Father Of The Bride

On Mother’s Day I had someone, probably Megan, try taking pictures of Abbie and I. I thought it was going good and we’d have a couple good shots until I looked at the camera and saw several that looked like this:

I had no idea they were back there.

Do Over:

And then the staged ones.

Literally. I said, “ok, now kiss my cheek…”

“…and now let’s look into each other’s eyes”

Dumb, I know, but there you have it.

Which reminds me…

After work last night Rick and Abbie and I went to the Sudden Valley Dance Barn to check it out as a wedding venue. Abbie had worked at the coffee stand, taken her nap, and then picked me up from work. As we stood at the front desk talking about dates and prices and deposits, I looked past Rick at Abbie in her sweats and pony tail, no make up and her glasses and had a total Steve Martin Father Of The Bride moment. I stared at her nodding at gal behind the counter and I swear, I’m not making this up, she was 10, no 8 years old. I didn’t get a lump in my throat or tear up, but I did chuckle and shake my head, and thought whoever wrote that movie got it so so right.

It’s A Miracle

The miracle isn’t the new life,

…the beautiful baby, growing and interacting and being her own special person…

The real miracle

is that I can take this pictures and somehow my floors look clean. I assure you, they are not.

And I didn’t even photoshop them.

Baby Faces

I snapped a couple pics last night.

She was enjoying laying on her back and playing with her feet, a couple toys, and watching me.

Rolling back and forth and cooing…

Stoic little dream baby

She’s been wearing that sweater since the day she was born!

Kissy Mouth!

Come On,

Please?

THERE it is!

Thank you. I just wanted to see you smile.

I do what I can.

Red and White

Rick and I were invited to a blind wine tasting party last night. Here’s how it worked.

The hostess set it up as a facebook event. When we RSVP’d we private messaged her which varietal we were bringing, one bottle per guest. She then sent a message to the event wall which wines were spoken for.

At the door was a basket with paper bags and rubber bands which we used to cover the wine we brought. Once all the guests arrived and the bottles were uncorked the tasting began.

The whites were at one end of the table and reds at the other end.

We were provided a score sheet where we made our notes and guessed which wine we were drinking

We were even provided a list of the wines we were tasting and their descriptions. For instance, Cabernet Sauvignon (my favorite)
“The primary grape used in Bordeaux and Meritage red wines. It provides elegance and structure. Flavors are of blackcurrants and cedar, but in other areas may include green peppers and mint.”

This was a blast! A great idea for get together.

My beautiful friend Bliss (thanks for inviting us Bliss!)

The hostess, Camille (super fun party Camille)

There was a prize for the most correct guesses and a prize for the least. The winner received a bottle of wine, appropriately, and the winner of the booby prize, even more appropriately, received a magazine about wines.

This was seriously a fun evening. One that Rick and I want to copy. Stay tuned for a Blind Wine Tasting Party in Sudden Valley coming soon!

And She Was Swingin’

Nora discovered the love of hammocks!

And the best thing about a hammock is an uncle turning it into a swing!

Yes. It made some of us nervous.

Nora, though? She just said, “Again!”

May Flowers

Flowers were in abundance at my house this weekend.

Mother’s day was full of new color for me!

Hanging Fuscias from Rick:

The plants are huge and overflowing with blooms!!

Right now they are hanging on the front porch, but Rick will move them for me to the front Deck Pergola because I want to hang the baskets from Joey and Abbie on the porch.

This is one of them. Joey made this one and adorned it with a hanging crystal. I love it.

And the pink Hydrangea from Caleb and Hannah…I’ve been wanting another one! I’ll be interested to see if it stays pink in my forest soil.

Not to mention the Gerbera Daisies I bought myself on Saturday and the two bouquets that showed up at work from two special young ladies!

Spring is here and has officially sprung in my heart! Er…or at least on my front porch.

Parental Guidance Suggested

Yesterday being Mother’s Day, and having the kids all here last night, I thought it would be a nice thing to finally get a picture of Caleb, Josh, Abbie, and I together. You know, something sweet and lovely, a photo showing the bond a mother has with her children, even all these years later?

As usual, I had no control.

This one’s beautiful of Abbie, but I’m talking, Caleb is making a face, and Josh looks confused:

Nice of Abbie, Josh and I…

Oh, Abbie, thank you for still trying:

Ummmm…

I’m completely oblivious of what’s going on around me.

Nora heard the laughter and decided she had to be in the middle of it all.

Finally!!!

with a little help from photoshop, I can use this one.

And in black and white:

You’d never know we had to go through all that for a nice family picture!

And I didn’t even show you the worst of them.

I’m Rich

I loved being your Mom then.

I love it even more now.

My life is richer because you all are here.

Something’s Missing

I was sweeping out from under the sofa and pulled these out.

Evie’s sock and baby Ugg. (Bosco dropped the tennis ball there RIGHT when I took the picture, but I kept it since it shows scale.)

Abby and Evie are in San Francisco for a wedding and Josh is climbing up in the mountains. I should be enjoying having the house back to ourselves, the quiet, then inactivity.

But the truth is, I miss them.

The night before they left Evie had a bath. The boot and sock reminded me to upload the pictures.

Evie, Bath Time?

Ummm..

YESSSSS

Hands

Ears

Back

Rubber Ducky

Done?

Done.

Come home. I miss you!

Nice To Meet You

This is Hudson. Rick picked me up from work and we headed over to meet him. Bummed I didn’t have my camera, but glad I had my cell phone!

David and Sarah’s big beautiful baby boy.

He is so sweet. Such a boy.

Great Uncle Rick.

Great Aunt Linda.

Congratulations David and Sarah! And Congratulations Matt and Laura!

Such a blessing.