8 Things About My Marriage...

1. Where did you meet your husband?

We met at my cousin's apartment where he was picking us up to go to Astroworld. Yes, that's right. The day we met it was a blind date to Astroworld- like it or not we were stuck on rides together all day. Luckily it turned out to be a blast and it was like being with a friend I'd known forever! My cousin introduced us because she was dating Pat's roommate at the time, who is now her husband, Greg. We later walked together in their wedding and from then on pretty much, we were an item... well, with a few complications (long story).

2. What was the first thing you said?I don't remember, but one thing I said over and over (not to his face) was that he was so old... I just didn't know about dating him because of that... Ha! He was "27 and 1/2" and I was 21. Weird how you can have an idea in your head about something and it's not the case at all... I didn't even feel like we were that different in age once we started hanging out. Either I was really mature or ... well you can guess the opposite!
3. Where was your first date?Our first real date with just the two of us was to Bradley's Brewery, which is now BJ's, and then to see the movie "StepMom". We had a great time and never a dull moment with endless conversations... I'm known to have something to talk about when there's silence for a second and I even had this whole story for him about the carpet at the theatres and how I had a theory that the only reason they had the carpet with all those specks of all colors, shapes, and sizes was to hide all the messy popcorn, etc.... I think he thought I was a little odd about that but hey, it didn't stop him from calling me again... and again and again! After the date he took me home; and back then he used to open the doors for me, so... In my driveway at mom's house (I was home from college on Christmas break), I sat in the car, he got out and went around the back of the car, got something out, then came and opened my door, helped me out, and then from behind his back out came a beautiful yellow rose (yellow was always my favorite color, which many friends don't know due to the overflow of pink these days!) He has a knack for paying attention to little details like that. He handed me the rose and leaned in and asked if he could give me a kiss on the cheek (talk about melting me!) Of course he did, and walked me to the door. Well, as usual, mom was sitting on the couch waiting for me to come in so we could talk about how it went. I just broke down crying! Yes he was so sweet but I had been in an "on-off" relationship with a guy at college for 2 years, and now here was someone I could see leaving the "on-off" for,... for real... and that had never happened.

First kiss?
First real kiss... There were 6 of us who went to Corpus Christi to run the "Beach to Bay" team marathon. We were staying at someone's house there and had a super fun weekend. Well the first night we were there, one of the other girls stayed downstairs to talk to Pat (they had been friends all growing up). Us girls though were all supposed to be sleeping upstairs, so up I went to get showered and ready for bed. Well Michelle, the girl, did not come up for a while and I got suspicious. See we weren't officially an item then but I knew I wanted to be an item and he wanted that too... we just hadn't voiced it yet. So being the snooper I was, I got as far down the stairs as I could and tried to eavesdrop on their conversation. I couldn't hear anything, but could see them and no damage done.... It took her so long to come to bed that I got sleepy and went on to bed. The next night however, I decided I would be the one to stay downstairs and not let that happen again. I wanted to spend time with him on this trip and we only had 2 nights. So we talked and talked after everyone went to bed and he finally leaned in for the big smacker! Here's what he said though... now if you know him, just promise me you won't tease him... he says he didn't say exactly this, but this is my memory exactly. I had on one of those "illusion" necklaces. Well, he leaned in and held it up and asked me what kind of necklace that was. I said it was called an "illusion necklace". He then leaned closer and said, "this is not an illusion" ha, as he kissed me for the first time! Woo, woo, I know sounds corny but at the time it melted me!

4. Long or short courtship?

We met in August '98, corresponded (as friends) through snail mail letters while I was back at college that semester, had our first date in December '98, still weren't an item because of my "on-off " at college again, but did still keep in touch regularly (he even sent me flowers on Valentine's and I called him and said that made it awkward for me and "on-off". I'm lucky he stuck around after that rude phone call. Then we (me and "on-off" officially were over in March '99, but I didn't tell Pat. I wanted whatever happened to be "us" and not me forcing it. We walked in Becky and Greg's wedding together in April '99, I came home in May and stayed the summer at mom's and spent every day with him that summer of '99, riding jet ski's and staying out late every night. That was the first summer I had ever come home to live... hint, hint everyone! Went back to college in August '99, he proposed to me in Sept.'99, and I moved home at Christmas time'99 and finished up college in Houston, so we could plan the wedding better and we were married in June 2000! To me it seemed like a short courtship since we really were not an item until May '99 and were married in almost 1 year later, but I have heard of shorter ones.

5. Where were we engaged?

My romantic Pat told me it was his dad's birthday celebration so I came home from college to celebrate with him. It was to be a dressy occasion so I brought home nice clothes. Saturday morning we were at Barnes and Noble having coffee and trying to finish up a long essay I had to write for college. He was even helping me to finish it up so I could enjoy the rest of my weekend. He was calm as could be! Then on the way to his dad's "birthday party", we stopped by his sister's to pick her up. She said that she still need to go to the Galleria, to pick up the watch she had ordered for her dad and wanted me to ride with her. So I did and Pat and her husband were to be meeting us at the party. On the way to the Galleria I noticed she drove as slow as a turtle, had to pull over at a gas station to use the bathroom, and had several phone calls from her husband about meaningless things. I thought, "wow, with her pace we'll never make it to the party on time!" It turned out to be Pat on the phone all those times telling her where he was so we didn't beat him to the Galleria. See he was on his way there to plan my engagement before I got there. We pulled up to the Transco Tower, now the Williams, near the Galleria and Lisa asked me to get the receipt out of the glove compartment. Out comes confetti, and a card for me!!! I was shaking and read it, "For your Engagement..." what?!?! Inside it had a detailed drawing and instructions as to where I was supposed to go. I was in so much shock, Lisa had to tell me to get out of the car! So out I went walking toward the huge grassy field that is a public area between the Tower and the Waterfalls. About the length of a football field there were a dozen roses evenly spaced out on the ground and at the other end was my dear Pat all dressed up in a suit, waiting for me to pick up the roses that made a trail to him on the steps of the Waterfall! It was like a fairytale movie... as I was picking up the roses everyone at the park started clapping and cheering for me. One little boy even came and picked up one and handed it to me. His dad told him to get back. I approached the steps with roses in hand all dressed up and Pat got down on one knee and asked the question. I just yelled out and was jumping around so much he had to ask me to let him put the ring on. People were coming up to me asking to take my picture; one lady was on her cell phone crying telling her friend about it.... Then he led me over to a horse and carriage for a ride around the Galleria area. I just kept standing up in Houston traffic yelling out, "I just got engaged... woo hoo!" I was elated to say the least! Little did I know it still wasn't over. He then drove me back down toward home, but close to home, he made me close my eyes and told me we were going to a special restaurant to eat. He helped me out of the car and led me up the steps. When we got inside, I opened my eyes and there stood both of our families in a room all decorated with themes from our courtship. He had told everyone in the families that they were invited to a special birthday celebration for his dad also. So upon their arrival just prior to ours, they were shocked with the engagement news also! He had a D.J. set up,(who was a college buddy of his), food and an engagement cake. My mom, aunt and his sister, and dad were the only ones who knew and helped pull it all off. Mom and Lisa decorated like crazy, it was beautiful. There were round tables set up and a dance floor. There was a TV set up and he directed everyone's attention there, where there was a video of the whole thing... me getting out of Lisa's car, picking up the roses, and him proposing, and part of the carriage ride! His college buddy had been there hiding out videoing the whole thing, and got back to the Seabrook Community Center, where everyone was to get it all ready. So after we watched the engagement, we ate and danced. Pat had made a CD of all our favorite songs! It was a day I'll never forget and will cherish forever. My husband is officially the most ROMANTIC man I have ever met or heard of!!!

6. Where were we married?

We had a fabulous wedding day at Clear Lake Church of Christ and we went to the waterfalls in Houston where we were engaged to take pictures after the reception on our way out.

7. Where was the reception?

It was in the church gym. Doesn't sound good, but it was decorated up beautifully by mom and others, and another surprise came to me there. Pat had put together a slideshow of our courtship, set to all our favorite songs. He copied it on DVD's to give to some of our family too. I love to pull it out and go down memory lane once in a blue moon.

8. Where was your honeymoon?Poconos Mts., Pennsylvania. The honeymoon resorts there are awesome. We got the room that was 3 levels, and included: the Tall Champaigne glass hot tub, a massage table, swimming pool, huge circle bed, and breakfast delivered to our door every morning. We did all kinds of sports stuff too: archery, air hockey, skating, horseback riding, nature walks, basketball, etc. It was sort of like a cruise only not on the boat. Everything was included and we had dinner and entertainment at night... I recommend it to anyone! Then we honeymooned throughout the summer since we both are teachers! San Antonio was one of our other trips... Glory Days!

Thanks Maria, for tagging me! It was fun remembering.... I now tag Kim if she hasn't already been tagged! Love ya!