Keeping Up Kelton

Monday, April 1, 2013

March Happenings + Easter

This month was another food-filled month for us! (I swear we aren't fat). It was Vegas Restaurant Week, so we took the opportunity to try a bunch of places around town at a discounted rate. The restaurants that participate create three or four course meals at a discounted rate for the public. Most places that participate are higher end restaurants we wouldn't normally eat at, so it is a great opportunity to get to experience a whole different type of dining! We went to three different places, but rather than splurge on the higher end restaurants, we chose to stick to places we've actually been wanting to eat at lately. The first place we tried was Meatball Spot at Town Square. Not too exciting, but we both had been wanting to try it out since it just opened recently. The food was great! With our course meals between the two of us, we tried the Apple Salad, the Garbage Salad, the Spicy Chicken Meatballs, the Parmesan Cream Classic Meatballs, garlic bread, and (the best part) a Minty Goodness Ice Cream Sandwich and a Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Sandwich. Although the portions look small, they are actually quite filling and we were totally satisfied with our meals.

After lunch, we decided to try out the new movie theatre in Henderson, the Galaxy Luxury Green Valley theatre. I refuse to go see another movie anywhere else after going to this place! The movie theatre has huge, reclining seats that are so comfy. They have beer and wine service (awesome!) and customer service that is amazing (they walk you to your reserved seats! Who does that!?) When you pay for your movie upon entry, you get to reserve your seats on a computer screen, or you can pay a $2.00 service fee and reserve them from home). The prices are the same as a regular theatre, too. It really is a totally different movie experience. We went on opening weekend, so the free popcorn didn't hurt either. We haven't been back since, but I loved everything about when we went so much that I wouldn't want to see a movie anywhere else!

Reclined, relaxed and ready for the movie! So comfy!

Back to LV Restaurant Week! The next place we tried was Todd's Unique Dining. The food was great but the ambiance was kind of strange. I'm not sure we would go back based on that alone, it felt like a "Early Bird Special" kind of restaurant by the fact that we were easily the youngest people there by a good twenty+ years. Again, between our course meals, we tried Goat Cheese Wontons with a Raspberry Basil Sauce, Arugula and Blueberry Vinaigrette Salad, Mirin Marinated Mahi Mahi, Filet of Beef with Mushroom Cabernet Sauce, Butterscotch Pudding Parfait and Raspberry White Chocolate Lava Cake. The food really was great, but probably not amazing enough for us to go back.

The last place we tried for LV Restaurant Week was Bratalian Neapolitan Cantina, which is located on Eastern close to Anthem. This Italian restaurant was pretty decent but also pretty expensive for what it is. Dessert, on the other hand, was AMAZINGLY to die for, and would be the only reason we would go back. Again, the food was good, but the price is what would keep us from returning (minus dessert... I'd pay lots of money to eat dessert there again, SO good!). The place is very small but I enjoyed spending time to eat there. Between the two of us, our course meals included Caesar Salad, Deep Fried Calamari and Zucchini, Chicken Piccata, Chicken Milanese, Torta di Mele (fresh apple pie with carmel gelato) and Profiterol (pate choux filled with french vanilla gelato topped with warm chocolate sauce). Yum!

Other than eating our lives away, we kept busy with going out on the weekends with Harley and our friends. The first weekend of March was Bark in the Park. It was held at Cornerstone Park, which is a new park we hadn't been to yet. It was the first weekend of really nice weather this year, so we braved the decision of bringing Harley down, and crossed our fingers he was good. Side note: Harley is not the best with outings or being around people he isn't familiar with. He barks NON-stop which drives us crazy. Even on walks around our neighborhood, he barks and seems so crazy and non well behaved. We try to take him out often enough that he gets used to it, but he never does. So, when we decided to test him out at Bark in the Park, we were really expecting the worst. To our surprise, he was great! He barked a few times, but really had so much fun getting out and seeing other dogs. We walked around for about an hour or so, just looking at booths that were there, seeing and meeting other puppies, and watched a show. The Henderson Police Dept. put on a demonstration with their K-9 unit, which was pretty interesting to watch. It took up a good chunk of our Saturday morning, so it was something fun and different to do, plus we got to bring our furbaby with us, so that always makes us happy!

The cutest chow chow puppy that took A LOT for me to not bring home!

Cornerstone Park

Booths at Bark in the Park

COH K9 demo

Harley enjoying his day out!

We also enjoyed another weekend day out at Lake Las Vegas with our friends for the Brew's Best Beer Festival. They hold the beer festival twice a year and we usually go every time. It's a super fun day that usually ends in us sticking around Lake Las Vegas for a couple hours since we're not in very good conditions to drive immediately after! We went with a bunch of our friends and we love getting to hang out with everyone when we get the chance.

Last but not least, we celebrated Easter this month at my mom's house, which we do every year. In the morning we usually spend it our house initially, with Harley opening his Easter basket (yes.... that happens. He's spoiled, remember?) We eat breakfast and then start heading over to my mom's in the afternoon for an early Easter dinner. We always eat a traditional Easter ham, with the side staples of mashed potatoes and pineapple jello salad, among others. We always get spoiled with a treat from the Easter bunny, also! :)

Harley's Easter basket

He's really good at getting everything out himself :)

Easter goodies

Cuddling with his new toys

Harley rockin' the Easter bowtie

Treats from the Easter Bunny

Harley got more gifts from Grandma

Happy dog!

When we go over to my mom's house, I always try to spend time with my cat, Oreo, whom my mom keeps care of since Jason is allergic to cats. I've had this guy since I was ten years old. He really hates Harley, so he usually hides when we are all over. I'll sneak in and steal some love from him every now and then! He's getting pretty old... lots of white hairs all around his face! He's 16 and still kicking... so I hope he has a few more years left in him!

That's it for our busy month of March!

...Until next month!

Sunday, March 3, 2013

February Happenings

We spent the first weekend of the month celebrating Scarlett's birthday in Disneyland!

Jason wanted to be home to root for his Baltimore Ravens in the Superbowl, so we drove back from California on Sunday morning. Even though I'm not the best football fan, I sported my Wolfpack tee to represent for Colin Kaepernick. I still think it's pretty sweet to have an alum from our university doing so well in professional sports! In the end, Jason got to celebrate because his Ravens pulled off the win!

We celebrated Valentine's Day by going out to eat at Wicked Spoon at the Cosmopolitan. We wanted to splurge a little on somewhere we wouldn't normally dine out, and Jason had been to Wicked Spoon once before with his health district coworkers and loved it. We spent about 2 1/2 hours eating everything they had! The buffet was the most modern, adorable and delicious buffet I've ever had. Only pictures can explain, and of course I was the nutcase who walked around taking pictures of everything there!

Adorable take out boxes of fried rice

Pork buns, Chinese BBQ duck, Beef kalbi short ribs

Fried chicken in the cutest baskets ever

Shrimp cocktail shots

Sushi bar

Pots of Shepard's Pie and Braised short ribs

Fresh bread displays

Fresh cheese displays

Dessert was unbelievable. So many to choose from so we just took all of them!

We never usually exchange gifts for Valentine's Day, but go out for dinner like this year. Jason never fails to give me flowers though which is a nice surprise every year. Since we've been dating, I've always given Jason those silly cheap, Russell Stover heart boxes of chocolates with the corny sayings on them. Our favorite that I've bought in the past was, "I choose, choose, choose you!" With a train on the box. Yet, this year was a close second.

Whale you be my Valentine?

We were also spoiled by the Luks' family this Valentine's Day with a super giant Cookie cake they made for us! So cute and SO good! We love our friends!

Harley was extra cute on Valentine's Day, too!

We spent lots of time with our friends this month, no different than any month, I guess! :) The boys watched lots of Jeopardy and Hudson is already a genius in the making. We enjoyed dinner out at TaTa Asian Bistro, and also enjoyed another night drinking some fun cocktails!

Boys watching Jeopardy

Dinner at TaTa

Cocktails with Jess

We also tried a new place for breakfast, called Bread and Butter. It was amazing! We will definitely be going back to enjoy some more breakfasts and maybe even try lunch there a few times, too. After breakfast, the boys went golfing, so of course this meant girls day and shopping! Scarlett is already a pro at being a little fashionista!

Baked goods at Bread and Butter

Giant cookies and pastries

Delish breakfast sandwich at Bread and Butter

Shopping with Scarlett!

Needless to say, we did a lot of eating in February! Here's to what next month brings!

Monday, February 11, 2013

Healing...It's a Process

The nonstop, heavy-hearted question I get on a daily basis following the miscarriage is, "How are you?" Usually I respond that I'm just fine, which for the most part is true. I'm fine and I'm trying to stay positive. I'm counting down the days that we can start again and start over. Some days go by, and I surprise myself that I got through without once thinking about the miscarriage. I carry forward.

Yet, some days are hard. Some days I've cried harder than I've ever cried in my life. I've had days that my crying makes me so angry, I find myself praying that the tears will stop flowing. I wonder when these melt downs are going to stop. I wonder if I'm crazy; am I thinking too much? Why am I so emotional over someone I had no connection with? I never felt a movement, never saw a heartbeat. Never knew anything was there if it wasn't for those two pink lines that told me otherwise. Some days start out fine, then I get in the car, turn on the radio and hear Mumford and Sons "I Will Wait" and completely break down, feeling people staring at me and my sobbing self while we're stopped at the red light. Or other nights while we're watching Teen Mom or Snooki tend to their babies, and I think to myself, how is life so unfair?

Some days I'm bitter, and if you've been around me on one of these days, I apologize. These are the days when people ask, "How are you?" and I feel like answering, "Well, the baby my husband and I have been praying for for months is dead, I'm depressed and can't seem to find happiness in anything right now. How is YOUR life?" Or when I get friends announcing their pregnancies, texting and posting their excitement on Facebook, all I really want to say is, "Don't you KNOW I just miscarried!? Why would you even share this news with me? Of course I'm not interested in knowing you're pregnancy was more successful than mine!" (as much as my cynical self would like to answer this way, I don't, don't worry. Plus, most people don't even know about my miscarriage, so how can any of it be their fault! It's not. It's just me being unnecessarily bitter and mean).

Mostly, the biggest struggle I get through is the "What ifs" or the "One days", like the dates I have imprinted in my mind: Today, February 11th, would have been the day we were to hear our baby's heartbeat. My iPhone calendar even had the nerve to remind me this morning: "Doppler with Dr. Juarez @ 8:45!" The exclamation mark at the end of that pop-up reminder poured salt into my already ripped open wound. September 5th, the due date, will always be a day fresh in my mind. Seeing these dates and living through them is like a swift punch in the stomach. Same exact feeling, but unfortunately a much deeper punch.

Really, I've healed quite a bit both physically and emotionally in the last few weeks, and only with the help of Jason, my family and close friends being my support. And ice cream. Ice cream helps a lot too. I love each one of these supporters and can't thank them enough for being there for me- for listening to me, crying with me, distracting me, making me laugh, lending me your babies to snuggle, or even just sitting with me saying nothing. It helps.

I've had my moments of pity parties and sob-fests. As hard as I try to move on and keep a positive outlook, some days are just hard. I keep telling myself this is healthy and this is just part of the process. Yet I find myself wondering how long this process will last, and can't help but feel like I'm not really going to move on until we get pregnant for a second time. I feel ashamed and selfish for feeling that way, but maybe that's just my healing process. Sometimes I feel like I should be over it by now, and even wonder if people think this is even dramatic writing another entry about the miscarriage. Yet, again, my healing process includes talking it out and writing it down, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to get me to a better place emotionally.

So to answer that oh-so-common question: I'm ready to move on, but it's not a smooth ride getting there. It's a roller coaster of emotions, but I'm ready to be smiling more than not. Most of all, I'm more hopeful and confident (even more than before we got pregnant the first time). I'm hopeful that things will fall in place correctly this time and soon, and I'm confident they will be better this time around based on what we've learned from our tragedy. If anything, our miscarriage gave us the knowledge of how to carry a new pregnancy more successfully, and will make us extremely grateful and blessed when we do get pregnant again and finally get to hold our baby in our arms.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Happiest Place on Earth

During the first weekend of February, we had planned months back to take a trip to Disneyland for Scarlett's 2nd birthday. It was so special to help celebrate with her and both Brock and Jess' whole family, and we are lucky to be a part of their "extended" family. We think of them as our family more than our friends, and as I've said before, we treat Scarlett and Hudson as our adopted niece and nephew. When they initially invited us to Disney, there was no way we could pass it up!

Jason and I hadn't been to Disneyland since we were both very little. I was about nine the last time my family and I had gone, and he was even younger than that. We were excited to see what we remembered and what was new since our last visit. Come to find out, we both didn't remember much about it! Either way, we had an amazing time being kids again in the happiest place on earth, and it couldn't have come at a better time to just get away from the real world and live like a kid. So we did. :)