TEN
Last week while on vacation in picturesque Door County, Wisconsin, Mike and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. I hesitate to use the word "celebrate" in too celebratory a fashion since our evening consisted of take away Mexican food and an overdose of House of Cards on the laptop. It was a family vacation and we couldn't very well just take off for the night. Pity that - when does that happen again?!
Not being fans of engraved trinkets and other traditional doo-dads, we've decided to commemorate the occasion with 10 Date Nights which is much more representative of our best memories and finest times together. Indeed, in our 10 years of marriage (and 17 years of life together), our fondest, most technicolor times have been experiences. In the months ahead there will be 10 date nights to 10 restaurants/places that have languished on our Chicago-area bucket list.
FOUR
Christopher: Mama! Come get this for me!
Me: Christopher, I am not your personal servant.
Christopher: Mama, you are my personal serpent.
Following a dinner that was peppered by a lot of reminders to keep toes off the table, buns in the seat, and the use of utensils instead of fingers...
Christopher: This dinner was brought to you by the letter "NO" and the number "MAMA."
(If you don't get that one, then click on this and it might ring a bell.)
We have a four year old in the house!
Christopher got a blue bike (with pedals, as requested) for his birthday and he was riding it before the day was out. I think that no small amount of credit goes to the balance bike he's been riding for the last year, but I must admit that I'm a little amazed at how quickly he's gotten the hang of it. We told him that we can all go for a family ride together once he can start up completely on his own and use the brakes dependably. Looks like there may be a family bike ride this weekend...
Christopher has retained many of the qualities that we noticed in him when he turned one. It's truly awesome how his little personality (well, BIG personality, at times) was so evident from square one. He's still somewhat hesitant in new situations and doesn't make waves socially if he doesn't feel completely knowledgeable about who and what is around him. He's sensitive but not demonstrative. He's intense and kinesthetically able. We're so proud of him and look forward to seeing what new joys and adventures he discovers this year, his 5th trip around the sun.
