Sushi's #1 Fan

My family really loves sushi.  Really, really loves it.  It may not surprise some of you but those who know just how crazy picky all of us are you'd understand.   

We did some serious yardwork on Saturday to prepare my parent's backyard for Kelsi and Chris's reception. So we went for sushi afterward....We went to Takara.

The sushi really really hit the spot.  It was extra delicious this time!

Even this boy came with us this time! It was his first time.  I can't tell you how nervous I was to have him join us!  When I love something and share the glorious thing with someone else if they say anything negative about it I throw a fit.  I gave Daren a little talkin to on our way there.  Every step of the way in the ordering/eating process I turned to him and said just don't say anything bad.  But after he ate the ever so wonderful Mexican Crunch Roll he was like wow that was really good.  Oh I was so happy.  He ate his entire box...I'm so proud of my husband, am I silly for being this enthusiastic?! It made me love him just that much more!!!!

In other news, I completed my dress last Thursday.  yay! I want to just sew everything now, I did before this but it's even worse now.  It didn't really turn out that great hahaha...it's a little big and the back where the zipper is it's a little uneven but to the average eye it'll be just fine!

Long Time No See..

We've been busy.  Kind of... I don't know what we've been up to but I feel like I have been super busy. 

It was Michael's 17th birthday in February(hahaha, it was a month ago oh good grief) I made him his cake.  He is definitely my bigger little brother. He has been going and doing things with me.  He's my new little(bigger...) buddy.  AJ is too teenagery and wants only his friends. It's fine. I love my brothers!

Daren has been fishing, fishing, fishing.... Seriously, he works Mon-Thurs when he has Friday off he fishes Friday and Saturday and an occasional Sunday(when I haven't convinced him that it is Sunday and he can't go out because he will be punished by falling through the ice) I don't feel like I ever see him.  He is sad the ice is(has...) melted.  I'm rejoicing...but then it'll be your good ol' regular fishing season.  Oh and how I dread the hunting season that is stewing.

I've been crafting away, pictures to come.  My latest project, it isn't completed yet.  But I'm making my dress for my sisters wedding.  Ambitious? Yes....but it has been surprisingly easy.  I was trying to only cut out the pattern this past weekend but Daren was sleeping after we had gotten home from wedding dress shopping so I just went to town.  I only have minimal work left.  Ok who am I kidding, I have the zipper...I'm terrified of the zipper. I had to hand stitch the boning yesterday.  Wowsers, that wasn't fun. We'll see just what it looks like in the end....

And the pups are up to their usual selves.  This is actually an older picture...I've let Meli's hair go.  She is sooo fluffy and soft.  I'm going to see just how long we can let it get before it is unmanageable.  I'll have to document that as well....even if it makes me the crazy dog lady!

Chicago!

I'm an incredibly spoiled little girl.  I'm sure I didn't need to share that with many of you, but it's true.  I got the wonderful opportunity to go to Chicago with my dad for his annual whatever he does there. I really didn't know what to expect when my dad asked me to join him.  My mom talked about the great shopping, but little did I know just how GREAT the shopping was. I'd say my first trip to Illinois, I couldn't even spell that haha, was a success!

We stayed at the Affinia hotel.  It was so strange staying somewhere with 16 floors, there were more we were on the 16th floor.  I guess I've stayed in Vegas which would have that many but those buildings are gigantic! Chicago is just built up. That probably makes no sense. Whatever, here are pictures. I LOVED the bathroom wall.  It was a metallic peachy color! It is pleasant to have such a nice bell boy, Pedro, always there pushing the spiny door for me. It is just so foreign to me.

 

  

 The first thing we did when we got to Chicago was eat at Gino's East.  Yes it was featured on Man vs. Food and Diners, Drive-in's and Dives.  It was pretty awesome! It is my dad's favorite, I think, place in Chicago.  He kept talking about how when he got a little extra money in dental school him and "uncle" Brent went there.

  

  

 After we ate, my dad showed me Michigan Ave.  Amazing Avenue is more like it.  It was the most wonderful shopping!!! Seriously, I was in heaven. I'm glad everything was in walking distance, I think it'd be awesome to live like that. This was the Chicago River, that could have a new name by now. My dad isn't up to date on all his facts around the city....

  

 That night we went to eat with my dad's good friend, "uncle" Larry. We went to the John Hancock building and ate at the restaurant on the top. I tried to get pictures, but it was really dark and tinted windows.  Signature Room- click that to check out the pictures. It is pretty amazing! The food was definitely a little more fancy then what I'm use to.  It was wonderful! 

After that we went to Larry's apartment and just hung out for a bit.  He lives right by Northwestern...I tried to get a picture of the two of them in front of their school, but no such luck.  But look at my dad, clearly he loves Larry more than me and Gino's, look at that grin! Larry hasn't owned a car since 1986!! I loved Larry.  I think he finally convinced my dad that my brown suede boots are "very hot" cause my dad has never liked them. If only Larry could've taken me shopping....

  

 Friday I was on my own to shop the heck out of those stores.  Oh my, seriously, I can't do it justice.  It was amazing.  Filene's Basement is a definite favorite for me, I went 3 times in one day. I was too nervous to shop the big designer stores alone.  All the sales people, they are a tad more aggressive than I care for, like to compliment me hoping I'll buy something. Never been told I had such beautiful eyes before.  I wish I could've gotten more pictures but I felt so vulnerable being alone, I definitely didn't want to be a tourist.

  

 That night for dinner we went to a sushi place that is on the 6th or 7th floor of the Bloomingdales shopping center. I believe it was called Baisi Thai? You definitely got A LOT of food.  I couldn't finish it all.  We got some crab rangoons to start off. They were HUGE.  The biggest, and most delicious, rangoons I've ever had.  And yes, there was crab in these rangoons haha. The salad was killer with these braces of mine. I couldn't eat it even though it was so good due to all the damage it was doing to my gums cause of these braces.

  

 

On Saturday, I was hoping to get some more shopping in but I didn't get up early enough to check out of the hotel and meet my dad at the ADA building.  So I met him and then we went and hung out at the airport until our flight left.  I ate a hotdog....what hot dog place doesn't believe ketchup is a condiment? Seriously, answer that one for me.  I'm glad to be back home because I feel like I haven't seen my husband or my dogs for so long! It was definitely a once in a lifetime trip and I loved every moment of it! And for the record, all those people who told me I would freeze my butt off were wrong!!! I nearly passed out from the heat.  Those Chicagians like to keep their buildings a touch warmer than I care for.

Oh What A Week...

Maybe it is because I am getting older and more responsible....Or maybe it's because my brothers have become more horrible in their teenaged years. I'm not sure, but I'm done watching them while my parents vacation.  I'm trying really hard to look back and laugh but I haven't quite gotten there yet.  My parents went on a cruise so I got to play mom.  I was actually really excited for the week...but things have changed since last year.  

Michael has this really super idea that he's going to change his sleeping pattern.  He tried once before- take a 20 min nap every 4 hours- but failed.  So he tried another sleep schedule...which meant he stays up until 3am then wakes up at 6m and naps sometime during the day.  This is how I found him nearly every morning at about 7(he thankfully had a testing schedule week at school so didn't have to go until later) then again later at night from 5 until 7, I don't think that's quite how it is suppose to work. One day I was so nice and let him sleep in until 9, no he didn't miss any school.

I was super lucky to wake up Monday to a broken furnace.  My first grown up, owning a house problem didn't even happen at my own house! It's ok, because thankfully I married a husband who semi knows what he is doing whose dad really knows what he is doing.  Cregg was luckily just a phone call away.  We needed a new part...GRRREAT! Tuesday morning with sleep schedule boy was extra wonderful due to still freezing.  I won't go into too much detail but lots of fighting words were used since of all days Michael decides he wants to wear pants to be weather appropriate...the day they were not available was that day!

After much longing week to week for comcast on demand to provide the next installment of my ever so favorite show(seriously Crystal, I think you created a monster) I finally broke down and bought the entire series of Veronica Mars.  It was a must...and without forcing my brothers to stay up late watching it every night I doubt I would have made it through the week. We didn't quite finish it, we only got half way through the 3rd and final season.  Again, I won't mention how much I spent or how many stores I had to call around to to find the 2nd season.  And clearly, not enough people have heard of the show because when I said Veronica Mars there was most definitely a "huh?" following my question.  I've loved it so much more the 2nd time around. I've caught things I didn't notice the first time around and not to mention I love the "characters"(really they're my best friends in my head) so much more as well.  I recommend it to everyone!!

Kona spent the night a couple of nights, glad my parents don't read this too often(hi dad!) We all lounged about in the evenings watching V. Mars and eating some creation I decided to come up with at the moment.  Awesome!

 

Blogger is causing me too much stress right now, so bare with the rest of this post.  I was very grateful for my time during the day to do what I wanted, I was still incredibly busy but on the occasions me and the dogs got to nap, we did!  

By Friday I thought my job was done, it wasn't- another mishap with the boys happened.  But I knew the light at the end of the tunnel would be the fondue Superbowl party.  Boy, it didn't come soon enough.....

 

 

 During the superbowl everyone slept. But we were all up by the 2nd half.  It was a great game! Michael didn't watch, I did take a picture of him but he was wearing his shorts a tad too low.  Thank goodness the week is over!!!!!!!!!! I thought I was ready to be back at work...but now that I'm here....I'm not...

P.S. I really do love my brothers and apologizing for ranting but seriously, you had to be there to understand just how horrible it was! I'm not envious of my parents at all.  

 

 Also, I like to do puzzles, I was hoping this puzzle would last me the week but turns out I was done with it the first Sunday afternoon.  Just think only like 72 hours and I'll be there....THANK GOODNESS!

I Know It's A Little Late

I know it is a little late but I have been wanting to do a post on my dad's birthday party since the day it happened, October 10!  One of his guests, and incredibly good friend obviously, took some incredible pictures that I finally got my hands on.  So here it is!  My father HATES birthdays.  Seriously, I don't know anyone who dislikes birthdays, his and anyone else's, more.  I'm not sure where it stems from.  And I'm not sure why this year was any different but he threw himself a birthday party.  It was at a local italian restaurant Le Nonne.  He invited lots of his closest friends and family to it. 

There was excellent comapy to dine with....

The food was DELISH!!!

Kelsi even provided a little bit of entertainment.  It was a surprise video collage of my dad's life.  We even went up to his mothers house to get some really good pictures.  Now, if I was smart I'd probably know how to post the video, of course not.  But it was titled "61 Things You Need To Know About Dan Boston"  It was kind of difficult finding 61 things but Kelsi and I finished it.  And I think the video turned out GREAT!!

I love this picture of Daren cause it's a good smile, unlike the one above.

I think the party was a smashing success! I loved it, as I'm sure my dad did too. 

2010! Wordy Post

I'm welcoming the good ol' twenty ten with open arms because I have high hopes for what is in store.  I never get into the whole resolution thing. I think part of the reason I have such a good feeling for the year ahead is because last year I changed some habits into good habits!

• I can say without any doubt that I have worked out at least 4 times per week(it was more than that most of the time but there were those vacation weeks that turned the average time down) for the past year. Thats over 208 days of working out I accomplished. I can now run 5 miles without even a problem. I feel like I'm a brat for bragging but I'm proud of myself.

• I ate an artichoke for the first time.  It took a lot of learnin' on my part but it was glorious.  I also can now eat mushrooms, sweet peppers, and those sweet little cherry tomatoes. Hearts of palm is another favorite of mine.

But this year, I really do want to accomplish so many things.  I figure it'll help if I post them for all to see. 

•  Daren and I to go on our FIRST vacation together. Yes, you read that correctly. We never did go on a honeymoon(bitter subject don't ask) We've gone on family vacations but we've never gone just the two of us...anywhere. The farthest we've gone is the "resort" in the canyon for our 1 year anniversary(that doesn't even count...)  So even then, it's been almost 3 years.  It's time, don't ya think? It is incredibly difficult with dogs though...but I can only imagine how much more difficult it'll be when we have kids.  So this is a MUST for the year!

• Become the most wicked seamstress around.  I did do my first sewing project(in a long time, it's not like this is completely new to me) over the weekend.  I made a sweater for Meli with matching mittins for me.  Let's just say, there's no picture so how do you think it turned out? But it was incredibly fun.  I even made a sweater for my parents dog. I think it would be awesome to be able to sew my own clothes.  My poor children....

•  Be better about balancing my checkbook.  Since I've been married I have not written in that little register book once.  I've never had a problems but for the past 11 days I have written EVERY thing down and it may take just a few more seconds but for some reason my life is better.  I need to make it known that I checked the bank online religiously but there are the occasional checks or swipes of the debit card that you forget.  It's nice to just know.  I'm going to continue that!

•  Quit having the restaurant take the lettuce off the sandwich. This one is probably going to be the most difficult.  My taste buds are clearly changing and I need to welcome the lettuce in my life. Maybe tomato will be shortly to follow.

There are millions more I could post but I'm not going to because wordy posts tend to be boring. Wish me luck!

Finishing Off The Year

Rather than sharing everything about what we did over the past week I'll just share the few pictures I took

On Monday the 28th we went to Andria's for Brian's Birthday.  We shopped before we got down there.

It sure was nice to see the Birthday Boy and his family

(wow just realized thats all the pictures I got...sorry)

New Years Eve was spent with my family.  Daren napped and I ate my last meal of the year and played the new Mario game on the wii.  So fun.

This is apparently Kelsi's attempt at the "Erica face" whatever that is...

We saw the rest of the family on New Years day.  Too late to celebrate Christmas in my book.  Glad it all worked out.  Love my family to pieces. Sorry no pictures.  Hopefully someday I'll be better.

Hurrah, Hurrah to the new year!