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| Helping Derek make chocolate cupcakes! McKenna smiling on cue behind Derek, adorable. |
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Pictures from Easter Weekend
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Modern Families
To follow up my post about my Bestie, and since its Easter, I decided to write about family.
As the old adage says, "You can choose your friends, but you can not choose your family." Or can you? Surely you can't choose your parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. As a child, you're pretty much forced to be around those people, like them or not. But once you're an adult, you have more control over who you want to spend time with.
This weekend I had quite a few interactions with family. I spent Friday afternoon texting with my dad. Called Mom later that night. Sat close to Jim on the couch as he talked to his parents so I could hear the conversation and chime in when they asked about me. Got a Facebook posting from his Aunt Peggy later that night.
Saturday morning I woke up to an email from Jim's sister Jessica with a picture of his niece Hailey looking adorable in a spring dress. That afternoon, Jim's mom sent me an email and I sent her a few pictures of the wedding venue Jim and I went to see. Then we went to see my cousin Amber, her husband Mike, their kiddies Derek and McKenna, and my Aunt Sharon! 12 family members in less than a day!
I absolutely love going to visit the Le family. We all have such a good time together relaxing and playing with the kids. Saturday night we made cupcakes, colored eggs and had sushi and filet mignon/shrimp hibachi for dinner. Easter morning Amber made us cinnamon rolls before she, Derek, Jim and I headed off to church. Poor little Derek didn't make it through the service (he stayed up so late with us Saturday night) and we had to leave early because his snoring got so loud people started to stare. He got some energy back when he found his Easter basket though! After he showed us everything the Easter Bunny brought him, we went out in the backyard to find all the eggs that "Hop" hid! McKenna also learned how to "smile" at the camera, so Amber followed her around snapping pictures. (I will put up some of the winners when she sends them to me - they're hilarious.)
OH yeah - this is supposed to be about family, not just about my awesome weekend. Then again, this is my ADD blog so just roll with it.
Check out this adorable baby -
As the old adage says, "You can choose your friends, but you can not choose your family." Or can you? Surely you can't choose your parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. As a child, you're pretty much forced to be around those people, like them or not. But once you're an adult, you have more control over who you want to spend time with.
This weekend I had quite a few interactions with family. I spent Friday afternoon texting with my dad. Called Mom later that night. Sat close to Jim on the couch as he talked to his parents so I could hear the conversation and chime in when they asked about me. Got a Facebook posting from his Aunt Peggy later that night.
Saturday morning I woke up to an email from Jim's sister Jessica with a picture of his niece Hailey looking adorable in a spring dress. That afternoon, Jim's mom sent me an email and I sent her a few pictures of the wedding venue Jim and I went to see. Then we went to see my cousin Amber, her husband Mike, their kiddies Derek and McKenna, and my Aunt Sharon! 12 family members in less than a day!
I absolutely love going to visit the Le family. We all have such a good time together relaxing and playing with the kids. Saturday night we made cupcakes, colored eggs and had sushi and filet mignon/shrimp hibachi for dinner. Easter morning Amber made us cinnamon rolls before she, Derek, Jim and I headed off to church. Poor little Derek didn't make it through the service (he stayed up so late with us Saturday night) and we had to leave early because his snoring got so loud people started to stare. He got some energy back when he found his Easter basket though! After he showed us everything the Easter Bunny brought him, we went out in the backyard to find all the eggs that "Hop" hid! McKenna also learned how to "smile" at the camera, so Amber followed her around snapping pictures. (I will put up some of the winners when she sends them to me - they're hilarious.)
OH yeah - this is supposed to be about family, not just about my awesome weekend. Then again, this is my ADD blog so just roll with it.
Check out this adorable baby -
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| Hailey in her Easter dress! |
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Allergies are killing me, but I still stop to smell the flowers.
...and they smell simply delightful.
When life gets a little crazy, I remind myself that its easy to find pleasure in little things. These are a few ways I've combat stress lately:
When life gets a little crazy, I remind myself that its easy to find pleasure in little things. These are a few ways I've combat stress lately:
remembering the little girl I told to "run as fast she could"
& her responding she didn't want to get a ticket
forgetting my rain jacket
& remembering I'm washable
the soft purr as Zuzu comes to life
(I finally named my scooter)
doggies barking at me as I scoot past them at the park
& barking back at them
smiling and waving at strangers
them thinking I'm crazy,
but probably making them smile too
beeping (and getting beeped at) by fellow scooterists
& her responding she didn't want to get a ticket
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| These coasters at Francesca's: "All I want is an umbrella in my drink." |
forgetting my rain jacket
& remembering I'm washable
the soft purr as Zuzu comes to life
(I finally named my scooter)
doggies barking at me as I scoot past them at the park
& barking back at them
smiling and waving at strangers
them thinking I'm crazy,
but probably making them smile too
beeping (and getting beeped at) by fellow scooterists
 |
| bright yellow flowers, still fresh after a week! |
the sparkle in my engagement ring looking at my suntanned legs and toes (thanks self-tanner!) taking different routes to the places I go on a daily basis  |
| this little guy snuggling up to me |
learning how to say "lookin' good" in sign language
& doing it every day in the mirror
Feel free to add your own!
& doing it every day in the mirror
Catching up!
My two weeks off work have been pretty productive.
I spent all of last week at Patrick Henry Elementary school shadowing Miss Carmen. The experience will be getting a post all of its own later today!
Last Friday night Ricky, Cari, Jessica, Ben, Ryan, Pam and Brian hosted an engagement party for Jim and I. All their hard work paid off and the night turned out great. Some highlights included:
- cheesy sausage balls and spinach balls
- mini Cadbury eggs
- fondue (cheese balls in cheese fondue - amazing)
-pork BBQ (which Jim and I ate right out of the crock pot in the back of Ryan's car later that night)
- peach sangria
- flowers, plates and napkins in our wedding colors
- a sentimental slideshow
The party room at Ricky and Cari's place was the perfect venue, Jim and I are considering getting married there... just kidding.
In all seriousness, Jim and I are headed to Cabins, West Virginia on Saturday with my parents to check out a potential wedding venue. I've been trying to come up with a list of questions and specific things I want to look at while we're there. Wedding planning seems to have consumed all of my thoughts and free minutes lately; if I'm not researching or talking about ideas, I'm thinking about them. We've settled on quite a few important details and I think we decided on an official "theme" of the wedding last night.
I spent all of last week at Patrick Henry Elementary school shadowing Miss Carmen. The experience will be getting a post all of its own later today!
Last Friday night Ricky, Cari, Jessica, Ben, Ryan, Pam and Brian hosted an engagement party for Jim and I. All their hard work paid off and the night turned out great. Some highlights included:
- cheesy sausage balls and spinach balls
- mini Cadbury eggs
- fondue (cheese balls in cheese fondue - amazing)
-pork BBQ (which Jim and I ate right out of the crock pot in the back of Ryan's car later that night)
- peach sangria
- flowers, plates and napkins in our wedding colors
- a sentimental slideshow
The party room at Ricky and Cari's place was the perfect venue, Jim and I are considering getting married there... just kidding.
In all seriousness, Jim and I are headed to Cabins, West Virginia on Saturday with my parents to check out a potential wedding venue. I've been trying to come up with a list of questions and specific things I want to look at while we're there. Wedding planning seems to have consumed all of my thoughts and free minutes lately; if I'm not researching or talking about ideas, I'm thinking about them. We've settled on quite a few important details and I think we decided on an official "theme" of the wedding last night.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
New Scoot and a Wedding Dress
Wow, what a weekend!
Saturday morning Jim and I woke up early to go to his Cheetahs game at 8am. The girls played a great game but ended up losing (other team was much better; three girls also played on a travel team.) After picking up some breakfast, we headed towards our next destination... the scooter store!!!!
I'd done some online investigating and really liked the Genuine Scooters Buddy 50 model. Okay, so I really just liked that it came in pink and had a cup holder. And the pictures online showed a cute wicker basket with flowers on the front. The dealership in DC carried the Buddy line, but didn't keep the 50cc's in stock. (For those of you who aren't familiar with the scooter lingo, "cc" refers to the engine size. In Virginia, if a scooter is 50cc's or less - aka doesn't go over 35 mph - then you don't need to register or insure the bike, or get a motorcycle license. Zing!) But the owner happily gave us plenty of information about scootin' and took down my name and number to pass along to anyone selling a 50cc.
Later that day I got an email from a guy who'd just picked up his 2006 Honda Metropolitan and heard I was interested in a 50cc. He was selling his for $1,200 and would include two helmets (guy and girl), a heavy duty chain, battery jump starter and scooter cover. The email didn't include pictures so obviously I googled and my oh my, was I pleasantly surprised! ITS ADORABLE!!!!
Saturday morning Jim and I woke up early to go to his Cheetahs game at 8am. The girls played a great game but ended up losing (other team was much better; three girls also played on a travel team.) After picking up some breakfast, we headed towards our next destination... the scooter store!!!!
I'd done some online investigating and really liked the Genuine Scooters Buddy 50 model. Okay, so I really just liked that it came in pink and had a cup holder. And the pictures online showed a cute wicker basket with flowers on the front. The dealership in DC carried the Buddy line, but didn't keep the 50cc's in stock. (For those of you who aren't familiar with the scooter lingo, "cc" refers to the engine size. In Virginia, if a scooter is 50cc's or less - aka doesn't go over 35 mph - then you don't need to register or insure the bike, or get a motorcycle license. Zing!) But the owner happily gave us plenty of information about scootin' and took down my name and number to pass along to anyone selling a 50cc.
Later that day I got an email from a guy who'd just picked up his 2006 Honda Metropolitan and heard I was interested in a 50cc. He was selling his for $1,200 and would include two helmets (guy and girl), a heavy duty chain, battery jump starter and scooter cover. The email didn't include pictures so obviously I googled and my oh my, was I pleasantly surprised! ITS ADORABLE!!!!
Friday, April 08, 2011
April Showers
Today was my first day biking in the rain. And it felt... glorious! Okay so it wasn't really raining while I was riding, just a light sprinkling. Still, it wasn't bad. And the weather is only going to get warmer, so I may welcome the rain might when its blistering outside.
Which is another one of my fears.
Blazing hot sun = sweat. And I HATE to sweat. I mean really, there isn't anything else I can think of hating more than sweating. I don't work out because I hate to sweat (yes I do Zumba, but don't really feel the sweat as I'm grooving to the music.) The thought of having to get somewhere and sweating my butt off as I push myself up a hill makes me want to cry.
An addition to my list of things to buy: a new comfy bicycle seat. My ass is killing me after 3 days of biking. Not cool.
Today is the last day of classes! Three more tonight and then I'm done for two whole weeks! During that time, I will be shadowing Cari at Patrick Henry Elementary, taking Lucky to the vet, going to the dentist and eye doctor myself, planting my herbs, visiting my family, and oh yes... planning my wedding!
Lily brought me flowers yesterday. Aren't they beautiful?
Which is another one of my fears.
Blazing hot sun = sweat. And I HATE to sweat. I mean really, there isn't anything else I can think of hating more than sweating. I don't work out because I hate to sweat (yes I do Zumba, but don't really feel the sweat as I'm grooving to the music.) The thought of having to get somewhere and sweating my butt off as I push myself up a hill makes me want to cry.
An addition to my list of things to buy: a new comfy bicycle seat. My ass is killing me after 3 days of biking. Not cool.
Today is the last day of classes! Three more tonight and then I'm done for two whole weeks! During that time, I will be shadowing Cari at Patrick Henry Elementary, taking Lucky to the vet, going to the dentist and eye doctor myself, planting my herbs, visiting my family, and oh yes... planning my wedding!
Lily brought me flowers yesterday. Aren't they beautiful?
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Car-Free Life
On Monday, I began my Car-Free life. Old run down Stacey was dropped off at Hector’s (my mechanic) and I told him I was not interested in taking her home with me. He decided to buy her for a handsome $400 and I hopped on the Metro to head home. We will see each other once more when I drop off the title and clean out the few things I left in her interior. I always imagined this day would be difficult, but quite frankly.... I feel liberated.
And a little scared.
And a little scared.
Monday, April 04, 2011
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