Thirteen Years and an Anniversary Dinner.

Today was our thirteenth anniversary. In so many ways it seems like time has flown by and I can't believe we've been married 13 years already. In other ways, it feels like we have always been together and I can't imagine a time without Rick and the family we've created. I guess both are good :)

We spent Saturday morning at the house looking at the driveway AGAIN. We can't seem to get it just right and this is the 4th time we've moved / changed it. The first three times were because the stone mason didn't follow the plan but this last one was exactly the plan and we still didn't feel like it was just right - so we tweaked it a bit and both feel good about it. It's a big, long driveway with a large parking area (that will double as a basketball "court"). We want to make sure we get it just the way we want it.

After that we went to look at lights and bath fittings (towel rods, toilet paper holders, etc) - which was totally unproductive. I think I'm through traipsing from store to store for these things and will get the rest of the things I need online. Even if I end up sending some back it's got to be more efficient to get them that way.

Just in case we began to think that romance was dead we did plan for a dinner at a restaurant I've been wanting to try for a couple of years. It just so happens that we now live very close to The Schoolhouse at Cannondale, so it made for a perfect place for our anniversary dinner.

It's small - but doesn't seem cramped, just intimate and cozy.

The food was absolutely perfect. The service was also wonderful, they'd put "Happy Anniversary" on the top of our menu - I always like when places do that. They were prompt and attentive without being a nuisance - a delicate balance, I say.

I ordered my favorite - beet salad. It came with the typical variety of beets, thinly shaved radishes, and the smoothest ricotta cheese I've ever tasted, sunflower seeds and a great dressing. So good! 
We also shared a cheese plate that included a Tasmanian cheese with honeycomb that I really liked and not just because it was Australian. 

For my Main I ordered the venison, which was melt in my mouth tender, with kale and butternut squash puree. It was all perfect and made even better by the crisp fall air outside. It just felt comforting.For dessert we ordered chocolate souffle for two with cinnamon ice cream and a bourbon caramel sauce.

It was a wonderful dinner, which was fitting because it's been a pretty darn wonderful thirteen years.

Who Has The Sweetest Husband Ever?

I do! I do!

Valentine's Dinner

I like to make Sunday dinners special. Rick doesn't eat with us through the week and Rebekah is often not home by dinner time on weekday evenings, so on the weekend I love having the whole family together for dinner. Saturday is usually more casual and so busy with all the kids sports that we often go out - so on Sundays I really like to have a nice sit down, whole family meal.

Since the day before Valentine's Day was a Sunday I decided to add a few extra touches to dinner. We had a Family Home Evening lesson in the afternoon - it's the one we traditionally have right before Valentine's Day about the Good Samaritan and loving our neighbors. We decorated heart shaped sugar cookies and then Rick took the kids to deliver them & while they were out I sprung into action!

Really, I only did a few extra things...
I had made little place cards and put them on the plates, I used goblets instead of glasses and we had sparkling pink lemonade. I lit candles in the middle of the table.

When the kids came home it was all set up. Emily walked into the dining room and I saw her notice the table .... it was delightful to watch her face as she saw the candles, drinks and place cards. First she looked a little puzzled and then a slow smile spread across her face as she recognized that something special was going on.

I didn't really do anything different for dinner. We usually have something nicer on Sundays anyway. We had Honey Baked Chicken (they all love that) green beans, and rice pilaf.

For dessert I did make Creme Brulee. I love Creme Brulee, it's my favorite dessert! I haven't made it in forever and I don't think the younger kids have ever had it before. They were fascinated with the blow torch and all really liked it.

Mmmmmmm!

I had leftover custard, so I made an extra in this small pyrex dish (and it became my "bonus" dessert!) Like I said - I LOVE Creme Brulee!!

I had cut out a bunch of card stock hearts and after dinner we all wrote out hearts to each other. We each took 5 hearts and made one for each other member of the family - writing something you loved about them, or a talent or quality you thought they had.

I loved seeing them put a lot of thought into what they would write about each other.

Rick helped Jane with some of hers, giving her some spelling tips!

This one had to be one of my favorites.

I love snuggling you to Janie!

We all had a great dinner and it was a good reminder to me that it doesn't require much to make a family memory. I am so lucky to have this family, I sure love you guys!

Millie & Cody

One of Millie's littermates (a brother) lives in Manhattan. They were born in Colorado & we live 30 minues away from each other - we HAD to make the most of that.

We got in touch & made a date to meet at the dog park on Sunday afternoon.

Millie has lots of "dog friends" in our neighborhood, but has never been to a dog park so I wasn't sure how she'd do. When we first arrived, this black & white dog kept bugging her & nipping at her - but I just watched and waited to see if she could work it out for herself (the other dogs owner never seemed to intervene, which is probably why he was like that.) Finally, it was my kids who stepped in. I think they were worried about her. I could tell the other dog wasn't really hurting her - more just bothering her. The kids started to put themselves in his way & then he left her alone.

Milli's brother is named Cody & he is delightful.

He was so much like Mille - only he's bigger because he's a boy!

Jane & Cody waiting for newcomers.

Jane & Cody wrestling - they really hit it off.

  Millie (left) & Cody (right).

 

A kind lady offered to take a picture of all of us.

 Cody

Cody, Emily & Millie.

It was seriously cold outside, so we stayed at the dog park for a little over an hour. Then Cody's super-nice "parents" asked if we would like to come back to their apartment, where they gave us hot chocolate & cookies (& homemade treats for the dogs.) Anyone who's lived in NY knows what a big deal it is to invite six people and their dog to your apartment, so we really appreciated it.

(Sorry, my camera is having flash issues - so this is a bad picture.)

Thanks for the fun play-date Cody! We had a great time.

We definitely plan on getting together (+ some other Entlebucher's we know) for a BBQ or something at our place in the spring!

Bye Bye Butterfly's

We got home from the dog show to see that 4 of the 5 butterfly's had come out of their chrysalis. There was 1 out before we left but they had all become pupa's on the same day, so I was pretty sure they would all hatch that day.

In all the years we have been doing this (I think this was our 15th year) I have NEVER seen one actually hatch out. I noticed that there was just one left and wandered into the kitchen to put things away. Emily called me and said "Mom, this one's shaking. I think it's going to come out."

I went to look and sure enough - it hatched. It really was quite amazing.

We released them that afternoon.
It was kind of windy, so they didn't stick around much. I should have been more patient & waited until a day with no wind to let them go, but I didn't want to have to bother with getting them food.

Jacob went first. Look at those grubby "little boy" hands.

Emily's did stay on her finger a little longer.

Poor little Janie had two attempts - but both times they flew away as soon as Rick put it on her hand.

The fifth flew away before anyone held it.

Maybe we'll do a second batch later this summer. I'll be patient & we'll let them go on a still day.

The irony is, I want them to fly away. Far, far away - so they don't lay their eggs on my plants.

No caterpillars in my garden please.

Laundry Day (again)

To My Darling Husband,

Thank you so much for the break. I really needed it. Marrying you was the best decision I've ever made! Now I feel ready to get over the denial that summer is over & get this house (& family) whipped into shape and into our new routine.

You are the most wonderful Dad. Thanks for taking such good care of the kids, and for taking them to soccer & the zoo. They had so much fun with you.

Maybe I could just make one suggestion. Vanilla ice cream is ALWAYS better than chocolate - because you know only half of it makes it into their mouths!

T.

Summer Vacation 2009

We weren't really planning a trip this summer. I was pretty content to stick around here this year, but then Rick's brother got engaged to a super-daring girl and we had an instant vacation plan!

The wedding was in California, but we didn't feel like we could go all the way West without a quick stop in Utah to visit family.

First up - COUSINS!

We only stopped in Salt Lake for 2 days - so it was all craziness all the time.

I saw a sign once that said "Grandma's house; Where cousins become best friends." That is SO true of my kids. They love to see their cousins, and really are great friends.

These guys were all born in an 11 month period. The four of them haven't been all together at once since 2003 (?) because Kate was in Germany for a few years and then Maya was in Australia. It was such fun to have them together. (I know you're jealous of that assortment of teeth!)

Jacob loves Kate.

Everyone loves Sam!

 

Emily adores Mini and really looks up to her. (She's a great example.)

 

Jane and Josh are great friends, and since Sam is the cutest baby around -  he's always welcome too.

 

Of course, we have many more than that (15 on my side) - these were just who I happened to catch when I had my camera out.

Next on the Agenda - Cherry Hill!

Mini and Annabelle

Jacob and Luke loved jumping in backwards -

 

Even though they never seemed to co-ordinate perfectly.

 

Jacob's leaping into the water was so joyful and enthusiastic - made me so happy.

The guys swim together.

 

Seriously, I think this boy spends more time under the water than above it!

 

The girls liked leaping too!

 

The cherry hill cousins!

 

Heading South

We rented a car in Salt Lake and headed south. We met Corinne at BYU and she gave us a brief tour. (Thanks Cori!) Rebekah was staying in Utah while we went to CA, but I had my Mum bring her down so she could see it too. Bek says she'll go to any college except BYU. As we walked around she said "I know what you're doing, and it's not working."

 Well, she may not have been excited about it - but Emily was.

Emily plans on getting a swimming scholarship to BYU. We took her to see the pool but it was undergoing some maintenance and was empty. (It was OK, we used our imaginations.) There were pictures of the swim team on the wall. Em looked at them all with their names and then noticed one said "Team Captain." A girl. "There's a team captain?" she asked. Guess what her new goal is?

These two are such cute buddies. Jane calls him "my Joshy."

 

St. George

Driving from Salt Lake to Oakland, CA via St. George and Vegas is not the best way to drive - unless you really need to visit the Stanley's, which we did!

We sure miss these guys since they left NY - but it has been wonderful to see them a few times since. Erin took us into town to this great little free water play are - the kids thought it was fantastic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are ALWAYS fed well at Erin's. If I didn't already love her so much for the wonderful person she is, I'd visit just for the great food! Back at their place we hung out, ate, talked and let the kids play - DS, in the pool, paper fashions, swimming, jumping on the tramp ....

Jane swimming.

Jane jumping.

Petrea swimming.

Roxcy and Petrea swimming.

This is my favorite picture of the trip;  Jane-oooooo!

 

Emy and Roxcy.

 

Jacob and Colin.

 

As much as we would have liked to just stop there forever, the next morning we set out for Las Vegas.

 After checking into the hotel, we took the kids to M&M world. It's probably a little ridiculous that there's one of these in Times Square and we've never taken them, but candy is really a vacation / holiday thing for us, so there never seemed to be a reason to take them here. Also, if I take them in Vegas - they'll never even know there's one close to our house - so no temptation.

Look at those red little faces. It was DRY and about a THOUSAND DEGREES.

 

We let the kids each get a bag and choose their own colors. I admit - I kind of wanted some too, how can you not just love those tubes of single colors all lined up.

 

Jane is an absolute candy addict - this was heaven on earth for her.

 

I loved seeing the colors they went for - no surprises, but still fun to see together.

Jacob's "water & sand" mix.

We hurried back to the hotel to meet Dena. Actually, our sweaty little kids begged for a quick swim, we had a quick dip and Dena was at our room before us!

This was one of the best nights of the whole trip for me. Dena is the sister of one of my dear friends from here. She lives in Vegas, but has come out to NY a couple of times and earned money for school by babysitting. She is completely delightful and my kids love her. She had gone home to Vegas just a couple of days before our trip - so we were able to arrange for her to babysit Jacob & Jane for us at the Bellagio there. Could not have been more perfect.

We quickly showered & dressed, while Dena got the little guys ready and we just took off - I would have never been able to do that with someone they didn't know or I didn't trust.

Where were we going? The reason for our stop in Vegas was for Rick and I to take Emily to -

 

I forgot to garb the camera to get a picture of the 3 of us at the entrance. Oh well. We all loved it. I couldn't get over the "floor" of the pool that so quickly changed depths. I also kept wondering if they find acrobats and coach their swimming, or great swimmers / divers & teach them acrobatics? As we headed back to our room, Emily said when she grows up she wants to be a swim coach AND a member of Circque du Soleil.

We had planned to head out early the next morning, but there was no way the kids could fathom leaving without another swim in the pools. They were right there - how could we not go?

 

 

The beauty of hitting the pool at 8am when it's just opened, is you pretty much have it to yourselves!

We drove almost without stopping that day, in order to make it to Oakland that night. We did stop in Livermore to meet with family gathering there but our kids were starving and tired, so we hurried onto the hotel to get ready for the wedding the next day.

The Wedding

The Oakland temple was lovely and the day was beautiful. We can't believe that goofy Uncle Don got such a great girl to marry him!

 

As lovely as the wedding was - the kids were not all that excited about the waiting outside and waiting during pictures part!

 

Or smiling into the sun ....

 

They did love the fountain, and tossing in sticks, flowers or whatever else they could grab when I wasn't looking.

 

Congratulations Don & Nichole.

 

The reception provided time for cousin bonding.

 

Um. And a little getting into trouble, cousin bonding!

 

Monterey Bay Aquarium

The next day we drove down to Monterey, where we met up with my friend, Margo. Margo and I met in Bankok in 1972, so she has known me most of my life. I adore her, and have learned a lot from her through our friendship over the years. She also loves the Monterey Bay Aquarium and it was wonderful to combine going there with seeing her again.

My kids are crazy for touch pools. Especially Jacob - who would spend the entire day there if we'd let him.

Darling Margo.

 

Touching the rays.

 

Sea Stars.

We loved the Jellies.

 

 

We all enjoyed a great dinner at a restaurant that jutted out over the water - poor little Jake fell right asleep at the table. When he's done he's done! He did wake up as we left, and we all enjoyed a walk along the beach back to the hotel.

The next day we walked around town and enjoyed the air and all being together. We saw pelicans, seals and sea otters in the bay. That rock is not naturally white - the "decoration" is compliments of the birds!

We took a boat trip out on the water. There were MILLIONS of jellies. I guess there was some huge underwater cavern that has an upflow at that time of year, so the bay was teeming with them. They passed around this one in a jar for a closer look.

 

 

  Emily and I tend to get boat sick - but Jake loves to be on the water!

We loved the seals and sea otters everywhere.

LOTS of them!

Back at the pier there was a bird man.

 

 

 

Nothing is better than throwing rocks .....

 

I need a zoom lens. A seal in the foreground, 2 sea otters playing together behind.

 

 I love seeing my kids run and enjoy being outside.

 

We were just delighted to see the seals, otters and pelicans. So close. This harbor seal was resting on a rock just a little way bit from shore & the walkway.

 

I love being by the ocean, I always feel completely rejuvinated whenever I am by the sea.

We had a great time, but the trip was over. That evening we drove back up to Oakland, and took the flight home to NY.

 

We got home to a lawn that had been attacked 1st by grubs, and secondly by racoons digging for grubs. I was pretty disappointed, because it meant we had to put down chemicals to kill the grubs - after all my work to keep it organic.

Anyway, we killed the while thing, dug it all up and put down new sod. It looks wonderful now and I'll remember to buy nematodes next year! Nothing says "welcome home" like a mini crisis, but school started a couple of days later - so we were quickly forced back into real life.