On Saturday, we had a much needed date night. We went on a double date with our best friends, Dee and Layne. It was absolutely fantastic!
Chris and Layne went into work on a Saturday to do some "housekeeping" stuff- welding some shelving units for the shop area. Layne made a deal with their GM Jeff that in exchange, they could take their wives out for dinner. Jeff agreed, but probably should have put a price limit on the meal....probably would have been cheaper for Rigwatch to just pay the guys for their time.
This Saturday work happened way back at the beginning of January, but it took quite a while to try to get babysitters on the same night. The four of us almost never get to go out together because we are either eachother's babysitters or we can't get sitters on the same nights. We often spend time at eachother's houses with kids in tow.
Finally, March 28th was the agreed upon day. My mom came to watch the boys for us, and Donny came along with her to play with the boys. Luca and Donny had another sleepover in Luca's room. They are such cute little cousins! Dee and Layne were able to have Layne's mom watch their kidlets. Another hurdle that had to be overcome to go out was that Dee needed to get Jack to take a bottle. She worked at it last week and was able to get him to take one, so she was able to go out for a bit.
I (and Dee) was so excited to get to dress up and go out. If you are a stay at home mom, you know that there are so few reasons to dress up in everyday activities. I used to dress up when I was teaching but the effort seems to be lost on my boys.
Here are Chris and I all dressed up and ready to go out. I'm showing off my new shoes.
We had reservations at a place in downtown Calgary called Divino's. It is a wine and cheese bistro. Chris and I were a little bit skeptical when Layne made the reservation, but it turned out to be an absolutely delicious meal.
When we arrived, we started with glasses of wine. I don't really like wine, but had the server recommend a mild one to me and it wasn't bad. I didn't love it, but I did drink most of my glass. It really did taste better paired with my meal though.
The we all shared a platter of the chef's selection of cheeses. I can't remember what it was that we tried, but we tried 5 different cheeses that I wouldn't have otherwise tasted. Probably ever. I know what I like and I like what I know. I have a hard time trying new things. So, this was a big night for me as you will find out. Anyway, I digress. The cheeses were fantastic, served with a little whole grain loaf of bread and some Rosemary Fig jelly. Mmmmmm........
Our appetizers arrived looking and tasting scrumptious. I ordered Gnocchi, which was absolutely delicious. Chris had a very large plate of mussels, Layne had calamari and Dee had lobster and scallops. If you know me, you know that I do not like sea food. I will eat tuna from a can, but that's about the extent of it. But everyone was commenting on how perfectly cooked their appetizers were, I had to try. I tried Layne's calamari and was pleasantly surprised. I had tried calamari before, but it was quite rubbery and I just couldn't get past the texture. I guess that's the difference between an upscale restaurant and an average restaurant. I had tried lobster in Cuba and didn't think it was too bad, so I tried Dee's lobster, too. It was delicious, as were her scallops. And this is only the appetizers.
Our main courses left nothing to be desired. Layne and I both had bison striploin, cooked a perfect medium with baby roasted potatoes, greenbeans and to die for onion rings, stacked in a neat tower. My entree was spectacular. I can still taste it.
Chris ordered baby pig rack, which was served with roasted potatoes and green beans as well. I didn't taste it but his commentary assurred me that it was mouth watering. Dee had grilled salmon and risotto. I tried both and wasn't too big into the salmon (it tasted too "fishy" for my liking), but the risotto was amazing. Creamy with a nice lemon grass flavor. Delicious.
After all this food, there was still dessert! I had a raspberry tart, served with raspberry sorbet. All I can say is that it was a perfect end to a perfect meal. Layne had caramel chocolate cake and Dee and Chris both had carmelized lemon cake. Of course, they all had much fancier names than that.
It was such a great evening. Great food and conversation with our best friends. And having the meal paid for didn't hurt, either! :)
AND....Chris and I are going to Edmonton on Wednesday evening for 2 nights sans kids! Chris has some meetings that he has to attend on Thursday and Friday, so we thought it would be nice if I went with him. Pat and Joanne are coming to our house to stay with the boys. It will be my first time leaving Levi overnight, but I am ready for it. I am just so excited to have some time alone with my husband to go out for dinner, see a movie, maybe do some shopping and just spend time together without the responsibility of kids. Should be a great time!
I am also hoping to purchase a new camera while we are in Edmonton (since we can shop without kids), since I dropped mine and killed it. :(
Chris and Layne went into work on a Saturday to do some "housekeeping" stuff- welding some shelving units for the shop area. Layne made a deal with their GM Jeff that in exchange, they could take their wives out for dinner. Jeff agreed, but probably should have put a price limit on the meal....probably would have been cheaper for Rigwatch to just pay the guys for their time.
This Saturday work happened way back at the beginning of January, but it took quite a while to try to get babysitters on the same night. The four of us almost never get to go out together because we are either eachother's babysitters or we can't get sitters on the same nights. We often spend time at eachother's houses with kids in tow.
Finally, March 28th was the agreed upon day. My mom came to watch the boys for us, and Donny came along with her to play with the boys. Luca and Donny had another sleepover in Luca's room. They are such cute little cousins! Dee and Layne were able to have Layne's mom watch their kidlets. Another hurdle that had to be overcome to go out was that Dee needed to get Jack to take a bottle. She worked at it last week and was able to get him to take one, so she was able to go out for a bit.
I (and Dee) was so excited to get to dress up and go out. If you are a stay at home mom, you know that there are so few reasons to dress up in everyday activities. I used to dress up when I was teaching but the effort seems to be lost on my boys.
Here are Chris and I all dressed up and ready to go out. I'm showing off my new shoes.
We had reservations at a place in downtown Calgary called Divino's. It is a wine and cheese bistro. Chris and I were a little bit skeptical when Layne made the reservation, but it turned out to be an absolutely delicious meal.
When we arrived, we started with glasses of wine. I don't really like wine, but had the server recommend a mild one to me and it wasn't bad. I didn't love it, but I did drink most of my glass. It really did taste better paired with my meal though.
The we all shared a platter of the chef's selection of cheeses. I can't remember what it was that we tried, but we tried 5 different cheeses that I wouldn't have otherwise tasted. Probably ever. I know what I like and I like what I know. I have a hard time trying new things. So, this was a big night for me as you will find out. Anyway, I digress. The cheeses were fantastic, served with a little whole grain loaf of bread and some Rosemary Fig jelly. Mmmmmm........
Our appetizers arrived looking and tasting scrumptious. I ordered Gnocchi, which was absolutely delicious. Chris had a very large plate of mussels, Layne had calamari and Dee had lobster and scallops. If you know me, you know that I do not like sea food. I will eat tuna from a can, but that's about the extent of it. But everyone was commenting on how perfectly cooked their appetizers were, I had to try. I tried Layne's calamari and was pleasantly surprised. I had tried calamari before, but it was quite rubbery and I just couldn't get past the texture. I guess that's the difference between an upscale restaurant and an average restaurant. I had tried lobster in Cuba and didn't think it was too bad, so I tried Dee's lobster, too. It was delicious, as were her scallops. And this is only the appetizers.
Our main courses left nothing to be desired. Layne and I both had bison striploin, cooked a perfect medium with baby roasted potatoes, greenbeans and to die for onion rings, stacked in a neat tower. My entree was spectacular. I can still taste it.
Chris ordered baby pig rack, which was served with roasted potatoes and green beans as well. I didn't taste it but his commentary assurred me that it was mouth watering. Dee had grilled salmon and risotto. I tried both and wasn't too big into the salmon (it tasted too "fishy" for my liking), but the risotto was amazing. Creamy with a nice lemon grass flavor. Delicious.
After all this food, there was still dessert! I had a raspberry tart, served with raspberry sorbet. All I can say is that it was a perfect end to a perfect meal. Layne had caramel chocolate cake and Dee and Chris both had carmelized lemon cake. Of course, they all had much fancier names than that.
It was such a great evening. Great food and conversation with our best friends. And having the meal paid for didn't hurt, either! :)
AND....Chris and I are going to Edmonton on Wednesday evening for 2 nights sans kids! Chris has some meetings that he has to attend on Thursday and Friday, so we thought it would be nice if I went with him. Pat and Joanne are coming to our house to stay with the boys. It will be my first time leaving Levi overnight, but I am ready for it. I am just so excited to have some time alone with my husband to go out for dinner, see a movie, maybe do some shopping and just spend time together without the responsibility of kids. Should be a great time!
I am also hoping to purchase a new camera while we are in Edmonton (since we can shop without kids), since I dropped mine and killed it. :(
