Parosol Princess Party - August 2010

Well, the time has come. . .my posts are so far behind, it would be a bloggy-crime to "back date" posts, so I'll just have to date the title, so I know, when these things really happened, and well, the reasons behind why they aren't getting posted ON time. . .and btw, I can't find her cake pictures from her "real birthday". . .I may have to do to three posts to get this covered, huh????

Gracyn's pre-school class came over for a swim party and of course it was the coldest day ever. . .

Decorations and Favors (My favorite part)

 

The cake!!! So fun to decorate this one! (No, I didn't make it, just my design and I added the "toppers")

 

A girl after her mommy's own heart. . .

 

I think she enjoyed the sand more than the water. This is her old sand table, but we did get her a new CRAB sand box (see it in the backround!)

 

 

Make a Wish! She's too cute trying to "blow out candles" with no front teeth!

 

My favorite shots from Gracyn's Birthday Shoot. . .can't believe she's four.

 

 

 

My "new favorite shot" from this set. I totally overlooked this one until now and I love it.

 

1 of the THREE reasons why I'm behind. . .no excuses, of course.

 

One of her favorite gifts and one that she and her baby sister fought over!

 

And a different version of my favorite photo of her the day of her party. . .

 

My girlfriend actually enjoyed being the center of attention this year. I set up her cake "sideways" so she wouldn't feel the pressure of several sets of eyes upon her, but no need. . .she was happy to be sung too, didn't try to grab my hand, she just gave it her best shot, and I think her friends guaranteed her wish to come true by helping out a bit with the lung power!

Now, you all understand why I'm behind on blogging. How do I explain to the parents of her classmates that blogging came before writing Thank You Notes? Ugggghhhh, major faux pas. . .so not how I was raised.

Seven Years and . . .

Three Kiddos Later. . .

 

And we're still going strong. Happy Anniversary D!

I enjoyed sharing that pizookie with you - NOT. Get your own next time, k? And seriously, could you not eat so much or so fast, or pretend to be thinking when you're really watching Monday Night Football. You do realize there was a screen behind your head as well for me to watch the game, and while I may not get football, I did cheerlead for football, and you aint' foolin' nobody.

(Playing catch-up on my blog. . .this should have been posted on the 20th, but not so bad, right?)

To make up for my tardy post enjoy my walk down memory lane. . .

We don't have a single photo of our wedding up in our home. We have an album which gets taken out every now and then, but no photos. After watching the slide show of our wedding, I think I know why. Our wedding day was a mix of raw emotions, and pure joy. It was bittersweet. My mom died unexpectedly 6 months prior to our wedding date. We went back and forth on whether or not we should postpone, continue, go smaller, etc. . .it was a tough decision. But, one day I walked downstairs, and a box of shoes sat on the bannister. It was the pair of shoes my mom and I picked out for my wedding. My dad somehow found them while cleaning up???? Anyhow, this was the sign. We went through with it.

Me in the dress my mom and I picked out. . .

 

The shoes that appeared on the banister as a sign to go through with the wedding. . ..

 

The single red rose I carried with me down the aisle in memory of my mom. . .

 

My handsome husband-to-be. . .cool, calm, and collected. . .

 

The picture I wanted all my life, and got. The same church both of our parents got married in. . .Red carpet and all.

 

The reason why I chose this dress. . .although I did have second thoughts (just once when I saw a champagne colored gown)

 

Us in front of the church after we said our vows. . .

 

Seven years later, and this is still one of my favorites. . .

 

Another few of my favorite shots. . .

 

 

 

The other photo I dreamed of having. . .posed just as my mom was in her cheong-sam. . .

 

I'm not a "normal" gal. . .see my GREEN cake?

 

Almost forgot about our two lions. . .

 

. . .and these chocolate dipped fortune cookies.

 

And I know I forgot about the coffee bar. . .

 

And I forgot about the teddy bear toss in lieu of tossing my bouquet. But I do remember why. . .my bouquet went to my mom.

 

I remember, however, getting cake all over, and changing into my second cheong-sam, and I remember that we FORGOT to do a toast. Where the heck was the wedding planner?

 

And I certainly did not forget how sloshed my husband was. . .see below for PROOF. . .and yes, I reminded him of this yesterday during our anniversary dessert.

 

As I reflect upon our wedding day, I know I was numb and that I don't remember a lot about the day, unfortunately. . .well, except for the fact that my groom was hammered. Maybe it's time to get some of these photos up in the house. As I watched the slide show and was reminded of all the details of our special day seven long years ago, the tears stream, and they are still filled with pain. While my dreams came true, my heart was broken. My new dream is one of renewing our vows. I'd really like to enjoy the moment and remember the celebration of our love. I'd like my tears to be only tears of joy, and if DH want's to get sloshed, that's okay too!

Love you D. . .

 

Don't forget my other wish is to take up dancing with you, okay?

 

Snapshots above taken from our slideshow, created by Cara Rhyner in 2003.

Happy 1st Birthday Addi-boo!

 

Oh my, how time flies. I can't believe my baby is one. (Well, she's already 1 and FOUR days now. . .)

At one, Addi loves to follow her siblings around, she loves food, and often times eats more than her big sister, she has peed on the toilet after waking up in the morning with a dry diaper, she has taken a couple of wobbly and unassisted steps, she loves to push her cart around the house, and LOVES to take everything out of anything. From folded clothes in a laundry basket to her shopping cart intentionally filled with books for tip-proof purposes. Addi loves dried apples, bagels, cheese, cheese, and more cheese, and love, loves ice cream and especially the cake cones filled with soft serve or with yogurt! (Great tip for messy eaters. Yes, it's messy, but not as messy as it could be.) She loves to sing, she loves to watch TV with her big brother, and she still has no hair. She is a little curious Georgette, and loves to stand on her tippy toes to see what the heck is going on with her big brother and big sister. She loves noodles, not a big fan of rice, loves pluots and nanas but could leave behind the peaches and grapes. (Much too tart!) Addi loves playing in the water, and climbing up and top of anything within reach.

Since writing the above, she can now take three not-so-wobbly steps, loves to hang her head back so she's looking at the world upside down, can say Ma-Ma, and has the whole "thumb slide" thing down for using my "eye"-phone. I have so much to share about my "real gift" to her, although she probably could care less, but she did seem to like her glowing panda for bed time, and the microhpone toy. She also seems to enjoy her umpteen pairs of big girl shoes!

For now, I'm getting this post out before she starts walking and talking and I really can't catch up. . .Addi - you know I love you baby!! Sorry this is late.

More to come on Graycn's party, followed by "my gift" to Addi, and photos from Addi's party shot by a photographer!!!! (You do realize that this my list for myelf, not really a snead preview or anything for you. )

Dear Bloggy Pals, I'm so sorry. . .

Dear Bloggy Pals, I'm so sorry. You have become such a wonderful part of my life. I enjoy reading about your children, and especially enjoy all of the different phases our kiddos are in. . .whether that be Mamas waiting for babies or kidlets to come home. . .or Mamas who have seven year olds that prepare me for the years ahead. I'm sorry that I haven't had a chance to ready your blogs. When I started blogging, I was really a blog lurker. . .and then I started blogging, and enjoyed the interaction and would post every spare moment. . .and then I slowed down on the posting and went back to lurking, or living vicariously through your beautiful posts. . .and well now, I haven't been able to "lurk" or "post". . .

I've come to the conclusion that I just don't have the free time that I wish I had to follow, comment, and write. Know that I am following along when time permits, and I do get caught up on your posts. I may not have as much time to comment, but know that I wish I could. But like all of you, I blog to document our family's journey through life, and well, I need to get back in the saddle and POST. So, bloggy pals, I'm so sorry if you think I've disappeared and I'm not following along. I am. . .and if you know where I'm from, and you track it, well, some times my lunch break is spent with you, and I won't show up from "home", in fact it's no where close to home. . .

I'm not going anywhere. . .just taking some time to get caught up on life, and to journal. . .I love to write, and it's an outlet I need. I'm also loving this photography thing, so something's gotta give, right??? I have a post in the making dedicated to all of you, with some questions I find thought provoking. I really will get to it. . .I promise!

BTW, did you know it's been over four years since we were LID for Morgan? I can't believe it. . .I've known some of you for over four years. . .how wonderful is that? Now that is not something I'm sorry about. That's something I'm celebrating. Thank you for allowing me to know you, and thank you for wanting to get to know me.

Yours Truly,
Mom With Faith and Hope

My Budding Ballerina

Gracyn LOVES dance lessons. Every Thursday I ask her about dance and ask her to show me what she's learned. She's did a great job of telling me what she had been learning. Parents were welcome to come observe for the last summer session, and I took advantage of it. Everything she showed me was spot on. I used to love when my mom would sit behind the glass window and watch me. Gracyn has repeatedly asked me to come watch her dance. They teach them more than just ballet and tap basics. It's more of a coordination, stretching, balancing class than a structured studio dance class, which is perfect for her. She's still working on her "pizza feet", aka first position and that turnout, and we've been working on "plies" and "releves" at home, as well as first, second, third, fourth and fifth position ARMS only. . .but here's what she really loves about dance.

Here's her "fish". . .

 

And here's her, "Mom can't remember because she was being too cute pose". . .

 

Here's her "Mommy thinks if I can master this clapping and side step thing I might have cheerleading in my future". . .

 

Here's her "rabbit" hop - isn't she cute?!

 

Trying to do the "Chicken". . .mastering isolation is no easy task.

 

In fact, it was more fun zoning out and watching the TV from afar while the other kiddos enjoyed movie time.

 

Now, here is a patient child. She was last for everything, and threw not ONE single fit. "You Git Whatcha Git, and Don't throw a Fit!" (They teach them this at school! I LOVE IT.)

 

Great stuff for working on her balance. My Gracyn, is not yet, well, graceful

 

Her sweet teacher giving her a hand. . .

 

Shuffle Step. . .

 

And My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE - "Put on a Happy Face!"

 

And there you have it. . .my budding ballerina. A girl after my own heart. Now, let's just hope that I take after my mom instead of those other crazy stage moms. My friend got up and left so she wouldn't be a distraction to her daughter. Me, well, you can tell from above that I, uhh, stayed put and kept clickin' away. . .shame on me, huh??? I may be a lost cause. . .