Poor me... but not really

Lizza, Nate's sister, is really into the food network. I enjoy it as well, but Lizza and her husband Zach love it. Lizza planned a lot of her trip to NY around restaurants she wanted eat at. On the Friday that they were here, she got reservations to one of Gordon Ramsey's (of Hell's Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares) restaurants, Maze, at 5:30pm. We didn't have a babysitter for that early, so I said I wouldn't go. Well, turns out it was amazing, of course, it was their favorite restaurant of all the places we went while they were here. They got to do a tasting menu, where the chef plans everything and they bring it out to you at certain times, and they are all very spectacular. They said it was such a cool (and delicious) dining experience. :( I was sad I couldn't go. Yes, I felt very sorry for myself. Oh well. I can't complain too much. The other restaurants I got to go to during their visit were:

Carmine's, Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill, Serendipity 3, and Harold Dieterle's (winner of Top Chef) Perilla. Mesa Grill was my favorite out of the ones that I went to. Yum! We also we had brunch at a yummy French restaurant on 68th and Columbus, can't remember the name, but yum-my. And to make it even better, Asher and Sayer were perfect little angels, which was convenient, as the place was a little fancier than we were aiming for. We went to Magnolia bakery a couple times, mostly to get their banana pudding, which is oh-so-scrumptious. Nate and I also shared our favorite neighborhood sushi and pizza places with Lizza, as well as our favorite market which has the most scrumptious fresh juices and pastries. Mmmm... so much good food in NY.

Pics from Serendipity:

Awww, for cute!

Sultry version

Nate's dad and Lizza

Lizza and Nate in front of the restaurant

Me and Lizza

A Little Night Music

Nate's parents and his sister Lizza were in town a little bit ago, and on the first night, we went and saw A Little Night Music, starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbery. No, I do not recommend it. Yes, I do recommend seeing a live show with Catherine Zeta-Jones and/or Angela Lansbery in it... they are both so talented.

The actual musical is all about sex and infidelity, and I personally thought that most of the music was boring. There were some characters that were funny, and there were some parts that were entertaining, and there were a few songs that I enjoyed, but other than that, I thought it was a boring, pointless story. But... seeing those two actresses live was a great experience that I do not regret. So, thanks Chris and Heidi (who left at intermission with Nate) for the tickets. Sorry it was lame.

It is...

...A BOY!

That's right folks, we will be livin' the crazy life with 3 boys in a 500 sq foot apartment. We are actually really excited and think that it will be super fun. Before we found out, I thought about it a lot and decided that I really didn't care one way or the other whether it was a boy or girl. I honestly couldn't decide which one I would rather have. I would like a girl someday, but we are just fine having a house full of boys. Nate is excited that his bluegrass band is shaping up nicely, and I found a blue bunk bed at Costco that also has a trundle bed, that has my name all over it. Now we just have to decide on a name for the kids. Ugh. Never easy.

FINALLY...

...the suspense is over. We know what we are having!! Is it a boy? Is it a girl? WE know, but YOU have to wait. Yes, I am that mean. I want to hear your guesses. I always love to hear what people think. So, go ahead, take a guess. Am I going to be driven mad by 3 adorable and sweet, yet rambunctious boys? Or are my crazy boys going to be softened a bit by a precious baby girl? I will let you know tomorrow if you were right, or wrong.

(Those of you who have already been privileged with this information are not allowed to participate)

Our trip in review...

We had a great trip with the Busath fam. There is just too much to cover, but here are some of the fun things that made up our month...

~Folk Dance reunion and CAW

~Visiting with Farrah and her family (I used to work with her)

~Going to the Galena shows and dressing Lexy, taking the boys to watch one of her school shows

~Sitting by the fire pit in the back yard

~Making and eating LOTS of Christmas goodies

~Watching and playing with Grandpa's trains

~Bedtime stories with Grandpa

~Cuddling with this kid:

~Playing with trains and other toys... but mostly trains

~Sitting with Aunt Jillian and looking at pictures and videos of trains (can you tell these kids like trains?)

~Helping grandpa make fires

~Lots of reading (Nate read lots of boring school stuff. I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Love at first Site and the Enoch Letters)

~Lots of movie watching (I finally saw the 6th Harry Potter, we saw Sherlock Holmes, Whit and I saw The Blind Side and Ben and Nate saw Avatar. Asher discovered the Polar Express and came to love WALL-E even more)

~Lots of time spent at the park

~Visiting with friends

~Visiting with family

~Shopping

~Hair cuts and hair colored. Ash gave me a free lesson in cutting my boys' hair along with the clippers she got me for Christmas!

~Getting Marie's Donuts (best donuts ever)

~A run with the sisters

~Temple session and Leatherby's

~Lots of yummy dinners (homemade as well as going out)

~Taking the train to Sunnyvale (we even got them hot chocolate, and Asher sang the Hot Chocolate song from Polar Express)

~Going to the airport and flying home on a plane!

Asher all cozy watching WALL-E. (Nate and I were on different flights, so I had Asher and he had Sayer. We had a great flight, but Nate and Sayer had a layover, so it wasn't as smooth sailing for them. But we all made it safe and sound)

...and so much more. I'm sure I forgot stuff, but basically we had a successful trip. Thanks to all who put us up, and put up with us! We love you all!!

Sacramento Railroad Museum

The week after Christmas we went to the Sacramento Railroad Museum. The boys were all in heaven. There were lots of real engines and cars that we got to see, and some that we got to walk through. My favorite part was the model train display. It was seriously so cool, and the boys spent like 30 minutes just watching them go round and round. Asher kept asking to go back, but sadly we never got a chance to go again.

Ringin' in the new year

New Year's Eve was super low key, as usual. Ben and Whit were still in town, so the whole fam was together except for Lexy, who got to go to a New Year's Eve dance!! (those were the days). We made lots of delicious food (marinated flank steak kabobs, white chocolate strawberry mousse trifle, shrimp cocktail, mozzarella sticks, taquitos, mini pizzas, edamame, mini cheesecakes, punch). After we stuffed our faces, we recited our memorized poems for dad (we were supposed to do this on Christmas, but it kept getting pushed back), after which Ash and Cody left us for bigger and better things. We watched Ironman while we played Apples to Apples. I fell asleep on the couch around 11:15, then woke up again around quarter to midnight to watch the ball drop, and then promptly went to bed. I am no fun at all. What can I say, I am perpetually tired these days, I just can't help it.

It was great to ring in the New Year with the fam. Happy 2010!!

Christmas day

Christmas day was a wonderful day.
Asher and Sayer's stockings

Asher couldn't wait to open his train from Santa

Ollie and Uncle John

Grandsons and Lexy playing with new toys

The Christmas dinner table

The new train! I am so proud of this purchase. It is just perfect for Asher right now.

Santa came. Stockings first. Cinnamon rolls fresh out of the oven. Presents opened one by one. Trains set up. Toys were opened and assembled right after they were torn open. Sayer caught on to the fact that toys were under that paper, and just wanted to rip open every package, whether it was for him or not. Movies watched. Lots and lots of relaxing. Messes made and cleaned up. Family. Turkey dinner.

I love my Savior, and am so grateful for this time of year when we get to celebrate His birth and sacrifice.