Adult fun!

The past couple weeks Patrick and I have had some opportunities to enjoy some nights out together!  We love spending time with our daughter more than anything but we appreciate good babysitters! One of the perks of Patrick's job is broker events... and my favorite brokers are the ones that do not forget the spouses :) Two weeks ago we went to dinner with two other couples at Rino's Place in East Boston (http://www.rinosplace.com).  Really, really good Italian! It's been featured on the show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.  I think we tried half the menu- it was so delicious! If anyone would like to try it out we would be happy to go back!  Later that week we went to another broker event at a wine shop.  They hosted about ten couples to a wine tasting dinner.  It was a very fun, unique, and informative experience.  

While Patrick was traveling last week Emma and I had a ladies night out!  About once a month we go out to dinner with my friend Amber Jordan (from Ames) and Sarah Trantina (Iowa grad).  We have made it our mission to try a new restaurant each time.  This last place was a little upscale - meaning no high chairs- but Emma had fun playing with us and her toys in the booth between Amber and me.   

We finished the weekend off with a bang!  I had my very first true ladies night out Friday while Patrick and Emma cozied up at home together!  Seven of the nine Great Beginnings mamas were able to get together.  We had four hours worth of dinner conversation to catch up on!  The next day Mark Christensen (Patrick's college roommate) came up from NYC to visit us.  We were anxious for a visit from Mark because he recently moved from the Hamptons into the city for a new job at Salesforce and we were excited to hear all about it.  We took him to the Iowa game watch (ohhh Iowa) and then grabbed another babysitter that evening for a night out in the North End.  

We had another fun visitor in town a little bit ago - Kewhoon Lee!  We used to get frequent visits from Kewhoon when his wife was living in Boston while finishing her anesthesia residency program.  She moved down to Louisville, KY this summer where Kewhoon is finishing his residency program in radiation oncology.  The Lees love and spoil Emma so we try to spoil them with food! Here we are at dinner with Kewhoon and Ryan and Amber Jordan.

My Thursday walks with Kimberly and Suzanne have turned into play dates because it has become so chilly! Emma loves trying out all of Grace's super cool toys!

Lastly, I thought I would share some fun pics (sorry, I took a lot!) I snapped the day after Hurricane Sandy traveled through Boston.  Emma and I walked to the Public Gardens to survey the damage of the strong winds and rain. We were fortunate to have been spared very much damage.  We actually had some really beautiful fall days following Sandy.  Emma loved playing with all the leaves!

And someone got off of work early!!! Oh happy day!