friend pointed it out so he went in the locker room, came out, and apparently I was still staring. I guess that did him in! He asked me to be his bus buddy for band trips - a sure fire sign a band couple is about to become official - and the rest is history!

After "talking" for a few months, Jared officially asked me to be his girlfriend one day after school in the band room. We were standing around hanging out with friends when he turned to me, gave me a playful jab and said, "So... do you want to go out?" Of course I said yes and proceeded to freak out to my mom and best friends that my dream guy was now my boyfriend! Fun fact: In 7th grade I decided my dream boyfriend was a tall, funny baseball player with nice eyes. I don't know how it happened, but that's exactly what I ended up with!

We were in the process of buying a house and Jared suggested we take Moose to see the house one evening. We let Moose run around and made sure he approved of the house. We were standing in the empty living room when Jared got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was the easiest "yes" of my entire life.