One Quarter

I was utterly spoiled for my birthday!

The actual day was Sunday but Matt got started on celebrations Friday night by ordering a pizza, then getting to work in the kitchen. He made me this chocolate peanut butter cake which is something I would have been afraid to tackle — dude makes good cake. A few of our friends came over to hang out and grab a slice (and some, in the case of Pat, actually helped bake it!). Our youngest guest was our friends’ cutest little baby, officially the tiniest and quietest baby I have ever had the privilege to hold.

I stole this picture from Matt. I doubt my attempt would look as good!

On Saturday we set out in the snow, on our way to Dryden — Matt had to shovel a path to the truck in order for us to leave. It was bitingly cold, and windy to boot. I was starving but he insisted on checking into the hotel first. Back in December, when he booked a room at the Riverview, he told me it was “just a nice little room.” Lo and behold, when I opened the door, I found out he booked the swanky fireplace suite!

One weird thing about being there was knowing I had been in the same room as a baby myself! I was really psyched at the prospect of a king-sized bed, though. But before we could relax we had a few more things to do. Namely, I was starving and needed to buy tights for dinner. So off we went downtown, where we decided to wander into Kupper’s (a bakery where we’ve bought bread and treats before). Turns out they have a gigantic restaurant hidden in the back!

Mmmm, chicken souvlaki pita. The restaurant reminded us of where we stopped to eat in Jasper the day we called our parents to tell them we got engaged, so that was a nice bit of deja vu for a chilly day. Going to Walmart wasn’t quite so nice but luckily we got out with enough time for me to prop my feet up back at our room and pop a cider open in front of the fire.

It wasn’t long before I had to start getting ready for dinner. We had reservations right in the lodge, so we didn’t have to go far, but I wanted to dress up a bit. I bought a dress online but it was kind of short, so I figured I’d wear it with tights or leggings and ankle boots. Unfortunately I was stuck with Walmart selections for my legwear so I had a less-than-steller black socks/leggings/ankle boots thing happening, but Matt assured me nobody could see it in the dark. Also, those Goody spin pin things are not made for people with thick hair!

I feel like no matter how much prep work I do when dressing up I end up flustered and flushed and running late, and I didn’t have time to take a full outfit photo, but aside from my footwear kerfluffle (and how cold I was by the door in the restaurant!) I think it turned out okay.

Downstairs I made the classy decision to drink bellinis all the way from appetizers to the end of our meal, much to our server’s amusement (I think… he really seemed to want us to drink wine!). Matt had pepper steak, of course, and I had a pesto pasta even though I probably should have had steak, too. I was too stuffed for dessert and Matt couldn’t handle eating a full dessert all by himself (and we had more bakery treats upstairs). As nice as it was to dress up and eat… I was really psyched to go back upstairs, put on comfy clothes, and sit by the fire again.

Also stolen from Matt.

I queued up some Fireplace Folk on Songza, and everything was cozy and warm for awhile — no television, no cats, just us and a bunch of log walls. I don’t know how much you guys know about Dryden, but I should note that the lodge is right across the river from a paper mill — a very stinky paper mill. Partway through our cozy evening I wrinkled my nose and accused Matt of farting, which he denied, then accused me right back. We both realized around the same time that the stink-cloud from the mill was making its way right over the lodge and into our room!

We managed to keep it out by shutting the vents, but Matt figures there have to be a few couples who got in huge fights thanks to that mill and the fart smell that comes with it. Despite the stink it was still a lovely night, and I am now convinced that we need a fireplace in our next house.

The next day we had a lackluster breakfast (not at the lodge, but elsewhere, and it was mainly just mine that was kind of sad) and then did some utility shopping. We actually made it home before dark for once! So my actual birthday was pretty low-key, but the whole weekend was awesome. I feel very spoiled.

How was your weekend?