What?!? 2nd Anniversary already?

Introduction music [romantic] plays. "The close of our 2nd year." Fade out.

Fade back in. Voice in the background, "And so dawns, Jan. 20th, 2009. The Lochers have completed another successful year of marriage. Both parties agree that the 2nd year was the harder of the two and yet the most rewarding."

Vomiting and gagging in the background.

Ok, so even I am admitting that I am lame and luckily never pursued a career in screen writing. I was watching "Paris when it Sizzles" with Aubrey Hepburn and I think it kinda got to me.

How about it I just do the post, plain 'ol editorial style? We celebrated our anniversary by going to my mostest favorite sushi place, Sushi maru, in Park City. One word: Divine.

Then hubbie and self spent the afternoon playing with our new digital SLR camera up in the mountains. (Actually this is the real reason for this blog post, to show off some of the cool pics we took. We realize that no one is really that interested in our anniversary. Facts, baby. Them's the facts.) So, these are the photos; un-touched, I swear. Even looking at them now, I realize what an amazing place we live in. These mountains are literally 30 minutes from our house.

So, after an amazing day we topped it off with another amazing meal. Wait for it............. at Village Inn. Yup. A lesser version of IHOP. Here's the condensed story if you haven't been following my blog since our first anniversary. On our wedding night, after the reception, I was starving and I wanted scrambled eggs. So, we went to this dive breakfast chain, Village Inn, and some how I got it in my head that it would be a cute tradition to follow each year. (Brad's pocket book whole-heartedly agrees).

We asked our dear, sweet waitress to photograph our loving moment. Do you think the bitch meant to cut me off at the neck? Anyhoo. It was a less than mediocre meal so I decided that next year, the tradition needed a little revamping.

The new idea: Village Inn Travel Destination! We will choose a Village Inn in a place we want to visit and spend our adorable anniversary there. Awwwh. Here is a map of where the restaurants are located:



View Larger Map

Hmmm. Perhaps some additional planning might go into next year's anniversary. And all this is assuming that Brad will be able to put up with me for another year. :)

The "After" party

Most of us secretly give a wee sigh of relief after the holidays are over, and wisely take the next few weeks to re coop. There are, however, a small percentage of people who simply cannot end the Holidays at New Years. And there are even a smaller percentage of people who cannot tell their crazy party-ing it up friends, "no". Brad & I fall into the latter.

We drove, yes, drove to Vegas on Jan. 2nd. We had to take advantage of our friends' relatives being in town from Australia and had to witness their reaction Vegas- for the first time. It was much fun and we can say that we watched our friends party all night. Or, rather we heard about it the next day. Brad & I have embraced our rapidly aging bodies and were in bed by a sound 2 am.

My favorite part of Vegas is ALWAYS the shows. We spoiled ourselves and went to see 2 this time, and acquired a new favorite, "Circ de soleil, "Love". It was amazing and since words cannot describe,









This one is truly a must-see, even if you aren't particularly fond of the Beatles. (Which makes you some kind of lunatic because really, love is all you need.) Here we are pre-show, enjoying the elaborate entrance to the show. You should have seen our smiles after the show.

And the 2nd show was the new one at the Wynn, "le reve". That is an easy 3rd runner up. (The 1st being Circ de soleil "Ka" and the 2nd being "Love"). So, for those who think Vegas is full of gamblers and drunks, I say, "you are right!" But we brought most of them back home with us and now you are safe to go enjoy some of the best shows in the world!

Cocktails by Candlelight

This was the 2008 New Year's Eve party theme. It ended up being a quaint pajama party that was casual and fairly chill, after the craziness of the Christmas season. Good friends, good conversation and bringing in the New Year.










It was fun to mix up all the different "Cocktails" and put to use the giant "martini" glass that I brought home from Mexico last March. (I'm sure you remember looking at my blog last March and thinking, 'hmmm, I wonder what she bought at the glass blowing factory?')





Of course, the boys had to devote a small portion of the evening to watching the BMX stunt in Vegas. (Brian [far left] was part of the Mountain Dew tours and knew Robbie Maddison) It's actually a pretty cool clip, if you want to see,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLejkyXbJlc



But, I digress. More pics of some of the guests,


Ashley & Tracy








Justin & Brittania








And the "best guest award" actually goes to Ruby, who knows how to party like a rock star! Yes, she is every bit as dignified as this picture portrays. She likes her martini's shaken, not stirred; thank you very much.



We ended the night with some stellar dancing (on Alexa & Summer's part), (These are the moves from "Thriller" in case you wondered.)

and of course the traditional champagne toast and kiss at midnight. Along with the new tradition of blowing out a candle and making a wish for 2009.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!


Oh, and one more cool shot from the evening. (We got a new Digital SLR camera for Christmas and spent much of the night playing around.)