Getting "Cultured"

Well, the cousins were out for another adventure in the city - this time to the Biograph Theatre to get a little culture :-) We took Maddie and Ryker to their first play this morning - Ziggy and Dot! It was really cute, lots of music, singing, dancing and great props to look at! They really enjoyed it and we did too!

Brooke's Bridal Shower 2011

While usually this blog is meant to chronicle Ry's life, I thought I would add in a few pics of why Ryker has probably learned the words "Shabby Chic"! After 5 months of planning - the great wedding shower of 2011 for Brooke is complete. It was so much fun and really went off without a hitch! (except some really lousy weather, but we made it through!)

We hosted it out at Emerson Creek Pottery & Tea Room. It was a great venue and I think everyone especially "The bride" enjoyed herself. Here are some of the details!

The Barn

another view :-)

The menus and place cards we made

the napkin rings were made by my mom's friend megan!

The Table Number frames - so everyone knew what table they were sitting at

another view (during decorating on saturday)

Gift/Seating area - my dad is definitely looking down on me and either laughing or shaking his head that I got a truck and took that dresser from my parents house in order to have it at the barn!

The favor - who doesn't love cotton candy, gum balls and salt water taffy :-)

the favor boxes my mom made!

A seating/conversation area in the barn

Pics I took of brooke and kevin up in green lake decorated the barn door

the menu (yes, another piece of furniture from my parents house :-)

The bride and her geneva & work friends!

The bride and her Iowa friends!

Congratulations Brooke! Can't wait for the bachelorette party next!

Mother's Day!

What a wonderful day! As I mentioned to my friend Shelly - Hallmark should really consider

making this day happen more than once a year! :-) It was a truly perfect day that including:

Sleeping in!

A wonderful brunch with my whole family and a son who behaved the WHOLE TIME!

An afternoon of sitting on the couch and reading a book

a dinner that my husband went out to get just for me!

Two wonderful Hallmark cards and Josh Groban tickets - I have wanted to see him forever and we are going in July!!!

Honestly, it was a perfect day...Le and Ry made it perfect - thanks to my two favorite guys!

Also, I stole this poem from Leslie (thanks Les!) and I wanted to include it in my blog too!

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.


Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom