We threw a surprise party for my parent's 40th wedding anniversary two weeks ago Sunday. It went off without a hitch! Mom and Pop got married at the courthouse so this was there first wedding. We did it at Deer Park Manner in Bloomington and getting mom and pop to agree to go down there was no small feat. When it finally happened, mom was in tears. Pop was stunned as he had to go to the bathroom and walked in on the party waiting for the couple to come around the side. Anyway, it was lovely with great food, a wedding cake, pianist and violinist, drinks and most importantly good friends and family. Our old great neighbors from Michigan came down to celebrate, Sue is a minister and renewed the vows. It was very sweet, Mom and Pop were really into it. Roger, her husband and Mike their son (and our good friend) also were there. Val and I got to hang out with Mike that evening which was cool.
It was definitely worth the work and surprise, my parents loved it. Emily and I agree that we are now officially done with Anniversary's, Pop thinks we've started a new trend, only time will tell.
On a side note, I have lost my camera which is why pictures are not being updated. Yes, I am a loser. I also lost a stroller recently (seriously). Pop has bravely lent me his digital and the pictures should be up and running in no time.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Best Mother's Day Ever
I just spent a wonderful long weekend with my dear friend Sue. I flew in Friday and we had a Mother Blessing Friday night. Don and Sue are due with their first in July and I was so honored to share in a small part of her pregnancy. At the blessing, I met all of her cool friends, and we shared a lovely time sitting in the desert reflecting on Motherhood. That night we met up with Don and another friend and hit a few Scottsdale bars. It was great to hang out for our short night.
The next day we drove to Tuscon with plans to go all the way to Bisby. Once we got to Tuscon plans changed. We stayed in a nice hotel with a pool and that evening went out for dinner. Fourth Avenue in Tuscon is awesome, cute and lots of good restaurants. It has a way chill vibe and we ended up having tea at our favorite Vegie restaurant, The Casbah Tea House. Sue said it was reminiscent of a coffee house in Amsterdam. They have a back area complete with tapestry's and Buddhas. They also compost all of their food scraps and grow veggies for the restaurant. We were in heaven. (I'm a little lacking on vegetarian restaurants here in Indy)
The next day (mothers day)we went for a great two hour hike in the desert complete with huge burrs and my prego friend sliding into a sit. A very graceful fall. After this we hit the pool, showered and then found a great little breakfast place called the Blue Willow. We enjoyed conversation over eggs benedict and an omelet. There were lots of families there but it really didn't make me sad, in fact I was not sad at all and this was the first trip away that I didn't feel nervous about leaving the kids. Thats what having no more babies(and very trustworthy babysitters) will do for you!
After more shopping in a cool bookstore and a drive out to beautiful mountains, we met Sue's friend Kelly back at our veggie restaurant (we were there three times) for dinner before seeing Brett Dennen. We went to a really cool theater downtown and it was a great show. Sue and I shared a great afternoon watching him sing at High Sierra with MB and Andy last summer so this was the next show on our tour I suppose.
If you've not heard him, I suggest you look it up. He has an AMAZING voice and great music. It is completely refreshing.
Obviously, I had a great time. Sue and I got to spend some QT like never before (usually we have Don and Val and friends and kids around which of course is great also). I continue to feel blessed by the ladies in my life. They couldn't get much cooler.
Next mothers day, Mexico?
The next day we drove to Tuscon with plans to go all the way to Bisby. Once we got to Tuscon plans changed. We stayed in a nice hotel with a pool and that evening went out for dinner. Fourth Avenue in Tuscon is awesome, cute and lots of good restaurants. It has a way chill vibe and we ended up having tea at our favorite Vegie restaurant, The Casbah Tea House. Sue said it was reminiscent of a coffee house in Amsterdam. They have a back area complete with tapestry's and Buddhas. They also compost all of their food scraps and grow veggies for the restaurant. We were in heaven. (I'm a little lacking on vegetarian restaurants here in Indy)
The next day (mothers day)we went for a great two hour hike in the desert complete with huge burrs and my prego friend sliding into a sit. A very graceful fall. After this we hit the pool, showered and then found a great little breakfast place called the Blue Willow. We enjoyed conversation over eggs benedict and an omelet. There were lots of families there but it really didn't make me sad, in fact I was not sad at all and this was the first trip away that I didn't feel nervous about leaving the kids. Thats what having no more babies(and very trustworthy babysitters) will do for you!
After more shopping in a cool bookstore and a drive out to beautiful mountains, we met Sue's friend Kelly back at our veggie restaurant (we were there three times) for dinner before seeing Brett Dennen. We went to a really cool theater downtown and it was a great show. Sue and I shared a great afternoon watching him sing at High Sierra with MB and Andy last summer so this was the next show on our tour I suppose.
If you've not heard him, I suggest you look it up. He has an AMAZING voice and great music. It is completely refreshing.
Obviously, I had a great time. Sue and I got to spend some QT like never before (usually we have Don and Val and friends and kids around which of course is great also). I continue to feel blessed by the ladies in my life. They couldn't get much cooler.
Next mothers day, Mexico?
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Spring is here, now it's spring!
Nora looked so cute with her hat and shades on.
One of our beautiful littering Magnolias
Hey look, giraffes!
On the zoo train (ooohh, look that's where they keep the garbage...my rating, lame)
So maybe the winter is worth it....well almost. Lady spring has arrived and she is packing beautiful flowers and bright green buds. We couldn't be happier. We are now spending more time outside than in, so good for the soul.
We made our biannual trip to the zoo. I really don't like going but Drew is so into animals that it would be crazy not to take him. We had a great day because it was perfect weather, that seems to be the trick to going. I put my worries about the animals aside for the day (it's tough being a stay at home mom :) ).
We have been taking Jake to the parks and wild areas around here and Bloomington and playing a lot in the yard. Soon, we will go camping because as soon as June hits it will be bug city. So this is it! The best time of the year in good ole' Indiana. It really is perty...
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Swingset
It was so heavy, I can't believe they got it in...this is Puckett and Corbin (also know as Ryan and Brent)
The other day Val, Puckett, Corbin and a hired man hauled a new swing set into our backyard. They moved it from a house in Carmel, my mom found the ad and it was a very good deal. Thanks to mom and pop and the guys for this new park right in our back yard. (Nora says "lets play on the park", Drew has named it "Drew and Nora's Wild Ride") As I told my neighbor, it's more for me than the kids, frees me up for yard work and porch lounge time.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Ain't No Place I'd Rather Be
Jennifer and I did meet up for one crazy weekend in Tennessee. First and foremost, it was SO GOOD to see jen and the girls, I love seeing friend after a while and not missing a beat. So it WAS worth it, but barley. We did encounter some mishaps on our trip. Number one, it was raining, a lot, constantly. We did get to enjoy some time in the beautiful Smokey mountains, but in the rain. We hiked with the kids (who thought the rain added another element of fun) out to an old homestead building. It was really cool. We also saw dozens of deer in a field, it was almost zoo like, there were so many animals. That night I convinced Jen to go to Gatlinburg, I should have trusted her hesitation but I just have to see a new place when I can. I have NEVER seen anything quite like it. Imagine Disney World with a lot more airbrushed tee shirt stores. It was incredible. Hard to imagine that one might plan a trip here, I suppose if you are into Ripley's it would be worth it. The kids were running down the very narrow packed sidewalk while cars zoomed by...kind of nerve racking. But hey, I've been to Gatlinburg!!
The next day was not quite as relaxing. I went to get Nora's shoes out of the car bright and early to realize my battery was dead. Jen and I got out the jumper cables and the manual and set out to give my car a jump. The minute we got all four cables connected, my car alarm alarmingly went off. We immediately took of the cables and threw them in the bushes. The rain set in and we were starting to realize our day was going to be consumed by this. Jenifer luckily (and smartly) has a sort of AAA protection with her car insurance and in no time Big Daddy (this was his name on his coat) was out to boost us. Luckily, my dad and mom came down with us to hang out in Knoxville. They were touring a nearby plantation home when the distress call came. My parents drove out to the cabin (after getting lost and exploring the country) and Pop followed me back into Maryville to get the battery changed while mom stayed to help child sit. Keep in mind, my alarm keeps going off and we seem to have tried everything. Anyway, the boys at the Autozone might as well have had halos hovering because quickly they solved the battery problem(loose connection) and alarm problem (hit the unluck button on keys twice).
Jennifer was a little frustrated that we sort of "choked" but I think the torrential rain (this was some serious weather that caused major flooding) and four kids under six running around validated our panic.
We did get to hang out with our wine and luke warm dirty hot tub (perfectly fitting) that evening. Then, get this, as I go to bed, Drew wakes up to vomiting and well, loose stools, for the rest of the night. He has never been so sick and I was up ALL night. I think Jennifer was up most of it too... thank goodness my parents had taken Nora to the out-of-place posh and high tech cabin up Rudd Hollow Road where they bunked for the night.
I'm not sure where the lesson is. Had it not been for the rain, car trouble and sicky kid it would have been perfect. It was still great but next time we may just make the trip all the way to Columbia SC, to the comfort of Jen and Daniel's home...
Pictures to come, hopefully
The next day was not quite as relaxing. I went to get Nora's shoes out of the car bright and early to realize my battery was dead. Jen and I got out the jumper cables and the manual and set out to give my car a jump. The minute we got all four cables connected, my car alarm alarmingly went off. We immediately took of the cables and threw them in the bushes. The rain set in and we were starting to realize our day was going to be consumed by this. Jenifer luckily (and smartly) has a sort of AAA protection with her car insurance and in no time Big Daddy (this was his name on his coat) was out to boost us. Luckily, my dad and mom came down with us to hang out in Knoxville. They were touring a nearby plantation home when the distress call came. My parents drove out to the cabin (after getting lost and exploring the country) and Pop followed me back into Maryville to get the battery changed while mom stayed to help child sit. Keep in mind, my alarm keeps going off and we seem to have tried everything. Anyway, the boys at the Autozone might as well have had halos hovering because quickly they solved the battery problem(loose connection) and alarm problem (hit the unluck button on keys twice).
Jennifer was a little frustrated that we sort of "choked" but I think the torrential rain (this was some serious weather that caused major flooding) and four kids under six running around validated our panic.
We did get to hang out with our wine and luke warm dirty hot tub (perfectly fitting) that evening. Then, get this, as I go to bed, Drew wakes up to vomiting and well, loose stools, for the rest of the night. He has never been so sick and I was up ALL night. I think Jennifer was up most of it too... thank goodness my parents had taken Nora to the out-of-place posh and high tech cabin up Rudd Hollow Road where they bunked for the night.
I'm not sure where the lesson is. Had it not been for the rain, car trouble and sicky kid it would have been perfect. It was still great but next time we may just make the trip all the way to Columbia SC, to the comfort of Jen and Daniel's home...
Pictures to come, hopefully
Friday, March 7, 2008
Spice of Life
Nora now wears the sweater Arianna (who's holding her) had on. Nora was 2 weeks here.
Drew, Arianna and Ellen Halloween '04
Drew, Arianna and Ellen last time we saw them.
I'm not sure why cliche's have a bad reputation. In high school, English teachers swipe them out swiftly with red ink, leaving suggestions in the margins. Friends are the spice of life is one that I am thinking of now.
Next week Nora, Drew and I get to travel to Gatlinburg, TN to meet up with our friends Jennifer, Ellen and Arianna. We are renting a cabin outside the Smokey Mountain National Forest. I expect lots of play, talk, coffee, juice, wine and good food. If we get lucky, some decent weather and outdoor adventure.
I can't wait to see Jen and am blessed by every single friend I have. I know Val would agree (but paraphrase greatly)...Friends truly are the spice of life.
Drew and Nora's love for friends is eloquent. Evident in every movement, expression and exultation. They love their friends and more importantly, they love to PLAY with their friends. May be the best lesson we ever teach them.
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