Bride to Be

If you had trouble getting in touch with me in September, it was probably because I was spending as much time as humanly possible hanging out with my dear friend, Anne Schleiffarth (now Anne Sutherland...is that not the best name for a southern belle from Atlanta?)  We hiked, swam, shopped, talked for hours and tried to enjoy every second of her last month as a single lady.  

I planned her Bachelorette Party, sold her the wedding dress I didn't wear (now that's a story), gave her the honest low-down on marriage and attended her sealing in the Salt Lake temple.  Everything culminated in her reception, held at her parents' house in Midway on September 17th.  It was all perfect, from the gardenias to the light bulb strands set against a beautiful mountain dusk to the amazing food to the dancing to the beautiful couple.  From there, she and John spent their honeymoon in Telluride, completed the Xterra Triathlon (hardcore?  yes.) and moved to Minneapolis where John will complete his medical residency in surgery.  

I had a hard time saying goodbye.  Anne has been one of my closest friends over the past six years--the type that is tough to come by these days as a somewhat isolated stay-at-home mama.  She loves my baby, has more history with my husband's family than I do, and is one of the best travel companions that I know.  

She is a special girl, and I'm proud to say that her new hubbie totally recognizes her for the gem she is.  I had high hopes for her and it truly seems like everything worked out better than I could have imagined.  John is a winner.

There are few people in my life I would go clubbing with...pregnant.  I'm telling you; it wasn't pretty.  I felt slightly out of place...Anne did not, however, as she was accompanied by at least five other bachelorettes and their posses that night.  

A thousand congratulations, Miss Anne!  Get that guest room ready for me!  

April = Party Time

April is a very celebratory month.  April 1, my cute parents celebrated their 40th anniversary.  40TH!!  I can't even comprehend forty years of marriage, but they've managed to stay best buds the whole time (probably why they've lasted). My dad framed a love letter he wrote to my mom back in '71 (my idea, thank you) and I got them a basket of romantic treats.  Congrats, guys! 

I turned 28 on April 18, which I think sounds like a pretty hip age.  However, the fact that I just wrote "hip age" means I'm probably already doomed, eh?  Oh well, I'm having a blast.  Wes took me to Cheesecake Factory and bowling with friends.  So fun!  

This is my just-got-a-strike look.

Wes's just-got-a-strike look...

Travis showing off his perfectly-tanned biceps.  

We had a party to celebrate my parents' and my birthdays and my cake, well, sunk.  

The next day, we found out Wyatt had mono.  Poor guy.  Let's hope "the kissing disease" doesn't include closed mouth pecks...

BIG PARTY, little guy: Part II

And now, what you've all been waiting for...Cake-Face pictures!  

Liam's reaction to the birthday song was less than joyful.  We knew this would happen, but you know what they say.  If it doesn't kill ya...

His first real taste of sugar.  Yeah, he's a fan.  

And this is the part where he dumps the whole slice of cake on his chest.  Good thing I stripped him.

Aren't these faces just CLASSIC?

If only Liam were in costume here, we'd be quite the trio.  Blue monster, fairy sprite and King of Far Far Away?

The king bathes the chocolate-encrusted small one.

There is a Korean tradition called the Toljabee in which on a child's first birthday, various objects are placed on a table in front of the baby, and then he is free to pick up the items that attract him.  The items that the child picks are said to predict his future.  As we lacked an actual Korean at the party this year (sorry we stole your tradition, Linda!), we kind of improvised a bit.  If Liam chose the book, it meant he would be a great scholar, the bag of rice signified future riches, the scissors meant he would be skilled with his hands, the compass meant he would have great direction and judgement, and the pen meant he would be a great communicator.  He chose the compass, which I think means he could be all of the above!

This little walker-wagon was the hit of the night (a gift from Grammy, Papa, Mama and Dada).  I think he'll be walking in a matter of weeks, thanks to this new gadget.  Time will tell...

Thanks, Dad, for being such a great photographer!

BIG PARTY, little guy: Part I

Liam's big day was a huge success.  Some might say that it was all too much ado about a one-year old, but I know others who would say that you can't celebrate a birthday enough.  Thank you to all those who helped out, partied with us and love Liam almost as much as we do.

Preparations and Decorations...I found these invites at Tabula Rasa at Trolley Square.  Aren't they sweet?  I thought they were perfect for our Liam the Lion.

I happen to be the opposite of a seamstress.  My mom has tried to teach me how to do a hem multiple times throughout my life, but it never seems to stick.  I loved the birthday banner that my friend, Molly handmade, so I decided to put my curse to the test.  She loaned me the tools and gave me some tips, and I went to work.  Guess what?  I did it!  I love that we will have it in our family forever.  I just may have found myself a new Mommy-Hobbie...

I slaved over these Candy-Corn Rice-Krispie Treats.  Okay, so they're cuter than they taste.  Hey, I tried.

What is a birthday party without treat bags?  Filled with spider bouncy balls, monster-face glasses and my Rice-Krispie experimental treats.

Crocker.  Betty Crocker.  Yes, I homemade Liam's 1st Birthday cake.  It was my second layer cake EVER.  And I have to admit, it was pretty tasty despite its...modesty?   Liam dug it.

One of my favorite Mommy-Hobbies is video editing.  I made a video diary of Liam's First Year and gave the DVDs to family.  I just can't wait to show this to Liam's future wife.  (Okay, I can wait a few years...)

Tracie made these awesome Halloween cupcakes, and I'm just sad I didn't get a picture of them before everyone devoured them...

My parents brought a huge ham for sandwiches.  There was SO MUCH DELISH food.

King Charles in his castle.

Mike is getting ready to be a daddy of THREE boys.  Oy vey!

I was a fairy sprite.  It was the first time in my life that I chose to be something ultra-girly.  The typical Rachael-Halloween-costume is gross witch, decapitated Marie Antoinette, crotchety old lady, etc.  This was a refreshing change.

This is my big bro, Bret, the cop/lawyer (or a white Jimmy Hendrix?)

From left to right: Bret's wife, Jen, my cousin's wife, Lisa, and my hubbie's sister, Tracie...

The party was 99.9% family, but I just couldn't do without my pseudo-family, the Jacksons and Liam's best bud, Peter (as in Pan.)

My cousin, Rex Hardy and his cute family...Lisa, Rawson and Camden.  I love that these guys live so close!

My mom's sister, Dona (we call her Sissy) and her daughter, Lucy came to visit Liam for the second time in three months from California.  They just can't get enough of our little stinker.

Liam has no idea how lucky he is to have so much love around him.  MoMo and Grandpa and so many other Charles' came to his shindig.

King Charles says, "Please stay tuned for Part II."