Quicky

Back from yet another wedding...

this one in Virginia...

gorgeous.

Now I want to move to Virginia.

Yeah, we're clearly not above playing soccer anywhere...

even at a wedding...

even in dress clothes.

Big time

Guess who outgrew their peanut allergy?!?Pretty cool, huh?

My Fanny Needs No Pack

I need to
dedicate a blog post just focused on my babyFek excitement....which is immense.

I need to share Jack's exciting news.

I need to
email
Ashley to tell her she needs this for Marley-Jane....(I love Halloween)Essie to tell her how much I love her and to find out all that's going on...in GERMANY!
Lora
and
Amy
because I miss my friends

I need to
mail
packages to
Alison
Lora
Mr. Merry Mike (your birthday present is coming I swear...)
and
Susie

I need to
call
Ash to talk about Arkansas (yep...you'll never believe THIS one....) and see how her move is going...
Susie
JENNY ROSSER!
and Frani

I need to do these things because I love my friends, and I really suck at emailing, calling and mailing.....I mean, really suck. 10 step program suck.
But I think about them all the time, sooo
I have to work on this.
I do.
It's my back-to-school-years resolution. (which really is the new year for me)

I need to do lots of things....
and
I think I'm going to be better,
I feel it....
but
this week I just needed to adjust to our new school routine.
Meaning less sleep for everyone and more driving for me (both of which make me cranky)This year I'm working at the school, as a monitor.
No, no....it and I could not be any less cool.
I have to wear a whistle....which I so do not want to have to ever use...
and I was told to wear a fanny pack. (what the?!?)
Which clearly by the look on my face was obviously never ever in a million years going to happen, so I haven't been asked to do that again....

I had no idea what I was getting myself in to when I volunteered for this "job"...
I had no idea it was a real job...
and now...
I have to spend two-and-a-half-hours-that-seems-like-twelve with second and fourth graders while they eat lunch and go out for recess.

Frankly I get tired of me...

"No running"
"Be quite"
"Girls...girls....girls.....stop talking girls....GIRLS!"
"Be quite"
"Please don't use that word"
"Be quite"
"Stay in LINE"
"Be quite"
"We are going to be last again because y'all can't be quite"
"Seriously?!? BE QUITE!"

a little girl brought me a flower she picked from the playground today though...
so
maybe it won't be that bad.
And
maybe eventually they'll listen to me.
because
I SO do not want to have to use my whistle
ever.

to Hope

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." - AesopI want to let you all know about an opportunity to help,
and at the same time receive some amazing art.My dad (an artist, and professor of art) has created a suite of prints in memory of my sister's struggle. The intaglio prints are absolutely breathtaking, and such a labor of love."In March of 2006, Alex DeVinny lost the most important race of her life with her long time rival, anorexia nervosa. Many of her last years and months were spent getting or trying to get treatment. While she was in-patient at the treatment facility in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, Lana and I would visit several times a week, making the trip from Racine "through the country." It is a pastoral Wisconsin landscape with scattered farms, many working, many having succumbed to the ravages of time. After her death those architectural relics of what was once strong and productive, became a metaphor for her life, her struggle, and work was started on a suite of etchings, "the Journey to Hope." These prints are not for sale, but rather will be given to those who will donate at least $500 to the Alex DeVinny Memorial Fund. Proceeds from this fund are used to support eating disorder education and research." -Doug DeVinny

I know that sounds like a tremendous amount of money to a lot of you (like me for instance),
but in reality each print alone is worth that, and you get 10. *(ETA-Actually you get 11, I was wrong...my dad just let me know he added another...)

I know it's out of the question for many,
but
I also know that I'm surrounded by an amazing network of creative people...
and
perhaps some of you are currently on the lookout for some artwork
or...
you know someone that is...

you might consider going in with some friends,
or a few friends...
and then dividing the prints up.

I just wanted to let you all know about this unique opportunity, please let me know if you need more information, or if I can send you a flyer to look over. (ewillard9@gmail.com)
Spread the word. Love to you all. xe

Me Likey

Check out Phil Hansen.
VERY cool.
My dad sent me this link awhile ago
and I just finally got a chance to sit down and check him out w/ the boys.
They loved his work....especially Bruce Lee.
And how about the Value of Blood?!?
Cool guy...
Anyway...
back to your lives...
just thought I'd share.

Crush me...

Gab and Mikey celebrated their 4th last week...(dear lord, look at my babies! CUTE)
Speaking of which....hey Gabby...13?!?
How about a post? I have been quiet FOR SO LONG it's killing me! (Love you)

and my lovely sis-in-law Erin married Pete on Saturday.That is her, at the rehearsal, wearing the cutest Betsey Johnson dress EVER.
Yeah, they're adorable....we like them a lot....
(even if I now must write a disclaimer about this not being a world famous blog, and carefully make sure I don't swear, too much....thanks guys)

Erin holding her bouquet for the first time....Beautiful....(Erin and the flowers)
The blue dress she's wearing there, very cute too I might add. My mother-in-law suggests dresses for everyday wear, because....let me see if I get this right...."they don't get stuck in your whatzit like pants do" (Love ya Jane) heehee....
I was unaware that my whatzit had pant issues, but I'm contemplating dresses from now on.

I had to include a photo of the program, because I'm in love with the tree she used.One of my favorite things they did was since my father-in-law passed away Erin, Colin and their mom, all wore something of his down the aisle, so part of him was with them....
I know...ugh, so sweet. Gosh they're darling, aren't they?
I didn't take the photo below (Tabis did....please don't sue me Mr. Tabis)....
I like it though...I love the way Pete is looking at her in this one....
This was my VERY small contribution to the day...I made the wish cards.
Everyone was to write "wishes"/advice on the cards and hang them on the tree....
Some super wishes and then some drunk wishes ;)
Not that the drunk wishes weren't good advice....just more advice perhaps for bedtime.

The reception was at the Morton Arboretum
( the favors were baby trees to plant....)
ok, that was sort of random, but it was such a cool location, and gorgeous inside and out...
I had to share.

I didn't take the next photo, just tweaked it a little, (yeah, it's Tabis), I wanted Gabby to see the back of Erin's dress though.... (and of course I have nooo photos of it) Meet Mayhem and Chaos....They were quite excited about the dessert bar....which included rootbeer floatsI have no idea what they're doing here...nor did I take this photo (Thank you Mr. Tabis), but gosh they're CUTE! even untucked and sans the ties....I have 2 more rolls of film to develop, so I'm sure you'll get sick of seeing photos from me soon.

July 30th?!?

I can not believe it's almost August.
The last month has been kind of a whirlwind...
The lake, the race, the Gabby here for a week, soccer camp for a week, times all three boys....and this weekend, my sister-in-law's wedding.
So far we've...
Just chilled (a lot)
Lost teeth (2)
Run races (I am SO proud of this boy) ...and raised $5,400 to help with eating disorder awareness and treatment.For soccer this summer he was required to run 50miles, and get 500touches on the ball. The soccer part was a piece of cake...but not being a "runner" the 50miles was rough....but he stuck with it, and now is running 2miles a day....which I think is really impressive. And frankly might just inspire his lazy mother to try and do the same....

Watched the Brewers win (Boppa and Grandma got us some awesome seats....now the boys know that the players aren't suppose to look like ants when you go to games...and we may be in trouble)

Became very teenager-ish all of a sudden

Went to the ZOO with Aunt Gabby (and it was actually warm enough for ICEEs....small Cleveland miracle)
Touched sting rays...
Explored the super cool Metro Parks (with Aunt Gabby),
the boys who thought that idea was horrible...and became whiny at the idea of going....now basically want to visit the park EVERYday....

The minnow catcher
The Dirty DancerThe Goof
I LOVED having Gabby here. We had just the best time doing practically nothing.
AND
She took some fabulous photos of us....
and reminded me that the instant gratification of digital is pretty wonderful.
We also got to meet RachelC and Wendy....
just SUPER sweet.
Glad to know there are some normal people in the Cleveland area...

OK, wish me luck, I have yet to find a dress for the wedding this weekend.
Seriously....
it's borderline ridiculous at this point.
Photos of the gala event next post....
or when I get the film developed,
which ever comes first.

Between loads

More red on the top 50 list...
thanks to a fantastic lake weekend.
This week we should be able to mark "make Popsicles" off the list thanks to this fabulous Crate&Barrel purchase.
(technically this was what Jack found immediately upon entering the C&B and because it's a very 6ft-of-stacked-glasses-kinda-store and Jack is a got-to-touch-it-kinda-guy, we told the Jack he could get it if he held it while we looked in the store for a gift....in other words he wasn't able to touch because his hands were full....brilliant form of bribery, eh?)
Anyway, today I think we're making orange juice and grenadine.... and once I make it to the grocery and have something other than OJ some sort of fruit smoothie pops for breakfast.
Cuz it's getting hot up in heeeer....
(finally)
And that sounds good.
Can't wait to get my film developed and some pics posted of the trip...
No more lake relaxing for me though....
I have a ridiculous amount of laundry to do before we leave again on Friday for the race.
Like how in the world did we wear that many clothes ridiculous...
it's bad.

Popsicles

Leaving the pool the other day...
I reach into my purse to get the keys.
Jack notices the tampon.
And yells...
"NO FAIR! YOU HAVE A POPSICLE IN THERE?!?!?!"

2 Important Things

First one
The race site has been updated!
So if you're in the area and want to race...we'd love to have you join in.
You can download a registration from from the site, OR just register the day of.
I'll be the one not running....and yet, probably still sweating.
Please say "hi".
Some new t-shirt styles here as well. This one and this one. LOVE the shirts...
Need to order myself the new tank....

AND
Second...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GABBY!!!!
Love you.
Hope you're having fun in DC...
(but not TOO much fun!) ;)