Birthdays and big surprises

I can't believe I forgot to post this!  On May 20th, which is my sister-in-law's birthday, we went to a very nice restaurant in Oak Cliff that served Mexican food similar to the kind you get in Monterrey.  We were also celebrating her boyfriend Michael's birthday, which had fallen earlier in the month.  

It was special in that Michael's two daughters and his older sister even joined us.  We had a big, long table and everyone seemed to love the food and atmosphere.

I think it was sweet that Michael picked out this restaurant in the hope that Sandra's parents would like the food and feel at home.

Lizzie and Grace.  We had not seen Grace for almost a year when we met for this dinner.  She will be a sophomore in high school.  That explains alot.

The boys loved the mariachis.  They sang two songs at our table and were very LOUD.

We had cake and then it was time for presents.  We didn't think it was odd at all that Michael's big present to Sandra was a Chef's knife.  That is a big deal for Michael, who is one of the best cooks whose food I've had the pleasure of eating.

But then, he said he had one more gift.  And he pulled out a little box, and started backing up his chair.  I got goose bumps from the bottom of my feet all up to the top of my head and started hoping the thing we had hoped for was about to happen.  I think I was so worked up that Gabriel got concerned that something was wrong.

But no, everything was wonderful!!!  He popped the question right there, in front of the whole restaurant, and more importantly, in front of all of us.  What an incredibly sweet thing to do, to include us in that joyful moment.  I was laughing and crying more than anyone but Sandra, because I remember how wonderful it feels.  It hasn't been that long since I got to have that happy moment, and I remember like it was yesterday.

We were starting to accept that it might not happen.  They've been together for 3-1/2 years.  And we were ready to accept that if she was happy.  He'd been married before and we thought he just wasn't going to go down that road again.  But I'm so happy we were wrong!!  This is just so much better.  They are making plans, and talking things over.  They probably won't have a really big wedding, but Jav contends that Sandra would never get married without her family around her.  And I'm sure Michael knows this.

What a happy, happy day!!!!!