Don't Ask, Don't Tell (Vol 36)

We replaced our fridge and look who we found!

I'm surprised he didn't catch on fire.

Philadelphia Wedding Memories

One of my best friends from college got married in Philadelphia on May 18.  A lot of my friends from college came to the wedding and we had a great time together.  

I was Matron of Honor and Jenn was a beautiful and happy bride...

My job was easy!

Kelly and I at the rehearsal dinner - wonderful time talking and being together.

 Erin and Andy

 Walking down the aisle...

 I loved her veil, there was lace all around the edges.

 Jen had a wedding coordinator (Love you Erin!) so my job was easy.  Apply band-aids, hold the shoes, hold the veil, hold the train, bustle the dress, switch the shoes, give speech, make sure that bride doesn't know of any concerns, make sure bride is smiling, etc...  

JOB DONE!

 Nate captured all these photos, he did such a great job!  

You can see my dear dear friend and roommate Christy in the back in the orange dress.

Another one of my Cedarville best friends: Pam with Jen

 I love Jen's expression in this photo, I must of said something funny??!!

I am so thankful the wedding is over and they are back from 10 days in Italy and on their way to a lifetime of happiness.  I look forward to see what marriage will be like for the two of them.  What a fun weekend!

Celebrating American Girl Style...

Grace is turning 9 and we celebrated a little early!

Hummer Limo?!?!?

That is right... we rode in a Hummer Limo for Mommy Son Date Knight at Chick Fil A!!

April 2013 brought...

...sunroom playtime

 ... tubes out of the ears

 ... rollerskates

 ... morning (7:20AM!) walks to the busstop.

 ... Michigan in the playoffs!

 ... opening day.

9 months of LOVE

Clara fits right into our family.

We love her!

Moses' first visit to DC!

Moses meets his ONE and ONLY uncle (so far)... Nate loved to pick him up.

 Clara 9 mo, Moses 3 mo

 Moses at Rita's ballet...  what a stud!

 Moses sleeping through Five Guys!

 Playtime in the sunroom!

 This one is so cute!

 Cousin Bathtime! 

 Going on a little outing...

 Aunt Lindsay managing the house while I carpool kids around!

 SIX blonde cousins

 And lastly, Moses ROLLED while visiting!

bat bat bat Mitzvah!

A few years ago, my neighbor Beth told me that the day would come when her little girl. would have her bat mitzvah and would need my help.  Well, the day came... last weekend.  I helped Leah and Beth do the centerpieces for the event and promised that I would document it on the blog!

Leah loves yellow and if you know Leah, yellow is a perfect color to describe her.  Fun, kind, cheerful, well rounded and mature... just like like a sunflower!  So when I went to pick up the flowers, I picked sunflowers and filled my cart to the brim.

  I was surprised at how easy it is to assemble flowers and once you do one arrangement  it goes by quickly.  So my sister in law Lindsay and I completed 18 in about 2 hours and place them on the piano in my house for the next morning's event.

 Leah loves to read so each centerpiece was placed on some hard covered books that she had modge podged the spines of the books with different sayings like "Leah's Bat Mitzvah" and "Mazel Tov."  They were very colorful and festive.  Each table was named after one of her favorite books.  We also put up a bunch of balloons.  It really wasn't too much and yet it was so festive and fun.

 The Adult side of the room at Maggianos.... 

 The kid side of the room at Maggianos.... 

 This was the table in the lobby and each name card indicated where each guest sat.

 Leah loved it.  After the ceremony, she arrived and all her friends.  We took this shot of all the kids sitting and watching the slideshow of Leah.  It was really fun to be part of my first Bat Mitzvah. 

 Leah and the "chair dance"... 

 Here are my two older girls dancing the day away! 

 This was the favor and they were a big hit.  King Size Hershey bars with beautiful paper....

Congratulations to Leah - we love you! 

Swap-A-Rama - Clothing Swap 101

We had a full but really GREAT week last week.  My beautiful, calming, and wonderful college friend Kelly came in to spend a few days with our family.  She went to the Global Prayer Gathering at International Justice Mission in DC and stayed at our house.  But, another perk about her staying with us is that she helped me host a clothing SWAP at my house before the conference began.

If you have been following my blog for a while, you are familiar with my yearly clothing swap with my ByFF's from college.  It is a long marathon and we all walk away with each other's clothing and a refreshed wardrobe.  Actually we end up recycling a lot of the clothing from the years past based on sizes and pregnancies.  Well, I wanted to try to throw a swap with a small group of my church friends.  

Who knew it would be such a hit with over 20 women attending!!??!!

Kelly and I sorted for about one day.  This is the part that stresses most people out but I actually get energized by it.  Kelly does also.  Nate calls it my "Super Bowl."  Everyone dropped off their stuff starting a week in advance.  I put in in my sunroom (notice new carpet - thanks Adidas!)  When Kelly got here, we edited many of the items and took an entire vanload to Goodwill immediately.  Then we edited one more time and got another vanload. 

Kelly works a little at JCrew and a boutique in PA and is good with visually displaying items and... I kept the ship running (dinners, food for party, RSVPs, last minute phone calls).  You ask what I did with the kids??  They loved it and all the toys, games and Polly Pockets that were brought provided them entertainment for days (on the new carpet, yeahh!!)

Almost all organized...

The leftovers out for Goodwill the next morning...

(That cow basket was actually really cool - it needed someone to spray the lid teal and I wish I kept it.)

 And although I was too busy hosting to take photos, I have a few friends that sent me photos of their Swap finds.  Everyone was EXTREMELY excited about all that they received and I can't wait to see all the clothes on everyone.

Erin here is head to toe in SWAP!

 Diane is wearing her new sweater!  YES!

 YES!  TRIPLE WHAMMIE!

I received a list of everyone's favorite items and am listing them here:  Naomi's faith, wisdom, fruit of the spirit pictures, Anne's girls winter coat, Candi's green cardigan, Tiffany's boys jeans, Steph's crock pot, White House/Black Market black and white top, cute bracelets, the Encyclopedia Brown books, blue children's place capris, a Target bright striped tunic top, Littlest Pet Shop book, bowls for the kitchen, Scattergories game, Jenn's big white towels, Naomi's colorful pasta bowl, Jen's shimmery dress, Jen's clogs, a black necklace, a black wire silverware basket, Nate's suit and jacket, suede shoes with faux snakeskin wedge heels, Ann Taylor dress pants, banana republic dress pants, set of 3 white square serving plates.... just a few of the things people emailed me about LOVING!