Haven't killed him yet.....

Friday was our five year wedding anniversary. Definitely doesn't feel like it. Weird for sure. We generally don't do big gifts, especially right after Christmas. And even moreso this year, with our big gift to ourselves being the trip to Egypt (that we have been saving up for since the wedding). But we had to do somethingto mark the occasion. So in true Nordyke fashion, it turned into a family dinner to Montage where we received a really sweet music box (5 years is wood) from my parents, as well as an anniversary book (time to think back to other anniversaries). Both Tim and I were pretty sick, so it was going to be low key anyway.

But Tim's gift to me had arrived a few days early. (Fine by me!) A cache of the Australian and New Zealand foods that we have been missing. I am ashamed to say how much of it is already gone mere days later.
2 boxes of Milo, 2 boxes of Sultanas, 4 packages of TRUE Tim Tams, and a bag of Jaffas. Absolutely fabulous.

What's funny is that he had tried to book us massages as his gift before ordering these. Only, the spa called him back to double check because I had already beat him to it as my gift. So he cancelled his and let me be the winner of thinking of it first and had to think of his own idea. I have to say though, as relaxing as our massages were yesterday, nothing beats a bowl of Milo.....

My heart is my tummy.

Last Thursday was our four year anniversary of not totally hating eachother. I ended up having to work a game at UNI until 9ish, but Tim didn't work at all (kind of odd really), so he decided he was going to make dinner himself and have it ready the moment I got home. Sounds cute and sweet, right? 

And it totally was, until by 10oclock, I was waddling around like an obese cow/penguin hybrid. 

Appetizer, cause we all need apps at 930 at night: Mozzarella/sweet tomato chunks on a bed of spinach.
Main meal: Rouladen (super thin beef rolled around a dill baby pickle and then simmered in crazy juices for a few hours), corn/green bean bread pudding stuff, and crescent rolls.
And then dessert that I had made earlier that day, not knowing the insanity that he was going to make all that for dinner, was Pavlova. Its an Australian thing, basically like merengue? I think thats the closest comparison. Fluffy, white, light, and delicious with fruit.
We ended up skipping the wine. Im pretty sure that would have ended with having to roll me around the house.

So fat. So good. More please!

Throwback Thursday: Anniversary Attire

That post I promised this morning? Yeah, tomorrow it will happen.... :)

But this weekend my parents are celebrating their anniversary, and as the truly awful daughter that I am, I have no idea when it is, or even what number it is. I suck. But check out this foxy lady in her wedding dress!!! :)

Hakuna Matata!

The 1pm show on a Sunday only reinforced my complete and utter disdain for children...

I must admit, both of us were pretty disappointed. The show was on much too small of a stage, so they couldn't perform the way I feel it was meant to be performed. And it was far too long. I would have loved just an hour+ of the ensemble dancers/singers and the woman playing Rafiki singing African songs. As much as I love Lion King, the plot totally got in the way. Just not as much as the small children I wanted to punch in the face....

Also, the Des Moines Civic Center is trashy. Don't see things there. Not worth it.

Happy Tuesday! ;)

Better than Wedding Cake!

Tim has always been big on surprise mail order dinners as gifts. And trust me, my tummy ain't complaining. This year he was extra prancey about it, and now I understand why...a starter of lobster risotto in a scallop shell, followed by lobster pot pie with the cutest puff pastry lobster on top. Dessert via Brown Bottle Red Velvet cheesecake. I might be ten pounds fatter tomorrow, but it was worth it for tonight! Yummy.

Three Years Ago Today...

I was a little bit more busy than I am today....just slightly....

Old Love, and New Love!

Been awhile, so let's knock out two great topics in one post, shall we?

Great Topic #1:
My parents went to Colorado two weeks ago for their 31st wedding anniversary. After I saw a few of their pictures, I just had to post some of their cuteness, although I'm sure my mother won't be too pleased. But she should deal with it, maybe she shouldn't be so cute! ;)
As a sidenote, they were nice enough to bring us back bags of Moose Munch, t-shirts, and Pyrex bowls! They must be saints.


Saints that are in loooovveeee. (Just don't get too ewwy-gooey on me)


In love, saintly, and apparently insane enough to talk to statues.....

Great Topic #2:
My lovely friend Mary got married this past weekend. And what comes before weddings? Bachlorette parties. And while most would expect crazy insane stories from such a statement, I really have none to tell. It was a great time, but nothing worth Catholic confession.

I mean really, how wild can chicks playing pool get?

But that's not saying there wasn't crazy feather boas and a Sexy Bitch pimp cup.....

Flashback Friday: Colorado Bound Parents!

I was in Rochester all day yesterday, and didn't get a throwback pic up, so I figured Flashback Friday should be put into play! Today's comes from the idea that tomorrow, my lovely parents are leaving for Colorado for a full week. Celebrating some anniversary, not a special one, but the trip is special for them. I remember when I was in elementary school, they would go away for week long cruises at least once a year. And I was thinking about it, and they haven't done a trip like this in over a decade! Yeah, a long weekend here or there, but not a full week. So this will be good! Plus, they are staying at Copper Mountain, which is SWEET.

Thus, this lovely flashback to my mother in Colorado years ago. Something tells me they won't be going on any horseback rides this time around....

My brother will be staying with us this week while my parents are gone. Something about that house is far too creepy for anyone to spend the night alone in, let alone a week full of nights! Eek. So Hotel de Nordyke is in full force!

For Boston.

Here's the awesome. Yesterday morning. I wake up, and on my kitchen island, I find three notes. One of which is Tim and my flight itinerary to Boston. For two weeks from today. I cried. I cannot stop thinking about it. I want to go now. I want to go yesterday. I never thought I would be this excited to go back. Even just for four days. It makes me wonder what its going to be like. If I will even be able to come back here once I am there. To see my people again. People like this. Times like this one.

*sigh* Can't wait. It's all I think about. I'm going back to Boston.

For Boston, for Boston,

Thy glory is our own!

For Boston, for Boston,

'Tis here that Truth is known.

And ever with the Right

Shall thy heirs be found,

Till time shall be no more

And thy work is crown'd.

For Boston, for Boston,

For Thee and Thine alone.