August mash up

Here is Tornado being so helpful and clipping Sunrise's toenails.  Maybe he got scratched too many times?

Here is Tornado's plan for the plane ride to Grandma's in New York.  Not a bad plan.

Here are my pre-wedding preparations!  Only the 2nd time in my life I have gotten highlights or any color in my hair.  All for you sis.

My lovely friend had a very fun birthday party.  We had so much fun in Salt Lake City, culminating with...

... seeing Wicked!  Loved it!

I have continued co- writing and arranging songs.  One song has choir parts so I recorded my first choir!

Utah can be really beautiful.  I may or may not have taken this picture behind the driver's wheel.

I was invited to record a small part on a friend's CD, and she also asked if I had a child who could come say the pledge of allegiance.  Tornado did it perfectly!

And... yeah. Here are my boys.

We had a couple kids learn how to mow the lawn.

They decided that Dad should still do it.

And Sunrise started a little gym class.  All the little 3 year olds are just so cute!

First Daze of School

This year has really flown by.  I can't believe I have a 4th grader, a 2nd grader and a kindergartner.  I have THREE kids in school???

Sunrise also started preschool at my wonderful and talented neighbor's house.  So I now have two days with a few hours of free time.  I don't know if I should laugh or cry?

So it begins...

Coach decided to return for a 2nd season!  After practicing for several weeks, we had a big party to kick off the season.  We had done a great fund raiser and each boy received a duffle bag with his name on it, a water bottle and purple socks!

Then it was time to get started.  Everyone had butterflies the first game!

We got our nerves under control and won the first game.  It was a great start to the season!

NY trip and wedding

In August we took a much anticipated trip back to New York to visit my family and attend my sister's wedding.  The first thing was surprise Grandpa at his baseball game.  Yes, he still plays!  At least when he doesn't have pulled muscle.

It was me, Cloudburst, Tornado and Sunrise.  Thunder and Sunshine had stayed home for a few extra days to play and coach football.  I got to sleep in the room I grew up in.  A lot has changed, but there is still an old picture of me on the desk!

We had to hit up Abbott's, which has the most divine custard.  We also fed a few ducks and tried to keep the littles from swimming with said ducks.

Grandma and Grandpa have a fun backyard with a stream. Tornado is really using his head here.

We took a day trip to Stoneybrook Park, where we hiked around streams and waterfalls.  We just wished it had been a little warmer!

Tornado was showing off his Ninja Warrior skills.

When I was there, I saw my best friend from 2nd grade, Erin.  She now owns and operates an organic CSA called Mud Creek Farm.  It was amazing!

Then we were off to Albany to pick up Thunder and Sunshine, who were flying in the day before the wedding.  We hiked around, until the mosquitoes drove us out of the forest.

So we went to get some ice cream instead.

Sunshine has always loved this marble set at Grandma's house and was happy to play once he arrived!

We had a wonderful dinner the night before the wedding and got to meet new friends.

The next day the preparations began! Jen had hired a professional to come out and do hair and makeup for us girls.  It was fun to spend time together.

They were married in a castle at Bolton Landing and the scenery was just breathtaking.  I sang Pie Jesu at the ceremony and everything went so smoothly (ie, Sunrise fell asleep).  The castle was fun to explore, with the reception downstairs from the ceremony.  The kids enjoyed taking the secret passageways to get around.

We had a wonderful time and couldn't be happier for the new bride and groom!

Dressgate 2012

In April my dear sister got engaged, and planned the wedding for August.  She asked me to be her Maid of Honor, and so the search for a dress commenced.  My other sister and I had to find dresses to match, in purple, that were down to my knees and not sleeveless.

Dress #1: Chinese let-down.  We found some really cute dresses in an obscure website, ordered them and waaaaiiiiited for them to arrive.  Too bad they sewed the top 3 inches too small and I couldn't even get close to zipping it up.


Dress #2: My find.  I found this dress, thought it was awesome, shouted hallelujah, sent a pic to my sister, bought it and went home.  Sister tried it on, did not like.  Bummer.

Dress #3: Sister's find.  She sent me a cell phone picture of a dress she found and I thought it was going to work but when it arrived it looked like this (with a few things I am wearing underneath):

For me, it was too short!  After much weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, I decided to keep this dress and work with it.  I first went to several fabric stores to find some fabric to extend the skirt, but it was a very unique color of purple.  I even bough several different colors to just try and work it out.  But none looked right.

In the end, my mom ended up buying me the exact same dress... and I used that to extend the skirt and sleeves.  It took all my sewing skills but it turned out pretty good!  Wedding saved!