How We Celebrated...

How else do we celebrate special events? With food, of course!

We spread our anniversary celebration over more than one day. On Saturday we enjoyed an afternoon downtown - at least we did after we finally got checked into our hotel. We stayed at the Conrad for the night because we got a great room deal and we stayed there the night of our wedding. We had to wait almost two hours before checking into our room, which was somewhat irritating to me. But ANYWAY, we ate dinner at The Oceanaire, which is our absolute favorite restaurant in Indy. They gave us a special menu that is currently at Hobby Lobby being framed. It will be perfect for the dining room!

On Monday, our actual anniversary, I recreated our reception dinner (with the exception of the asparagus because Kroger had a lackluster selection and I was too lazy to try another grocery store). We had walnut-crusted chicken, horseradish mashed potatoes, carrot souffle, and bread. I would like it to be one of our family's traditions to always enjoy this meal on July 7th.

The potatoes were prepared with love (love for my husband and love for this pan) in our new Le Creuset pan that my parents gave us as an anniversary present. WOOOO-HOOOO!

Our wedding cake was still a tasty morsel! I feared its condition because I was pretty sure I didn't take much care in wrapping it up as we were frantically packing for our honeymoon, but the cake was frost-free and not as dry as I imagined. I think Big Lou must have done it for me, because I don't think my wrapping job would have yielded the same results.

In other news, we had a low-key weekend which was much needed after the ridiculous week we both had at work. Ai-yi-yi. I am going to study the rest of the night and try not to be too excited for Landon, Megan, Lori, Baleigh, and Lou to come and visit this week!! Don't worry, I'll blog about it. (And there will be 3 other blogs with the exact same pictures...)

One Year!

"When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie..."

Larissa teaches Stormabrewin' some moves

"John Mellencamp!!"

Happy Anniversary to us!

This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land...

Happy 4th of July everyone! We had a great holiday weekend and hope you did too! At work on Thursday my department had a farewell party for Dan, the self-proclaimed Travel Zeus (I work in Travel Pay...). He's moving to a new area after 12 years of loving his job. After the party we wandered down to the annual company picnic which coincides with the Lawrence street carnival - woo, rah. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) it was pouring so we stayed for about 3 minutes and took off.

Brent's parents stayed with us on Thursday evening and we attended the Star Spangled Symphony on the Prairie. We had another picnic supper and enjoyed a very patriotic symphony performance, complete with an artillery solo during the 1812 Overture and a great fireworks show. They played the traditional marches for all five branches of the military, and wouldn't you know I just had to tear up at the sight of all the old veterans standing as their different marches were played. I'm a sucker for a WWII or Vietnam vet...makes me cry everytime. I don't think Larry and Diane knew what to do. I wanted to say, "It's okay, this is just what I do...I'm a crier." Eh, they'll figure it out eventually. After all, Brent and I have only been married a year... :)

Classic.

"Pay no attention to The Man with the Giant Flag on His Back"

Early on Friday morning we loaded into the car and headed to Carmel High School for the Carmel Freedom Run. Much like the previous day's picnic, it was pouring down rain. Brent's parents opted to hang out at Einstein Brothers' and around mile 3 I wished I was with them. Despite the pouring rain both Brent and I and the Sinders all felt like we finished with good times and were glad we got a morning workout in. Plus, we got an awesome t-shirt.

"I will fight for the right to live in Freeeeeeeedom!" Sing it, Paul McCartney.

On Friday night we went to Carmel again and ate at the Sinders' favorite restaurant, Mudsocks, before heading to Rachel's brother's house to watch fireworks. There were some townhouses in the way so we could really only see the high fireworks, but it was still a great show. I feel pretty lucky to have watched fireworks on two consecutive nights this year!




The 4th of July always reminds me of going to Ma-Ma's house with all the cousins and swimming our little hearts out. We could see Effingham's fireworks from Ma-Ma's front yard so we never had to go anywhere. I have a great 4th of July Ma-Ma pool picture from 17-18 years ago that I will post once I get it scanned.

"Oh beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,

Who more than self our country loved

And mercy more than life

America, America may God thy gold refine

Til all success be nobleness

And every gain devine"

The Weekend Update

Since we're now ready for another weekend, I guess I need to update the blog with last weekend's activities. I swore to myself I would be a better blogger this summer...so I guess it's good that it's still June and I have time to redeem myself!

Last Friday I picked up chicken salad on croissants and potato salad from the Illinois Street Food Emporium in Broad Ripple and we headed up to Conner Prairie for the opening night of Symphony of the Prairie. Mom, Dad and Stormy met us and we enjoyed a great picnic supper (including the great strawberry cake from The Bagel Station in Fort Fun) while listening to the musical stylings of ABBA: The Hits. Mom, Stormy and I went down to the stage to dance at the end - Bob and Brent would have rather sat in a dentist's chair.

These very blonde, fair children were actually from Sweden. I think. Notice the Swedish flags...very cute.

On Saturday we went to the wedding of Emily Moeller and Scott Harding. Emily and I met on our European adventure during Jan Term of 2004 and Scott also attended Manchester. Fun fact - Brent and I also work with Scott now and see him often in our building of 4,000 people! Their very nice reception was held downtown at the Skyline Club downtown.

The bride and I in Vienna

The bride and I on top of the Eiffel Tower...it was windy up there!

It's fixin' to storm somethin' turrble here! I must go now and prepare for the next fun weekend...which includes a grill-out tomorrow at our house with the Sinders' and spa appointments on Sunday when Big Lou and Stormy's Farewell Tour comes through the Circle City. Check this link on Sunday or Monday for an update on the tour. It promises to be entertaining!

And because I am already yearning for a new episode of The Office, I leave you with another classic line...

Today's a very special day for me. And it's really not about me. It's about my grandkids, it's about my great grandkids... I can come back here when I'm one hundred and I can find that piece of cement and say, "That's me. Look kids, your daddy left that face hole." I dunno. It's a good feeling. Michael Scott

Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!

Meet Miss Peyton Margaret. She was born June 2nd to my friend Christi, another proud member of the Ex-BKD Girls' Club. Carrie, Candy and I visited the little peanut and her momma on Saturday and brought lunch. She is such a good baby I almost forgot she was there at times...she never made a peep! Congratulations, Christi and Jay! She's a pumpkin!

One if by land, Two if by sea...

The next fun summer event occurred the next weekend, the first weekend in June. I took a half-day at work on Friday and flew to Boston to see Mel! It was just a quick weekend trip, but we were pretty determined to do as much as we could...and we did, we really did.

My flight got in later than planned (a common theme of the air travel on this trip), so after Mel picked me up from the airport we enjoyed a glass of wine on her awesome roof deck and then headed to the Florentine Cafe for a late dinner of lobster ravioli and all the bread they would bring us. Mel's apartment is in the North End near the Old North Church, Paul Revere's house, and close to Boston Harbor. Sound cool? That's because it is. Her apartment happens to be in a very Italian district, which means all the pasta, cannolli, and gelato you can stand.

A view of Mel's street and the church where Rose Kennedy's funeral was held

Mel walking down her street

Saturday was filled with the complete walking tour of Boston. Since I'm her seven or eighth visitor (or more, Mel?) since she moved out there last summer, her tour-guide abilities have become pretty advanced. Sights of the day were: Beacon Hill, Boston Common, the public gardens, Hahvard, some Kate Spade shopping on Newbury Street (which includes incredible self-control with NOT buying an insanely-expensive bag that I had almost talked myself into), Cheers, and....well lots of other stuff. Other highlights of the day were: eating pastries for breakfast at the famous Mike's Pastry down the street from her apartment and drinking a Sam Adams while looking at Sam Adams - his grave, anyway.

Getting the day started off right.

We were loving these flowers...I have to get some! Is it true they're called Allium? Anyone know how hardy they are...I'm prone to killing things from neglect :(
George Washington statue in the Public Gardens

Thank you, Mr. Adams, here's one for you!

Now, maybe I'm being juvenile, but do you think that Mr. John Hancock's tombstone is unnecessarily phallic? Look at the shape, the wording on the stone, the last name...seems like someone is messing with us. Maybe we just need to grow up...you be the judge

The steps of Harvard's library

Another view of Harvard. I've wanted to get a Harvard Law degree ever since Legally Blonde. Good reason, eh? Well, since that's probably never going to happen, I bought a t-shirt at the bookstore instead. Close enough.

Saturday was also insanely hot and humid, so we rested for awhile back at the apt. until we met Mel's friend Donca for dinner at Legal's Seafood. Legal's is famous for the clam chowder that is served at every Presidential Inaugural Ball. It was delish. I asked for the kettle and a ladle instead of just a bowl - hey, I'm only in Boston once - but fortunately for my pants they didn't bring it to me.

The $200 Catch of the Day. No thanks, just clam chowder for me, please!

After dinner, we met some more of Mel's very lovely grad school friends and headed to the Top of the Hub for martinis. This is the highest observation deck in Boston and was very, very cool. We finished the night at the Cactus Club then cabbed it home.

Top of the Hub!

Foreigners in Baaaahston - Lindsey and Mel from Indiana, Betty from Toronto, and Donca from Connecticut

We slept in on Sunday and then had lunch at The Purple Shamrock near the oldest street in America. I had the lobster roll, another New England delicacy, and topped it off with vanilla gelato. Have any of you blog readers out there noticed that this blog revolves around food? Okay, I thought so. I'm sure of my point when I mention this...maybe I just realized it myself. ANYWAY, I had to be at the airport around 3-ish, so the rest of the short afternoon was spent down at the harbor and strolling the North End. Thanks for your hospitality, Mel!!! I plan to do everything in my power to make it there one more time before you're done with grad school!

A shot of a festival that happens most weekends in the summer on Mel's street. It's a religious festival, but this "band" plays the Godfather theme song each time. Something's not right about that...