Long Distance Surprise

You know how sometimes you just happen to be in the right place at the right time and because of that rare instance when everything happened to line up just so and something wonderful happens? That has happened for me on several occasions but in this particular instance, it happened on a muggy afternoon in August in Cape May, NJ in 2004. Mark and I were newly married, newly moved and new students. We went to some kind of "mixer" for his class at some professor's beach house. I only remember two things about that night: 1.  I was wearing a denim skirt (yikes) and 2. I met a really great girl named Alisha. As a result of that night, I eventually ditched the way outdated skirt and found myself a life-long friend. Fast forward eight years, when her husband called and said he wanted to plan a big surprise birthday party for her 35th, I jumped at the chance to participate. It just so happens that my Mark and Alisha share a birthday (Jan. 7) which just goes to show what a great man he really is that he gave me the go ahead to spend his birthday weekend with my girlfriend. (Full disclosure, I was back for his actual birthday and was able to spend the day with him so I'm not the worst wife in the world after all.)

Anyway, Jack had planned this huge surprise party with all of her family and friends, rented out a restaurant and hired one of her favorite singers to play a private concert just for the party! It was all I could do to keep it a secret, especially when talking to her. But the secret was kept. I was a little bummed that I was going to be so close to my friend and not be able to see her until late that night in order to keep the surprise. As my luck would have it though, the original plan got turned inside out and I got to be the decoy surprise. I was waiting at the restaurant with three glasses of champagne when Alisha and Amy arrived. She was so surprised that she made a lot of noise and caused a big scene in the restaurant. It was so funny and fun and a win-win for me because I got to pretend to be the surprise and have a great dinner with two of my nearest and dearest friends. After dinner we told her we had a big night ahead of us but first we had to stop by a nearby bar to take Brandon his phone (Amy's husband had "accidentally" left his phone in her purse). When we did, all of Alisha's friends and family yelled surprise and we had officially pulled off the surprise party. It was so much fun to participate in the festivities and celebrate my dear friends 35th birthday! Big props go to Amy for getting Alisha from point A-B-C without her knowing a thing and Jack for planning the eveningt. It was a great night and such a fun trip.

As a bonus, my flight got in a little early Saturday afternoon and I got to have a late lunch with some of my favorite people in the world (who happen to live in DC!), Kelly, Elizabeth and Summer. I spent many hours with these ladies at various playgrounds around DC and sweating our fannies off as we pushed strollers uphill both ways (it seemed). These are truly wonderfully inspiring women that I am fortunate to call my friends. Even though we don't talk as often as I would like, we always pick right up where we left off no matter how much time has passed (the sign of a true friend if you ask me!). It was a wonderful treat and I'm so thankful these ladies took time (and found babysitters) to make this afternoon work.

The boot brigade

Amy and Alisha cheers to the birthday girl

A pre-birthday celebration

The surprise was a success so we could relax and have fun

 The happy couple

Friends, family and a music star Griffin House 

The Peanut Gallery

One of the many things I love about the Christmas season are the movies! The Sound of Music, A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation and anything Charlie Brown are a few of my favorites. Never mind that most of these are on Demand and I can see them ANYTIME I want to, without commercials. Nevertheless, there is something special about catching your favorite Christmas movie on tv, even with the commercials. We watched a lot of Charlie Brown this month and I saw two very striking similarities between their peanut gallery and mine. See if you can spot them!

Anyone guess Linus with his blanket and Pigpen of course!

Countdown to Christmas

I feel like the month of December is always a blur. As it is for most of you as well. Between decorating, holiday festivities, birthdays (6 in our families during the month of December!), school Christmas parties and plays, dinners and receptions for Mark's work, oh and Christmas itself, I feel like we are constantly on the go. I love it too, until right before Christmas, then I get burnt out and I'm ready for everything to be over with. I always tell myself I will get a jump on things to lessen the load a little bit but it never really happens. Here's to hoping it will next year. 

That being said, I LOVE Christmas and the month of December. Everyone seems to be happy all of the time and I love the hustle and bustle that comes with planning for and enjoying the Christmas season. Finn is old enough that he really gets into Christmas--I love creating traditions and making memories with him. (Except for Elf on the Shelf--I am OVER that tradition!) He is a special child and sometimes I wish I could just see things as he sees them, with pure wonder and complete joy. I try to stop and remember that in the middle of running around and it brings a calming perspective. 

We really had a wonderful Christmas. Just being together and celebrating with family. We really are so very blessed and sometimes its easy to dwell on the things we don't have or wish we had but this Christmas I can honestly say that I felt so full and content. 

It's now January and I can't really remember all that we did and I know I didn't take pictures of everything but here is a snapshot of our December and Christmas celebrations.

The station lighting at SI Fire Dept. They really go all out Griswold-style with lights and decor, complete with Choir, visit from Santa, hot chocolate, pizza and train rides. A great way to kick off the holiday season!

Finn showing off his first (of two) gingerbread houses (while Charlie dismantles our tree!)

I am one of the room mom's for Finn's class and I love getting to spend time and do fun activities with all of his friends. We decorated his classroom while they were at recess and when the kids came back it was like a winter wonderland. The kids were so surprised! Sorry, no pictures though. Here we made stockings with each of the kids.

Hanging their stockings by the (faux) Chimney with care

Santa's "helpers" waiting for crumbs from our cookie decorating party

Tired of waiting for something to fall . . .she decides to help herself

Mt.Pleasant Christmas parade

Puppet show and gingerbread house decorating party 

So proud of his creation

Some of the tackiest people on Sullivan's Island (at my tacky sweater party)

The pups get Christmas treats from Santa

So excited to finally open presents

Charlie likes to assist--mainly in the shredding of paper . . . 

and bows!

Santa couldn't fit this one down the chimney! Finn now has his own wheels

Charlie wants no part of the action

Santa brought lots of Lego sets too (good things there were lots of people around to assist)

I know I am leaving out a lot like Christmas with the Lyles and some school activities and parties and such so I'll aim higher and try to get it all next year (maybe).

One Whole Hand!

Our baby boy is a baby no more! He has been counting down the days until he was one whole hand--5 years old! I say this every year, but I really really mean it this year. How can he be 5 already? In the beginning I felt like he may get a bad deal being born so close to Christmas, but now I know the truth! We celebrate his birthday for what seems like weeks--a party with his friends which is always before his actual birthday, a party at school and then some sort of celebration on his actual birthday. Whew! I sure hope he feels loved (because he is!). On his actual birthday (12/21), we went to see Monsters, Inc (3D) with his buddy Easton, complete with popcorn and icees, followed by presents, a special birthday dinner and topped off with ice cream cake. Happy 5th birthday Finn! 

Finn and my papa (Finn's great-grandfather) share a birthday together, so we always think of papa when we celebrate Finn. 

HIS School Presents the Christmas Story

Name change aside, Finn's school has gone through many changes since last year, most all of them positive. One of the best additions has been the emphasis on the Christian faith and the Bible. The kids now go to chapel once a week and sing praise songs and learn Bible versus. It's amazing how much he learns and retains. The Christmas play was a new addition to the curriculum and probably my most favorite to date. The kids have worked so hard all year learning the words to the songs and their parts in the story. Finn was a shepherd and took his role very seriously (although he didn't care for his costume all that much because he said it kind of looked like a dress). 

Ms. Sue was the narrator and read the story of the very first Christmas aloud while each child walked in and their his or her place in the nativity scene. There was Mary and Joseph, the Shepherd and his sheep, the cow, the three wise men, the star and the dove, throw in the angel chorus and we had ourselves a show! The kids sang their hearts out and stood still throughout the reading of the entire book (a miracle in itself if you know any of these kiddos). It was such a special moment to look out and see their innocent, smiling, proud little faces, even more so in the wake of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. 

The nativity

The three's and four's class

I LOVE this picture. It perfectly captures this age: yawns, nose picking, chatting with friends, boredom and spinning around on your own

After the play, we had some yummy snacks and a special visit from Santa

Another special visitor: Mimi came down to see Finn and he was so happy she was there

 Clowning around with his friends and Mr. Claus

I recorded each and every song they sang (6) but since you didn't give birth to Finn, I won't make you sit through them all. This one is my favorite: the Little Drummer Boy. It's long but worth it to see the end. The kids loved singing the first verse, not so much the second one, but really came on strong in the end. Finn said it was his favorite too, "the Mary nodded part because we sing it so loud!"