Francisco & I had been dating for seven years. We bought a house in 2009. We both knew each other's schedule, so I knew that I would "know" when he planned to pop the question. Boy, was I wrong.

He told me we were going to musical and dinner in LA. I have to admit I questioned that evening, but as soon as we got in the car I shrugged it off. There's no way I thought, when would he even have time to buy the ring?

We arrived at the restaurant. Buca di Beppo has been our all time favorite since that first date.  It literally takes us minutes to decide what we will be devouring (if we haven't already decided on the way there).  Well this night was different.  I ran a five mile trail run just to make room for the calories and I was starving.  But, Cisco told the waiter not once, not twice, but three times that "we" needed another minute.  He kept looking at his watch and appeared nervous.  I shrugged it off again.  Then, he gets up.  Pats the booth seat and tells me to slide over. He got down on one knee and I immediately began to tear up.  Almost eight wonderful years later, he asked me to marry him!

He then said he knew how important my family was to me.  And at that very moment they were walking into the restaurant to celebrate with us. He whispers in my ear, "show your mom, she's the only one who doesn't know." As I look up my dad, brother, sister, and my niece have a huge smile on their face.  Cisco had arranged a limo to pick them up and drive them to City Walk. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner full of laughs.  My dad and brother shared how two months prior Cisco took them out to Ruth's Chris (another favorite) and asked for their blessing.  Ezmie shared how she was a ruse the day he picked up the ring.

After dinner the limo driver drove us all to the Pantages theatre to watch a musical.  It truly was a night full of love and one I will never forget.

They say it takes a village to raise a child well it takes a family to pull off a surprise engagement.  Me and Val are pretty traditional so even though I wanted to to be unique I also wanted to do traditional things when I popped the question.  So, dinner at Buca and getting down on one knee was a given but I wanted to incorporate her family and something fun.  This is where the family comes in.  My little Sis, Ezmie, was my co-planner from picking the date to arranging everything with the Garcia family.  Papa Garcia and Jr. where also vital in getting everyone ready without letting Mama Garcia find out.  I didn't think Mama Garcia would be able to hold her excitement until the day of the engagement and I also wanted it to be special for her too.  After the months of planning the day of the engagement was both stressful and exhilarating.  If not for text messaging the surprise would only have made it to the waiting area of Buca.  Keeping it a secret to the end involved me drawing Val's attention to some random object in Buca and Ezmie getting everyone out of the limo and away from the front doors.  Thanks again Sis!