Cutie Pies, Surgery and the Melting Pot

This picture of Hayden and his cousin Gage was taken over a week ago after my little surgery. I had a difficult time getting both boys to look at me at the same time, oh well, still a cute pic. Btw, my surgery was a success and I should be done with that--at least for now.

This past Saturday night, Kyle and I went to the Melting Pot for dinner. I had never been and I was really looking forward to the experience. Here we are before eating anything...but you have to know that didn't last for very long.

This is our spinach artichoke cheese appetizer served with bread, chips, veggies and apples.

These are our delicious salads.

This is our entree. The meat and vegetables obviously haven't been cooked yet. I have to say that it was all yummy--especially the duck and the chicken.

Gotta have a picture of us actually eating.

This is dessert!!! We had the chocolate turtle fondue to dip all this goodness in.

Valentine's Weekend/Day

( These are the flowers Kyle sent to me at work. They became more beautiful and full as the buds contined to open up and blossom even more the days following Valentine's.)

As we all know, generally a one-day holiday usually turns into a multiple-day holiday event. Of course, Valentine's isn't any different. We began by having a party with some friends on Friday afternoon (Feb. 11). Frosting and decorating cupcakes along with making cards is always fun for kids (and even adults, too). Then during the weekend we made more cards and treats. Above are the now traditional holiday sugar cookies I love to make, naturally heart-shaped. In the box are protein peanut butter balls. They are pretty healthy except for the fact that I added M&Ms to them. I went to Eden Saturday night with Kyle and met a bunch of his friends while Hayden got to play with his grandma and grandpa (he ended up going to the dinosaur museum with grandpa). Sunday was spent with Hayden--I love my little crazy kiddo.

On Valentine's morning Hayden got a fun Valentine basket filled mainly with art supplies. There were also a few activities/games and just a little bit of candy (I knew he would get more later on).

Here is Hayden at school making Valentine cards. They also got to pass out Valentine's, frost cookies, and play games.
After school I had an early dinner date with Kyle. He took me to one of the nicest places...a place so nice that I had never even been. So here we are in the foyer of...waiting for the drumroll...LA CAILLE!

Btw, I really didn't have a huge spot on my dress. I guess something just happened when the pic was being taken. The whole property that houses La Caille was stunning and we even got to see some swans, ducks, and peacocks while we were there. Kyle requested we sit by a fireplace, and that is where we ended up (not the one above, a different one).

This is our vegetable appetizer.

This is Kyle's dinner.

And here's mine.

We also got these chocolate tuxedo strawberries at the end because it was Valentine's day. Hmmm, looks like someone ate theirs.

After dinner, my parents brought Hayden back home so he could join us for dessert.

Hayden just wanted icecream, but I made this for Kyle and me. It's inspired by the Applebee's blonde brownie dessert. The bottom is more cookie than brownie-like with white chocolate chips and nuts. Then there's the icecream, and then I made the maple butter sauce that we drizzled over the top. Oh my, it was delicious!! I still don't know how we had room for it after all the food we had for dinner.

Dining Out

(Dinner with Kyle at the Five Alls--medieval 5 course meal)
So here's what "normal" or maybe I should say "mature" people look like when they are dining out. Food is either on their plate, mouth, or stomach. We know how to stop eating, smile, and pose for a picture.

Then there are other ways to dine...

(Hayden at Santa Monica Pizza and Pasta)
This is how Hayden ate his spaghetti the other night when we went to dinner. On the plus side, it took him all of dinner to eat this way so the rest of us could enjoy our dinners. You may notice that not only is the food in his mouth and plate, but it's on his face and in the air--not sure the "mature" people can get away with that one.

Spaghetti and sauce mustache and beard. Hmm...looks like one side is a little longer there mister.

Of course, you've got to try and eat the giant meatball all at once. I hear that it tastes better that way.

(Dinner at Noodles)

After the spaghetti experience you'd think that eating regular mac & cheese would be nothing. However, have you met a kid who ate it with chopsticks? This is quite the timely endeavor. Actually, I was eating my dinner with chopsticks (love to use them anytime I can and it's appropriate) and Hayden liked the idea. Eventually, he did switch to a fork.