Hot Pot, Thomas, and Menton - the Saturday and Sunday Edition

On the plate:  First hot pot of the year!!  (Also known as Shabu Shabu)....also known as delicious :)

Soundtrack to cook to:  Motown station on Pandora

Mmmmm hot pot!!  It's like asian fondue and it is absolutely delicious.  Our little family typically has this during the colder months because:  1 - You cook a collection of food in a boiling pot of water in the center of the table (it keeps you nice and warm); and 2 - You cook a LOT of food which helps create a nice little layer around your mid-section and helps you to develop your inner bear for the winter.  Joseph's mother, Linda, perfected the most perfect hot pot sauce so much that we are all completely spoiled from any other hot pot....ever.  I won't divulge her secrets here, but I will show you how our little table turned out:

Enoki (Kristen's and my favorite) and oyster mushrooms with
radish flower garnish.

Lotus root, bok choy, and asparagus

Peppers, onion, Thai eggplant, regular eggplant, and radish garnish

Tofu, beef, and shrimp

Dinner on Saturday, was a success as always.  Kristen and Pete (Kristen's boyfriend) made for delightful dinner guests and helped us put away quite a bit of the food.  That's another thing about hot pot, you always have a lot of leftovers, which we typically turn into a stir fry for the next night's dinner.

Oh yeah, and did I mention that Kristen and Pete also came over to celebrate a little something?  Yesh (as Alexander would say), I'm turning 30...when I was in my early 20s, 30 sounded sooooooo old to me.  I am now that old person...a moment of silence please.....*sigh*....thank you.  In our family, I am a little bit of a diva, and I do not just celebrate a birthday, I celebrate a birthweek....quite possibly a birthmonth.  However, when asked what I wanted, I had but just one small request from Kristen, and that was a red velvet birthday cake.  I looooooove red velvet cake.  However, Joseph and I have yet to find a red velvet cake that has been as good as the top tier of our wedding cake (which was also red velvet).  This one that Kristen got, however, sufficed:

Hamming it up for the camera...and wishing I wasn't turning 30... 

Made the wish...unfortunately the wish didn't come true.  Rats!
Although, the cake was delish! :)  Thanks Kristen and Pete!

On Sunday, Joseph, Alexander, and I ventured to Carver, MA.  It's a little over an hour drive for us...and unfortunately, we hit Columbus Day weekend traffic.  However, we were en route to a very important event...a day out with Thomas!!  Thomas the tank engine, that is!  Alexander is absolutely obsessed with Thomas the tank engine!  Thomas is a cartoon train that has friends and gets into adventures with them.  The only way I'm able to take a shower or cook dinner is if I turn on Thomas.  Alexander is immediately entranced.  Thus, when I saw that Thomas was touring the U.S....I had to see when Thomas was coming to Massachusetts.  I went on-line, ordered the tickets, and yes, of course, I had to purchase the engineer hat (knowing full well that Alexander hates hats - but I figured if it had Thomas on it, he'd be all in), Thomas train, and Thomas train whistle.  This is how our day transpired:

Daddy and Alexander riding Thomas the train! 

A view from Thomas' window.  New England is gorgeous in the fall.

Another view from Thomas.

Alexander checking out all of the people on the train.

Joseph, me, and Alexander posing in front of Thomas.

Joseph and Alexander...this was basically the only picture
where Alexander was somewhat willing to wear the hat.

Alexander riding his first carnival ride.  I swear he was enjoying it.

One pooped out little guy.

Unfortunately it was a really hot day, Alexander is teething, and he's got a little cold.  Thus, that did not make for a completely happy baby.  To be quite honest, Alexander was pretty difficult once we got off the Thomas ride.  However, after a nice nap in the afternoon, he mellowed out and was a little bit easier to manage.

Alexander walking the catwalk in his diaper.
He's a natural.

Alexander and his brother Oscar sunning themselves on the porch.

Alexander and Oscar checking out who's coming by.

As a pre-birthday celebration, we were so fortunate to have my sister come by and babysit Alexander so that mommy and daddy could go out for dinner.  We went to our favorite restaurant in Boston - Menton. It's pretty fantastic.  Of course, we had to go for the tasting menu with wine pairing - absolutely delish.  However, at the end of the meal, I got a little surprise for dessert:

Banana and caramel creme brulee cake with rum caviar
and cinnamon ice cream.  Oh yeah...and they just had to include
"Happy 30th birthday!"  I was elated...and them somewhat bummed.
But all in all, it was an absolutely lovely evening with my darling hubby
where we enjoyed a fantastic meal.  Thanks Kristen for watching the monk monk!

It was a great pre-birthday weekend filled with food, family, and love.  I feel so blessed to have such amazingly supportive and loving family and friends in my life.  Until next time...

Love and kisses,
Nikki