Weekend Adventures Part Two: Celebrating Hard Work

On Sunday we were able to help celebrate the retirement of my sister's mother-in-law, S. She worked for the city for 30 years! My sister did a great job reserving a room at Bricco in downtown Akron and spent hours making YUMMY desserts. We all ordered what we wanted for supper and spent the evening visiting and hopefully making S feel special! (The kids (minus Haddie) stayed at home with our great babysitter, A, and had a fun time with her!) I know I've mentioned how much I love being closer to family, and I still do. I love that we were close enough to participate in this special celebration for a very special lady and didn't have to rush back to work! We love you S and are so proud of your huge accomplishment!

I think she looks surprised!

My beautiful sister with her lovely MIL

Still a lot of love! SMOOOCH! :)

The whole family minus 2 kids

My BIL and his dad

Weekend Adventures Part One: Reconnecting

This weekend we went to Akron for 2 big parties! Saturday I went to my friend, L's, baby shower! L and I met when we worked together in Akron several years ago. We became fast friends and I have been so thankful for her since! (She also has a fabulous blog here.) I haven't seen her since my wedding 4 1/2 years ago so it was wonderful to see her! Her husband is a fantastic musician and they moved out west so he could expand that talent, etc! Well, L and I keep in daily/weekly contact and though we haven't seen each other we've kept up on each other's lives. Needless to say, I have missed her greatly and was so excited to see her on Saturday and get to celebrate her pregnancy! She is, of course, ADORABLE as a preggo and we had so much fun! Also at the party were 3 other ladies L and I worked with (and with whom I also keep in touch). Two of the ladies have also had kids since we all worked together and it was fun to be together with our babies! Cora had fun with her new friend P, and though P is 4 months older they're the same size and seemed to have a lot of fun together! Below are photos from the fun day! Congratulations L and J! I can't wait to meet your baby!!!!

The proud parents!

Cora really enjoying the table decorations!

Cora and her new friend!

Old friends brought back together!

I sure hope one day we'll live near each other again!

A Swelled Heart...

Last night we attended the small group of people our age from the church we've been attending. It's made up of 8 couples and between all the couples there are 20 children ranging in age from 7 wks to 12 yrs with most of the kids being in the 3-5 age range. This is the first week we've been able to go, and we were both looking forward to it. We weren't too sure what to expect as far as Cora was concerned as we knew it would be chaotic and also past her bedtime (they meet from 6-9). In any case we walked to the church (literally a 5 min walk for us) and went for a night of fun. I got Cora out of the stroller fully expecting her to cry and cling to me (as she does in the house) since it was massive chaos and very loud with 20 kids running around the fellowship hall! But, wouldn't you know, as soon as I set her down she IMMEDIATELY toddled off and joined the chaos. She was NOT happy when I picked her up to "make" her eat pizza. She was fascinated by all the kids, the balls, the toys she's not seen and so many people just her size.

I experienced 2 different emotions. First, my heart swelled with pride that my little girl was secure enough in my love that she would feel comfortable to go off on her own (something I've heard my mom say numerous times to young moms). But, quickly after that, my heart crumbled into a million pieces as I realized my baby girl is becoming less of a baby as the weeks go by, and I was reminded that the older she gets the less and less she'll need me. Sniff!!!!!! I seriously felt my eyes welling up with tears and had to blink them away. Ok, so those of you who know me, know I don't get too mushy very often and you know this is a big deal (insert eye roll and tongue sticking out).

I was so proud of Cora. She played hard and played well. Only once did I see her try to steal a ball from a little kid, but we worked through that. She also stole a little boys' pair of shoes, but they were returned. She happily walked around with whatever ball she could get her hands on and said an emphatic "HI!" to everyone.

Sigh...she's such a sweetie. I love her so!

Pigtails

Love from Aunt Ruthie

Are these not the cutest pigtails you've ever seen?

My baby is growing up and becoming a little girl. Sniff!!

Daddy's Little Girl in Two Parts

PART ONE:

Today is Father's Day, as we all know, and I wanted to do a blog about my dad. He was my original Prince Charming, my Knight in Shining Armor. He was the first man to tell me I was pretty, to tell me I was good at something, to cheer me on. My dad isn't loud and isn't in your face. He goes about his exercising his faith quietly but with conviction and does his best at whatever he does. I learned from my dad, what it is to be a person of integrity. I learned from me dad what it is to be a truly honest person in EVERYTHING I did. I also learned how to joke around, throw a ball, mow the grass, change the oil in my car and countless other things from my dad. He is a Godly man, a man who loves the Lord first, his wife second and his daughters third. My dad was the example to me of what I should look for in my husband. My dad and husband are very similar, and I wouldn't have it any other way. The things I admire most in my dad are the things I wouldn't give up in a husband, and thankfully, God brought me just the right man to share my life with. The photo below is so appropriate. How many things have I cooked/baked for my dad? Some flops, but also lots of successes and he ate them all, never complaining. He would always tell me how good something was, even if I knew it wasn't. I made him this race car inspired cake for him a few years ago for his birthday. It's just one of those pictures that sums up so much! :) And, I was also very newly pregnant when I took this photo, though I didn't know it. I love you Dad!!!!!!! I hope you know how much you mean to me!

PART TWO:

Because I had such a wonderful dad I felt confident to wait for the right man God had for me. I knew I didn't have to jump at any ol' guy, but knew I could wait for just the right one. Someone who would be a man of God, a man of integrity. Someone who chose the right path even when it was hard. I praise the Lord that I found that man--my husband, David. I am also thrilled that he gets to be the dad to his very own special little girl. I have so enjoyed watching my husband be a daddy to his little girl. He is so good at gently showing her the right way to go, telling her how pretty she is, being her safety net. He's a good dad, and I know as Cora grows up she'll learn to love and respect her dad and look to him for many things. The photo below is my beloved husband with his little girl. They have so much fun playing together!

Today I celebrate my dad and my husband, but I'm also thankful for my dad-in-law, Bill, my brother-in-law, Jamie and my new stepdad-in-law, Mark. I'm also thankful for my 2 uncles,Uncle Bob and Uncle Kerry, who have always been there for me as well and are also very wonderful men. I'm privileged to have each of them in my life.

To all the dads in my life--HAPPY FATHERS DAY! I hope you feel as special today as you are!

Content

I feel very content. I'm so glad we are where we are. One of the biggest reasons I feel such content and happiness is that I am only an hour away from my sister and brother-in-law and their 3 kids. I have missed watching my nieces and nephew grow, and I have so missed seeing them more than just holidays. So, I am totally soaking up this time we have to be closer to my sister (and best friend apart from my husband). Yesterday we went up to Ashland so David could help my BIL with some yard work. They worked hard--weed-whacking, digging, trimming, cutting, pulling out bushes, etc. They were hot and sweaty (gross!) and tired after they were done but it seems they had fun! :) While the men worked hard my sister and I had fun hanging out and visiting. Side note: we are both enjoying just visiting in a relaxing way knowing we don't have to cram all important information into an hour's worth of talking. It's so nice! By the end of our visit we thought it'd be fun to take the babies (Cora, my nephew and newest niece) on a walk. We walked to the local university and let the two who could run and run and run! And run they did! Cora and her "twin" cousin (only 7 months older than her) had so much fun!! I LOVED watching them play and loved watching as they continue to form their life-long friendship. Below are photos from yesterday and our fun. My oldest niece had a friend over so she wasn't as into the "babies" as usual, hence the lack of photos of her! :) Enjoy the sweetness!

I would love to know what they're laughing at! :)

I had to convince Sophia to get in the photo! :)

Why so blue?

**SIDE NOTE: due to technical difficulties I do not have photos for this blog, though some were taken...**

So, on Saturday David, Cora, Molly (the dog) and I were at my sister's house. David was helping my BIL and dad build a porch at the house and my mom, sister and I wrangled the children! :) I was in the house with my mom, sister, Cora, nephew and baby niece. My eldest niece was outside with Molly. David came in and asked if I hadn't heard Molly throwing a barking fit, I said no, and promptly went out to get her. In the meantime, my niece came inside...As I went to get the dog I noticed there was something different about her. She was BLUE!!!!!!!!!!! She has a white, beeker-shaped spot on her back and it was BLUE! When I got inside the following conversation ensued:

ME: Sophia? Do you know why Molly is blue?

SOPHIA: YES! I painted her with my chalk!

ME: Sigh...why did you do that?

SOPHIA: I don't know...

I have to admit that I was trying very hard not to laugh as I didn't want her to think it was OK to paint the dog. After I chided Sophia and asked her to please clean Molly up Sophia says to me, "Aunt Jeni? I'm sorry, but she DOES look pretty." Like, duh! :)

I love that girl!