9 years... but who's counting?

So, this is us when we just got married- Steve looks so young! Woah. 9 years ago!? Has it really been that long?

Even though our anniversary is officially August 28th, we celebrated on Tuesday because Maddie and I are heading out of town tomorrow for a friends wedding.

We celebrated by going to a restaurant I have been wanting to go to for a while now: Le Papillon. It is kind of expensive, but it was nice to check off the list. I have to admit I was expecting more for some reason- I'm not sure if it's because I've been currently obsessed with "Iron Chef," and my ideals are set above what is even possible, or if it was because I'm currently totally grossed out by red meat because of pregnancy... but I would give it 3 out of 4 stars.

Anyway- back to our anniversary and being married 9 years.

Being married 9 years. I have to think about what that means. For me, I got a lot of thrill from "the chase," or the "flirting years," and it's hard to keep that up after a while. You are so used to eachother, you are so busy with life, the excitement of eachother kind of fades... I guess that's why "Twilight" is so popular? A moment of that excitement to get away from the ordinary?

Marriage is wonderful- but it is a lot of work. Can't it just be like those cheesy movies where they are madly in love with eachother and he writes poems for you and leaves you notes on your pillow to read when you wake up? Ha, ha, ha!!

Ok- I'm getting carried away...

Hey- I have an idea! I'm going to do something FOR HIM! Maybe that will start a chain reaction.... (I'll post about if it works...)

Ode to Mr. Leeflang

The man who you can barely see and who is fairly fuzzy in the photograph below is my husband. He reminds me that he is usually absent from "our" blog most of the time, so I thought I'd fill you in on what he has been up to for the past 8 months.
Wake up
Go to work
Sometimes eat dinner
Go to the house and work until the ghastly time of night where only bats come out
Go home and sleep
Repeat

He is a workaholic- and I am grateful that he works so hard...especially on our future home that is slowly being completed. (But, will be so happy that I actually get to spend some waking hours with him when life returns to semi-normal).
This is what the house looks like from the curb these days. It was a major decision to decide on the trim around the windows...

Another view from the street.
This is a faint picture of what the siding will look like- very cape cod like. We haven't decided on the color yet- but are getting closer. He started on this part of the house, so most of his learning/mistakes will be on the side that almost no one will see.

Part way through the siding, we realized that the cement surrounding the house in the patio and the doorstep would need to be poured before we finished the siding. So, we searched for a concrete contractor, and he should be pouring it this Wednedsay, and then hopefully all of the siding will be done after Labor Day weekend?? (please?)

Other than siding, he is finishing up the eletrical- which has been a major feat. Let's just say that there are a ridiculous amount of lights in our house- small planes can use our house as a small landing pad....

I am actually really excited about it- light was of #1 importance in this project. We both hate dark rooms and love as much light as possible.

So- if you want to find Mr. Leeflang, you'll know where he is. Just follow the schedule above...

My (world) job

At the end of the month, I can say that I have worked in my "real" job for 3 months. I say real job, because I think being a mom is a job and a half. But outside of that job, I got very very lucky (really blessed more like it) and was hired by a terrific firm that specializes in immigration law. Little did I know at the time, but they are the biggest immigration firm in the US and have offices all around the world?



I'm kind of a small time girl, and didn't know what I would be getting myself into, but I am so happy and really love the hours, the work and the people that I work with.


My job is so very unlike this:

But more like this:

Joking aside, I really do like the practice of law and I'm glad that I'll have loans until I'm 80 years old :)

I think lawyers get a bad rap (when Steve was little and he told his mom he wanted to be a lawyer, she started to cry!!!). Of course, there are a ton of bad lawyers out there- but there are also a lot of good ones.

I am always impressed by how law enables you to fight for people. Fight for the wrongly accused, fight for the domestic violence victim, fight for a foreign national who wants and deserves to work in the US. That's why I like law. The little card that you get when you are liscenced to practice is a great privilege and I'm very greatful that I have it.

Gilroy Gardens

I seem to be very very behind in my postings, partially because my dad visited for a while and partially because we have been busy with stuff. But, here is my attempt to get caught up!


Two weekends ago, my dad came to visit! I have always wanted to go to Gilroy Gardens, but was always shy of trekking myself down there since it is 1 hour away. But- it was well worth the drive. I LOVED it.

(Aside- one of the major reasons why I love the bay area is because I have been here for 12 years now, and I seem to always discover all of these new things I didn't know about. New restaurants, new museums, new parks, new things to do... it really is a fabulous place).

I searched on the internet for any type of coupons I could get, and I found one for $25.00- which is cheaper than Coscto and a lot better than the $41.00 normal charge. (ouch)

I hope to go there again before Maddie turns 2 because then I have to pay for her!
Here are some pics:

By the end of the day, Maddie knew the drill- wait in line, get in the ride, and have fun...

Should I mention that she rode this 10 times in a row? She is in love with these little rides.

Loved this one too..

I just fell in love with the theme of the park- it was so beautiful and clean! All of the rides were inspired by produce around Gilroy (garlic, strawberries...). It was adorable.

Waiting in line...

We rode a little ferris wheel-- she loved every second of it. (so did we!)

Ok- so for an amusement park, I thought it was pretty gutsy for them to have a water park. But- they do. And- it is a lot of fun. The kids just love taking a break and running in the water for an hour. (I just need to remember her swimming suit next time).

Clearly very happy!

LOVE GILROY GARDENS!!!

The last finale

Friday night I went to the book release party of "Breaking Dawn," the last of the "Twilight" book series. I was waiting for this night all summer, because I am basically obsessed with the books.

The party consisted of making shirts, going to the cheescake factory and then to Borders, where the book was to be distributed at 12:01 am. The party throwers took this very seriously!!

I had a lot of fun hanging out with people "almost as" and "way more" obsessed than myself. It was a good time- especially because I have been locked up in my house pretty much all summer (b/c Steve is working on the house all the time! poor guy!!)

To the point: I was expecting the party to be a huge RAVE! Lights, music, twilight inspired music. As we approached the doors... nothing! Only a lone employee sitting behind a desk with a list of names of people who wanted the book. But wait it get's better. "Where is the party?" we asked. "Go in the back, you'll see it." We quickly walked to the back and I almost stopped dead in my tracks.

11 and 12 year olds sitting on the floor dressed up as vampires playing cards.

I felt pretty old and pretty ridiculous.

I guess that's what you get when you read juvenile fiction. What was I expecting afterall?

After I picked up my dignity off the floor, I excused myself (I love my sleep too much), and bought the book at Costco the next day.

I finished the book yesterday-- and I was very pleased with the ending. I don't want to spoil the book for anyone, but Meyer definitely didn't miss out on anything. She tied it up, put in everything I wanted... it was a great read.

Of course now I'm sad and feel the void. But, of course I would do it all over again.