Inspired by our awesome Aunt Staci and also trying to fill the need for multiple requests for pictures of Jackson, here is our "blog"....I don't know how often I'll be able to update with notes, but I am more concerned with pictures anyways.

I'm sure anyone who knows about this blog already knows our story, but....just in case you want to know...

Erick and I met at Illinois State University while we were teaching at a Junior High band camp. (Funny, right?) Erick and I had actually crossed paths the previous semester, on that fantastic Sousa tour...but anyways. Erick (as most any one will agree) showed an amazing talent for keeping middle school boys under control and I was very impressed. Well, the week long camp of course ended with two big events: a concert (showcasing all the work they did during the week) and a dance. Which do you think they were more excited for? Well, on the way to the dance, my group of girls was walking in front of Erick's group of guys. Feeling excited about being asked to dance, two of our girls (lovingly nicknamed Adam 1 and Adam 2 because of their unbelievable love for Adam Sandler), asked me if I was looking forward to dancing with anyone. "No" I said, "I'm just going to make sure you all have a good time and are behaving". Well, this was not a good enough answer, so they went to Erick and said "You have to ask her to dance tonight"... and I said, "Oh...I don't know" and right at the same time Erick said "Sure--that would be great!" Thrilled, the girls joined their friends and, danced happily. When the first slow song came on, Adam 1 and 2 bounced on over to me and said "Time for your dance!! Let's go find him"...and my smooth response was, "Nah, he's got to come and ask me!", hoping maybe they'd just go find their own partners for the song. No sooner had I said that, Erick walked up, took my hand and asked if I'd dance with him. I honestly don't remember what I said (seeing as it was almost 6 years ago....and I was so surprised that he actually came to dance with me)

You see, I have to pause here to explain why I was so surprised. Erick was an upper classman AND a very well known, POPULAR person. I mean, everyone knew him and liked him. And there I was, a soon-to-be sophmore that no one knew. Hello?! I didn't think he'd even look twice in my direction. (Just goes to show what I know!) Anyways. The dance was a very nice one, ending with Erick kissing my hand.

After the dance, those girls went back and forth between me and Erick at least 15 times...saying things like "He really likes you--do you like him??"...."She said she really likes you--can we tell her you really like her??" So middle school. And once we were back at the dorms, it didn't stop! They actually wrote a love letter for me to give Erick. It was quite funny and I really wish I hadn't tossed it out, because that would make this whole story even better...

The next day was the concert and all of the camp staff's focus was on making sure everyone was there, with instruments, music, reeds....blah, blah, etc.... So, when the concert was over, the kids finished getting their stuff together, packing clothes, stuff and cleaing dorm rooms. I was in the lobby "directing" traffic, when everyone's favorite Adam 1 and 2 came up and asked if I had gotten Erick's number yet..."No, which is too bad, since I think he's already left".

And who walked in just as I said that?! Of course. Erick. So, those girls got Erick to give me his number. And we at the end of it all, we left, with a month and a few weeks til marching band camp and the regular semester would start.

Despite the enthousiasm of those two sixth grade girls, Erick had somehow neglected to get my phone number and he had also (very "wisely") given me the number for his frat house on campus...not where he was staying for the summer.

Band camp finally rolled around and when we saw eachother, I said "Hey, how's my favorite junior high band camp 'boyfriend'?" and he returned with some funny comment...and the whole week was like that--each of us, flirting back and forth. Mid-week, I asked my section mates what I should do...I didn't think I had a chance. But when they realized who I was talking about, they all said I should go for it. For some reason, I was still having doubts. Just a few days later, at the end of band camp, we finished our short parade outside Alamo II and my super awesome friend Twohill cornered me into talking to Erick. She literally dragged me to him and said "Hey, she needs to ask you something!" and then to me said, "Talk to him!!!". I had no idea what to say. And Erick did not make it any easier; he put his arm around my shoulder and said, "So, what did you want to talk about?" I swear, I melted and my brain froze. I mumbled something lame about going to a movie sometime...and something else about fixing my computer...I honestly don't know what actually came out of my mouth, but Erick was all cool and said "I'm so glad you asked me, cause I didn't have the b@lls to ask you..."

And that's how it all started. Its a pretty fantastic story if you ask me.