Andalina Ballerina

Our Andalyn Belle is officially a Ballerina. She is taking her first ballet and tap class. She is in seventh heaven! She has found her calling...well at least for now. :) I do hope she continues to be intrigued by dance but we'll see where her little heart takes her. But for now we call her Andalina Ballerina.

Here she is in first position doing a plie.


Here she is on her tip toes looking like the cutest ballerina I've ever seen!!

A special thank you to her grandma for her ballet shoes and tap shoes. You will very rarely catch her without one or the other on around the house.

Daddy's socks and Mommy's heels...

The other day as I was in the shower....Andalyn was watching her shows on my bed, so I thought. Well mid-shower she comes walking in looking like this.
She had gotten in to Dave's and my dresser and put on my sweater, jeans, belt, heels and Daddy's socks. She was so proud of her self! She cracks me up....what a cutie!

Has it really been 5 years already?!

Dave and I just celebrated our 5th year anniversary!! It had flown by, I can't believe that it has been 5 years already! This year we decided to take a stroll down memory lane for our anniversary. I'm so glad we did. We had an amazing time reconnecting and enjoying each others company!

On Thursday we got the kids and our selves packed up and headed to Grandma and Grandpa Petersen's house to drop off the kids. They were so excited to have a "sleep over" at Grandma's house. They had a blast while we were gone! Once the kids were situated at Grandma's house Dave and I headed to San Francisco. Dave proposed to me in San Francisco on February 10, 2004 at Fort Point which is right under the Golden Gate Bridge. We also had our first dinner as a married couple at the Carnelian Room in the Bank of America Building in San Francisco. So needless to say S.F. has a lot of sentimental value to us.

Before we checked in to our hotel we stopped and had lunch at Benihana. This was a first for me, and I LOVED it!! For those of you who haven't been to one, they chefs prepare your food at your table on a huge hot plate! They do some fun things while cooking to keep you entertained as well! Awesome experience! Here is a picture of our chef fixing out fried rice.

We then proceeded to drive to check in to our hotel. We stayed at the Omni Hotel right across from the Bank of America Building that we were going to have dinner at later that evening. Very convenient! We opted to spend a little more on our hotel room so that we would make sure we weren't in a sketchy area. This hotel was above and beyond any other hotel we have ever stayed at! We felt a little out of place! They only did valet parking, they had a door man and chandlers everywhere. BEAUTIFUL! But like I said out of our league. However we did enjoy it...who wouldn't. Here are a few pictures I found on the internet of the Omni Hotel.

The hotel lobby

The kind of room we stayed in.

Later that evening we got all dressed up to go to the Carnelian room. Funny story is when we went 5 years ago we had no idea how nice this place was. We went in our street clothes and flip flops. The waiter was in a tuxedo with a long tie on! So this time we knew better and went a little more prepared. The amazing thing about this restaurant is that it is in the tallest building on the highest accessible floor (52nd floor) in San Francisco. We could see EVERYTHING from our table. It was kind of a full circle moment for us. We were sitting at a table that was facing Oakland and we could the Temple. We had a very nice conversation and enjoyed each others company throughout dinner. I would say out of the whole trip my favorite moments were at that table.

On Friday we set out to find the place that Dave proposed to me. Another funny story....he was planning on proposing to me right at Fort Point on the water, however there wasn't any parking at the time. I also was suffering from an extreme cast of car/motion sickness. I never actually "got sick" but I might as well have. So Dave drove, maybe a quarter of a mile or less up this little road right above Fort Point to a turn off on the road so that I could get some air....so I thought. He then came around to my side of the car and with the view of the ocean he proposed to me. I forgot all about being sick and said YES of course! So in memory of the turn off....we tried to find it again....Well they have changed that portion of the road a lot in the last 5 years and it was under construction so we didn't get to stop...however I tried to get a picture of the view we had as he proposed. This is the best I got. However if we were able to get out and get a better shot you would see how beautiful the view really was when he proposed. One of my favorite days!
We then drove back down the little road to the very parking lot at Fort Point where Dave originally planned on proposing....PLENTY of parking on this day. :) It is beautiful!!

I had never walked across the Golden Gate Bridge, so that was next on the agenda. I got some awesome pictures of the bridge.

We took turns with another couple taking each others pictures.

It a little windy on the bridge. :)

We got to see a HUGE ship go under the bridge.

We then got in the car and drove across the bridge. It also was a beautiful view!

After driving around a bit, enjoying the view and conversation....we headed home. Before we went home though we had to stop at our FAVORITE sea food place in Berkley. Spenger's!! The best crab cakes you will ever have. We have been going to this place since we were dating!

I have to say, since this trip I have been bitten by the 5 year love bug. I love Dave more now then ever. I'm not sure if anyone has ever felt that before...it's almost like our marriage jumped up a notch in commitment and love....I know mushy....but it's true. Happy Anniversary Honey! This trip was the perfect way to celebrate our 5th year Anniversary. I love you!!