Angels on Earth and Above

Prepare for a big downer post today. I just feel the need to talk about these things.

My best friend from HS moved to Michigan to help her family care for her nephew. Caiden has cancer. He is about 6 months older than Grace. On Monday, he had his right eye removed to stop the cancer from spreading. His left eye was removed in the spring. I cant help my heart from breaking each time I get an update on his website (search the for CarePage name: CaidenHooks). This family does everything right....they are involved in the church, hold family in the highest regard, and love each other so much. Why them? Why Caiden?

That was the last thing I read/heard last night before falling asleep. It was a restless night.

And then my mom called this morning with more news. A family in Belmont, MA lost their 6 year old daughter over the weekend. There is a family connection....my grandmother and the little girl's grandmother are very good friends. Maeve was 6 years old...her life hadnt even begun yet! She has sisters who she was supposed to grow up with.....argue with....be friends with. And now, her parents have to live their lives without their precious little girl.

I left a message in her online Guest Book...you can too if you are so inclined. My heart is breaking for this family.

So many days go by when I all see is the long to do list at the office and at home. Days that I am so exhausted all I hear is the whining and complaining. The toys thrown all over the house and the half eaten dinner left on the table dont matter much in the big scheme of things anymore. Last night and this morning just remind me how lucky I am and how that luck can change in an instant.

I really just want to go home right now and hold my Gracie for hours and hours.

MIA

I have been MIA the past week or so. And unfortunately, it will probably continue.

Conference starts in exactly 1 month. The stress level is rising drastically and my to do list is growing exponentially. The only times I am not working is during dinner time and when I am sleeping.

Every year about this time, I find myself complaining about how damn busy I am and how stressed out I am about conference and how I cannot wait until its over. But honestly, I kind of like it. In a month, I will get on a plane to San Diego and manage a conference that 1300 people are registered for. And at the end of that week, I will be exhausted but feel so great. A year's worth of work passes by in 7 days but I love it.

So, I shall continue to be stressed out but I know that at the end of the crazy month, it will all be worth it.

Officially Broke, But At Least I Can Drive Around...if I can find gas money

Update: So things happen in threes, right? I have the car back, after giving my card over to the cashier who swiped it for $1054.42. And I also have my annual review in hand...with salary increase meeting this afternoon. Combined with my bonus last week, this is my 3, right?


You know those little lights on the dashboard of your car? Those pesky little ones that mean your car is unhappy and your wallet will soon be as well?





My car will be MUCH happy by the end of the day with new airbags, new coolant sensor, a few new lights, and I will finally be able to open the driver's door from the inside again. But my wallet is depressed and empty and pathetic.





This may be the quickest $1,000 I have spent.

Ho-Hum of Life

SO much happening but so little to write about. Ever feel that way? Like the world is going non-stop all around you but you have nothing to say. Strange.

My BFF is engaged. And I am sooo excited for her.

Another good friend is engaged and I am just as excited for her.

And another friend just had he adorable baby boy. After the Drama Pregnancy of the Year, we are thrilled Little Man is here!

Conference is 4 weeks away so that has me working at least 12 hours total a day. Work at the office, eat dinner at home, and turn the laptop back on. I tell you---I am a ball to have around at home with my head stuck in the computer all night long!

Oh, and the most exicitng news...Grace informed us last night and again this morning that she has 2 boyfriends....and they are older boys. HAHA! The look on Hubby's face was awesome.

*Sigh* She is all grown up. :)

Could this post be anymore BORING!?!?!?!

What Happens In Vegas Will Stay In Vegas

After 3 meetings at work and a quick rush through DC's metro system in the middle of rush hour, Hubby and I will be boarding a plane to Las V.egas for the weekend.

Yep, I am pretty excited. Except that we will be spending almost as much time in the airplanes as we will in Veg.as. Fly out of DC on Friday afternoon and then back on Sunday.

We are heading out there for a wedding. The bride is one of Hubby's best friends from college. And we are both in the wedding. Best bridesmaids dress ever and Hubby is wearing a fabulous suit.

So, I will post when we get back. Pray that we win at the casinos and that I dont get sucked into TOO many shops in the massive hotels.

YEA----a weekend away just me and Hubby. LONG overdue!!

America the Beautiful

Today is......we all know what today is.

6 years ago, I was in DC about 1 1/2 blocks from the Whi.te Hou.se. I saw the smoke from the Pent.agon and was stuck in the city that day once they shut down all the public transporation. It was terrifying and sad and all those crazy emotions.

And this morning, I started my day the exact same way I did 6 years ago on that September 11. Park at the metro, grab a Starbucks, and walk a few blocks to the office building. Only this time, today, I was in thr hotel next door to my old office. But I walked the same blocks as I did exactly 6 years ago. And I remembered what it was like the days and weeks following That Day. Walking through the streets of DC with military vehicles everywhere, greeting the 18 year old solider standing and guarding the office building.

It was strange today walking through the city. Sure, there was a high pol.ice prescense but not too out of the prdinary fro DC. The streets were bustling, the traffic wasnt moving (again, totally normal!), but there was this....feeling....all around, marking the day.

I lost a high school classmate in the war. And my high school sweetheart has been through a total of 30 months between Afgha.nistan and I.raq, The war has effected my life. Today, I remember what happened 6 years ago and the sacrifices that so many have made for our country; to protect our freedom and make it a better world for our kids.

Wedding Weekend

2 very excited brides-to-be at the bridal fashion show

Nope, there wasnt an actual wedding this weekend but wow, did we spend a ton of time in bridal salons and doing wedding stuff! What a blast!



Allie is getting married in Aug and Carol in Sept; both next year. Since the big bridal expo was this weekend, a bunch of the girls got together to get some things checked off that long wedding to do list.



(2) bridal salons, (1) rehearsal location, (1) church, and (1) bridal expo (with 50,000 other brides!!). Oh, and the two brides-to-be must have tried on 50 dresses between them!!!!

The girls at Davi.d's Bridal


All in all, it was a blast. Hanging out with the girls....none of the guys in sight...just doing girl stuff and getting SO excited about the upcoming weddings. Even Grace is excited; she told me last night that she wants to try on flower girl dresses so I might just have to bring her along to the next brdal salon.

Oops, I wont do THAT again

There is only one way to truly describe the reason I wore a Peptobismol bottle in public...my little sisters wedding. Really...there were 6 of us all lined up in this dress. We looked like a shelf at a CV.S pharmacy. But the bride was happy..isnt that all that matters!?

I broke the dress halfway through the reception. The sash just came right off and now it all hangs on a cheap dry cleaners hanger in the dark guest room closet.

And I cant talk about fashion blunders without posting this picture. Yep, that Hubby in all his glory at a Jimmy Buffett concert. Lime wedges are so last year!!! Bet you won't see this stylish outfit in The Little Black Book of Style!
Share your biggest fashion blunder too! Maybe you will win the $250 Coach gift certificate.

Picture Post

Its been awhile since I posted pictures of "current happenings" and so here they are!!!!

Girls Night Out celebrating Carol and Allie's engagements. So much fun having 2 weddings coming up.

This is Grace's new pasttime....picnic. Why eat real food when plastic food is just waiting for someone to eat?! Note to self: check country of origin on plastic food. Not good if it says "Made in China"! The guests of honor were told that clothing was optional.....Sn.ow W.hite opted for a dress, Bar.bie chose to remain undressed throughout the picnic lunch.

Grace is following Barbi.e's lead....who needs pants?! Just throw on a tshirt, socks, and sneakers and you are all set for dinner at Grandma's!

Warming The Bench

So much excitement around here these days. And none of it is occuring in my house (unless you count the fact that Hubby FINALLY shaved that horrible beard off his face--yea!).

Allie and Matt are getting hitched. Carol and Steve are planning their wedding. And Kade has arrived!!! What else do we need in our lives but weddings and babies?! So much fun.

This coming weekend will be spent scouting rehearsal dinner places with Allie, hitting the Bridal Expo with the 2 brides-to-be and anohter "old married one" (hehe, once you walk down that aisle, you join this fabulous club of "old married people!"). Oh, and baby shopping for the new Little Man and his big sis.

Great fun! And man, do I need a fun weekend.