Breathe

Its all about breathing at this point.. my co-worker informed me that we were 16 days away.... not sure when that happened... I remember cheering at 50 days...

I finally made my decision about what dress I'm buying--keeping--wearing.... and I took it in to be altered today... and for the first time I think I might actually be able to pull this off.. the seamstress assured me I do have a waist.. So tonight (after Bonco of course) I will pack up all the other lovelies and send them back...

Last night Mike and I worked until midnight cutting the pages for the ceremony programs --tomorrow we will finish up with the cardstock and then its on to ribbon cutting!! After that I think my list is down to 5 items... although maybe I should check with the bride and see how her list is coming along..I am hoping that when she comes home next weekend (bacholorette party !! ) that we are done done done....

Helpful Maizy

The caption could read "really I don't remember licking the wall" or perhaps " my ball may have fallen in the paint bucket" or even "aren't you glad I was here to help".....

Yup in between our wedding to do lists we painted Amanda and Christophers old room.. Its officially another guest bedroom. And like the many dogs who have come before her Maizy was intent to help. Thinking back on all of our painting endevors it seems every dog has come out of the project with alittle paint on the tail or maybe alittle on their side as they brushed up against the wall.. But none that I can remember came out of the project with paint on their noses and ears and paws with the gusto that maizy had!! To say the project lasted alittle longer than we thought it would due to Maizy wouldn't be wrong... You see she loves to hide her ball under blankets, rugs, clothes whatever --- to the point that she will drag the cover around the room-- and then she pounces on it (think hopping bunnies) and then uncovers it and does it again and again and again... unfortunately this game was played under the paint tarp... and what we didn't know at the time was "somehow" her ball had paint on it... so the floor under the tarp had little paint spots from the ball ALL over it!! So on my hands and knees I removed the spots one at a time with alittle soap and water...

And the room which started like this . (those white spots are just a few of the zillion holes Mike spackled) and ended up looking lovely... maybe I will find time to take pictures tonight???

If the amount of stuff your child hangs on thier wall has any collation to the happiness they experinced during childhood I think my daughter was an extremely happy child.... This is room number two that she occupied in our house and both of them after she left required a whole jar of spackle... Lucky for her-- her daddy loves her lots... but he did make a note to get Corey his own spackle jar for the wedding...

Speaking of the wedding... the list gets smaller and smaller... This weekend.. Final walkthrough with the officers club, final dress fitting, they picked up the rings and Amanda got her hair done - moving right along!!!

SNOW DAY!

SNOW SNOW SNOW!! After being promised yesterday that the snow was coming we finally got it!!!

So I signed a petition today requesting that the American public be told what has actually happened to the Bail out money... specifically the banking money... but truth be told I could hear from the auto manufactures too... I don't understand how our government has chosen two industries... with multiple businesses to bail out .... what about the local restaurant down the street that just closed? or people at circuit city or the hundreds of other companies that have failed?? What about all the companies forced to lay off workers? Why didn't the government address them? were their business models in worse shape than anyone else??? Seems to me our government needs to rethink helping out businesses that choose to lend money to people they knew couldn't pay it back... who choose not to change the way they developed new products. Who felt that their executives needed more money then they could possibly spend....

lesson learned

The last few days have been alittle mind boogling. Of all the wedding vendors to have issues with we are having to deal with the church! And to be honest we have no idea what happened or where the communication break down was. Mike being the good Dad was given his weekly to do list and promptly followed through. He was given church duty because the list was short, they are easy to work with and simply because we just need to check on 1)microphones 2) how many candles 3) unity candle table 4) would cd or ipod be better.... And his visit went well.... until he mentioned the Piano was gone... yes Gone...

Somehow this just set things into a bad whirlwind of what to do now and why had they not mentioned this.

Many phone calls later, brides crying, grooms upset we still haven't smoothed everything out but we are definatley on the way.

Yesterday the groom, the grooms mom and I all desended on the church... in an effort to make it all better.. but the man of god refused to see us ..."he was in a meeting" and left us to deal with an assistant who quite frankly looked like she was a deer in headlights.. she got caught in lies and didn't seem smart enough to realize her boss had thrown her under the bus...

In the end... there will be a cross on the wall, they will provide a chair for the keyboard, and a table... still up in the air is a sound system and the price of the church and sound system or why they would even bring up the fact that we are bringing in our own pastor...

I learned the hard way that doctors don't know any more than the rest of us and I shouldn't expect them to actually heal people. And this week I have learned that being a man of the cloth doesn't mean I should trust that you -- or trust that you don't lie.

alls quiet

So with Mike at the State of the Union the house is really quiet... not that he's all that noisy, but it does seem very quiet here tonight... Usually I would spend this "free time" cutting and pasting, but for some reason even that doesn't excite me tonight... Dishes are done, laundry under control and there is nothing pressing except "what to write on the blog".... and I got nothing!! amazing but true I got nothing.... not even a photo....

today

Between this and that lifes been busy.... Yup that is the "offical" wedding room... and that is what I see everytime I look down.. Maizy has this obsession with balls... specifically ones with broken squeekers and little nubbies on them...

I am now the proud owner of a pair of silver peep toe shoes and 4 .... yes four dresses for Amandas wedding.. am I keeping them? Nope I think at this point they may all be going back... I might just be the one sitting in the back with jeans on... sadly I just can't find what I want to wear--- who knew it would be this hard... (besides of course my mother who did warn me!) ah well back to the drawing board...

Countdown to Nascar

With only hours left until the first offical race of the season its time to start thinking about your driver

Cat bathing 101

I have never seen a cat get a bath before.... but in preparation for Ferbies new living accomodations Christopher wanted to pretty her up... and that entailed a bath.... Something he said he has done before... and apparently they had... Ferbie didn't fuss half as much as I had expected.. no blood was shed-- no fur flying and not even a hiss.... toward the end she was talking to him... but all and all it was an amazing sight to be witnessed...

Ferbie's ready now to go live with Aunt Jackie... our fingers are crossed that she brings Jackie as much joy as she has brought Christopher.

Its a dogs life

The last two nights we have sat watching some riviting tv... ok maybe not riviting but it was something different.. The Westminister Kennel Club dog show... Hello Pet lover... its a mecca for seeing exactly what all these dogs are supposed to look like if we had the time to groom them... The winner was a surprise... a 10 year old dog.. YES 10!! Stump

In the toy group (we were keenly watching this group) the Pug came in second... although we did not find him as cute as our own Maizy... I really don't understand the whole judging process... I have read the books on what makes a prize winning pug (dog) and from what I could see this winner didn't exhibit some of those traits... but then I am not a judge I am just an owner...

So I know you are asking... Did Maizy watch??? nope she was much to busy (self centered) playing fetch with her soccerball....

This is the look we get when we dress our Maizy... none too happy.... and yes that is a trashbag of clothes she has decided to pout on...

So after getting alittle rest on Sunday it was back into the daily grind... Mike helped Chrisopher pack up his life and get alot of it into his truck. A few more trips and Christopher will be all moved in. And I hit the ground getting laundry caught up and went back to working on taxes... You know they want to pass an economic stimulas plan.... maybe they could reduce our tax burden??? Its totally out of control the amount of money our government requires... and if they keep bailing out businesses that aren't smart enough to be fiscally responsbile our taxes will only continue to climb...
Perhaps the Auto manufacturers should go to the bank to get a loan???? ohh wait they wouldn't qualify because their business model is dated... and then theres that little thing of the banks closing down because they gave money out to people who don't work.... and can't pay it back... its all shameful.....

This week we get back on the wedding bandwagon... not too much left to do... but there is a list!

Amandas Shower

I can't begin to tell you how tired I am right now... but its a good tired we had Amandas Bridal Shower yesterday and it was wonderful! I can't even tell you how wonderful Amandas Bridesmaids are -- They did a fantastic job of putting together the best bridal shower ever. And even though Amanda knew it was coming I think even she was surprised at how much fun it was. Does she not have the prettiest Bridesmaids ever??? From left to right Heather (her new sister in law to be, Jenny (Sorority sister), Erin (college roomie), Amanda, Natalie (sorority sister) and Sara (sorority sister) )

She even had a few cute boys to help out with the details.... Uncle Robin outdid himself by providing valet parking for the girls , and Dad played chauffeur to make sure she got to the party-They both did so many wonderful things that made the day sooo special- No these are not gang signs... its a sign of the crown... we all got a good giggle in as they chanted their Zeta song... I couldn't be more thankful that Amanda has these wonderful girls in her life.We couldn't have had such a wonderful day without the hospitality of Aunt Toni--She opened her home and provided the perfect place to have make lasting memories... doesn't the table look wonderful???

And as if the day wasn't just perfect with sunny skies and good friends watching Amandas face when she realized her grandmother had flown in made it priceless...

I can't help but think if the shower was this much fun and soo perfect how wonderful will the wedding be??? With less than 50 days left it gets more exciting every day!! I can't wait to have all of our friends and family in one big location. But we are all so tired after just the shower how tired will we be after the wedding???

Maizy gets a snow day

Sure we have had flurries this winter but this was Maizys first real time playing in the snow!! Once she got over her fear of walking off the deck she hit the snow a million miles an hour!! Running as fast as she could in big old circles!! And of course tasting it all on her way!!

The white dress

So there has been lots of talk of late about the White dress... Amanda had her first real fitting this weekend... Seems the dress is alittle too big because the seamstress really had to use alot of pins to take it in... Which is a good thing.. means all that dieting wasn't for nothing.. And she got to see her dress with "the shoes"... who knew finding shoes would be just as hard as finding the dress...

Since I can't show you her dress I thought I would give you a peak of another white dress.... Leelas-- Just as fancy and so darn cute....

Hi Dad!

So my Dad mentioned that according to my blog Hell had frozen over.... yea I guess I have been alittle slack at updating.. but beleive me its not because I haven't been busy!!! So for now... I just drop this little note that I am here... I am alive and yes I am counting down the days until spring-- because I am tired of boots, fleece and gloves....

Hell has frozen over.

So I found out today that one of favorite magazines is going under. Simple Scrapbooks is yet another tragedy in our struggling economy.. Subscription base isn't enough when advertising just isn't out there. Its a shame.. and to be honest its just another indicator how bad it is out there in the real world. The radio station I listen to announce less commercials this week... not to be nice to us but because they can't sell the radio slots... its a shame ....

Did I mention how freaking cold it is out there??? so cold that you feel like your fingertips will just fall off if you forget your gloves...
Yea its inauguration week here in the nations capitol... and yes Virginia-- Hell has frozen over... See what happens when you vote someone in who doesn't deserve to be our president... we all suffer... Hope he has little hand warmers in his mittens or he won't have fingers to sign off on all his promises---

Mike has the priviledge of being "essential personnel" this weekend that treat allows him to work all day Saturday and then stay Monday -Tuesday... sleeping in a chair to ensure communications are A-OK for the "event"-- me I will use my time to finish up wedding details...
I think we are almost done and can sit back and enjoy.... if only the darn stamps would come in for the invites....

Weekend update

So while you were recovering from New Years Eve, we did infact start tiling the basement floor. And have spent the greater part of the weekend finishing it up. Messy, Dusty and down right inconvenient. But it does look better, and it is forcing us to once again down size the amount of junk we store down there. Hopefully when all is said and down we will have a laundry area that you might actually want to work in....

The remainder of the weekend was spent "playing wedding" Amanda came over yesterday and we worked on invitations and centerpiece decorations. We even got the boys to help--Matthew folded placecards and Corey jumped in to pull stars off the flower girl basket.... The more hands the merrier!

Happy New Years!

Enjoyed a wonderful New Years Eve with Mike-- We drove a quick 6 miles to a customer/friends house and rung in the new year... and as the trend seems to be now... there were probably just as many dogs invited as people!.. poor Maizy got left at home and was full of puppy energy when we drug ourselves home at 2:30am... needless to say no one got alot of sleep last night.

Today Mike is on a mission to start the new year out working.... he has these great plans of tiling the basement floor... why? not sure but I am sure it will require my "help". Maybe this will make doing laundry that much more enjoyable???

Happiest of New Years to you!

shopping

It was a long day of shopping... whatever made me think it was a good day to schedule anything with Amanda? We started out driving down to Dulles to look at tableclothes. Who knew ivory tableclothes were so elusive? When we said ivory the ladies face kinda scrunched up and said yes we have one color of ivory...SERIOUSLY???? no choices???? luckily it will do if we don't find someone with a better price...

And then we went to Potomac Mills to find me a dress. for a country with a bad economy you wouldn't be able to tell from the amount of people at the mall... no parking anywhere and seriously you could barely walk.. now I have listened to my mother tell me the woes of how hard it is to find a dress for the last week... it was my turn to scour the mall... While the selection was limited it wasn't too bad... the problem was size... apparently I have turned into an elephant without my knowledge... dieting is a serious new years resolution... I found a few dress I liked but they were not all that flattering... and then the question is do I go with a Mother of the Bride style (very conservative ) or do I go with something I like... Amanda is anti conservative she wants me to wear something "fun".... hmm... the next trip will be over to Davids Bridal-- affordable, every dress comes in multiple colors and a decent selection...

Christmas 2008

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring...not even the the four dogs and 2 cats.....

We awoke in the morning to hear such a clatter, me in my reindeer pants and Christopher in his sweats-- what did Santa leave?? not one but two stockings for Christopher!!

And a bone ohhh so big for Cooper!!

Maizy was dressed in her sweater and not so very happy to have a new bed....
But wait maybe Santa was tricking her with the wrapped little things in her bed-- oh me oh my new Babies for Maizy --tumbling out of her bed

Week in review

So what I've learned this week--

1) You have sinus cavitities in the base of your head... which when filled (ewww) can mimic a brain tumor and make you wish for a labotomy.

2) That because your daughter is a scientist that doesn't make her mathamatian, but coming up 50 sheets of paper short for the wedding invites doesn't cause as much stress as you would think.

3) No matter how hard you plan to be done with Christmas shopping you still have to make one more run to the store.

4) Belguim waffles are better then frozen waffles

5) That boys will pee in the toilet before scrubbing the blue cleanser out that you left soaking in said toilet and look at you like it was your fault that you have to start all over.

6) That standing water in the basement is not a high priorty on my husbands list of things to worry about.

7) That trying to mop up a whole (costco sized) container of liquid laundry soap from the floor is a never ending battle.

8) Puppies can't ice skate

9) That gaining weight does make your shirts shorter

10) That coming up with lists is a great way to avoid housework.

wrapping

So after two weekends at the mall and dealing with holiday traffic I am not so sure about the old adage of its better to give than recieve.... shopping just makes the giving part hard!!! Christopher and I tried to finish up our shopping yesterday. Shopping with him isn't easy as he wants a plan.. no wandering the stores, no stopping to window shop he wants to know in advance where we are going and doesn't want to deviate from the plan... But you know me... I deviate... I putz around, I gotta compare prices, and I gotta look, touch and talk to strangers... he survived... and even made "one last stop" on the way home... Am I done... heck no there are two gifts that I can't seem to find... So yes I have to do this yet again...

Today I spent most of my day wrapping-- as punishment for yesterdays excursion Christopher talked me into doing his wrapping too.... and Mike --well he saw me and just dumped his pile of gifts into the mix.... I actually think gifts should come pre-wrapped...

With the clock ticking I think its time to start making lists... things to do, things to buy, things to clean, things to cook.... hmmm wonder if I can mix my wedding lists with my holiday lists.... I think I need more paper...

Have your cake and eat it too....

This past weekend may have seemed like it was all about turkey but it was also a blurr with wedding planning.. Having Amanda in the same state for four days in a row meant the calendar was full of vendor visits, computer time to proof invites, and discussions on all the the little details that we have put off for months... But in the end I got the reward!! the leftovers.. see one of the vendors that she and Corey met with was the bakery... MMMM can you say cake tasting??? After they had tasted, decided and discussed they brought all the leftovers home to MOM-- I won't tell you what they decided on but I can tell you that after 3 days the cake still tastes darn good... Can't wait til the wedding when I can have a big ol piece all to myself!

Because 2 times is not enough

So while most of you dined once for Thanksgiving we hit an all time high with three times!! Once in Florida with the folks, and then again on Thanksgiving with Mikes Sisters and then the next day at home... seems my family loves Turkey Day whole whole lot... Needless to say we have been eating Turkey sandwiches for three days straight now... and I don't see an end in sight!!

After dinner Maizy found someone who enjoyed holding her bone... Cooper was actually sleeping with the bone in his mouth and Maizy was chewing the other end...

And of course this is what the family looks like after multiple thanksgiving meals... hahaha... lots of couch napping over the 4 day holiday!!!