Where We Get Dressed Up and Embarrass Ourselves

5.23.2016

Two weekends ago, Jordan and I celebrated our 5th anniversary. Our trip to Virginia this past March was our official anniversary trip, but we still wanted to do something to celebrate on our actual anniversary. 
We started the day of our anniversary (May 14) as we have every year for the past four years: with breakfast at iHop. I remember last year I was pregnant, and we were imagining a highchair at our table, and this year she's here! Such a blessing.

My parents drove up from Texas that afternoon to watch R while Jordan and I went to dinner, and then we did something crazy and stayed overnight in a hotel room while my parents stayed at our house with R. It was the longest I'd ever been away from her, and both of us survived just fine. Actually, we were just coming out of a bad couple of weeks in the sleeping department, so when my mom said, "So how are you feeling about being away from R overnight?" I said, "I'm kind of looking forward to it!" I blame the daily daycare drop-offs for my apparent heart of stone, but at least neither of us are in a codependent relationship. Right? Right?
Anyway. I can't go anywhere these days without having some kind of story to share on the blog, and our date night did not disappoint. A month ago, I made reservations at one of the nicest restaurants in the city, which is on the 49th floor of the tallest building in OKC. It's one of those places with an actual dress code, and let's just say, Jordan and I are not exactly the type of people who frequent restaurants of this caliber. Jordan in particular was basically breaking out in a cold sweat on our way downtown. 

There is a lot of construction right now, but since I work downtown I knew where to go. Even so, we had a bit of an issue trying to get to the right place (the original gate was closed and the credit card machine didn't work at the second gate, to name a few), and by the time we finally parked Jordan and I were both sweating and feeling stressed.

We rallied and made it inside, where we were escorted through the building to the elevator. (The restaurant is inside an office building, so there are extra measures taken to ensure people don't just go wandering around after office hours.)

Our ears literally popped on the way up, which was interesting.
We were seated at our table, and our server came over to ask if we wanted some wine. I don't normally get wine, but occasionally I will drink a glass if it's something really sweet, so I asked if she had anything to recommend that was sweet. She immediately launched into something about a wine that tasted like a hint of roses from such and such city in France, and she might as well have been speaking French for all I knew, but I said it sounded good and sure I'd take a glass.

Then she asked for my ID, and I realized that when I switched into my fancy red clutch, I had left my license at home in my wallet in the diaper bag.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said and promptly whisked away both our wine glasses.

And I promptly started crying.

It wasn't that I had wanted a glass of wine so badly that I was crying because I couldn't get one but because we were already stressed out about the parking situation, and we were both all dressed up in this fancy restaurant, and now I felt shamed because my wine glasses were taken away. And then I was shamed because I was crying, which made me cry more, and I was just a hot mess.
Jordan, meanwhile, is staring at me incredulously because he just cannot understand what on earth is wrong with his crazy wife. "Um... do you, like, need to call your mom?" he says.

Bless his heart.

By the time the waitress came back to take our order, I had composed myself enough to order a salad, and then she asked, "What do you want for your entree?" and I realized like a moron that I had not even looked, so she had to come back to actually take our order.
Somewhere between our appetizer and entree, Jordan got up to go to the bathroom and banged his head against the light that was hanging between our table and one next to us (see photo below). Our waitress shouted, "OH MY ARE YOU OKAY?" And an entire table of people in suits and cocktail dresses turned to stare.
Clearly I can't just go to dinner and not have something ridiculous happen. Thankfully, it ended much better, and the free anniversary dessert certainly didn't hurt. Although I will tell you that at one point during the meal I ran out of conversation topics and ended up saying, "So, I have three shirts I need to iron." And Jordan said, "Okay?"

Apparently five years of marriage is when you start running out of things to talk about.

The second we walked out of the elevator, Jordan was like a completely different person. He visibly relaxed, and we realized we did, in fact, have more to talk about than wrinkled shirts. So that was a relief on multiple levels. We really just aren't cut out to be fancy.
I checked in with my mom (R was doing great!), and we drove to our hotel, where I slept like a baby until sunrise because uninterrupted sleep, you guys. Back home, the real baby woke my mom up at 2:30 and stayed awake for over an hour. Seriously, who came up with the phrase "slept like a baby"? It's just mean, is what it is.

The next morning we grabbed some bagels on our way home, and my mom and R were waiting for us on the front porch. She was very excited to see us! All in all, it was a great anniversary date, and we certainly celebrated in style. The food was excellent, the view was great, and bonus! We got a good story or two to laugh at later (once I, ahem, stopped crying).

Here's to year six!
Unknown said...

I sometimes say I slept like a baby...woke up every few hours. Lol

Beka @ Sunshine to the Square Inch said...

You crack me up! I'm so sorry you started crying. Why do we girls do that? It's like once it starts is the stick that lets the dam out.

I'm glad you had a fun date night. Fancy restaurants like that are fun once in a blue moon.

Allison said...

Happy Anniversary! Was your food delicious at least??

Riley and I aren't cut out to be fancy either. We try maybe once a year, but it just doesn't feel right! ;)

Maria said...

Happy Anniversary! We are celebrating 5 years this year, too (and yes, we run out of things to talk about all the time!)

At the very least, you didn't cry at work. I've been there. I was only 18, but it still haunts me to this day.

Miriam said...

Haha, oh my gosh, I'm sorry for laughing, but this is awesome. Definitely a night to remember. Happy Anniversary!
And I love the fresh look of your blog, it looks awesome! Did you do it yourself?

Charlotte said...

Happy anniversary! What an adventure though. x

Mimsie said...

Do you realize what a compliment it was, that the waitress thought you were trying to get away with underage drinking???

Ashley H said...

Ah man I hate places like that. I totally don't fit in and get nervous too. Glad you had a good time and happy anniversary! :)

The Lady Okie said...

Ha! Well, thank you, but they were actually carding everyone. There was a lady at the table next to us who was clearly older but they still have to see it. Which I understand, but it was a bummer! I guess it saved me $15 or whatever.

The Lady Okie said...

I know, right? Ha! That's the truth.

The Girl who Loved to Write said...

THIS IS MY LIFE. Every time we get dressed up to go somewhere fancy, we always end the night with plenty of awkward moments and promising each other that next time, we'll just go to Chick-fil-A.

Audrey Louise said...

Awww. This is the cutest story- you'll remember this forever. I would've cried, too. When all that frustration and anxiety builds it takes NOTHING to make me break. But you know what? They CARDED you- which is always a slight compliment!
I'm glad you got some sleep! No shame in momma wanting a night off!

Laura J said...

I was literally nodding throughout this entire post! This is so me and my husband too!! We went out to fancy dinner last year for our 6 year, and I had changed purses, and didn't put anything in there!! I was 8.5 months pregnant, and hubby forgot his wallet!! He had been drinking, so I had to hobble to the car and back home to get the wallet!! Happy anniversary -- at least it was a memorable one and hallelujah to uninterrupted sleep!

Robyn B said...

fancy places just really aren't our style either... i feel so out of place and just anxious about everything... and that i will get mean stares if i'm laughing... because people at places like that just never seem joyful lol

but hey at least you get stories to tell & things are always interesting! happy anniversary!

Rebecca Jo said...

I so smiled about the wine thing. I've cried over smaller things :) I love the hubbie's reaction about calling your mom :) Good man knows how to keep a happy wife in a marriage - go talk to mom.

Leslie Lukens Martin said...

Having a {funny} story to tell...that's what makes true memories! So glad you were able to have a night out to celebrate five years!

Catherine said...

Haha, congratulations! We did something very (very) similar for my husband's 30th....
Also, if it makes you feel better about the escaping-from-the-baby thing, I actually, genuinely SKIPPED down the road the first time I went anywhere without my first child. Yes, I am THAT bad.

Michelle said...

Haha! I don't even know the last time I went to a fancy restaurant, but that story is too funny. Sometimes you just need to cry! Ask James how many times I've cried over seemingly insignificant things lately.

Amy @ A Desert Girl said...

Oh man! Well, good stories came from it, for sure. And you didn't need a $10+ glass of wine to be drowsy and sleep like there wasn't a baby in the room. ;-) Those cries happen. The stressor that broke the tear duct, or something like that. I'm glad that you guys had a nice anniversary! And I'd choose a not-fancy spot over a fancy one any day.

Sara Oss said...

We went on a brewery tour this weekend (mind you, this is not an unusual experience for us...we're friends with farmers who grow for breweries so we do this a lot) and I forgot my license. I could still go on the tour but we all had to wear lanyards and I had to wear the one with a huge NOT 21 YET tag on it. Sigh. It sounds like you had a fun and memorable anniversary!

Sydney said...

oh my nerves, what an eventful night! I am totally laughing right now! I'm glad you guys got some free dessert ;)

Laura Darling said...

Oh my gosh I cracked up when Jordan asked if you needed to call your mom. That is hilarious!! We aren't really the fancy type either. It sounds good in theory but in reality, I'm much more comfortable with some greasy mozzerella sticks and my jeans! :) Glad you had fun and YAY for a full night of sleep!!

Anonymous said...

I'm laughing WITH you! :) That sounds like us! We often have the opposite issue - we've been married 17 years, but 1. we married as teens and 2. we still look like teens - so the waitress has to do mental cartwheels to register that yes, I'm over 21, and yes, "we look a lot younger than we are"... lol! Plus, my husband is NOT comfortable in fancy places, but falls on his sword for our anniversaries. He frets over his clothes, hair, valet tip, what fork to use, etc. etc. the entire week and breathes a huge sigh of relief when we walk out! ;) CONGRATS!!

Laura Morgan said...

Hahahaha I love this. We went there for our anniversary two years ago, I believe. We had tickets to see a movie at the Warren after. Dinner took so, so, so long, and then the waiter asked if he could bring the complimentary dessert. I was so torn. Mike took over and explained that we were now in a hurry to get to our movie. The waiter asked what we were seeing. We fumbled around and sheepishly admitted it was How to Train Your Dragon...II. Because that's what mature adults rush out of a fancy dinner for. I tried to explain that the main reason I wanted to see it was that I love the composer, and he actually won an Oscar for scoring the first movie. I don't think that made a difference.

Happy anniversary, and many congrats on your first night away!

Rachel said...

Whoa. I still have yet to ever go to a restaurant with a dress code. I am not at all opposed to dressing up, but fancy food is generally too...fancy..for me. haha! Glad you guys got a whole night away, and happy 5 years to you! Anniversaries are great for memorable experience. For our 5th last year we went away to a nearby tiny island (because when you live on a tiny island it seems like you ought to go to yet another tiny island for a getaway?) and got into a minor car-hitting-motorcycle accident in our rental car which left the driver's side door much the worse for wear....oh well...no injuries, that's the good part....

Kristen @ See You In A Porridge said...

what is that first plate?! it's so small! i would have banged my head on that light, why is it so low in between the tables?! why is everything so fancy? i would have cried over the wine glasses as well, and i don't even like wine.
KC and I rarely talk over meals. it's weird. we run out of things to talk about while we are sitting down, but to and from the restaurant or any other time of our lives we are chatterboxes, but sitting down we suddenly stop talking. it's weird.

The Lady Okie said...

haha! Okay, at least she didn't give me a tag to wear and announce my shame to everyone.

The Lady Okie said...

I am picturing it, and it is awesome.

Paige @ Reasons to Come Home said...

Doesn't it make you feel like you are doing something wrong when you forget your id? My husband, who is almost 30, forgot his wallet at dinner the other night and the waitress looked at him like he was 19 trying to get a beer! I sure am glad you shared this story because it did make me giggle out loud. Wrinkled shirts...too funny! Seriously, I am glad y'all enjoyed your anniversary!

Rach said...

Okay, so I got teary eyed over the comment about you guys celebrating your 4th anniversary at IHop while looking forward to a baby being in a high chair with you the next year and NOW SHE'S HERE! Oh, I just love that for you guys. So precious!

Also, this whole stressful-fancy-dinner-date-night thing definitely made for some good stories. I'm glad you at least got a free dessert and a great night of sleep out of it! :)

And finally, how do you look this amazing so soon after having a baby?!

Julie @ Just the Joy's said...

Bahahaha! Always love the hilarious stories. Great memories, right?! You both look great all fancied up! Glad you had a nice night together! Happy belated anniversary!

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