The Amelioration

I just wanted to sneak this post in today because we were married 6 years ago today. This is one of the first time's we did something really great to celebrate in years. Last night, we went out to dinner without kids at a great restaurant in Hollywood called the Geisha House. It was a fun and classy place, yet hip, with EXCELLENT food. It is Japanese American style, so we had things like sushi rolls with cream cheese and jalapenos, lobster and steak, or lamb chops with a teriyaki type glaze. It was so yummy and really fun. My friend Claire watched the kids, so I didn't have to worry about Amelia the whole time. Philip told me the reservation was at 6:45 and of course we were running late and I was rushing and panicking. Then after we dropped the kids off and got back in the car, he told me that the reservation was really for 7, but he knew I would be running late. It worked. We walked in at the desk at 7 and were at our table at 7:02. Nice move, Bagley. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and we stuffed ourselves to the brim.
Now here is a quick recap of our story for those who don't know, or like hearing these kinds of things. Met Philip August 2000 because my close friend in college was Tyler, who also was Philip's close friend from high school. First time I met him he seemed so awkward and I wasn;t too interested, but my roomies thought he was hot. I died his hair red the next time I saw him. The 3 of us spent a TON of time together until sometime in the fall of 2001, I started to like him as more than a friend and kept dropping hints to see if it was mutual. On January 15th, 2002 we kissed and I knew deep down he was the one I wanted to marry, but kept it to myself so he wouldn't freak out. Then in August of 2002, I moved to Minnesota to do an internship. He was afraid I wouldn't come back unless I was spoken for, so he proposed to me with a wire ring at his parents cabin just a few hours before I left. We drove to the nearest town and bought a ring and then I moved. We were supposed to get married in May, but a month or so after I was gone, Philip told me he wanted to move the date up. I resisted, mainly because I wanted a spring wedding, but after he met all my ridiculous demands I thought he never would meet, I realized how serious he was, so I agreed and we were married on January 25 2003.
Here is a montage of pics of us from when we first met in 2000 to a few months ago. Love that my hair is basically the same, just my weight fluctuates!!! And I love Philip's crazy fluffy mountain man hair when he grows it out.

This is the video from the ticket I got for running a stop sign. Here's kind of what the conversation was like when Phil opened a $100 ticket.
P: What!! I got a ticket?? (looking at a form with pics of our car and plates)
V: For what? Running a red light, speeding....?
P:Running a stop sign where we hiked on Thanksgiving.
V: (looking at pictures on ticket) How is that proof? It's just a picture of you past a stop sign. They could have taken that right after you stopped.
P: There's a video online (we watch the following video)


V: Oh.... Welp, I guess that's proof.
P: Seriously, do you see ANY brake lights.

The funny thing is, I would have suspected a ticket for going 15 in a 10 mile zone, not a stop sign because this is what I was thinking as I was driving over some speed bumps, "this is a private road, so they can't really do anything. These are all just suggestions"
Guess I was wrong.

Amelia just got over the flu and she keeps requesting funny things to eat. She saw this picture and is insistent that I have cookies somewhere in this house that I am keeping from her. Suprisingly, I don't, but this picture does make me want to have some cookies, truffles and Nog (dairy free and egg free "egg nog" for our little dairy/egg girl). Some of her other requests, meat sticks, salsa, hummus, and sushi (she's never eaten it but sees us eating it) I guess she needs some flavor in her diet now she's feeling better.

We were still recovering from our drive, so New Year's eve Philip got a couple movies from the library and a bag of "junk food" (organic chips, rice paper sushi, a mini pizza and eggnog ice cream) We watched one movie and went to bed at 9:30 or so. The next day we went to the beach nice and early. It was a little cool, but fun. Amelia loved chasing the frisbee and Ben stayed all wrapped up in his seat. We enjoyed a nice burger from the Habit (mmmm) and lots of napping.

We made it to Phil's parent's house just in time for Santa to drop down the chimney and see the kids. (I'll try and post a pic when I find one) Amelia wasn't scared at all, much to my surprise. She had a good time opening every present and eating candy. We got to spend some time with some of our old friends. I got to go shopping with Annie and no kids. The kids and I walked around temple square with Jared. Philip saw Body Worlds, without throwing up!! (It's an art/science? exhibit where they use real bodies to show how we are made) We got to see a lot of family and we headed home. We stopped in St George to see my 2 best friends from high school. The kids made it all 12 hours in the car with no real melt downs or vomiting incidents and thanks to the Prius, we made this whole trip on about the cost of 1 one-way plane ticket from LA to SLC. Here is the picture collage highlight. (click on it for close ups)

We managed to have a great time at the cabin. Ben loved being toasty by the fire. Amelia braved the temps of the sun room to play the piano. We had a delicious pre-Christmas turkey dinner with all the fixings and Phil and Amelia even made a snowman. Much to everyone's fears, we headed out before the next storm rolled in.