Archive for the ‘love & marriage’ Category
Happy Anniversary!
Well, I think I'm in this pregnancy for the LONG haul. Scott and I celebrated our second anniversary (we were married 7/6/5 
last night at this super amazing restaurant. OMG, it was AMAZING. It was food art. No wine, alas – I believe it would have been FINE to have just a glass, but didn't want to risk the looks I'd get imbibing in public at 38 weeks pregnant!
For the curious, here's a link to a review of this place. It's officially the nicest – and most expensive! – meal I've ever had.
Anyway, I figure if my water didn't break at one of the nicest restaurants in Phoenix, it ain't gonna anytime soon! 
We went for it and had the seven-course tasting menu (a leisurely 3 hour dining experience). At the end of the meal, they presented us with cards congratulating us on our anniversary and the details of our meal, which went as follows:
Amuse
Tomatillo Carpaccio, Baby White Asparagus, Mexican Crema & Caviar
Wood Grilled TOCA Squash Puree
Aji Amarillo Scented Cotton Candy, Wild Boar Bacon Nuggets, Rio Zape Beans & Maitake Mushrooms
Lettuces Hand Picked by the Children of Gila River Crossing School
Locally Picked Tiny Greens, Artisan Date Cake, Timbale of Heirloom Tomatoes & Sobrasada, Ash Goat Cheese & Blood Orange Vinaigrette
Dried Mango & Sandalwood Dusted Lion’s Paw Baja Scallops
Slow Roasted Salsify Root, Ojo de Cabra Mud, Wilted Field Mache & Fennel Pollen Drizzle
Slow Braised Lobster Tail
Butter Basted Lobster Tail, Lobster Coral, Avocado Mousse, Tear Drop Tomato Salsa on Third Generation Fry Bread
Intermezzo
Berry & Wheatgrass Sorbet
Kurobuta Pork Tenderloin Rubbed with Toasted Ground “Fair Trade” Coffee & Pueblo Hatch Chiles
Tian of Pan Flashed Chard Leaves, Dried Fruit Crostini, Crisp Plantains & Natural Juices
Dry Aged Snake River Farms Filet Mignon with Cabrales Queso Crumbles
Posole & Desert Succotash Hash, Golden Raisin Compote & Cabernet Reduction
Cheese Course
Chilled Hand Towels Scented with Lavender
Fire Roasted Local Corn Brulee & Warm Fry Bread
Cuitlacoche Biscotti, Candied Pecans, Carmel and Strawberries
—————————————
Absolutely everything about this feast was delicious – my non-adventurous palate even experienced the lobster and scallop (seafood is something I typically avoid). Scott and I agreed, however, that should we return we would absolutely select the pork tenderloin for our main courses. The flavors of that dish were orgasmic. Mmmmmm.
I also particularly loved the squash soup and the greens. I'd like to try the Mexican Chocolate Souffle next time – it seems to be a really popular choice. Not on the menu is the tasty traditional flat bread (made with ancho chilies) served with our meal – accompanied by olive oil made from olives harvested on the reservation and pressed locally.
Marry a man who…
I found myself telling M (age 18) yesterday that she should make sure the man she marries decides it is important to budget for regular housecleaning service (because he thinks you have better things to do). Yes! My amazing hubby thinks that way!
Then last night, Scott goes and says something like this:
"I like a little fat better than skinny."
And I realized I need to be keeping track of these gems and NEVER take my boy for granted. 
So far the list, then, looks like this:
Make sure you marry a man who…
… decides it is important to budget for regular housecleaning service.
… likes your butt even MORE when it's a size or four larger than it was when he met you.
QotD: I Dunno, Where Do You Want To Go?
When you go out to eat, how do you pick where to go?
Submitted by Kristine.
Scott: "Where do you want to eat tonight?"
Me: "Ahhhh, I dunno. What sounds good to you?"
(Translation: How about you make a bunch of suggestions and I'll shoot them all down?)
It's amazing how land mine-infested this simple decision can be! Especially if we're actually hungry by the time we've arrived at this point. Munching on protein bars while discussing the problem is usually well advised.
It's all much easier when we're taking the kids out to eat. Then it's all about affordability!!
Multiply life by the power of two
Thinking (sentimentally) of my wonderful hubby as Valentine's Day approaches:
You know the things that I am afraid of
I'm not afraid to tell
And if we ever leave a legacy
It's that we loved each other well……Adding up the total of a love that's true
Multiply life by the power of two.>> Full lyrics
I love you, sweetie. I thought you might enjoy this romantic song – it even has a little math geek twist!
Burned. Out. (And good stuff, too.)
Work: Lots of projects and deadlines. I need to get more done, faster. This entry is not helping. But all the little stuff I've been wanting to post about has been intruding on my focus, so blogging right now is actually good for the big work picture. Yep. It's true.
Health: Most of the kids are sick with a cold, one which Scott and I are desperately begging our immune systems to repel. I'm almost 14 weeks pregnant. Food sounds good again. Haven't felt the baby move yet, but hoping I will notice it any day now. My energy levels have improved over the past few weeks, except I'm draining the reserve as quickly as it replenishes, because…
Evenings: Have been hell. Neurofeedback or orthdontist or parent teacher conferences were scheduled EVERY NIGHT for the past TWO weeks. And some days, there have ALSO been daytime doctor appointments. I'm a sloth. My body and my psyche are not used to this treatment. Thankfully a more normal routine is set to commence next week.
Good news: For the past three years, HM's teachers have recommended her for the school district's gifted program. She just tested again (CogAT) last week and this time she qualified with a 95th percentile score in verbal reasoning (that's my girl!). She's been wanting to participate in this program – it's a full day, once per week – so she's pretty excited and proud of herself.
More good news: I think B's neurofeedback sessions are making a difference! Even her younger sisters have been observing positive behavior changes. She seems to have more energy, is more alert, more confident, more peaceful and calm. She doesn't mumble as much and she seems to hear/listen with less effort than before.
B commented the other day, when she was coming down with this cold, that even though she felt miserable that day, she felt like she could handle her schoolwork. Usually she struggles to cope with her schoolwork even when perfectly healthy. Then today I reminded her to take her medicine before school and she said, "I really don't think I need it today." Hmmm. I let her go without it – will be interesting to see how she felt today.
Of course, time will tell exactly how these changes impact her performance in math, but I'm optimistic. She has a lot of catching up to do, but she's always been bright, in spite of the ADHD fog, and she works hard.
My amazing husband: CupCate's wifey entry has inspired me to blog a little public husband appreciation. The last couple weeks, with so much work and so many late nights and schedule juggling to make the appointments work out – and all the stress that goes along with that – well, it's been as hard on my boy as it's been on me. But he's hugged me lots and lots when I was grumpy, had dinner all but ready several nights when we got home after 7 pm and has just generally been there for me in all kinds of ways big and small. He's always like that, but he did try extra hard, especially this past week.
And he never, ever treats me or talks about me like "the ball and chain" (even when I'm acting like it). He says I'm his wife like he's honored by the association.
Deciding to grow old with him is the best idea I ever had. (He'll point out it was his idea first and that's true, so technically I suppose I should say it's the best idea I ever consented to.
My man is the best.
QotD: It was Kismet
How did you meet your current, or most recent, significant other?
For our first date, my boy suggested we meet at the Phoenix Zoo. And so we did one Sunday morning in February (February mornings in Phoenix are lovely, by the way).
It was a perfect, perfect location for a first date. We could stroll, we could sit and talk – it was easy to fill those inevitable awkward pauses observing bald eagles or giraffes or ostriches.
About a month later we met up there again with the kids for their first meeting.
And then, later that summer, we got married!
Scott and me (and Ohio State)
This one is for my dad-in-law who said the only thing missing here is pic of Scott and me. It just so happens that my brother took one of us when we were in Ohio earlier this week that turned out… okay.
We were having lunch at Applebee's in Chillicothe. It's appropriate that the Ohio State memorabilia features so prominently in this photo because let me tell you they are in a FRENZY there gearing up for the national championship game (to be played right here in AZ of course .
Having lived in the area most of my life and being Ohio State alumnus (Class of 1991) myself, I wasn't at ALL surprised. I think Scott found it all very curious, though – this level of insanity. The plane on the way home yesterday was PACKED with fans headed to Phoenix for the game next week. And since one of the flight attendants was a Buckeye fan, we were treated to some Ohio chants and marching band music from TBDBITL over the PA system. What fun!
Also news crews are starting to head out here. We boarded the plane and, as I watched a man walking to his seat in the row directly behind us, I thought to myself: "That guy looks a lot like Jerry Revish [evening news co-anchor, Channel 10, Eyewitness News]. Nah. He'd surely be in first class, right?" So I dismissed that idea.
Then about 5 minutes later, his co-anchor Andrea Cambern walks up the aisle and takes her seat next to him.
I was a little geeked about it, I have to admit. It was fun to listen to them talk shop a bit.
Mom to 4 kids and 2 stepkids, I am a writer writing in the heart of chaos. I am the co-founder and former editor of 
