2 Years

Yesterday was Ontario's and my two year anniversary. I really wanted to surprise him with a getaway while Gabe can stay home with a babysitter and before a new (nursing) baby arrives. It was a pretty small window of opportunity and I wanted to take advantage of it. Sadly, things were looking pretty tight and I didn't think we were going to be able to afford it. My sister told me to pray and ask for help, and if you read our last post you know that Heavenly Father ended up really blessing us. Even more than I wrote then...we ended up with double what we were expecting.

So, I sneakily took some of the money (that Ontario had not found out about), made a reservation at the Hines Mansion Bed and Breakfast, and bought a gift certificate to Chef's Table, the fanciest restaurant in Orem. We have been wanting to try it out forever. I also made sure we would have a babysitter, and everything was set up for a fun anniversary surprise. I made the reservations for January, since that the timing that worked out for babysitters, hotel, etc.





This is a picture of the room I chose, called "Whispering Willow". There was another one I actually liked better, but this one had a shower, while most of them only had the hot tubs. I figured Ontario would like both.

Imagine my surprise Christmas morning when I opened my stocking and found that my sweet husband had decided to surprise me with a nights stay at the "Whispering Willow" room at the Hines Mansion B & B, dinner at Chefs Table, and a play at Hale Center Theater. When he went in to make reservations, he found that I had already made them, so he just moved it to our actual anniversary (Dec. 29). The funniest part is that he chose the exact same room I did, for the same reason, only he thought I would like a shower. He didn't know until he had already picked it that it was the one I liked. It worked out really well, since I really liked getting surprises, and he really likes figuring out his presents ahead of time. So it turned out nicely. Plus there is no doubt we are united!

The other side note to this is that I really wanted to get him the "Amelie" soundtrack (AMAZING!) on iTunes, since the copy we had was not legal and also scratched up and not working. I was waiting until Christmas morning to buy it so he wouldn't know ahead of time. Oh the irony when I opened my email Christmas Eve and he had gotten it for me first. Nothing harder than shopping for the person who can read your mind. :)

Last night we went out for our getaway and it was a lot of fun. We checked into our room, then headed off to the Chefs Table. It was really good (and also it was really good we had TWO gift certificates, since it wasn't cheap either). The best things we had were the bacon wrapped sea scallops (YUM!) and the cream of mushroom soup. The entrees were good, but they overcooked my pasta. As my friend Heidi would say, I am a pasta snob, and I really can't bear to eat it if it's not al dente. The sauce was very tasty though, and I was mostly full by that time so it was fine.

After that we went and watched the show "Room Service" at the Hale Center Theater. It's a 1930's comedy about a producer trying to get his show on Broadway while trying to not get kicked out of his hotel. It was fun, and well done. We haven't ever been to a play together, so that was also fun.

Then we headed back for a romantic evening at the bed and breakfast. At least, that was the plan. I soaked in the hot tub for a little while and drank my complimentary sparkling cider, and then I got super nauseous and had to lay on the bathroom floor for awhile trying to decide if I was going to be okay or if I was going to puke. I finally decided to brush my teeth to decide the point one way or another, and I threw up all of that lovely meal. My poor husband. Afterwards I felt really tired and quivery, so we just laid in bed and cuddled. Not exactly what I was picturing, but thankfully I'm married to Ontario and he was wonderful about it.

The breakfast this morning was tasty whole wheat pecan pancakes and homemade yogurt. We also found out that friends from our old ward, Scott and Abby Rey had stayed there last night for their anniversary. It was fun saying hi and catching up with them. After breakfast we checked out, picked up some Brazilian treats for Evan who had been watching Gabe, and headed home.

Gabe didn't seem overly excited to see us again-happy, but not over the top, until Ontario tried to leave for work. Every time his daddy tried to leave again he would get so sad, and stand there saying please and asking to go with him. It was too cute, and I think it made it extra hard for Tari to leave. Still, it's nice to know you were missed.

We spent a lot of time last night talking about the last two years, and what we want the next year to be like. I think the main thing we have noticed about our marriage is how great it is. I love being married to Ontario. We had so many people warn us that marriage is hard, and you have to work at it, but it's worth it. They always made it sound like a constant uphill battle with occasional bright spots. I have found that it's the opposite. We are happily helping each other up the mountain, and it's only occasionally that things seem to get overwhelming or hard. I love being with my husband, and wouldn't have chosen anyone else. I just think I'm terrifically lucky to be married to him.

Happy Anniversary sweetheart, I love you!