A Happy Birthday Trip for Two

This past weekend my husband, Dave, and I got away for a couple of nights without our four boys for the first time in almost two years...way to long, in my opinion...to celebrate Dave's 40th birthday. My wonderful parents agreed to watch our boys--quite the undertaking when you are not used to it!--and survived marvelously...thanks Mom and Dad! Dave and I headed to East Rutherford, NJ, right outside New York City, to attend a preseason football game that pitted last year's Super Bowl Champs (the New York Giants for those who don't follow the sport!) against Dave's favorite team, the Cleveland Browns. It was the first time I attended a live professional football game, and only Dave's second--he went when he was five or something like that! Of course it was preseason which means the starters only played in the first half, but it was still exciting to watch all the big names that you usually only see on television. We were only halfway up the first section, so we were pretty close to the field, right behind the Giants' bench. I watched Eli Manning's back all night! Following are a few of the MANY photos Dave took to commemorate the event...

We stayed at a nice hotel right near the Meadowlands Sports Complex. In anticipation of our trip, I had researched restaurants in the area and found La Fusta, an Argentine restaurant close by. I made reservations for a late lunch on Monday and, after a few wrong turns, we had one of the best meals ever! If you don't know anything about Argentine cuisine, they are known for their beef. We had a "parrillada" or mixed grill containing chicken, pork, and beef, which all just melted in your mouth. Of course we had to have empanadas, traditional ensalada, and an Argentine dessert to top things off! I found the Argentine cuisine to be very reminiscent of Chilean cuisine, so I felt right at home! If you are ever in Northern Jersey or New York City, I highly recommend La Fusta!

It was a wonderful couple of days of relaxation and refreshment, but we were excited to see our boys again, too. The older boys went on a big fishing trip with their Grandpa and one of his friends...and came back with even bigger fish tales to prove it! The younger boys hung out with Grandma...she even braved the grocery store with both of them...and had a great time. Yesterday, when we returned to pick up the boys, we also had a nice meal and a cake to celebrate Dave's birthday with the family. He didn't want a lot of hoopla on his 40th birthday, so I think he enjoyed his quiet celebrations. Happy Birthday, Honey!

Now we are on a countdown to the start of a new school year and all of the fun all activities. Monday is the boys' first day of school and I think we are all ready for a change of pace again. This summer went by way too fast, but it was an enjoyable one, mostly spent in and around our home. Fall is on its merry way, though, and I think we are ready for the changes it will bring!