ten year anniversary

ten years ago i married my best friend. i know, i know, i sound like a hallmark card. but it's the truth! he's my best friend. he knows me better than anyone else does, treats me with great respect, laughs at my jokes (no matter how corny they are), loves me as i am (imperfections and all), and is by any definition, my soul mate.

since it is our ten year anniversary this year we decided to splurge a little, and two nights ago we celebrated a wee bit early with a fantastic date night. we ate dinner at senate restaurant downtown...they specialize in gourmet hot dogs, but their burger is voted one of the best in cincinnati, and i can now attest to that. yummo! and michael had the lobster blt..which he thoroughly enjoyed. and their poutine is to die for!

after dinner we headed to a concert ~ coyotte grace and the indigo girls. i have no words for this...it was just a fabulous concert!

tonight, on the night of our actual anniversary we celebrated in a different way. dinner with our children, dinner as a family, celebrating what we have created together in these ten years. my cooking has been somewhat sporadic since henry was born...i am ashamed to admit that we eat out way too often, and our meals are less than well-balanced. but tonight i pulled out all the stops and created a feast! i made butter chicken from the pioneer woman's blog, accompanied by roasted asparagus & zucchini, naan, and pineapple. it was quite delicious if i do say so myself.

and then we exchanged gifts. ella gave us this beautiful box filled with all sorts of cards that she has been making us this week. such treasures! i wanted to give michael something memorable for our anniversary, so i had a portrait made of our home. it is the home his grandfather built over 50 years ago, and the home we lived in when we first got married. a friend of michael's from high school, CR Adams did this gorgeous pen & ink portrait. You should check out his work, it is a great gift idea!

and for the mama....michael came home with a garnet pendant, which is the birthstone for january, in honor of our youngest babe born this past january. i've said it before, but i'll say it again...i'm a lucky girl.