Annie and Patrick met like many couples do, on Hinge. Their relationship started off as a slow burn. Annie wasn’t quite ready to meet the man of her dreams and Patrick was not yet the man of her dreams. Once they committed though, they’ve never looked back.

The connections were uncanny—kids at the same school, both having sobriety journeys, parallel experiences while at UT, love for country music and snow skiing, and frequenting the same Austin spots.

On their third date, a hike in Commons Ford Park, something that became a regular activity for them, they sat on a bench after, in a place of comfort and contentment-knowing this was different.

Their 4th date included meeting Annie’s entire family at the Paramount Christmas Party…Moving quickly became a trend…

Their relationship really began to grow when they found their mutual love for snow skiing. They went skiing in Park City 3 times in 3 months. The last trip found them skiing double black diamond bowls together, motivating and challenging one another with every turn.

Annie got Patrick’s attention first. She was the one who liked his photo, commenting with “Cool, I’m in it for the crazy” on one he had of himself with his kids. Patrick, always intentional with every word and action, was immediately intrigued and asked her what she was looking for. She responded with “Eventually, I’m looking for a huge house full of kids…but not for a year or two” Patrick, fortunately, only caught the middle of her sentence and was hooked. The patient persistence and calm confidence he had pursuing Annie was exactly what she needed. On that first date, at Better Half Coffee, she found his kindness and wit charming, and quickly rearranged her plans to have dinner with him the next night.

It wasn’t long before they realized how special their bond was and they introduced the family. They needed to assess, with focused intention, whether they really could handle the crazy together. With Patrick bringing three daughters to the relationship— Jean (11), Goldie (7) and Birdie (7) and Annie bringing her three— Twila (7), Wes (5) and Wyatt (3), life kept getting better.

Three months into their relationship they took all their kids on a trip to Cozumel for Spring Break. Patrick got scuba certified and they discovered another hobby they both had a lot of love for. Annie couldn’t help but continue to fall in love when Patrick scaled a balcony to rescue Wyatt after he locked himself in the master suite.

Patrick and Annie’s bond grew from strong communication, open mindedness and willingness to challenge each other to be their best selves—whether in life, as parents or during Crossfit, which is how they start most days together.

So much of the love was built around being parents and the kids. When they first said I love you to each other, all the kids were there. It was just a random Saturday afternoon on one of those perfect days of doing nothing, playing at the pool and watching movies. The chaos of having 6 kids was their happy place and the love grew. Trips to Lake Tahoe, Port Aransas, and to Zed’s Ice Cream or the Farmer’s Market on the ebikes—all these included the kids.

Patrick and Annie are beyond thrilled to be sharing their love and blended family with all of you this coming January. With hot coffee and hot toddy’s the Texas winter brunch Darty (day party) wedding is going to be a continued celebration of their love with all their favorite people.