Thursday, December 9, 2010

Meet the Parents (Part Two)

So this past weekend M met not only my parents but my sister and BIL (brother-in-law) at our house upstate where we spent the weekend and celebrated Hanukkah. All in all I think it went really well! Here are the details...

We picked up Sister and BIL (along with Fiona their dog) at the airport on Thursday night. We went back to M's place where Poppy was waiting to say hi to everyone! She was so excited to see Sister and Bil (thanks again to them for taking care of her when she was just a little puppy). We left Fiona and Poppy to have some doggie bonding while we went to grab some dinner. BIL and M seemed to get along quite well, guy things I guess. Sister and I were happy because there was a salad bar (seriously, you want to see me jump for joy give me a salad bar). After dinner we just headed back to M's place, walked the dogs and then stayed up chatting for a bit before going to sleep.
The next morning we got ready, picked up some bagels and hit the road up to Saratoga. After some seat rearranging (Poppy preferred to be in the backseat with me) we were situated and enjoyed a stress free ride upstate. Did you know there is a Hanukkah channel on XM radio? Well, we found it and had a blast with it in the car. The ride took less than three hours and were home and it was time for M to meet Mom and Dad (and Trixie their dog)! We walked in and once the introductions had been made M fit right in. We headed right out to grab some lunch (another salad bar, could this weekend get any better?!) and then look at some houses with Sister and BIL. They are thinking of moving to New York and some of the houses we looked at were amazing! I hope they move up here, it would be so great to have my sister closer than FL. Once we were all house hunted out we headed home and had a little bit of time to rest before my parents took us out to an amazing dinner! We went to a wonderful place called Lake Ridge and all I can say about dinner is "OMG!!!!" Yes, it was that delicious! I was so stuffed afterwards I couldn't wait to go home and just put on comfy pants and lounge on the couch. So, that is pretty much what I did as soon as I walked in the door. Meanwhile, my Dad and M decided to go out for a nightcap, so the two of them headed out to a bar in town called 9 Maple which has the largest selection of scotched in New York State. I have no idea what time they got home, I was already asleep.
In the morning I had to wake up M because BIL wanted M to join him to get bagels for breakfast. They headed off while my Dad and I squeezed fresh OJ and I tried to squeeze information about the before out of him! He had three scotches (after the champagne and two bottles of wine from dinner) so he couldn't remember what he and M talked about! Grrrrr. Anyway, after breakfast everyone went their own way. M and I stayed at the house for a while so I could have an extra rest b/c I had not slept well the night before. Once we were ready to head out we went to the main street in town, Broadway. We walked around and did a little shopping and grabbed a bite for lunch. After than I drove M around Saratoga a bit so he could get more of a fell for the town, we stopped at the grocery store for my Mom and then headed home. The house was in full swing getting ready for our annual Vodkas and Latkes Hanukkah party! My Dad made about eight pounds of latkes and we each contributed another dish. Friends and neighbors stopped by and it was a ton of fun! Not a bottle of vodka left at night's end! Once the house was cleaned up Mom, Sister, M and I stayed up playing a game of Apples to Apples and talking. Mom asked M about our first date and our relationship, it was very cute because she basically already knows everything, but she was hearing it from M's point of view.
At some point we all hit a wall and decided to call it a night.
The next morning we went for a yummy breakfast/lunch in town and hit Target (living in NYC I always look forward to a Target run anywhere I am). Them M and I hit the road to come back to real life (not that I wanted to). The whole weekend was really fun and like I said, I think M fit right in. My family all liked him, they have already told me. It was so important to me that this weekend went well, because as much as I love M having my family love him too makes all of this more real.

So, I know I have not been the best about blogging just doing these weekly super long updates. I will try to be better!!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Thanksgiving Update!

I know I know...it took me a while to put up this post. But Thanksgiving weekend was such a whirlwind I feel like I have been playing catch up with my sleep every since! Okay, so here goes...

Wednesday Night
M came into the city and we met my friend A and her parents for dinner at one of our favorite local places, Picnic. If you have not been try to get there, the food is always fresh and delicious and they have a reasonable wines by the glass list! We had a really yummy dinner where M and A's dad really hit it off talking about things the rest of us didn't really understand (technology stuff is not my area of expertise). After dinner A cam back to my place with us where we had a beer and I started to make the treats I would be bringing to Thanksgiving dinner. M took Poppy for a walk while A and I talked about some of her adventures in dating and relationships (but that could be a whole other blog!). Anyway, I made a kale salad and an apple crumble which kept me awake till after 1AM! M was so great, he saw that I was fading and made me get into bed while he waited for the crumble to come out of the oven.
Thursday
I had to be up at around 4:30 since I was working on Thursday at my second job at the gym. I was there from 5:30am-2pm (and people were still calling upset that we were not open longer!). I was exhausted after the night before, not getting much sleep, and worried that my cooking would not be received well. While I was at work, M took Poppy (and the food I had prepared) and drove out to New Jersey to get some stuff for his place. It was a good way for Poppy to get used to being there and for M to spend some time with her. I took the bus out to meet him when I was done with work and had enough time to rest for about a half an hour before we had to change and head over to his parent's house.
When we got there things were in full swing! His dad had prepared most of the meal (including the yummy turkey) and his mom was busy putting out cheese plates and dips for before dinner. The house was just a tiny bit cleaner then the last time I was there, but the piles were still visible. And his mom was wearing sweat pants and an oversized t-shirt yet again. I guess that is just her style? Although, if I were having fifteen people over I would put a little effort into my appearance, but that's me. Anyway, his whole family was there, all the brothers and sisters, cousins, aunt, uncle, and grandparents. I met them all and I think things went really well. His grandmother really liked Poppy (in fact when he saw her on Monday she asked about Poppy) and was really quite a character. I enjoyed spending time with them and it really felt comfortable and easy. I didn't feel any pressure or nervousness and I don't think they did either. When we got home later that evening his mother called to speak to me just to once again thank me for bringing food as well as helping to clean up. I thought that was so nice and maybe showed that she is starting to like me.
(Black) Friday
I have never gone shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving, so I guess there is a first time for everything. M just moved into a new place and needed alot of stuff to make it livable. I mean there is a bed, couch, TV, and some basics, but there were lots of things lacking. So we headed out to brave the crowds. Our first stop was Petsmart to get some things for Poppy so that she will feel at home at M's place. Poppy had lots of fun walking around the store picking out toys and treats! After dropping Poppy off at home to enjoy her new stuff, we headed to Costco. The crowd was not bad at all and M got the stuff he needed (including an air mattress for overnight guests like my sister and brother-in-law who come into town tomorrow!!). The next stop was Target where the crowds were a bit much, especially around the toy isles, oy vey! But since it was later in the day, I think we missed the big 4AM rush! We got a few more things for M's place and some stuff for me to keep there as well. After that I was so hungry that we we decided it was time for some lunch. Now, I know some might laugh at me, but I am a sucker for a salad bar. So off we went to Ruby Tuesday in the mall. That was our first foray into the wild that is known as Black Friday. The crowds were INSANE! I would be very happy to never go to the mall on Black Friday ever again. But we had one more stop to make and that was Bed Bath and Beyond. I feel like we spent the most time in that store because there was really just so much to get. From bedding to silverware to towels, you get the idea. Anyway, after that I was pretty much done. All I wanted to do was go home, put on some comfy pants and call it a day. However, M had other plans. When we got home there was little time to rest before we headed back to his parent's house for Thanksgiving Part II. Basically helping to eat the leftovers from the night before. Everything was fine (his mother wore the SAME outfit) and I was pretty quiet from being so tired. I think M got the picture and we didn't stay for dessert, instead we headed home and I fell asleep pretty much as soon as my head hit the pillow.
The rest of the weekend was pretty uneventful, lots of walks with Poppy, working at the gym both Saturday and Sunday, making breakfast together and planning our Hanukkah celebrations! We are heading upstate this weekend with my sister and BIL (brother-in-law) to visit my parents in Saratoga. This will be M's first time meeting my family, so I am pretty excited for that! Anyway, tonight is the first night of Hanukkah, so to all who celebrate, I hope you enjoy the festival of lights!