In November 2022, Chris decided that Julia would be his future wife. He spent five months trying to get her attention by nonchalantly walking past her office at least ten times a day, bringing her breakfast, surprising her with her favorite snacks, and staying an extra two hours at work so that he could stay for Julia’s whole shift. We went days without eating dinner because we would sit in the car in the work parking lot talking until at least 11 pm every night. Finally, Julia said yes to a first date when Chris tricked her. He told her he had tickets to a Ray’s game, but that his dad had cancelled on him, and asked if she would go with him. In total, we watched about 5 minutes of the game because we never stopped talking.

For those who do not know, Chris is a chef. This is the meal Chris made to ask Julia to be his girlfriend. Filet with a mushroom, red wine reduction, homemade mashed potatoes, and broccolini. How could she say no when she saw the way he cooks a filet to perfection and understands her love for red wine?

This is the day Julia met the kids for the first time at the Tampa Zoo. Elijah was instantly attached and wanted her to carry him the whole time. Olivia and Julia bonded when they chased each other around the playground. All four of us ended the day in the splash zone with no change of clothes, but we didn’t care. We were having too much fun.

Our first sleepover at Julia’s house. The pool was such a hit that Olivia fell asleep on top of Julia beside the pool.

We could only get Elijah out of the pool by bribing him with Oreos and cuddles.

Chris’s first time on a plane was going to New York to meet Julia’s family. The first day they got there, almost all of Julia’s family members and even her neighbors came over. It is an understatement to say the experience was overwhelming.

Fun fact: A car ride with us is a concert. Now Olivia can sing every word to No Cure and Heavy Eyes by Zac Bryan.

Our first 5 K only took us 3 hours because Olivia refused to ride in the stroller and wanted to be held the entire way. Julia almost fainted from carrying a one-year-old in 85-degree heat, but a nice woman gave her a fan because she could see Julia was about to faint.

Chris’s first time seeing snow

Chris learned how to do Universal the Mustico way, including going on Hagrid’s 15 times and posing for the camera.

Our first Gasparilla. Chris even let Julia braid his hair.

Our first anniversary. Julia convinced Chris to eat snails that night.

We found out that day that the couple's massage at the Hard Rock is our happy place. Chris apologizes to everyone who had to listen to him snore after we fell asleep on the daybed.

The kids’ first trip to the aquarium. We still have not mastered looking at the camera at the same time.

Five seconds after this picture was taken, a giant stingray came up to the glass, and Olivia cried for the rest of the time. She would not watch Finding Dory for months.

Chris proposed on The Starship Cruise in Clearwater. Both of us were so nervous and excited that we couldn't remember what Chris said during the proposal. We will never forget the sound of the entire ship cheering after Julia said yes.

We danced the night away, and people kept asking us for pictures with us. We felt like celebrities.

The 90-degree weather wasn't going to stop us from having a good time at the Zac Bryan concert. Chris had one too many seltzers that night, and while we were waiting outside for an Uber, he cried about how much he loved Julia.

When life gives you hurricanes, go to Universal. P.S. Do not wear a black and white striped dress to Universal City Walk right after the sequel to Beetlejuice is released. People WILL make jokes.

Hurricane Milton blew us all the way to New York. Chris was ready to bunker down like a real Floridian, but Julia panicked. He was not upset once he learned how much better apples are when they are fresh off the tree.

This is our first time trick-or-treating together. The kids' excitement was palpable.

Year two of the Alzheimer’s 5 K, we came prepared with a wagon, water, fan lanyards, and fans for the wagon.

Last Christmas, Julia’s place in Chris’s family was solidified when she was gifted her first ornament, and his mother made her a homemade stocking.

Both Julia and Chris received a yearly ornament since they were born. Last Christmas, they combined them for their first joint Christmas tree.

The year Chris got his first pair of Mustico Christmas jammies.

Our engagement party is better than we could have imagined. Thank you to everyone who made the day so special.

Fun fact: Julia had to force Chris to wear these pants. After receiving numerous compliments, he finally accepted that Julia has a better style.

Don’t worry, the babies got their own pair of Christmas pajamas.

Our first Buccaneers game together. We had to switch seats to avoid Chris from getting into a fight with a Washington fan.

Julia’s parents had a very eventful first Gasparilla. They finally got to see Chris’s legendary dance moves.

Fun fact: Julia’s ring is a family heirloom. It belonged to Chris’s great-aunt Peggy.

We may have come to the Strawberry Festival as a family of four, but we left as a family of seven. R.I.P. to our fishes, Chief, La Jefa, and The Don.