Abby's Wedding

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of attending the wedding of Abby & Zach. Where I was referred to as "Sarah the babysitter". Ha! It's been a long time since I've been called that!

The setting was romantic

The bride was stunning

 

The groom was charming

The maid of honor was a gentleman



The flowers were beautiful

The dinner was delicious

 

The dancing was lively

The signature cocktail was tasty



My date? FUN!

I had a wonderful time catching up with old friends. (it's been awhile since I was up until 3 am just chatting!)

Thank you so much for having me, Scott & Nancy. You should be very proud of the wonderful children you have!

Happy Birthday

to me!

I celebrated today with a visit to my doctor. I love her, and didn't have to take my clothes off, so it was good. I had some blood work done. Turns out when you are in your 30's you need to start having "routine" blood draws. Not having breakfast worked out since it was a "fasting draw".

I then treated myself to a new pair of shoes, and a little shopping trip to Kohls.

A nap with Jackson, and then to dinner with some very, very special adults!

I just wanted one decent picture...



Teresa and I

The only time we have our picture taken together is on my birthday. Last time was seven years ago...



Sparkly new Birkenstock's

and a new dress!

Wedding Bells

Two weeks ago we went to the wedding of a friend of ours~

The groom and his mother~

Doesn't that just melt your heart?

Handsome groomsmen~

I love weddings. Love them.

One of the best things about weddings, besides the cake- is hanging out with your friends.

Elizabeth is betrothed to one of these boys.

The mother and I are working out a deal.

And dancing. Dancing at weddings is one of my favorite things.

William, Isabelle and Jackson love to dance.

Elizabeth is a little self-conscious.

I would love it more, but having no rhythm is a little embarrassing.

Passover

Saturday evening Ryan and I had the pleasure of attending a Seder Dinner with our friends Amir & Nili at their Temple.

We had a fabulous time, as we always do with them- and what a wonderful learning experience too!

Elizabeth and I had an argument over what Passover was about.  If you are curious, check it out HERE.  (I was right)



Wedding

Last weekend one of our long-time babysitters got married.

Happy for her. Not so happy for me.


She's moving to Pennsylvania. So, so not happy for me.



Several months ago, she asked all of our children to participate in the wedding.  They all were so excited! Elizabeth greeted the guest, took their gifts, and helped served coffee at the reception- immediately following the wedding.  William was a "bus boy" and picked up plates/cups/silverware when everyone was finished. He took his job very seriously- "Seven bags, Mom!".  "I picked up SEVEN bags, just me!".  Isabelle and Jackson helped the groom's nephew carry the rug down the aisle.

Rehearsal. Isabelle was all about it.  Jackson? much bribing. I was for sure he was going to throw a royal "3 year old fit" on Saturday.

I was wrong! All three of them got the job done! *phew*

I did not take very many photos... The photographer was doing a great job, and I know how annoying it is when everyone wants to get their own shots in. That being said, I sure wish I could see them!

Here are a few I took:

The Mother of the Bride made Isabelle and Elizabeth's dresses- They both looked beautiful. Isabelle just loved it. She also loved being the only one to "match the bride".

With the Maid of Honor, *sister-twin* of the bride.  Also one of the best babysitters ever!

Reading books while we waited. I was sure to pack lots of toys, snacks, books and other entertainment! It was a long wait all afternoon, but they did really great.  The wedding was lovely, and a wonderful memory for all the children.

Congratulations Alex & Jaima!

oh, and I CANNOT WAIT to see some professional photos....

Happy, Happy Monday!!

Monday morning while I was planning out my work week, the UPS truck pulled into the driveway. Much like when I was younger and lived at home, there was a little flutter in my stomach. Does getting a package make any of you as happy as it makes me? Maybe it's the UPS man. I've never seen an unattractive one... who knows.


Being the grown-up and being one of the two people who have access to a credit card in this house, I can assume that the packages that the UPS man brings are for me.  Or Ryan. As soon as my "flutter" flipped, I thought: "Oh, that's just the rest of the supplies Ryan is expecting for the farm".  Like the last four thousand times the UPS has been here... I did not even get up to meet the delivery man.

My curiosity soon got the best of me, and to the garage I headed. And guess what?

IT WAS FOR ME!!

Last week I shopped the Kate Spade One Day Sale. a little treat for myself.  Oh my.  I LOVE HER! 



Later in the day I had to run into my office and grab a few things for my dreaded annual Board Meeting. Ugh.  To find this little package on my desk:

A little white box, tied up with a pink bow.  Filled with cocoa mix and cookies!

Thank you, Thank You, to my sweet friend, Sarah xo!

Pink

Just making it into "Breast Cancer Awareness Month"- my friend Beth and I hosted a "Pink Party".

Pink decorations, pink snacks, pink cocktails.

Friends in pink:

A wonderful evening honoring our friend, Sarah.

Who has survived breast cancer. twice.

xo

Ah, the smell.

Today I held a brand new baby.

The sweet "little" (9lbs 4oz!) son of  friends.

I could still smell him on my hands when I got home.

Happy, Happy Hanukkah!

Good thing Hanukkah last longer than one day, I may have missed it all together!
We spent Saturday evening celebrating with some of our Jewish friends.  We had an excellent time visiting, eating, and meeting new friends!

I'm to old for this.

What a weekend!

After multiple nights with less than 5 hours of sleep, I realize why partying is for people who DO NOT have children and the responsibilities that they bring.

With that being said, I just got a text stating that one of my weekend guest has indeed landed home safely, so...

GOOD NIGHT!!

A Few Of My Favorite Things...

Brown paper packages tied up with string!

My dear friend, Maryhelen who lives in Oklahoma sent me this:

How fabulous is that!

And since this is the one and only thing I've hung here in the new house:

Where do you think I should put it?

Thank You Maryhelen... come back soon!

My Day.

Friday:

5:30 am:  hit snooze.

6:30 am:   holy crap, it's 6:30.

6:32 am:   wake up Elizabeth and William.  after 3 days off, not pleasant.

6:34 am:  let the dogs out.

6:36 am:   fastest shower ever. find clothes that match.

6:46 am:   feed dogs.

6:53 am:   make coffee, throw work stuff in car.

7:02 am:   dress the screaming monkey otherwise known as "Isabelle"

7:06 am:   buckle the screaming monkey in the car.

7:09 am:   run around the house gathering last minute stuff: socks, detangle spray, hats, coats,     shoes, turn off lights, put milk away.  all the while, talking to the big kids:  did you brush your teeth? where are your socks?  I have NO idea where your homework is. did you get your valentines?  What's for lunch? do you want to pack? sorry, no time. breakfast??? grab a granola bar.  yes, you have to brush your hair.  no, you may NOT have a sucker for breakfast. you'll get plenty of candy at school today.  I said, NO SUCKERS FOR BREAKFAST!

7:16 am:   LETS GO! WE'RE LATE!!

7:17 am:   jump in the car.

7:18 am:    where's Jackson?  crap.  still in bed.

7:20 am:   buckle the little snuggle bug in his seat.

7:22 am:   where's my coat??

7:23 am:   back out of garage with all four children, pray that the dogs go back in so we don't have to chase them around the yard.

7:30 am:   pick up carpool kids.

7:34 am:   loaded and ready to head to school.  *phew*

7:52 am:   drop kids at school.

8:05 am:   drop kids at day care.

8:15 am:   walk in office.  breathe.

11:55 am:   lunch meeting.  chicken noodle soup.  productive.

1:00 pm:   teach.  50 third graders about vegetables.  25 good. 25 bad. very bad.

2:45 pm:   stand in line at post office.  what in the world is he sending to the czech republic?

3:00 pm:   pick up kids from school.  chat with my peeps.  scam on the left-over Valentine snacks

3:22 pm:   after school snack at Modocs. otherwise known as my mommy support group.

4:00 pm:  quick trip to the grocery store.  that is being re-modeled.  really?

4:42 pm:   grab cash to pay sitter.

4:56 pm:   pick up kids from sitter.

5:34 pm:   unload kids at home.

5:37 pm:   give babysitter instructions for evening.  ignore dirty dishes, floors and laundry.

5:39 pm:   second fastest shower of all time.

6:35 pm:   cocktails at Beth's.

7:08 pm:   dinner with the Bunco Babes.  laughed so hard my cheeks hurt.

11:40 pm:   carry the sweetest little screaming monkey to bed.

11:48 pm:   say goodnight to the sitter.

11:50 pm:   check facebook and decompress on my blog....

Bunco Babes Forever!!

Whole Family Sleep-Overs!

Sunday afternoon, our friends from Oklahoma! (can you type Oklahoma! with out the ! ? try it, it just doesn't look right).

We had a great couple of days catching up, the kids played wii, ate, played wii, ran through the house, played wii, ate, played wii, ran through the house.....

They were wonderful house guest, the kids had an absolute blast. I don't think I saw William for more than 3 minutes the 36 hours they were here.

Cannot wait to see them again!

SHOPPING SHOPPING SHOPPING

If you haven't heard "Straight No Chaser" sing the "Christmas Can Can" you should. It's going through my head right now, and has been since about 10am this morning when I arrived at Toys r Us with all four of my people. How did I make it out alive? You may wonder.... My dear friend Pandora came along! You may think I owe her an extra-special gift this year, but really, she owes me. For providing her with a years worth of birth control.

Not only did I get 90% of my Christmas shopping done, I purchased birthday party supplies for our Jackson who will be ONE on Monday.

Now to get the tree up and the cards out!

It's Friday...Got Plans?

Last week our family enjoyed the pizza over at the Hawkins Family Farm . Jeff, Kathy, Zach & Sarah treated us to an "invitation only" (sounds exclusive doesn't it?) dinner of their pizza, some fresh vegetables from the garden, and a delicious array of desserts, (the lemon cake was Divine) and beverages that compliment pizza the best, beer.

Several of the guest took turns putting the pizza together...

fresh basil, mozzarella and parmesan...

Jeff loaded the pizzas into the outdoor brick oven with his assistant.

Make you feel like you are in Italy?

Pretty sure the small group of 30 shared 25 pizzas.

They even have entertainment for the kids. pun intended.

Check out their website, and give it a whirl. It's Fabulous!

we missed you Kira!

Green Thumb

When I was visiting my parents they introduced me to their lovely neighbors. Mom had told me about her beautiful quilts and wanted me to see them. She also told me that R. had a little greenhouse with some blooming plants.

These are the blooming plants.

Orchids.

They were stunning.

I could only wish for her green thumb..

Oh, the quilts were just beautiful too!

Another Exciting Weekend

My brother came for the second weekend in a row~ We are looking forward to having him again next weekend too! He's been helping Ryan get ready for spring by doing maintenance on our equipment. We love having him, and his boys. These cousins really do like to hang.

T. and I went into the local quilt shop sale. As she told someone, "First, she (me) signed me up for a bag class, and then she signed me up to make a quilt top, and now she has me going to sales at 7 am in my pajamas". It was a pajama sale. From 7-9am, show up in your jammies and get 35% off. What a deal!! I'll post some of the fun stuff I got maybe tomorrow?

Happy New Year!

New Years Eve found us with our friends. I would just like to take a moment and say that we have the best friends ever. Really. The love and support they have shown us over the years is well, like that of a close family. Without all the crap.

Thanks for being our friends!

After eating for several hours, and playing "battle of the sexes" (the girls won, of course) and scatergories, ("pretty, pretty, princess" IS a term of endearment that we use for Bea). We were home and cozied up in our jammies and on our couch to watch the ball drop.


New Years Day found Ryan at the annual auction, and me at the local quilt stores 50% off sale!

My fabulous finds:

I have some things cut out, and I'll show you the projects as I get them finished, but as you know, it's slow going here....it may be awhile!

Ice Storm

The Friday before Christmas, we had a terrible ice storm. The electricity went out at 6:30am, not to return until Saturday at 11:30am. We had snow on the ground, and what seemed like 2" of ice on top. Ryan of course went outside, the cows still need to be milked! Unfortunately, we only have one generator, and yes, the cows get that one. He worked hard all day, fixing down wires, moving limbs, thanks to *Ben*, a local electric company and some generous neighbors, we had generator power at 7:30pm.

During the day, we still had to function without ~ We have a wood stove, so the house was warm, and our cell phones were all charged up. I feel better when I can communicate! Jack was still on the bili blanket, and his counts were still really high, we needed electricity! Luckily, T.'s power was still on! Woo Hoo! So, Jack and I spent the day at her house while Nana made the big kids clean their rooms. How's that for a trade off? The last day of school before Christmas break is cancelled, no fun Christmas parties with your friends, no cartoons, and your grandmother makes you clean all day... but she let them cook their lunch over the fire in the basement. All was well.
~real time update~ it is 11:30 Tuesday, and I have not had a shower since sunday morning. yes, i stink. Jack likes to be held.

Christmas Parties

I love them.




Tonight was my office Christmas Celebration. It started last week with a "Secret Santa". We all had fun sneaking things around the office for our person. And tonight, after our office director treated us to a little pampering, (my pedicure is perfect purple!) we revealed our "Santa" with a white elephant gift.

Diane, our office manager was my secret Santa, and not only did she give me a "white elephant" gift of coffee, (she had gotten it as a gift herself...and she does not like coffee) with "reduce", "reuse", "regift" socks,







She also found these at the Hallmark Store and knew I would LOVE them.

The cutest ornaments I have seen in years!

They also surprised me with gifts for the baby...(5 days left...probably 10).

A really great Vera Bradley diaper bag....

And some incredibly sweet baby clothes... I wish you could feel how soft they are! Come over in two weeks and you can feel a baby in them!
Thank You SO Much! I love working with you all!