Our bad turned good weekend

Well.  We had quite a weekend.  Family pictures were first thing Saturday morning.  I was so prepared.  Cute, coordinating outfits for the family - check.  Everything ironed and laid out the night before - check.  Kids to bed early so they would be well rested - check.  Kenny prepared to grin and bear it - check. Girls bribed into cooperating - check.  Kole bribed into cooperating - NEGATIVE.  Not only did Kole NOT cooperate, he decided to cry during the whole shoot.  We didn't get ONE picture without him pitching the biggest fit.  Screaming, kicking, trying so hard to escape my arms and be free.  In Kole's mind, being contained = death.  So not only is he screaming in every picture, but I look equally awful because I'm trying so hard to contain him.  I knew this would happen.  I did.  I don't know why there was still this little part of me that thought maybe.  Maybe he'll cooperate.  Just for a minute or two.  Maybe we'll get that Christmas card photo after all.  

Nope.  

I cried.  I came home after the photo shoot, looked at the pictures on the disk and cried.  Not because it's that big of deal.  But just because it's so much work.  So much work for the mom (especially the mom of little kids) to plan the photo shoot, get the outfits, and get the whole family up and picture perfect.  It's so hard working around the nap, the not very excited husband, and everything else that may get in the way.  So much work to have a blurry, screaming baby in the middle of every photo.  

After I had a 10 minute pity party, I got over it.  I'll figure something out.  I'll use some pictures I've taken or just embrace this stage and use a picture with Kole screaming his little head off.  It is what it is!  I'm sure someday I'll look back at those photos and smile.  

Not smiling yet.  

The good news was that I had a fun date planned for Saturday night.  A date with fun friends.  At one of my favorite restaurants.  A restaurant that happens to be located right next to my favorite store.  (That may or may not be why I love the restaurant so much.)  

Cheesecake Factory!  Located right next to THE CONTAINER STORE!  (What was that? -- angels singing in the background?...I know I wasn't the only one who heard them...)   I told my cute friend Darci we would have to get sitters earlier or eat fast so we would have time to shop after dinner.  I can't be that close to this beloved store and not pop in!  Lucky for me there was a 50 minute wait for dinner.  50 minutes?  Hmmm... I knew just how we could spend our time!

Not only were we in the Container Store (one of the most magical places on earth), but they had their Christmas stuff out!!  Talk about being in my happy place!  Christmas and organizing -- it just doesn't get any better.  Suddenly all of my tears from family pictures seemed like a distant memory.  I was on cloud nine.  No.  I was happier than that.  I was beyond the clouds!

Now tell me these pictures don't make you giddy too!  Admit it.  Anyone else beyond the clouds!?

Darci and I loved this gift wrapping station.  Hmmm... wonder if Santa heard that.  

And what did our husbands do while we shopped?  They had a delightful time catching up.  Just look at Kenny.  Patiently waiting and visiting while holding my camera bag and future purchases.  Now that is a good man!  Our husbands had so much fun visiting that the time just flew by.  Darci and I decided this is how we are going to do all of our Christmas shopping.  The men can come along and keep each other company and hold our stuff while we tear it up.  Win win for everyone!

Aside from the obvious location of being next door to my favorite store, this is reason #2 I needed to head to Cheesecake Factory.  Their pumpkin cheesecake.  Is your mouth watering yet?  It's seasonal so you can only get it for a couple of months.  And it is HEAVENLY.  It's an October tradition to eat our pumpkin cheesecake at Cheesecake Factory.  Talk about a perfect date night.  And a great end to what started out as a not so great day.

And in other weekend news.  The girls decided it was time to dress up Kole.  In their clothes.  

To quote Ellie -- "who says Kole has to be a boy?  Just because some silly doctor says so?" 

 It was then decided that Kole is now a girl and her name is Ariel.  

Ariel was dressed up in an assortment of the girls' clothes over the weekend.  Here she is modeling an off the shoulder rose shirt in a lovely magenta.  

Sometimes Kole was ok with the gender change.  

Sometimes he wasn't.  

By the end of the weekend we had all embraced it.  

Ariel admitted defeat and pushed her little shopping cart all over the house.   

Poor kid doesn't stand a chance.  

(I'd feel sorry for you buddy, but you ruined my pictures.  What's that they say about payback?)

Wrapping up the tour and our trip!

Sharing the rest of the pics I took of my mom's house today!

 First her beautiful kitchen - from a few different angels...

The cabinetry, moldings, door and window casings, fireplaces, fixtures...everything in this house is simply gorgeous.  This is the kind of house that already looks decorated before anyone even moves into it!

I love the planked french doors.  When you walk in the front door you see straight through those doors and into the beautiful back yard.  

Lots of fun bead board.  

I think the yellow kitchen aid looks especially nice on her counter top, don't you?  A little Christmas present to my mom from me a few years ago.  My family knows better than to ever buy one for me.  Although they do make nice decor...  

Love her stove, range and hood.  

A view from the laundry room.

A peek at the dining nook.

And into the laundry room we go!  The laundry room is right off the kitchen and all of the cabinets are the same cream bead board.  I love how it is so neutral that she can decorate with any colors and mix things up often.  I also love all of the beautiful wood plantation shutters.  

The wall opposite the washer and dryer.  I'm so envious of all of her storage!!!  

Cute little door holding her ironing board and a collage of family pictures to the right of it.  

Heading into the family room.  Aren't her wood floors to die for!?  I dream about them.  Often.  

This is a horrible, crooked picture because by this point of the photo shoot Kole was on my left hip trying to pull the camera out of my right hand so unfortunately, this is where the tour ends (for now anyway!).  I did want to share this picture though because it shows a peek of the family room with the beautiful rock fireplace, the moldings all along the stairs, the pillars around the formal dining...such a pretty home.  My mom and dad wanted to create a bit of a log cabin feel along with my mom's cottage/country style.

They did just that and we all love their home!  

I know this post is picture overload, but I wanted to add a few more for our family journal.  The reason for our last trip to Utah was not only to visit grandparents, but also to join our friends in a special weekend.  

Ellie's best buddy Pierson turned 8 years old and was baptized a member of our church.  His parents are our good friends Ryan and Josie and we were so excited to be there to support Pierson!

The following Sunday they blessed their new baby boy in church so we were able to also be there for that special day.  (Fashion Friday pics were snapped before these lovely events!)  The last pictures I shared of Josie were from our Maui trip when she was 7 months pregnant.  I'm happy to report they had a healthy baby boy!  And he is adorable.  And very light.  At least he felt light to me since I'm used to hauling around my big boy.  Who I swear is refusing to walk because he quite prefers his mom to haul him around everywhere.  We left Kole home with my family during the festivities so we could actually enjoy them.  This is a fun picture of our two families minus my little maniac.  {p.s.  Ryan - sorry I chose the pic with your eyes closed.  It was either you with your eyes closed, or the kids making strange faces and I sacrificed you to make the kids look good.  Hope we're still tight.}   ;)

We had fun celebrating the weekends' events with Ryan and Josie and their family and friends.  

And it goes without saying that these three had a delightful time together.  

Love this girl.  So much fun Josie!  Thanks for letting us share in your special weekend.  

Wrapping up another great trip to our home away from home.  :)

Favorite Things

In November my friend Ann threw a "Favorite Things" party. It was so much fun! Each guest was supposed to bring three of the same favorite thing - something we can't live without - for 10 dollars or less. I chose my Conair 10 dollar curling iron from Target. Definitely something I can't live without. Love that thing! Anyway, we all shared our favorite thing with the group and why we love it so much and then the shopping began and things got really fun! We went around the room and each chose one favorite we wanted for ourselves - then back around the room again and again until we each had three new favorite things to take home. We also took notes and came home with tons of great gift ideas for Christmas. (Oprah's got nothing on us!)

And we also ate lots of yummy food....

and we also gabbed the night away. So fun. A new tradition for sure.

A few more of my favorite things these days...

Several favorite things about this picture. First, my girls are quietly playing together - helping each other - not fighting. Love that. They are in p.j's and have messy morning hair. That's a favorite thing because it represents a morning (probably a low key Saturday) where we don't have to rush to be anywhere.

Ahhh...my Lean Cuisine pizzas. My friends who know me well know just how much I love my lean cuisine dinners. I would be perfectly content to eat one of these babies every single night.
But alas, I have to think of the rest of my crew who don't seem to care for them as much as I do. *sigh*

My new Plumberry lipstick and glitter gloss by Bobbi Brown. In fact all things Bobbi Brown would be at the top of my favorites list. Best make-up ever. EVER!

Fixing snacks for my girls on Christmas plates. Really all things Christmassy are at the top of my favorites list. Can you believe this weekend is Christmas!!?? I'm so excited! And stressed. I still have so much to do. I'll think about that tomorrow. :) Marshmellows are a favorite of Addison's.

Wearing my various boots is always a favorite thing this time of year, but this season I've also enjoyed seeing mini boots on my mini man. Even though he won't hold still long enough to show off his latest fashion.

And another favorite - Miss Addison in her mommy's boots. I see this pose on my little fashionista multiple times every day. As she parades around in multiple outfits. Every day. Aside from the drama and laundry that always accompanies this pose - a favorite for sure.

And the winner is...

Winner of $30.00 to Amber's shop is.......

drum roll please........

Johanna Markworth!

who said:

"Love your blog! Love, love, love the necklaces! Thanks!"

Congrats Johanna! Email me at erininsandiego@gmail.com and I'll get you in touch with Amber. :)

Whew...that was stressful. So many darling blog friends who commented - I hate that I can't send you all a necklace! Last giveaway I had around 30 comments so Ellie drew a name out of a hat. This time we had to think big and use the random number generator. Johanna was chosen - she was #37 and 3 and 7 happen to be my mom's favorite numbers so I felt pretty good about that! Congrats again Johanna!

I wanted to let you all know that the next Power of Moms Retreat is coming up on October 22-23 in New Castle, New Hampshire. If I remember right from our days living in Virginia, the fall leaves will be absolutely beautiful! I can't say enough about how wonderful the Power of Moms Retreats are. I am so glad I did this! I learned so much and made some great new friends. If you're interested, you can learn more about the Power of Moms Retreats here and the New England Retreat here. Also, all of my readers can receive $20.00 off of this retreat by using this link. Go check it out!

Here are a few more pics from the retreat I just attended taken by one of the presenters -

(eating lunch)

(in the conference room taking notes)

(when we first arrived - meeting everyone)

Melissa, a new friend from the retreat, brought her baby boy. He is Kole's exact age and every time I looked at him I missed Kole SO BADLY. Funny how it always sounds so nice to take a break from your baby but after about an hour you're dying to hold your little one again...

Felt VERY good to come home to this smile. :)

Gotta go. It's WAY past my bedtime. Have a great weekend everyone!

Happy Birthday Shari!!!

Just wanted to give a quick shout out to my darling friend Shari who turns 40 today! Ok...did I really just type that? I CAN NOT be friends with someone who is 40! Sorry Shari. It's been fun and all but it's time to part ways.

Kidding. Totally kidding. :)

I love this girl to death. Let me tell you a few things about my friend Shari. She is AMAZING. She has six kids. Yes, I said six. Ranging from ages 4 to 18. She somehow manages to be there for each and every one of them and stays sane (mostly) in the process. She is a huge support to her husband. She cooks homemade meals each night. She exercises and looks amazing (you would NEVER know she is 40 and has six kids - seriously. It's unreal.) She is blunt and to the point. She tells it like it is and I love this about her. She is down to earth. She is real. She is a great listener. She is ALWAYS thinking of others. Always. She is the type of friend who will pick up your kids and take them to the park to give you a break (you who has half the kids she does and way less on your plate). She is the first person to bring a meal, call, send a note, drop off a treat, come by for a visit if you're having a rough day...and sometimes even if you're not. She is like this with all of her friends and we all look at her in wonder and amazement asking ourselves and each other...how does she do it? When I started my blog she was (and still is) my biggest support. I think she has left a comment on every single post I've written and I always look forward to her sweet and witty commentary. She has laughed with me and cried with me. She has been there for me more times than I can count. I love this girl so much. She is loved by everyone who knows her.

{lunch with my mom and Shari at our favorite pizza place. Shari and I live at this place. We always share the mushroom pizza and the grilled balsamic chicken salad. We crave it daily. Yes - the two of us eat the whole pizza. Never a bite left over to share. My mom adores Shari too. Shari brought my mom diet cokes and helped with Kole while I was in the hospital last April and they bonded. :) }

Happy Birthday Shari!

When I grow up and turn 40 (way way in the future) I want to be just like you. ;)

Recovery & Friends

Last week I went to see my doctor and had my blood drawn again. She called yesterday with the results and my hematocrit level (a test that measures the percentage of blood that is comprised of red blood cells) is finally around 40 which is considered "normal." At one point I was as low as 4, I left the hospital (after a transfusion of 5 units of blood) at 12, a few weeks ago I was 31 and now finally my hematocrit level is around 40. (YEA!) I'm finally starting to feel like myself again. I'm also doing a lot better emotionally. I still feel sad sometimes when I think about everything that happened, but for the most part I'm grateful. Grateful that I made it through this experience and grateful that it's over and I can move on. I'm also incredibly grateful for my friends.

(attempt to hide my pregnancy weight behind my skinny friends - it worked!). :)

When I was in Utah a couple of weeks ago I went to a baby shower for a good friend. Many of my good friends were at the shower and this was the first time I had seen them since my incident. When I walked in the room they all surrounded me - and hugged me - and told me told me how happy they were to have me there - and I cried - and I thought about all of the love and support I had during this experience from so many friends. Friends from my childhood, friends from high school and college, friends from Utah, Virginia, and California, friends from my neighborhood, friends from Ellie's Elementary, friends from Addison's preschool, friends from church, friends from blogging. All of my amazing friends were there for me in one way or another. I just wanted to say thanks. Thank you so much. You all mean the world to me and I couldn't have survived this without all of you.

I love you all.