Your First Fancy Cheesecake Factory Adventure

Dear Em,
We had a busy week, but Daddy & I wanted to squeeze in one special dinner at Duck & Bunny, just the three of us. I pushed a meeting up so that we would be able to pick up Daddy from work. Then we surprised you when we walked up to your very favorite restaurant. You were so excited for the fanciness of Duck & Bunny...& ofcourse, the cupcakes.

There's just one thing. It was Monday, & apparently Duck & Bunny is not open on Mondays. Womp Womp.

You were really disapointed. We suggested that maybe we have a special family dinner at Newport Creamery. "But the cupcakes," you shook your head in sadness. "Ok, what about Dave & Busters," I suggested. Feeling good that it was close by.

We headed to the Providence Place Mall. "But I really wanted a fancy dinner," you whimpered. I hated myself for not realizing that Duck & Bunny was not open on Mondays. "How about we try Cheesecake Factory," Daddy suggested. So, that's what we did.

You were thrilled to look at every single one of the cheese cake options. You also gave the decor a nod of approval. After a yummy dinner you had your first piece of Cheesecake Factory cheesecake. You chose Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheese cake, & all was right in the world once again.

I love you so,
Mommy

Throwback Thursday: our first trip as parents...without our kid

Dear Em,
About four years ago, Daddy & I took our first vacation without you. It was a big deal. You had just turned one. I hadn't spent more than one overnight away from you, & here I was going across the country for a week & leaving you behind. I'm pretty sure I was a wreck, but I had to go. I had a work trip in Las Vegas. Daddy had never been, & although I felt like being away from you for that long might kill me, we decided Daddy would meet me out in Las Vegas & we would celebrate a year of surviving parenthood.

Your Aunt Andrea & Uncle Lowell just happened to be in Las Vegas at the same time, & for one day we got to enjoy the city with them. It was such a surprising & special treat. We walked all over Las Vegas (so much walking!), checking out different casinos, eating yummy food, taking in the sights, & doing some gambling here & there.

I've been to Vegas three times. The first two times I didn't even put a quarter in a slot machine. I'm really not much of a gambler. Still, the lights & art & waterfalls & buildings are pretty incredible to look at.

As crazy & built up as the city is, my favorite part of that trip with Daddy wasn't on the Las Vegas strip. We went on a full day trip to the Hoover Dam & the Grand Canyon. I hope to someday take you to the Hoover Dam & Grand Canyon. They absolutely took my breath away. The Grand Canyon truly is one of the great wonders of the world. They say people travel from across the world to visit the Grand Canyon, & yet the average person spends only 15 minutes actually looking at it. I could have stayed & hiked & reflected at the Grand Canyon forever.

They also say the most common way people get injured at the Grand Canyon is by pretending to fall into the Grand Canyon. Whoops.

Unfortunately, we had to return to Las Vegas in time to watch the New England Patriots lose in the playoffs on the last day of our vacation. Daddy looked like he was going to either cry or punch someone for most of the day, which was kind of a bummer (I will never plan a trip during the NFL playoffs ever again). We were so ready to leave the lights & splendor behind & go home to you.

I still remember how amazing it felt to hold you in my arms again. I covered your little face in kisses & felt like I might never let you go again. Of course, I did let you go, & Daddy & I have been fortunate to take a bunch of other adventures together in the last four years. I love our adventures as a family of three, but sometimes we need time to just be Julie & Brian too. Lucky for us, Daddy & I don't have to dread the end of our vacations. Coming home to you is one of the greatest feelings in the world. Thanks for that.

I love you so,
Mommy

Drunken Picasso Date Night

Dear Em,
So many of my favorite moments are with you, but it's sometimes nice for Daddy & I to get out for a date night.  We're really lucky to have a great support system of babysitters family. Last weekend while you played with Grandma & Papa, Daddy & I were able to enjoy a child free night of Drunken Picasso.

This was our first time painting scenes on canvases & I wasn't sure how it would go. I would call myself crafty, but I am far from a painter...or an artist. The only time I've seen Daddy paint is when we're painting pumpkins. I wondered if we should just paint on the same canvas. Ruining one canvas would be better than ruining two, right? In the end, we decided it didn't matter how awful our paintings might look, we were just going to have fun.

We had a really great instructor. He made painting look easy. Being the perfectionist I am, at first I was looking for very specific instructions. Our instructor was very patient with me. Having a glass of wine next to my canvas helped. As I looked around at everyone else's canvases, I realized art is not about very specific instructions. Everyone's process is slightly different, & that is what makes art unique & amazing.

So, while you were happily doing this...

We were having so much fun doing this...

These were our final works of art (& I say final knowing that I will likely play with mine for a while at home before I am finally done with it. Sigh. Perfectionist problems).

Not bad for mine & Daddy's very first canvas paintings, right? Isn't it amazing how we were all painting the same scene & yet each painting is a little bit different? Some of us painted birch trees, & some of us painted brown trunks with big notches in them. Some of us painted royal blue skies & some of us pale blue. Some of us painted autumn leaves that were just beginning to change color, & some of us painted darker leaves that would soon be falling to the ground. I loved them all, & I was so glad we were able to enjoy the artistic experience with fun friends.

We brought our paintings home, & you were thrilled to see what we had created. You beamed at them but then gave me a look full of pity. You very solemnly told me Daddy's painting was the best, because he had painted his trees using the correct colors. "Trees don't have white on them, Mommy." I guess you've never seen birch trees? Clearly if you had been the instructor, you would have given more specific instructions. You told me that I would need to have many more art classes before I could truly become an artist.

Sigh, maybe I will have to sign up for more Drunken Picasso date nights with Daddy until my artistc skills are up to par. Ha!

I love you so,

Mommy 

Throwback Thursday: Broadway

Dear Em,
When I was 13 or 14, I went to my very first Broadway musical as part of an 8th grade field trip. We went to see Les Miserables in NYC, & the show gave me goosebumps. It gave me more than goosebumps. I full on sobbed at the ending (I'm pretty sure my friends pointed & laughed). As if that wasn't annoying enough to all the people around me, I was also one of those obnoxious people who sang along with every song (I had memorized them all when we had performed the songs in 7th grade choir & I had watched the PBS special more times than I can count). I didn't care.

I fell in love with Broadway that day. I fell for the costumes & detailed scenery, lights & bustle of people, singing & dramatic flair. I loved it all. I caught the Broadway Bug that day.

I've never quite lost the (on & off) Broadway Bug. Since then I've been fortunate to enjoy shows like Phantom of the Opera, Rent, a sweet rendition of Little Women (Daddy surprised me with tickets because he knew I reread the book every summer), The Producers, Wicked, & Million Dollar Quartet. I may have gone to see Les Miserables again too (It's still my very favorite).

A couple weekends ago, your Daddy took me to see Once in Boston. While it didn't have some of the dramatic scene & costumes changes some of the others have had, the music gave me chills. It was touching & passionate & fun (I mean, the set had a working bar, & you could actually go onstage during intermission to buy drinks). It was so amazing, I sat on the edge of my seat the entire show. I don't think I stopped smiling for hours after as I hummed the tunes, reliving some of my favorite melodies.

It made me think of you & taking you to your first musical. You love music. After watching Disney's latest movie, Frozen, you were obsessed. We listened to the music on YouTube so much, I finally downloaded the soundtrack (this was after poor Daddy had to listen to Let It Go on repeat all the way to school). You know every word of every song, & sing along with infinite cuteness.

As I watch you, I can't help but hope & pray it's a sign that you will someday catch the Broadway Bug too- that you will be my little Broadway buddy. I know, I KNOW you're too young to take to Broadway right now (although I may have been insane enough to consider it for a second or two). But, a girl can dream, right? It would be a win-win for Daddy & I both. I would have a buddy to share my love of musicals, he would no longer have to be the buddy I drag with me to musicals (although, he's enjoyed a bunch too).

I'm thinking about checking out the high school musicals scheduled in our area this spring & maybe getting the two of us tickets to one of them. I have dreams of smiles & excitement & a perfect Mommy-Daughter afternoon. Although, I will likely be kicking myself for dreaming a little too early, just like I did with The Nutcracker on Ice.

Sigh, won't you be my Broadway Buddy? And soon?

I love you so,
Mommy

girls date night

Dear Em,
Daddy had a busy but fun week last week, leaving us to fend for ourselves a bunch. Rather than let Daddy have all the fun, I asked you if you wanted to have a girls date night with me. You enthusiastically agreed & picked Duck & Bunny as our date night spot (we've come a long way from McDonalds).

You chose to sit outside (good choice!) & we explored the quaint little garden. We rubbed & smelled the lavender & mint leaves. You ooohed over the flowers & sparkly garden decor.  We played Old Maid & you sipped gulped down chocolate milk while we waited for our yummy crepes. After we filled up on our entrees, you were thrilled to order a purple lavender & honey cupcake.

The sun was setting as we drove home. "Ok, so now we will go to the park, swing on swings, jump on the trampoline, go out for ice cream, do a kiwi crate..." You seemed to have an endless list of activities planned for us. I apologetically explained that it was getting late & we would have to head home for books & bed. "But we're on a date," you sighed. "There are so many more things we have to do for our date." I smiled. I think your idea of a date is doing all- & I mean all- of your very favorite things all at once (you're setting some pretty high expectations for when you're ready for dating).

You settled for extra books. You read me two BOB books before I read three books from your book shelf.

You know what? It just might have been the perfect date.

I love you so,
Mommy

Princesses & Baseball

Dear Em,
Yesterday after work you, Daddy, & I snuggled in bed & watched a movie. I drifted in & out of an amazing nap. We ate oatmeal for dinner. We were lazy bums, & I loved every second of it. We needed every second of it. We were recovering from our fantastic weekend.

The highlight of your weekend (other than scoring your very first soccer goal) was going to Disney on Ice: Princesses and Heroes with Grandma & Papa. You couldn't wait to dress up as a princess yourself & were very particular about the princess look you wanted. You gave me detailed instructions on how to put together your outfit, accessories, & hair. We ran into a few...battles.

I insisted you wear a turtleneck under your princess dress. The summer heat is long gone, & I figured an ice skating venue would be chilly. You looked at the turtleneck in disgust. "I am NOT wearing that," you shouted while giving me a look that said, "Let's see who can be more stubborn." I explained to you that I didn't want to be chilly & that if you didn't wear the turtleneck, we would need to find a non-princess, weather appropriate outfit for you to wear. "Fine, I'll wear it," you pouted. I was surprised that you gave in that easily. Win for Mommy.

We used the curling iron on your hair for the first time, & I spent almost 40 minutes on your curly up-do. You insisted on wearing a crown that fell off your head at least ten times while I was fixing your hair. I felt like there was no point in fixing your hair if your crown was just going to fall out every fifteen seconds. I suggested a different crown. You stomped your feet & screamed. We finally compromised on a third princess crown that was really made for dolls but would actually stay on your head (Is it weird I felt a little like Macgyver?). It wasn't your original vision, but it would work. Win Win.

When I finally finished, I couldn't wait for you to see the end result. You looked amazing, the perfect picture of a 3.5 year old princess. You ran into my room to look in our full length mirror. I waited to hear "oooohs" & "awwwws" & exclamations of glee. I heard nothing. I walked into my room, a proud grin covering my face. "What do you think? Do you love it?!" I was practically bouncing with happiness.

"I look like a witch," you said matter of factly.
My grin transformed into face of mass confusion. "Wha...?!"
"A witch with a pretty dress & pretty crown &...yucky hair," you continued.
You've got to be freaking kidding me. God help us all if you do somehow become a princess. You can be a little....how should I put it...high maintenance.

"How probable do you think it is that we can get out the door by 11," Daddy asked me. I gave him a look that said fat chance. We headed back into the bathroom. I reworked your hair until you gave me the seal of approval. Win for Emma.

I was just happy to come out of it without any all out wars. I had to admit. You did look absolutely amazing. My reward for pulling together an acceptable princess look & a hair victory? Daddy & I went to Boston for the RedSox vs. Yankees game while you enjoyed your magical Disney experience with Grandma & Papa. I have to say watching my favorite team (beat my least favorite team) with my favorite guy is not a bad way to spend an evening.

Picking up my sweet, high maintenance princess from school & listening to her recount her dazzling Disney experience is not a bad way to spend a Monday either ("Mom, it was so amazing!").

I love you so (even if you are a little high maintenance),
Mommy

an adventurous date night

Dear Em,
I didn't fill out a long list of resolutions, but there were a few things I wanted to focus on this year. One of them was to have more patience. Another was to spend more quality time with your daddy. Looking back at last year, our days were filled with so much fun, but rarely did your daddy & I spend time just the two of us. Except for a couple date nights here & there, we mostly squeezed our alone time into your nap & after bed times. Unfortunately, that time is also spent cleaning up, resting, working, & preparing for the next thing. We didn't really even realize how much we needed some time, just the two of us, until we took a little trip to Stowe last year.

So, we're hoping to spend more date nights together. We don't always have to go out to have a date night, we can even have fun staying in & having a board game night. As long as it's time for just Brian & I.

The other night we went out for our first date night this year. We're so fortunate that your Grandma & Papa are so willing to watch you while we go out. I was pretty excited. We had chosen a wicked fun spot for our first night out just the two of us, a rock gym.

It was your daddy's first time rock climbing, & I hadn't gone since I was in grad school. We were a little nervous & intimidated about how things would go. We didn't need to be. It was amazing. It was so fun to challenge our bodies to climb higher. Plus, your daddy looked really cute as he climbed up the wall.

I loved spending the night cheering each other on, & watching each other reach the top of the wall. It was the best to have fun & get some exercise together. It felt great to try out something new, & to share that with your daddy. We're thinking about trying to go more often during the wintertime, a way to get some fun activity in during the cold months. 

Plus, we could totally see you joining us someday. It would be so fun to watch you scale the walls like a little monkey.

I love you so,

Mommy

falafels & a movie

Dear Em,
So far this year, Daddy & I have been much better at making time for date nights. We are so very thankful to have such willing family to look after you while your daddy & I take some time just for the two of us. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. In fact, most of my favorite date nights are nothing fancy at all.

Last year my best friend gave me the Hunger Games box set for my birthday. OMG, it was so good. It was the kind of good where I could not put the books down (even when we had guests over...whoops). I've passed on my love for the Hunger Games books to many people, our family, my best friends, my cousin, your nanny (in hindsight it could have been a mistake to introduce your nanny to a book that could not be put down when she was tasked with watching you. luckily it all worked out). When I heard they were making the book into a movie, I was psyched. Waiting almost a year to see the words come to life on the big screen was torture.

Your daddy hasn't read the books, but was happy to make any excuse to go to the movies. I also assured him it wasn't just another love story, & there would be lots of fighting & killing. So, he agreed to go with me & suggested we make a date night of it with dinner beforehand. We were going to catch the movie in South Kingstown. What did I want for dinner? Falafels of course.

Daddy & I drove over to our alma mater, the University of Rhode Island, to the place we have fondly referred to as the emporium for the past ten years. We parked in front of International Pockets Cafe. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It looks much like all the other college restaurants do in the emporium.

Yet, it is & always will be one of my favorite places. Where else can we go & feel a relaxed sense that not much has changed in ten years? Where else can you go where you're greeted with a smile & a freshly warm falafel while you wait to order? 

What is falafel? It is a yummy, delicious deep fried ball made from ground chickpeas, parsley, garlic, & fresh vegetables. It's typically served in a pita or a wrap. At International Pockets you have a wide range of hot sauces, tahini sauce, tabouleh, lettuce, tomato, grape leaves, cucumber, & peppers to add to the wrap. It's wicked good & wicked filling.

We bumped into & chatted with a past colleague of mine while waiting to order. While we ate, your daddy & I chatted about our past & our days at URI. We had so many fun adventures with our friends. I feel so fortunate to live just a short drive away from where we met & made so many great memories, especially because we can keep coming back for falafel.

When it's time to pay & leave International Pockets, they normally give you a small & sweet piece of baklava for dessert. They didn't this time, & I was sad they didn't. Sigh, I really didn't have any room for it since I demolished the falafel wrap (they're pretty large wraps). 

I saw this on Facebook & had to laugh.

We headed to the movie & both enjoyed it. I didn't think it was a good as the book, but I don't think it's possible without making a seven hour long movie. Daddy enjoyed it & is thinking of reading the books himself. 

It was a great date night. Dinner hit the spot. It's not an expensive place & certainly not fancy, but it's one of the best. The movie was fun. The night took us back to our college years for a few hours. Luckily you brought us straight back when you woke us up at your usual 6:30am the next morning.

I'm looking forward to summer picnics on the quad with you, Daddy, & some falafels.

I love you so,

Mommy

Guanabanas

Dear Em,
While we were on our trip, Daddy & I were lucky enough to have a date night. You Aunt A & L got us a gift certificate to a Guanabanas in Jupiter, Florida & graciously agreed to babysit. Your daddy & I don't get a whole lot of alone time these days, & I looked forward to a night out. Your Aunt A promised we would love the restaurant, & she was right.

Guanabanas is an amazing place right on the water. It's open & outdoors with palm trees & green plants everywhere. It brought me right back to our honeymoon in St. Lucia where a lot of the lunch places had a ceiling but no walls. It was a little chilly that night, & we sat in an area with a roof over our heads & clear plastic protecting us from the wind while still providing us a clear view of the water. As we sat, I felt so relaxed & just took in our amazing surroundings.

I had a hard time ordering. There was so much to chose from & everything on the menu looked so good. We decided to start with an appetizer, Sharky's Conch Fritters. We don't get a whole lot of conch up in Rhode Island & looked forward to trying something new. They were yummy. They reminded me of a mix of a clam cake & a stuffie... but nothing beats Rhode Island clam cakes & stuffies.

Next came our entrees. We both ordered from the specials menu. Daddy ordered the pork chops. They were tender & just the right mix of sweet & savory. Corn pudding, something we've never had before, was one of his sides. He loved it & has been raving about it since we ate there.

I asked the waitress what she would recommend between the Soft Shell Crab Special & the Lemon Butter Fresh Catch. She didn't even take a second to think before she said the Fresh Catch. She said it was a favorite among those who come to Guanabanas (your Aunt A had actually raved about the Fresh Catch too). She also mentioned she just wasn't a big fan of soft shell crab. I made a split second decision & ordered the crab (I know, I'm that annoying person in a restaurant). I'd never had soft shell grab, & was feeling adventurous. 

I almost wanted to take it back the moment our waitress walked away with our orders. What if I hated soft shell crab? Our meals came out & I closed my eyes as I took the first bite...I LOVE soft shell crab. Well, I love Guanabanas soft shell crab. It was lemony, buttery amazingness. I wish we weren't a 24 hour car ride away from Guanabanas. I would ask if the chef would make me the special every single day (Oh, & try the Fresh Catch).

It was such a perfect place for a date night. It would also be a wicked fun place to go with friends. If only we weren't so far...

I'm sure we'll be making some repeat visits when we are back to visit your Aunt A & L. Or maybe we could just move to Florida where it's sunny & there are palm trees...

No, I would miss the Rhode Island stuffies & clam cakes.

I love you so,

Mommy

Catch

catchwilmington.com

Dear Em,

Your daddy & I don't watch a whole lot of reality TV shows, but we do love Top Chef. We love watching them cook & describe the most amazing foods. One year, I got your daddy a Top Chef cookbook filled with their 5 star recipes. It took him 45 minutes to make the grilled cheese.

At the end of each season, we've talked about how fun it would be to go to the winner's restaurant & try some of the amazing food we've only been able to gawk at through the television screen. So, when one of this season's contestants was from Wilmington, NC, the same city your Nonnie & Papi live, we were excited. Chef Keith Rhodes immediately became our favorite. We rooted him on from the our comfy couch, & were wicked sad when he was asked to "pack his knives & go."

We knew we had to fit in a visit to his restaurant, Catch, while we were down for the holidays. Since your palette is not exactly adventurous, we let you stay with Nonnie & Papi while Daddy & I went on a date night (we're lucky to have babysitters available to us while we are in NC).

We were surprised to find that Catch was a small store front restaurant. We actually almost passed it as were were driving. With all of the awards the chef & the restaurant have won, I think we expected something large & fancy. We were pleasantly surprised to see that it wasn't & dress was casual. Your daddy & I always feel kind of awkward in really fancy restaurants. We just don't feel like we can really be ourselves & relax. With its calm blue walls & pictures of waves & surf, Catch was the perfect atmosphere for us.

We had made a 5:30 reservation, & 5:30 was when the restaurant opened for dinner. So, the wait staff was trying to memorize the specials & recite them to the chef before they presented them to us. Your daddy & I started off with some drinks, ordered an appetizer, & had time to quietly talk just the two of us. Being the beer connoisseur your daddy is, he loved that the beer menu was full of local craft beers he had yet to try. 

It was just so nice to unwind while we perused the amazing options on the menu. Everything sounded so yummy, we wanted to taste everything. So, we decided to pick 3 appetizers, 1 salad, & share an entree.

We started with the calamari. Being Rhode Islanders, your daddy & I like some spice in our calamari, & this calamari did not disappoint. The sauce had a little kick to it & the sliced jalapeno peppers hit the spot. Though the calamari was fried, it still felt light as we ate it. We finished the whole plate & couldn't wait for what came next.

Next came the Seafood Ceviche (they always talk about ceviche on Top Chef so I was super excited to order it) & Firecracker Shrimp.

We kind of devoured most of the ceviche before I could remember to take a picture. Luckily, there are photos of the food on the Catch website that were taken by better photographers with self restraint.

The Firecracker Shrimp were pieces of heaven in my mouth. I wish I had the recipe for the congnac cream that covered the shrimp, & the sesame seeds gave them just the right amount of crunch. The Seafood Ceviche was light & tangy.

Next came the NC Sweet Potato Salad. I don't typically like sweet salads. I've never been a big fan of cranberries or other sweet things in my leafy salads. Your daddy, on the other hand, is not a fan of goat cheese (which I love love love). This salad was both sweet & had goat cheese...& we loved every bite. Seriously, we ate the whole thing & scraped the plate dry.  We're so glad we tried & loved something new.

Our last plate was our entree, the Cast Iron Blackend Local Mahi Filet. It tasted so good, I don't think your daddy & I spoke a word until we had completely finished our plates. The fish was blackened but moist & not too fishy. We were excited to have true Southern grits (which were surprisingly light & amazingly cheesy).

I really wanted to hear the dessert menu but I a) knew I wouldn't have any self restraint b) was worried your daddy would have to roll me out of the restaurant. So, we said "Merry Christmas" to our sweet waitress & left the restaurant with every intention of going back the next time we're in the Wilmington area.

We went home & voted for Chef Keith as our Top Chef Fan Favorite. Chef Keith, thank you for an amazing dinner & an amazing date night. Your Asian & Southern influenced food greatly surpassed all of our expectations.

You know what your daddy & I talked about most during our date night (other than how much we wished Chef Keith could come & live at our house & cook for us each night)? You, of course. 

I love you so,

Mommy