We met at a holiday party hosted by a mutual friend outside of Madison. At the beginning of the night, we just hit it off. We found ourselves easily in conversation. It was the white elephant gift exchange, which involved multiple rounds, that really sealed the deal. In the first round, Eric opened "Soccer Santa" (the name we decided to give it). It was just a medium Santa statue holding a soccer ball. Colby really wanted Soccer Santa too. As the rounds went on Colby stole it and Eric stole it back. Later on, Colby had to leave to drive back to Milwaukee. On the way out the door their friend, Codi, told Colby she should take Soccer Santa. He insisted that Eric wouldn't mind. Eric friend requested Colby on Facebook that night and later messaged her saying, "I was told by a birdie that you snagged my Santa." The rest was history. We still put out Soccer Santa as a Christmas decoration every year.

After an evening outing with Colby's co-workers at the Great Dane in downtown Madison, we were walking to Colby's car a few blocks away. On the way, we stopped to enjoy the Christmas lights lining the street up to the Capitol and the lighted trees adorning the Monona Terrace. Colby looked up at the Capitol and commented on how beautiful it all was. At that moment Eric said, "Yeah, it is" and he got down on one knee and simply asked Colby to marry him. It was an absolutely perfect surprise.