Sonoma Getaway

To celebrate three years together, we got to spend the weekend in Sonoma. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for making it possible by loving on our Bookie the whole time! 

We drove up Friday afternoon. Pretty uneventful besides this:

That is a Viper with a Louis Vuitton top cover. A young-looking guy with a hoodie was driving this. We got a good chuckle. I had no idea you could custom like this!!

After snagging an awesome Groupon deal at this gorgeous upscale Inn, we planned our weekend in Sonoma. MacArther Place was a fabulous stay! We happened to get a room with a fireplace and jet-tub, which have become two "musts" on our list. We went through 5 of their Duraflame logs in three days. Our room was so cozy! 

The Inn also had a complimentary evening wine tasting with fruit and cheese as well as a breakfast. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here!

We checked in early then headed to the plaza to wander around and shop. 

City Hall

We found lots of fun shops to walk through. I found these awesomely fun plates and bought two and a cup for Ezra at a nostalgia candy store. And this store was straight out of a magical book. Reminded me a lot of  my favorite store. We picked up some jewelry at the Fair Trade Store as well.

This was the first time to Sonoma for the both of us and we really liked it. There is definitely a distinct difference in the 'feel' compared to Napa. It was upscale and kooky at the same time. Which to us, is really what it's all about. For example, doesn't every pole need a knitted sock warmer? It was very cold that weekend!

About 1/3 of the way around the square, we stopped for libations and fuel: drinks & garlic fries at W's favorite place: Murphy's Irish Pub. We came to find out that most of the places here were right up our alley: boutique and cozy with lots of personality.

We then hit up the Historical Barracks

And found Sonoma's Cheese Factory which totally reminded me of the one on my Main St. growing up. We use to go in there and I would get cheese samples. Now it's just a bar and some restaurants.

The rest of the weekend we did not leave our room except for delicious dinners here and here. {The first is very hot and up-and-coming. The last changes their menu everyday. Both have marvelous desserts.} And for a game of chess in the garden where W beat the crap out of me and smoked a cigar.

And lastly, for our wonderful couple's massage at the Inn's Garden Spa. It was bliss! This was W's first and he is uber ticklish, but he did so well!! Just his feet got skipped during the massage. :)

NYE, we were asleep by 10. It was lovely.

Our last day, we dined here for lunch and stopped by this winery after tasting it at the Inn. Their 2006 Chardonnay is amazing! We couldn't leave without a "thank you" for my parents.  Then we headed back home to our Bookie!

Our reviews:
J: "Definitely in the top three best anni trips!"
W: "My favorite 3rd anni trip ever!"

This Year's Resolutions

W & I have been loosely talking about what we'd like to change this year. We don't have a plan of action just yet, but perhaps writing them out will help to start. Here's what we're hoping to each head-up in the coming months, in no particular order!

{W}

Jog 2-3 times a week

Read the Bible and pray together on a more daily basis

Parenting book study together {maybe start with this one}

Consistent date night per week, even if it's at home

Paying off the rest of school debt

Family trip to the Pennsylvania summer family reunion for Mama's side

Both going to bed early a few nights per week {we're talking like before 9}

{J}

Get a monthly crafty night with other gals going 

Join a mom's group (?)

Continue to stick with menu planning and cleaning schedule 

Making W's lunch for work

Go through and clean teacher boxes and closet 

Take a handgun safety class

Get E's foot and/or hand-prints before they're too big to get

Connect more often with distant friends

Some of them are lofty goals like a five hour plane trip with a 1.5 year old or going through over 6 big boxes of teaching material and figuring out what to keep. But we are hoping to at least get the ball rolling to make these goals a reality. Habits don't just form overnight or by accident, we know, but we're also going to give ourselves some grace. 

Do you have any goals for 2011?

Stay-cation

So I think The Swensons experienced their first 'stay-cation' this week. Since work was really slow, W decided to take this week off before starting his new job. It's been a great time of getting caught up {take that, laundry!} at home and having mini-day excursions as a family.

I cannot deny that it would be so nice to have an extra pair of hands on a daily basis. It's amazing how much more things can get done while having time for play! But alas, it's just my two hands most weeks so I do appreciate that W is really hands-on when he's home. Here's the fun part of our week together...{I'll spare you pictures of folded laundry, clean counter-tops, warm fires, refreshing afternoon naps and yummy dinners.}

Well, I will show you a boy totally enamored with his Papa.

Monday: Feeding the ducks

Ezra was in love with those ducks. He wanted so badly to jump in and touch them. He'd feed himself some bread and then feed them. W did a lot of running around this day. ;)

Tuesday: Aquarium of the Bay

The last {and only} time W and I have been here was on a day trip while we were still dating. It was one of the first things we did once we were both in the bay area. This time as a family, we braved the drizzle and headed into the city. Only got caught in the storm on our way back to the car. But I love the rain, so it only added to the adventure. I bought our second ornament of this year at the aquarium. An octopus...because Ezra loved the touch-and-feel part, of course. A great way to spend our anniversary day!

Wednesday: The Park

It was so cold!! We only spent a little over an hour at the park, before heading back to the car to warm up. Ezra did go down a small slide all by himself for the first time. And he officially loves to climb up the slides.

Thursday: The Zoo

Finally a sunshine day! It was still chilly so we bundled up with lots of layers.

 The first time we saw the lions out!

It's been a really great family time this week. A wonderful memory to look back upon in the four tax season months to come. I don't think W will be allowed to come up for air until after April 15th.

Happy 3 Years

to my one and only!! Seriously, the best three years of my life!

One of my favorite days!

Dearest Lover,

Thank you for helping to carry the heavy load that life sometimes brings.

Thank you for being so talented.

Thank you for being sweet in temptingly hard situations.

For making our life magical, regardless of what we have.

For committing to infinity and forever.

For making me laugh even when I'm sad or mad.

And for still being so hot, I can't keep my hands off you.

For loving life and being so goofy with me.

And thank you for being so tender and kind. For looking out for my best.

I love being your wife and getting to do life with you!! Even now when I think about our pairing, I'm blown away that God could design someone so perfectly matched for me. You are like no other that I know of. I'm so excitedly hopeful of the legacy we get to build together and the years to come.

I pray we get to grow so very old together.
And not just because I know you're great with diapers. ;)

With all that I am,
Me

The Last Christmas Tradition

I'm pretty sure this is one of W's favorite Christmas traditions: the burning of our tree. It requires all the things he loves: making a fire, using a knife and ax, and problem-solving skills. Gosh, I love my boy scout!! :) Sunday evening while E was taking a late nap, W and I took down all our lovely decorations. We built a fire, played Christmas music on Pandora one last time, drank some beer, and wrapped & stored everything for next year. The very last thing is turning the tree into firewood.

Until next year...

Christmas Eve & Christmas

Christmas Eve was spent at my parents. This is our third year with the cioppino dinner tradition and it is amazing!! 

 So yummy!! Definitely a hands-on meal.

 My two boys.

Mom & Linds in the middle of dinner.

 E did some exploration after his dinner.

After the early dinner, W, Linds, E and I split to the candle-lit service at church. We then headed back up to my parents for a Christmas movie, a few presents and hanging out. E got the most awesome gift from Uncle Bret and Auntie Donnie: On-the-go Drumsticks. Perfect for the boy who loves to make some noise!!

Christmas morning was at our house. The Swenson family tradition is Swedish pancakes. But with an honest mistake of tablespoons instead of teaspoons, we ate a delicious quiche instead. We opened presents and played games.

That evening, we were over at my parents again for prime rib. We ate very well this past weekend! Such a great and mellow Christmas.