3 Cheers For 3 Years!

I totally stole that title from my cousin's wife-thanks Melissa! :) They got married 2 weeks before us, had their first kid about a month before us... so we're just used to copying everything they do!

So it was our three year anniversary yesterday and we actually decided to celebrate this year! For our first year we attempted some things, like temple sealings, but I guess it just wasn't my day because that certainly didn't go well! (long story involving a cranky old man- but ask if you want to hear) And last year, we had just moved in, our house was a disaster and the only thing I really remember doing is going to Target. The reason being, because that's when Travis got a call from a friend, inviting him to go play soccer that night. He hestitated, told the guy he probably shouldn't since it was his anniversay and the guy tells him that the girls are getting together to watch the Bachelor finale. Well I heard that, shrugged my shoulders, and decided that was a pretty fun way to spend the night, so we agreed!

Soooo, this year it was all romantical stuff for us!

The day started out with sleeping in and opening presents. Yep, I got the Magic Bullet! Hooray! Only, after writing that post several weeks ago, many assured me it wasn't worth it and their's had stopped working after a short amount of time, yada yada yada. Of course they were just trying to make me feel better about not having one myself... the problem was... it worked! So I need to get myself all hyped up about it again! He also got himself a DVD, by giving it to me. You know how that works? No, I kid, I kid! I was really excited about it- I love Jim Gaffagen.  My gift to him was kind of lame, but I realized a while back that we didn't have The Burbs. Well, that is Trav's all time favorite movie, so I ordered it for him. Those of you that haven't seen it, it's very strange, but he grew up with it, so he thinks it's hilarious. I think I will have to watch it a few more times to really get into it.

Then we were off to visit Niagra-on-the-Lake. (Are hyphens needed?) It's about a 30 min. drive into Canada and we heard from many that's it's a quaint little town that's fun to visit. Well here's Collin doing his latest and greatest, sticking out his tongue, on the car ride over.

We had the radio on and was seranaded by lots of Michael Jackson songs since his funeral was that day. Ok, so here's my one and only spout off about the whole MJ thing. I have his greatest hits CD and love it. I remember doing a Pommie dance to one his songs in 9th grade and loving it. I agree that he was probably the greatest entertainer of all time. He was legendary in his talent and how he transformed the music industry. BUT I just can't understand why masses of people all around the world are sobbing their eyes out because he died. I am in no way happy that he died. I feel that I'm more compassionate than your average person, and yet I have not shed one tear. I didn't cry when the prophet died, WHY would I cry when MJ died? I'm really just trying to understand it. I have to share a story. I was at Hobby Lobby last week and while one of the workers was cutting some fabric for me I listened to her talk to a fellow worker. She said, "Well, I guess I'm going to take a trip over to L.A. or Las Vegas, or wherever all that Michale Jackson stuff is going on. I guess I should pay my tribute.". SERIOUSLY??!! I am guessing this lady doesn't have all that much money. She is living all the way across the country and yet she's going to spend hard earned money to pay tribute to Michael Jackson!! I'm sorry, but that's insane! It didn't even sound like she cared that much about him, like she was a die hard fan. She just figured she better go do it. It seems Neverland is going to turn into some sort of Mecca and I just think that's wrong. Where are people's priorities?! And I'm not EVEN going to go into the whole "scary mask face" or child molestation charges. I DONT CARE that he wasn't convicted. You get a evil/manipulative lawyer and pay off the calloused parents millions of dollars and ANYBODY can get off of criminal charges. Cue OJ. Alright, that's all the time I'm going to waste on this! How did I get so off topic?! Back to my romantic anniversary, haha!

Well, on the drive over we passed the gigantic dam that Niagra River runs into. And of course we had to start the dam jokes. "Look at all that dam water!" "Stop taking so many dam pictures!" "Can you believe this dam road is so long?" Oops, I don't think that last one quite worked. Aren't Mormons the weirdest people ever?

And as we drove along the road that led into Niagra-on-the-Lake, we passed the most gorgeous mansions. Isn't this red amazing?

Not too shabby!

We parked by Queen's Royal Park and took in the beautiful scenery.

This is where the river meets Erie Lake. You can actually see the line where the current changes because the river meets the lake. Kind of cool.

 Fort Niagara is behind us.

You can see the skyscrapers of Toronto in the distance. At least we're pretty sure that's Toronto!

I guess they hold weddings here.

This is just a shot of "downtown". We walked along the street and peeked in the shops. Lot's of boutiques and art gallerys.

Not the cheapest place to get lunch... so we just got a pretzel and burger at this little shop. Collin was pretty content to eat his fingers and hang out in the Bjorn.

This is also where I found this bumper sticker! Haha! If you know me, you know why this is so hilarious. And if you don't know me, well, I think you just learned something new!

Before we left I really wanted to go on a carriage ride. What's more anniversaryish than that? So we walked up and asked how long the tours are and how much they cost. She said they do 15 min, 45 min. and hour long tours. "Oh, well we'd just like to do a 15 min. one". So she said, "That will be $45". My jaw literally dropped. She quickly assured me that is wasn't $45 a person, it was $45 for the whole carriage. OH, well that's WAY better! Not! I don't know what I was thinking! Alas, we will have to save the romantic carriage ride for a day that we're not thousands of dollars in debt. Sigh.

On the way home we stopped at a little Farmer's Market and sampled all of their exotic jams, dressings and sauces. Then I begged Trav to stop at one of the many winery's along the road. They offered tours and I've always been curious about vineyards and the whole process. So we went on a little tour and learned a couple of things about white vs. red wine, the maturation time, and how it's all harvested and pressed. Trav was sweet because he had absolutely zero interest in any of it, but went along with it because I wanted to. At the end they offered some wine tasting and we decided we probably shouldn't be rude, and tasted just a bit. Kidding! I know it was very strange of me to want to do all that when we don't drink, but I was just curious, OK! And I was perfectly content to buy some fudge from the gift shop and munch on that instead. I'll take chocolate over fermented grapes any day!

All those white boxes are just cartons of wine and the barrels hold the juice for about a year until it's bottled.

We got home in the early evening and got Collin to bed and then the Carters were nice enough to come over for a couple of hours while we went out to dinner. We've heard lots about the Melting Pot and there happens to be one just a few minutes from our house at the Galleria Mall, so we had to try it. When you walk in, it's so dark and quiet, I was a little thrown off. All the bottles of wine and leather couches made me think I was in a Mafia movie instead of a fondue restaurant. In relation to the previous debt mentioned we forwent the exotic meats and just ordered a cheese fondue, salads, and a dessert fondue. I guess wine was in the cards for today, because we didn't see much that didn't have sherry, beer, or *insert fancy wine name that I can't spell*. But it all burns off, right?

I'm actually glad we ordered what we did, because we were absolutely stuffed afterwards. I guess it was good, but definitely a place where you pay the big bucks for the atmostphere. I think I'd rather just invest in a $30 fondue pot and provide my own baby carrot sliced into three parts, 1/2 a chopped apple, and two smidgens of brownie.

I think I'd have to vote this anniversay as the best one yet and we thought it was funny that the universe was giving us little "love hints" throughout the day. For example, as we were getting ready to leave for the day, the T.V. had been left on and we suddenly realized that Rob Thomas was singing on The View. Our "song" is Ever the Same by Rob Thomas. Ironic? No, the universe was just wishing us a happy anniversay! And when we got to Queen's Park, I sat down to nurse Collin and this is what was on the back of the bench....

Now I don't know who the heck Sidney Smith is, but he was obviously a pretty romantic fellow.

And then last, but definitely my favorite, were the deer in the window that we passed while walking into the Melting Pot. Nothing like animals getting frisky to put you in the mood!

Have I mentioned lately how much I love my husband? Well, it's true, I do! He is my best friend and the love of my life. I can't imagine my life without him! Here's to another three years, then maybe three more, and probably three more after that..... just keep going! :)