Foodie Friday on Saturday: Dinner at The Waterfront

This week's wonderful meal was actually last Friday night when we went to The Waterfront with my family to celebrate Adam's birthday. We started with some pan seared and marinated calamari. I was expecting a little more flavor, but it was still good.

My main course was Alaskan Day-Boat Halibut served with a winter savory taboulleh, caramelized leek, and cracked pepper aioli. It was a little weird but pretty good.

Adam's main course was the 16 oz Prime Ribeye with vegetables. He said it wasn't as good as the last time we were there (back in July) but still very tasty.

For dessert, Adam got a caramel mouse with butter pecan icecream for his birthday. Luckily for me, he shared. It was very yum.

Christine of course also needed a dessert. She got the "Elvis" it had bananas and peanut butter and other things I'm not sure of. It looked good but I didn't have a bite.

The best part of all though was sharing a nice meal with the fam. It doesn't happen very often!

Christmas with the D's: Part 3

Christmas Day

On Christmas morning, we slept in until about 8:40. We were then awakened to come downstairs and see what Santa brought us.

I'm not a morning person. Bet you'd never guess...

Adam and I with our loot from Santa

Christine was pretty excited about her Packers stock

Chester even has his own stocking

 At 10:15, we left for 10:30 mass in La Crescent. It wasn't crowded at all which was super nice. It worked out really well to just go to church in the morning. No crowds, no early arrival to get a seat, and no leaving Chester alone for hours.

Mom's manger scene set-up in the dining room

 Soon after we arrived home, my dad's side of the family started arriving for our Christmas celebration. It was great to see everyone. Sadly, this seems to be about the only time of year that we all get together.

Cousins

Dad with little Weston

I loved holding sweet little Weston

Grandma with some of the grandkids and great-grandkids

Group shot courtesy of the tripod

Playing Christmas Bingo! Always fun

Chester posing in front of the tree

Chester was EXHAUSTED after running around and playing with the little girls all day

Our little family in front of the tree

Mom and Chester

That evening, after everyone was gone, we played Christine's new game together as a family. team Adam and I smoked everyone at Disney Trivial Pursuit! It was fun.

Chester wanted to play too!

 
We had a great visit and Christmas. We returned home on Monday afternoon (after Adam did some more ice fishing with my dad).

Christmas with the D's: Part 2

On Christmas Eve, the guys did some ice fishing right away in the morning. It was so nice out that they didn't have to set up the tent.

Luckily, my dad indulged me, even if Adam wouldn't, and took some ice fishing photos for me to share.

Fishing right off the dock!

Back on the home front, mom and I prepared for Christmas Eve.

Chester's ready to open presents!

 The return of the guys set off a frantic search for the pickle on the tree. Mom was sneaky this year, but I found it and was rewarded handsomely!

Christine was ruthless in her hunt for the pickle!

Then, we got ready for our Christmas Eve meal together. We also watched the Vikings game in the background, while I rooted for them to lose. I was rather ticked off when they actually won. It totally messed up our draft picks. In a wasted season, this was really frustrating.

Our Christmas Eve meal was ham, gravy, mashed potatoes, salad, rolls, etc. It was delicious. And I usually don't even like ham.

Our lovely meal together

After our meal, we gathered in the living room and exchanged gifts.

Family photo courtesy of the tripod

 Chester was all over the place and had to be kept on a leash.

Chester and his presents

A Mickey silicone baking pan from us

Chester helping me open my gift

Stine received a lot of Disney stuff

Pug-opoly! Can't wait to play it

Mom with the scarf I knit her

Chester's new LED leash for night time walks

Adam finally got his bait caster!

Adam and all his fishing gear

 On our way over to my aunt's house, we drove through Rotary Lights. Adam said he could have skipped it, but I always enjoy it.

Then it was the chaos of Christmas with my mom's side of the family. It was nice to see everyone, especially since we weren't around for Thanksgiving.

Lots of good food

Pretty excited for the 2012 Ireland Travel Guide from Ava

Such pretty wrapping from Ava

Adam had Wyatt's name
Photo by Adam

Ava was excited for her art set from me

The annual girls photo

And the guys too

While the parents had their gift exchange, Adam taught Wyatt chess

Up Next: Christmas Day

Christmas with the D's: Part 1

Of course I have a ton of photos to share, and of course I'm spreading this post over a few days. Here we go -

We arrived back at my mom and dad's on Thursday night. It was a clear and uneventful drive for us for once which was really nice. Well, other than Chester whining almost the entire time. I don't know why he hates car rides so much. He goes on them often enough.

The rare photo of my dad holding Chester

That night we just relaxed at home. Adam and I dropped his car off to get remote start put in Friday morning and we also picked up some supplies at the grocery store. Adam loves his New Glarus Brewery products! I made some cookies including Adam's favorite wreath cookies. They were more like wreath blobs though as I didn't spread them fast enough. Oh well. They still tasted good.

On Friday, Adam and my dad went ice fishing. Mom, Stine and I cut out sugar cookies. Then, I met my friend Laura for lunch at Ciatti's which was really nice. Of course I forgot my gift for her at my parents house and didn't realize it until I was almost there when my mom called me. UGH! After, I did a little shopping. Unlucky for me, a few quick errands turned into a long event as the traffic at the mall was crazy and it was snowing heavily.

Back at home, we decorated Christmas cutouts.

Can you tell which ones I decorated?!

Decorating cookies with Stine

When Dad and Adam got home, Dad and I ran to go pick up Adam's car before the shop closed. Then we quick went home, changed, and went to dinner at The Waterfront. The food and service weren't as amazing as when we were last there in July, but it was still really good.

Dinner at The Waterfront

Later, Adam and I met Joe downtown for what has become our ritual of pints at Dublin Square and Bloody Mary's at Del's. Yum! I was so tired that we didn't stay out very long. I must be getting old!

I took this photo, thank you

Next up: Christmas Eve

Christmas Preview

I hope everyone had a Happy Christmas!

We got back yesterday afternoon, but are still exhausted and have lots to do. We had a nice weekend full of family and friends. I will hopefully have a full post about our extended weekend soon.

Until then, I love this photo I took back at my mom and dad's.

Sparkly Christmas lights

Our Little Christmas

Due to the logistics of going down to my parent's for Christmas and not wanting to drag our gifts to each other down there, we had a little Christmas for ourselves last evening. We turned on some Christmas music, and opened some gifts!

Chester went first - 

A new Martha Stewart pillow style bed!

Showing him that beds are for laying on and not digging

Letting him open his new antler

Chewing his new antler all curled up on his new bed

Chester also got a new argyle coat!

A few photos by the tree...

Then Adam and I alternated opening our gifts.

External hard drive for all my photos

Chester really wanted to help Adam open his little cookbook

New slipper socks for me

Now we match!

I tricked Adam with a can of soup in the box - he thought it was a bait caster. Poor Adam!

Remote start!

 Merry Christmas to us!