Our 12th on the 12th!

Jake and I celebrated our 12th Anniversary on the 12th of May.  It's a meaningful year for us since we have now reached the point where we have been in each others lives for the same amount of time as before we met and knew the other existed -- seventeen years!  From here on out we'll have known each other for longer than we haven't.  I really like that thought.

To celebrate we had tickets to Oregon Symphony.  We took advantage back in February of a "Leap Day Special" $29 tickets on the 29th for any performance left in the season.  It just so happened a guest pianist was scheduled to perform Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, just for us on our anniversary :).  I'm glad we got tickets so early because the anticipation was fun -- it's always great having something classy to look forward to!

I'm afraid we have been completely spoiled since we had seats in the 6th row (thanks to that special) and I can't believe what a difference it makes.  We were so close I could see Arnoldo Cohen's hands reflected in the piano's lid; it was a sight to behold.  He was amazing as was the orchestra.

We were right in front of the viola section and it turns out our babysitter (who was at that moment home with our kids) takes lessons from the principal violist.  She told us just before we left she thought he had a few solos during the performance.  Indeed he did, two or three, which earned him a handshake from the conductor and some applause all his own.

We also saw the cellist we had seen perform as a soloist with Beaverton Symphony back in March (he's a Beaverton native).  I also saw the principal flutist the newspaper had done a huge spread on last month, when she was hired as Oregon Symphony's youngest principal player in 25 years.  She is only 22 and apparently a killer talent.

It was fun to see these musicians that have local connections.  It gives Oregon Symphony a community flavor for me, even as their star is rising on the national scene (their debut at Carnegie Hall last May generated lots of very positive attention).  Apparently the New York Times agrees with me in attributing this success to their conductor Carlos Kalmar.  He is phenomenal and quite the character.

Alright, enough about the symphony.  I could go on and on we had such a fabulous time.  Anyway, when we got home late that night we were very surprised to be greeted with cheerful, celebratory decorations!  Remember how I mentioned our babysitter (and violist extraordinaire) was at home with our kids?  Well, she enlisted everyone's help and created a homecoming fit for a couple celebrating their 12th Anniversary on the 12th!

Yes, that is Lucas on the couch watching Little Einstein's...with festive streamers over his cute little head!