This week is exhausting me, but it’s even worse for Mike.  He has a huge product launch in two weeks at Microsoft Mix and is working around the clock trying to prepare for it- it’s 9:15 pm right now and he’s still at work.  We’ll both be really happy once everything is launched and ready to go.

But at least we have memories of a really great weekend.  We had a fabulous lazy Sunday with An and Bonnie, starting with an uber-delicious brunch at Volunteer Park Cafe.  I think this is my favorite brunch spot in Seattle so far- they have brie, apple and lavender paninis, quiches that change flavors daily depending on what’s fresh, Stumptown Coffee and the most freaking awesome ricotta-stuffed banana carmel french toast in the history of the world.

After brunch, we wandered over to the Conservatory at Volunteer Park to look at some pretty flowers and pretend it was warm and tropical.

I particularly liked this flower, which I named the Metaflower:

I also dug the gigantic pitcher plant.  The sign above it said that these plants can eat entire mice!

I used my hand for a size comparison, but now I see that that was a bad idea.  I obviously need a mani.  (Follow up: I took this picture on Sunday.  It’s now Wednesday and my nails still look like crap.)

After some wanderings in the park, we headed over to Pike Place Market, where An and Mike shared a bowl of chowder.  So romantic.

I think they liked it.

The definite highlight of the market though was when we found this:

An Pham, male nurse.  Love.

On Friday night, we welcomed yet another visitor into the merry-go-round of visitors that is our house/hotel.  This time we got a visit from Mike’s best friend An and his girlfriend Bonnie.  Thanks to ridiculously busy schedules on both of our parts, we haven’t seen An since Thanksgiving, so we were both really happy to see him again.  An is basically an adopted member of the Bach clan and was Mike’s best man at our wedding, where he gave a particularly insightful toast (my mom still cries when she talks about it) and then danced on his butt during the bridal party’s entrance.

That should give you an idea of An’s general approach to life.

The weather has been pretty rainy lately (shocking), but Saturday was nice and dry, so we decided to head out to nearby Woodinville and check out some of the wineries.  How awesome is it that we have more than 30 wineries less than 20 miles from our house?

But first we stopped by Kerry Park to take the requisite pictures against the city skyline.

We had an awesome lunch at Purple Cafe and then walked over to the Chateau St. Michelle Winery down the road.  We were all practically giddy when we found out that winery tour, which includes a tasting of 4 wines, was free.  FREE!  I love free.

Why are boys so drawn to walking sticks?

I’m sure the vines are prettier in the summer.

Since the tasting was heavy on whites and featured 2 reislings, Mike actually enjoyed himself a bit.  He likes sweet wine.  I don’t get it.

I LOVE this next picture!  (Except for my rudolph nose.)

After the winery tour, we walked down the street to Red Hook Brewery, where we partook in the $1 brewery tour.  They are VERY generous with the tastings, which An particularly enjoyed.  He even generously offered to help Mike and I finish our samples, since I was so full by the 4th sample and Mike isn’t a beer person.  What a good friend.

And we got free cups to take home!

So 4 wine tastings and 6 beer tasting came out to a total of $1.  We were all in a REALLY good mood by the end of it, and after a pit stop at home where everybody took a leisurely nap, we finished off the night with dinner at Black Bottle for another sampling of the BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE EVER.  Yum.

Ironically, my very busy Saturday began with me flaking out on plans I had made with my friend and business partner, Anne.  We had planned on making an early morning trip to the Huntington Beach Swap Meet, but my late night discovery of Castle Crashers led to me making a groggy phone call at 7:30 AM to tell her that I wouldn’t be making it.  Thankfully, Anne sounded just as sleepy as me due to her (in)famous insomnia.  We made plans to meet up later and I immediately went back to sleep.

Eventually I woke up though and indulged in some retail therapy with my mom.  In a mere 2 hours, we successfully navigated through Nordstroms (yay triple rewards points weekend!) and were able to find a super cute dress for her to wear to a Quinceanera that afternoon.  Awww, look how adorable my mom is:

Ugh, and look how awesome those boots are in the background.  ::sigh::

After my mom found her dress, I scored the world’s greatest cardigan and then made my way to my old workplace, where I showed up just in time to join my two favorite scrub techs for an awesome sushi lunch at Fish in a Bottle in Placentia.

Evidently, everybody wants to be a knitwear model now:

(Sadly, besides demonstrating how well Kris can pose for the camera, this photo also captures some of Warren’s last minutes with his iPhone.  On the way to the restaurant, Warren left his phone on top of his car and drove off.  Needless to say, the iPhone didn’t survive the accident.  I am trying to convince him that it’s a sign that he should become an early adopter of the new Android phone.)

Even though he was sad about his phone, Warren still entertained me during lunch:

After lunch, we said good-bye and took self portraits:

Best way to top off a good meal.

After leaving POMC, I met Mike at the frat house, where Ben and An were engaged in a serious game

An, in his signature shirtless modus operandi…

Ben, wearing the best shirt ever (it reads “McCain is Insane”).

After all that excercise, Ben proceded to eat more cake than I’ve ever seen anybody eat all at once, ever:

Just before I left, Jimmy came home, and I made him model the hat that I knit for Tony.  Seriously, I am so lucky to have such a wealth of professional models:

Isn’t my baby brother in law adorable?

After spending most of the day with boys, I needed some estrogen, so I met up with Anne and another knitting friend, Kim, for a 100% vegetarian dinner at Happy Veggie Garden in Rowland Heights.  Dinner was good, but dessert was even better- crepes at Genki Living!

Anne and Kim seemed a little overwhelmed when it came to deciding what to put in their crepes:

I immediately went for Nutella, ice cream, strawberries and Japanese cheesecake (which, I found out, is way better than regular cheesecake.  I am tempted to try and make one of these at home).

A good end to a good day.

Sunday summary coming tomorrow.  I promise it won’t be as long.