okay so I know that Valentine's day was this past monday but I am still coming down off the travel high that I went through for it. So here is the run down on what I did for my best valentine's day ever...so far. Starting on Friday I traveled down to the twin cities to meet up with my fiance then we continued on to Rockford, IL where we stayed at my wonderful grandparent's place. After relaxing for the night I showed my beloved around the city that I grew up in having lunch at Beef a Roo with my grandparents before heading out again this time on our own and hanging out at the mall that I spent a lot of my younger years in, though it has changed a great amount in the almost 14 years since I have been gone. After finding a wonderful pair of red shoes to wear with my fancy black dress on Sunday we returned to my grandparents to relax and make reservations for the restaurant and parking garage we would be using in downtown Chicago the next day to make things a bit easier for the day time matinee we would be attending. While all this was happening my sweetie was fitting in with my grandparents and helping my grandpa figure out something with his computer and digital camera as simply as everything was magic.
Now on Sunday was when the real magic started. Getting up early and beautifying myself I got into the black dress that I wore for his promotion dinner, which fits even better now much to my happiness :). Doing hair and make up we left the house at around 10:30am heading for Chicago, IL and a day filled with romance. We figured out it was a very remarkable day for us. Not only was it the 8th month anniversary of our first meeting as a serious couple, during a multiple couples meal at my apartment, but the place we were going for our date was Les Miserables a wonderful musical and the soundtrack which we had listened to while waiting for the other couples to arrive on that first meeting. On top of that the day marked 75 days until our wedding day and it was our Valentine's Day date, even if it was a day early making it out first Valentine's Day together as a couple. Many great things all rolled into one package in our eyes making the day all that more special. The musical was spectacular! The seats we had were perfect, I could see the people who were signing the vocals making it even more special, something those who know me will understand quiet well. We had a glass of champagne at intermission with pretzels of all things since my stomach had started growling lol! The singing and acting were superb! The way everything was done sublime making it the performance of a life time for me to see and to get to see it with David made it ten times...no a hundred times better for me. After the performance we walked down to the main Macy's store is the one that always has the Christmas window displays each year and walked around in there for a while before walking down to our restaurant. The Great Street Restaurant in the Renaissance Hotel on the Chicago River was our choice of restaurant for the night and what a choice. We found it by searching online and made a reservation over the internet. We were early for our reservation but because they were having a slow night they were able to get us in a half hour early. The atmosphere was peaceful the waitstaff unobtrusive, the drinks divine, and the food oh how to describe the food other then mouth watering when I think of it now. David had a roasted chicken meal that tasted fabulous when he gave me a taste and I had the beef fillet that just melted in my mouth like butter when I took a bite with a sauteed spinach on the side and au gratin potatoes with a braised sauce over everything...yum makes me crave it right now...then for dessert we shared a piece of chocolate cake that was pure decadence it was so rich. Since it was the weekend of Valentine's the restaurant was giving every table with a female a single red rose and a small brown box with silver bow that holds two small hard shelled truffles that are pure works of art. I still haven't eaten mine, waiting to share them with my sweetie.
Anyway after a filling romantic dinner for two at this fab restaurant we walked back to the car and returned to my grandparents for the night. On Monday we went back to Cherryvale Mall where we added some more things to our Macy's gift registry and wandered some more just spending time together after having the plans to get together with my Chicago friend Abby fall through because of illness on her part, she is feeling better now but still it was sad to miss that time, there is always next time. We went to dinner with my aunt, uncle, one of my cousins and her family and my grandparents at yet another of Rockford's Beef'a'Roo's enjoying that time greatly but sadly since both David and I knew that the next day we would have to leave bright and early the next day to return to the real world...ie he would have to head back to work and I to wedding plans. I had a migraine start to kick in on the way back to grandma and grandpa's after dinner was over so had to call it an early night. But had a very pleasant surprise when I got up not only had my sweetie gone out and bought my dad two large bags of Mrs. Fisher's Potato Chips a Rockford specialty brand but my grandma was making Swedish pancakes to see us off since we hadn't gotten to either of the restaurants in Rockford known for their Swedish Pancakes so that I could have some. Anyway come 9:30am we were back on the road and headed back toward the twin cities to home and once again being apart if only for a few days this time but still separated again until the weekend came again.
But now friday has rolled around once more and David is on the road home and we are going to have dinner with some of his family tonight so that not only do I get a chance to see him but my dog as well as some of his family including my matron of honor. So time to go to work on more wedding things and focus on that and not what is to come tonight though that is what i want to focus on. *sighs* the memories of last weekend will have to hold me over I guess.
