Nine Years

We celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary on the 29th.  Next up is the big 1-0.  It feels like we should go on a cruise or something.  That's customary, right?

This day was the only day over winter break that Spencer napped.  One day out of seventeen.  Yikes.  Ginger also napped that day.  Truth be told, so did I.

After nap time I got ready.  I should mention that when Spencer saw me dressed up for Christmas Eve he rubbed my arm excitedly and told me I looked like a princess.  I was very touched and felt like a million bucks.  He came into the bathroom while I was doing my hair for the big anniversary night and told me I looked beautiful.  The boy just doesn't know what he's complimenting.

So, here we are.  This is the picture that went into the anniversary memory book.  I like the idea that our early anniversary pictures don't have kids and then in the middle we'll have kids, then in our later years we'll be back to no kids and then in our more later years maybe there will be a grandkid or two thrown in.

We went to Hacienda del Sol for dinner.  It was cold, dark and raining hard when we arrived.  It's the first time we've had rain on our anniversary.  I stole this picture from their website.

This was our dessert.  That little scoop of ice cream was the best ice cream I have ever had.  And I know ice cream.  Really, the whole dinner was just to die for.

After dinner we changed out of our fancy schmancy clothes and went to the 10:45 pm showing of True Grit.  This is what we found when we entered the theatre.

For 10 minutes we were the only people there.

It gave us the opportunity to take hokey pictures.

This is more for my benefit than yours.  I just need somewhere to record this information where I won't lose it like I almost lost the Christmas 2009 Gift List.  Feel free to skip it if you don't want to be 1) Majorly jealous and 2) Incredibly hungry after reading.

First of all, we got cocktails.  I had a blackberry-cinnamon caipirinha.  Michael had a Tom Collins.  Then we ordered the 5 course tasting menu with wine pairings.  I was drunk by the 2nd course. 

This is what we ate:

1st Course

Natalie- Baby Beet Salad with Mizuna, House Made Mozzarella, Prosciutto, Walnuts and Aged Balsamic Vinegar

Michael- Cauliflower Bisque with Garnish of Manchego Foam, Basil Oil and Bacon Dust

2nd Course

Both- Mexican Grouper with Butter Beans, Chorizo, Calamari, Brussel Sprouts and Parmesan Broth

3rd Course

Natalie- Smoked Pork Belly: Braised Pork Belly with Adobo Verde, Green Chile White Polenta and Corn Tuile

Michael- Seared Foie Gras with Brioche, Crisp Sweet Potatoes, Jalapeno-Blueberry Jam and Roasted Pear Coulis.

4th Course

Both- Filet Mignon with Cognac Demi Glace, Red Bliss Potatoes with Tomme de Savoie Mornay, Organic Spinach and Wild Mushrooms

5th Course

Both- Hacienda Signature Chocolate Cake with Caramel Mousse, Devil's Food Cake and Vanilla Ice Cream

We like to go to different restaurants for our anniversary each year.  This one will be hard to top though.  We might need a repeat.