64th birthday celebration

This January 14th marked the 64th birthday of Peter. This is momentous because it is Peter's first birthday celebrated in Colorado and the first time it was celebrated with all members of his immediate family. Andy and Tara and the girls traveled from Lander and stayed the weekend and Doug and Heidi joined us on Saturday. A wonderful Packers victory was another gift.

The dining room table was twice surrounded with smiling faces admiring birthday cake complete with lit candles, once on Friday and again on Saturday.

Time was spent with granddaughters, Hailey and Emily, playing at the playground and on the living room floor.

Time was also spent with sons, Doug and Andy, being introduced to frisbee golf.

Renée planned the event and was instrumental in pulling off it off.

The girls helped Peter open gifts of a rust colored shirt, slippers to replace my holey ones and a new chalk bag for climbing. Andy and Tara hid their gift before returning to Lander.

Anniversary Dinner

Last evening, Peter, Doug & I traveled to Boulder to meet with Heidi for dinner. Doug had been at our house during the day to help with some wiring and moving of furniture.
The plan was to have dinner at some place other than normal for our anniversaries.
Peter & I celebrated our 40th anniversary in June while Doug and Heidi celebrated their 16th anniversary in June. Where does the time go? Not only hard to believe that we have been married that long, but our kids....16 years! Mind boggling.

Heidi chose the restaurant in Boulder and we all met at about the same time.
The choice for the evening was Brasserie 10 10 on Walnut St. just off their famous Pearl St. A French restaurant where the menu was actually in French. Of course with English subtitles. Peter, Doug & I enjoyed ROASTED RAINBOW TROUT with seared greens, lentil taboulé & citron buerre blanc. Wonderfully cooked and nicely presented. Heidi chose BOCUSE - a hunter style pulled chicken, sliced mushrooms, 5 lilies & a brandy crème over seared spinach. She also labeled it delicious, only asking "WHERE were the lillies"? Perhaps cooked inside the dish? We never did ask.
With our meal we also ordered a bottle of 2009 Chardonnay, from the Rodney Strong Winery in Sonoma County. Very tasty and a nice complement to our meal.

As we were at a French restaurant and celebrating our anniversaries, who could resist the dessert menu? Not us, except for Doug who chose a Courvoisier VSOP instead.
Heidi opted for PISTACHIO DACQUOISE (almond meringue, pistachio buttercream, yogurt mousse, fresh strawberries & pistachio), Peter chose CRÈME BRÛLÉE (no explanation necessary)and I chose WARM STICKY DATE CAKE (memories of my grandma's date cake...)(caramel kahlua ice cream over a warm date cake surrounded by toasted pecans and caramel sauce). Not exactly like what grandma made, but who's complaining?

A wonderful evening. Only people missing were Andy & Tara who celebrated their anniversary in Jan. Perhaps we will have to do this all over again. Such misery!