'How I met your father'

I thought it was only fitting that since Joe and I celebrated our 7th year anniversary earlier this month, that I would write a post about how it all began 7 plus years ago (and before the month is over). So kids listen up, this is how I met your father...

It was a YSA dance. I was wearing a baby yellow checked top and jeans with a yellow flower in my hair, but of course he doesn't remember that. His response is ''well, I didn't fall in love with the top, I fell in love with the girl." Good response- Noah take note.

We were introduced by a mutual friend and I was shocked to learn (not in a bad way, but in a "no way!" way) that he was Uncle Joshy's little brother, who I had known for a little while ( and who never told me he had a cute little brother!). Anyway, though I thought he was nice looking, a little short, but definitely nice looking,  it didn't matter. I was happily taken at the time.

Fast forward a few weeks, and we are at a  roof-top birthday party, dancing together in a group again. We were chatting about what we do,  and getting a long quite nicely and I was newly single... perfect.
Until I got taken away by another guy, who somehow convinced me to leave the party for a 'quick' meal.  Elly take note- this is a trick. Instead you'll be stuck eating spring rolls and discussing Jane Austin, and the diverse ways of referencing university essays for over an hour! Not fun.

When I eventually returned to the party, I couldn't help but find myself looking at him, not the 'Jane Austin/referencing' guy,  but your daddy. Unfortunately, I didn't get to talk to him for the rest of the night. I just looked from a far and gathered information about him through a friend, who gave me some bad news. Apparently, he was after the birthday girl who happened to be a friend of mine (a very pretty one too). So why did I think he was checking me out the whole time? Oh yeah, because I caught him staring (on several occasions) and smiling to his friend with 'approval.' Trust me, it was that obvious!  But the last thing I remember about that night, was seeing him and the birthday girl exchanging numbers...bummer. So I assumed my friend was right, and I left it at that.

Fast forward agin to a week and we're at another dance. This time we bumped into each other in the hall way,  just as he had arrived with his 'date'- my pretty friend aka 'the birthday girl'.
However, his pretty date suggested something that changed the corse of the whole night, and our whole lives.

She said "I need to go to the loo..." Ok, it was more what she said in the next part... "go dance with these girls" (as in me, my sister and friends).  So he did. That's when it happened.

 It could have been my dancing, my quick whit, or the way I scoffed down a huge macca's meal in front of him later in the evening that could have done it, but it was done. He was smitten, and fell madly in love with me. ;)
I know for me, it was the way he made me laugh... all night, his smooth dance moves and the way he pulled off  his famous silly cross eyed trick... the same one that you kids love to see. Yep, I fell for it too.

Now don't worry, daddy wasn't a 'player' nor mummy a 'date wrecker.' Sure he ditched his original date that night, spend the whole night with me and then invited me to tag along with them to Macca's after the dance (which I gladly accepted), but that date was doomed from the start and quite frankly, I saved them both from the awkwardness of a bad date. Joe, you're welcome.

Your dad was quick to act. Did I mention he was smitten??? The next day he called me and organised a date. I had no idea what he had planned, which was probably a good thing because it was roller-blading. I suck at roller-blading. But that turned out to be a big plus, because he had to hold my hand the whole night- smooth move,very smooth. We spend the whole night laughing, falling, talking, and laughing some more. It was the most comfortable first date i'd ever been on. There were no awkward silent moments... none.

Kids that's how I knew. No, it wasn't  that I knew this was the guy I was going to marry (El, I expect you go on several dates with the guy... several! Before making any marriage revelations!), but I knew he would make a hell of a great friend... a best friend. Of course,  a 'best friend' equates to marriage potential- but that term sounded a whole less scarier when your 19.

Anyway, the rest is history. He did become my best friend and always will be. He is still making me laugh, fall (head over heels for him ;) and though he doesn't talk as much as he did on that first date, I sure make up for it. There are those silent moments, but they're still not awkward. Instead, they're nice and welcoming and all that matters is that we're in each other's company.

But the best thing that came out of this riveting 'Carms and Joe's love story' is you both. Your cheekiness, adventurous, cleverness, kindness, selflessness, and compassionate sides of you two, are all from him. Oh, and both your smiles. When you smile, your whole face smiles- mouth, eyes and all. Just like daddy.  It's because of him I have such wonderful children. No-one else could have given me my Elena and Noah just the way you are. But of course, your daddy has me to thank for both your good looks and olive complexion. ;)

 Well Kids,  that's my version of how I met your father. Feel free to ask your dad to fill in all the gaps and hear his version. It's quite interesting. Also, ask him if he really knew who was who between tia Mima and myself for the first part. ;)