Archive for the ‘anniversary’ tag
Celebration weekend
I love July 4! Not only is it a long weekend this year, but it’s also my 40th birthday and today, the 6th, is our third wedding anniversary (and Jake’s 11 month birthday!).
I’ve been having a wonderful weekend. I miss my girlies, but I had a nice long talk with each of them when they called to wish me happy birthday and they were just SO sweet. I’m enjoying the quiet time, but I also can’t WAIT until they are home! They are having a blast with their grandma and that part of their family (which is HUGE and close knit) and I’m glad about that, though.
Scott is totally indulging me – he helped me get a pedicure on Friday after we had dinner at my favorite little Italian restaurant. Yummy! Then we came home and relaxed, watched Nova (about how fireworks are made and displayed – we’re such GEEKS!). Then we watched the Tempe Town Lake fireworks on TV heh. Which was nice because the weather was very iffy at fireworks time – lots of wind, dust and lightening. Eventually the storm blew north of the city, but it was touch and go for a couple hours. I’m just as happy we weren’t out in that.
Yesterday, we had our anniversary luncheon (our anniversary is today, but we wanted to spend Sunday being lazy around the house). We found a little wine bistro called D’Vine that isn’t too far from our house. We went around 1 pm and it was perfect. We were the only ones there and Jake was a dream baby. we started him off with some Cheerios, but as soon as our tapas arrived, he was having NONE of that. He wanted to eat our yummy food. He basically ate one third of it, too! We even ordered him his own entree he is getting to be such a hearty self-feeder! Besides eating a substantial portion of what we ordered him, he also shared a bit of OUR entrees, plus dessert. We couldn’t believe how much that boy put away! Here was the menu:
stuffed mushroom
marinated grilled portabella stuffed with a blend of cheeses, roasted garlic, red onions and bacon
fried artichoke
beer battered artichoke hearts lightly fried and drizzled with a chipotle aioli
Jake had the
grilled cheese “samich” (with gruyere)
your choice of gruyere, cheddar or havarti with a basil butter; served with french fries)
Scott and I had the
pork tenderloin
chipotle marinated pork tenderloin, grilled and sliced then served with green chili mashed potatoes, sautéed vegetables then finished with a red chimichuri sauce
Peach cobbler a la mode for dessert
After that, we went to the jewelry store to get my wedding set cleaned up, Scott’s ring re-sized and re-engraved (it’s too big) and look at mama rings. We decided not to get a mama ring yet, but this ring instead:

The rubies represent July – my birthstone, as well as the month we were married. Three stones represent our three years of marriage. So it’s a combo 40th birthday/3 year anniversary ring. Scotty has the mama ring in reserve for some other holiday someday lol. It’s at the jewelers being re-sized right now. I’ll get it on Friday.
Today we’re hanging out at home, doing our own cookin’ and probably taking Jake for a swim.
Looking at pix on camera:

Jake LOVES Dr. Who (especially the theme song and credits)


Jake is 11 months old:

Pat-a-cake with mama:

Sillies:

Teef!

Attack of the hat is a fun game! (This is the split second before he ripped it off lol)

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.
Mom to 4 kids and 2 stepkids, I work at home in the heart of the chaos. Founder and executive editor of SheKnows.com and various other sites. Homeschooling. Knitter. Family chef. Gadget geek. Wordphreak. LAZY BLOGGER.