Clay makes the bed...

This is what happens when Clay picks out the linens to make the bed!  It made me lol.  In his defense, the blankets that would have matched better were in the wash.  Let me just say that it was especially comfortable because I didn't have to make it myself!!

My Valentine!

Valentine's Day is always a special day for Clay and me.  I am so lucky to have a husband who likes to be sweet and romantic on Valentine's day and doesn't consider it a "fake holiday."  Clay always insists on doing something special on the day of, and he usually keeps our eating destination a secret.  This year Clay took me to Carpe Diem in downtown Charlotte.  It was a good meal, but it definitely didn't make it to our list of favorite places.  The Valentine's Day menu consisted of 3 courses.  I got a warm, fried goat cheese salad, pork chops with rice and beans, and pecan pie.  Clay had a brie and duck confeit quesadilla, veal with cauliflower au gratin, and chocolate cake.  Needless to say, we were both stuffed afterwards.

The sky was pink on the way to Charlotte, perfect for Valentine's Day

The Duke energy Building, also pink

 Carpe Diem

 They gave us watermelon tobasco sorbet to cleanse the palate after the appetizer.  It actually tasted like ginger sorbet to me (that was before she told us what it was)

Clay also surprised me with a rose, a card and some candy when I got home.  Clay, Belinda, Roger and I had a good laugh on Sunday when we realized Roger got Belinda the same card that Clay got me!!!  Like father, like son!!!  I got Clay some specialty coffee and chocolates :)

Brush your canine teeth!

In order to maintain good oral health for Nugget, Clay and I have to brush her teeth every night!  She get stinky breath, gingivitis, and tartar buildup if we don't.  So here it is, our little Nugget getting her little teethers brushed.  Every night I tell Nugget, "Let's brush your teeth!!" and she runs over, lays down, and rolls over.  When we are done, I say, "Good brush your teeth," and she gets a cat treat!  Easy as that!  Of course we can't leave Emmi out...she gets a dental treat at the same time!!!  I love my girls!!!

What's for dinner?

Since our everyday lives are fascinating, I would like to share with everyone what Clay and I ate for dinner tonight!  We had a mixed lettuce salad topped with apples, strawberries, toasted pecans, and goat cheese with a home-made honey balsamic vinaigrette dressing.   We also enjoyed worcestershire-sauteed green beans (from our garden) seasoned with garlic, salt and pepper, topped with roasted, sliced almonds.  Clay also grilled chicken with maple chipotle sauce.

Our dinners are not always this extravagant, but I think this is pretty awesome for something just thrown together!  I will also add that I made the salad and green beans, but Clay is normally the chef around here.  My meals usually do not come out this good when I cook!  Looks like I may be improving a bit :)

Day trip: GSO and Museum of Natural Science

Today, Erin, Alexa and I visited our dad in Greensboro.  We went up for lunch, binge-shopped at The Fresh Market (it's probably a good thing the nearest one to me is 30 minutes or more away), and then visited the Museum of Natural Science.  We used to live in Greensboro until Erin was 8 and I was 6 so we actually remember going to this museum when we were little.  The most memorable thing is the time-keeping pendulum that keeps its momentum via the rotation of the earth!  That has always been the focal point of the museum when you first walk in.

We browsed through the museum and enjoyed all of the exhibits.  There was also a mini-zoo outside which was pretty cool and included a large variety of animals.  My favorites, as well as Alexa's favorites, were the tigers.  They were HUGE and kept walking right by us!  There is an aquarium being added to the museum as well that looks pretty cool.  We will definitely have to visit again when it is done! 

Iowa with the Suttons

 

Last week, I flew out to Waterloo, Iowa to visit Julie, Josh and new baby Caleb.  This trip was in the works since August when Julie asked me to visit once she had her little one.  I flew out on Friday, came home Monday, and had a great time visiting old friends and a new one too :)  It was quite an adventure since I hadn't flown since 2007 and hadn't flown alone since I was probably 14 or so.  Despite my anxiety about security and catching the connecting flights and avoiding delays, everything went very well.  I brought along my new Kindle that Erin gave me for Christmas and all was peachy :)

 Caleb is such a cutie and such a sweet little bundle of joy!!  Look at Ellie, photo bombing?

 Cutie with an owl hat:  looks like mommy needs to make a new once since he has gotten so big!  Caleb has grown quite a bit since he was born.  However, to someone who just met him, knowing that he is only 2 months old, he seemed so tiny! 

 Julie and Josh's house.  Look at all of that snow!  I'm not sure if I've ever seen that much!  It was pretty cold too, but I definitely came prepared with a good coat and warm scarves :)  While I was visiting, I was introduced to the joy of Joanne's craft store, Scratch Cupcakery (delicious, any/every flavor cupcakes), Hawkeye Community College campus in the snow, and downtown Cedar Falls.