Mother's Day 2015.

 And so it was Mother's Day.  My 6th one so far, and the best yet.  Although you'd never know it by my appearance, my day started with a 7:30am trip to the gym.  I came home to happy kids and hubby, home made cards and presents.  For our third year in a row, we went to River Stone Manor for brunch.  We've taken pictures each year in the same spot on the grounds and it is so nice to look back at how much the kids have grown.

It's a fun time to dress up, which the kids love, and to have a "fancy" outing.

 It was a hot, sunny day, and despite the early date, flowers were blooming.

 After a bit out in the sun, posing, Tommy couldn't wait to get back inside and have some dessert!

 Yum!

 I never appreciated how hard my mom worked or what an awesome job she did at parenting me until I had kids of my own.  I had such a creative and enriching childhood, and hope that I can impart some small fraction of the awesomeness that my mom gave me to my children.

 

10 years!

 Wes and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary this October!  We had a (kid-free) overnight trip to Connecticut the weekend before our anniversary, which was awesome!  He surprised me with a ten diamond anniversary band that night.  I told him his gift would be late.

The cool news is that he was getting inducted into the University of Chicago Athletic Hall of Fame at the end of October.  He was an amazing college athlete--football and track.  He still holds the University records for the Hammer throw and the 35 pound weight throw.  He went to nationals every year of college (and would always bring me back a shot glass from the cities he went to!).

My plan was to do an extreme living room makeover while he was away. We had a rather sterile living room, with furniture that was way too small for him to get comfy in.  Here are the before pics:

 He left for work on Thursday night at 10:30pm.  He had a Friday morning flight and was returning at about 2pm Sunday.  Thursday night, I moved all of the furniture out of the room, washed the walls, and prepared for the makeover.

I wanted a Chicago Bears theme, but a subtle one--one that would not require repainting before we sold the house!  Deep colors are to be expected in a historic Victorian home such as ours, so it was perfect.  So, we started; one of my legal assistants spent the day painting while I assembled the new TV stand and made other preparations.  I needed to spray paint picture frames orange, and frame pictures of Wes and the kids wearing their Bears gear.  My other legal assistant held down the fort at the office, but had made awesome pillow covers in orange to add some color to the room!

 The furniture arrived on Saturday morning.  We painted, framed, hung art and new curtains, placed furniture, and it was done...almost!

 I needed the TV to be hooked up!  There was a Bears game to watch when he came home!  With some help from a friend, we extended cable and he managed to set everything up so that when Wes walked in the Bears game was on!  (Too bad they were losing.)

 He was pleasantly surprised by the finished product.

 I think it turned out pretty well!

 There's a huge sofa, but if Daddy's on the loveseat, the kids want to be too!

Mission accomplished.

Wes was surprised.

He loved the room.

I love him.

It all works.

 

I cannot top my written anniversary tribute to him from last year.  It's all been said.

2013 Anniversary Post

 

The sentiments are still the same, the love only stronger.

Happy anniversary, my love.



Trip of a lifetime.

 I've got really cool parents.

They're fun.  Super fun.

And they've blossomed as grandparents.  They are so engaged with our kids.

Mom recently retired and they planned the trip of a lifetime.  They bought an RV, and headed east.  Their trip will ultimately take them across the country before heading back to NC.

They spent six days at the house, enjoying the pool and the sunshine.

Motorcycle rides.

 This is what the folks will call home for the next three months.

They left on a Monday with the girls, headed to Rhode Island.

Each of us have a special place--a place that holds memories, that we long for when we are not there.

For me, and my parents, it's the Charlestown Breachway in Rhode Island.

I spent the better part of every summer in a camper, just yards from the beach, playing on the beach, roasting marshmallows, making summertime friends that we'd see every year, and as I got older, flirting with the college park rangers and lifeguards.

There is no place that I would rather spend my time than this sleepy little beach town.

 I was so excited to get there, I convinced Wes that we should leave a day early.

This is the first picture of Tommy's first day at the ocean.  Dani and Tori, having arrived before us were happy to show us around.

 I didn't turn on my laptop once.

The kids didn't miss the lack of electronics.

They were too busy running in the surf and looking for hermit crabs in the breachway.

 Dancing in the ocean.

 Enjoying the glow of the evening sun, showing Grandma their hermit crabs.

 It was dinners out, and the freshest seafood.

Pleasantly wonderful manners too.

 The nightly post-dinner trip back to the beach, just to enjoy the sounds and the sand.

 Maybe the taste of the sand too?

 The smiles never left their faces.

 Ice cream at the end of a hot day.

 And the beginning of sunset while the waves crashed.

Chasing sea gulls.

 Throwing rocks.

 Beautiful sunsets.

 Family.

 The excitement of a door with a Tommy-sized window.

 Snacks at the picnic table.

 The feel of the sand between your toes.

 And just enjoying the love of family.

 Pretending to drive.

 Enjoying the sun.

 And back, for more hermit crabs.

 And then it was time to go, but it felt like we had just arrived.

Because time just kind of stops there.

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for a trip of a lifetime.

We love you.

Father's Day!

 It started with coffee in bed.  Quietly hanging the banners the kids made into our bedroom while Wes was sleeping.  A few presents, and then a family day.

We went to Animal Land...and the kids had a blast.

When did they get so big?

 We enjoyed the petting zoo.

 And the safari ride was low key at first.

 Everyone wanted the view from Daddy's lap.

 Until the ostrich came calling.  And the ostrich wouldn't go away.  It was huge!

There were lots of giraffes too.

 And a place to feed deer, right up close. 

We had a great day.

I am truly blessed that my children have such an amazing father.

Happy Father's Day, Wesley.



Mother's Day 2014

 We started a tradition of going to River Stone Manor for Mother's Day brunch.  Everyone gets dressed up, and there's only one seating so we have the table for the afternoon.  Fancy glasses, and cloth napkins and children on their best behavior.

It's always lovely.

I woke to presents, and kisses.

At school, Dani had made a vase and planted a seedling, that, after two days in a brown bag, was wilted and yellow.  But it was beautiful, sunny day, and with a little water and some sun, it perked up, and the kids have been able to watch it grow daily.

Even our little caveman managed his own full size silverware with no messes!

 After we ate, we walked the grounds.  We took this same picture last year.  I hope to take the same one every year.

 Getting everyone to look at the camera is generally impossible.

 We managed it for this one!

 Look at her.

 This one's my favorite.  Walking side by side.

Some days, I just look around, take a deep breath, and give silent thanks for the love of an amazing husband and three little sweeties.