Par-TAY

Michael's school threw a "Founder's Ball" that they have every year for the graduates. It was super super fun. Like.... there aren't words. But I will try to write about it anyway. In the morning there was an awards brunch at the Hilton. Then we were off to the Phoenician that evening. We got all fancied up. We used valet. Michael bought a new suit (he has needed one for a long time) and I borrowed a dress from Tracy and she did my hair... oh and I should probably mention she also watched my kids overnight and it turns out Weston had an ear infection and woke up crying all night. She is the BEST sister in the whole world and I will owe her for a long time. 

At first there was a champagne reception. Waiters brought around champagne (or sparkling cider) and h'ordervs and we mingled. Then the ball room opened up and all the guests went in to their tables. The graduates went to take pictures. They came in the room later very formal-like and we stood and clapped for them. Then we had dinner. Delicious! An amazing salad and the entree was amazing too. The dessert bar wasn't all that great. After dinner there were a few presentations and toasts. The students put together a really funny video. Afterwards there was a live band and lots of dancing. This was the greatest part. Michael and I are terrible dancers. That is very safe to say. But I started dancing and all of Michaels friends were dancing, so then he started dancing and it was such a blast. Seriously one of the most fun nights of my life. I think it was the combination of everything.... graduation, a fancy place, adrenaline. I don't know. I just had a great great time. Michael did too, though not as much fun as I did I think. But I was so happy with him for dancing with me, even though he has never ever danced with me before with the exception of one uninteresting slow dance at our wedding. 

We stayed out past midnight (why does that seem so late now?) and slept in and went out to breakfast in the morning. Dream come true. The next night was graduation. Post to follow. 

This is our dancing shot. There is an action shot, but it is on the phone and I don't want to download it right now.

There were professional photographers there. This is the picture they took. Needless to say we did not purchase them. Why did I feel the need to stick my stomach out like a pregnant person? Why didn't the photographer fix Michael's jacket? Questions that may never have answers.

I like this picture. I think Michael is ridiculously handsome and this is his most natural smile that pictures don't usually capture. Notice I am wearing his jacket? Freezing!

The day after my last post, Michael sent me an email with this little beauty attached. He said he read my blog. Isn't he the greatest? No really though. He is always doing things for me without me needing to ask him to. Thanks Michael! Love you!

Mother's Day

I was just looking at these pictures that Carolyn was thoughtful enough to take on Mother's Day, when suddenly I realized.... I have TWO children! The realization just smacked me over the head. I'm like a real mom with a gaggle of children. That's one to hang on each arm, or leg. When it's just one kid you can get away with the newly wed/new mom persona. Not with two. What I'm saying, I suppose,  is that I feel really old. Remember your own mom when you were little? She was probably my age! My mom has always seemed so old to me, but she was really just about my age. That means that my kids see me as I saw my mom. Get it? I'm old!!!!! And I have a family! It's too weird for words. My only consolation is that someday my children will be my age and they will realize I wasn't as old as they always perceived me to be.

That whole load of jibberish said, here are the pictures. They are the same except obviously (per usual) the kids decide to look good never at the same time. I need Michael to do some face swaps for me.

PS- My fingernails are sea foam green thanks to Activity Days. Good Times.

Disney Part 3

This is the last one, I promise. Even though, I have a sneaky suspicion no one is actually reading these and I do not intend to use my blog as a book of memories later, so I'm not sure why I do this. But here it is.

Pirate night. Raegan and I were too busy swashbuckling to get a picture taken.

 Kids going down the slide in the kids club. It was huge and they loved it.

 One of the bajillion ice cream cones consumed.

 Doing a craft in the kids group. Did I mention she wouldn't go to the group unless I was with her? It was a huge bummer and my plans of working out and laying out the whole time were squashed. Let's just say Raegan and I had lots of bonding time, which was actually nice because we don't get as much one on one time since baby #2 has come into our lives.

 Favorite person award goes to Cody, once again. (I went a little easier on the sunscreen this time)

 On the last day of the cruise we stopped at Disney's own private island and it did not disappoint. It was gorgeous and fantastic. You can swim out to the water slide area shown here. But Raegan wasn't tall enough. Bummer. They had free lunch, which was great. Some people went snorkeling and said they saw awesome fish.

 We rented inner tubes and other floaty things.

 We went on a bike ride with the kiddos (Cody took Mack and my parents came). It was one of my favorite parts of the trip. It was gorgeous and relaxing and something Raegan has never done before. They had a little loop that was a few miles, nothing too strenuous. You can also see that the tops of my legs are sunburned. My back is too, which is why I had to buy this rash guard for a bajillion dollars.

This is a lookout point on the bike trail. You can see the boat back there.

Did anyone go to the Desert Botanical Gardens back when they had the Chihuli display? It was great. This famous glass artist Chihuli guy also made this chandelier for the boat.

 On St Thomas Monica and I took the kids to an aquarium. In hindsight I wouldn't do it again because the taxi to get there cost like $50 or something ridiculous. And the beaches there are awesome, so I just would have gone to the beach... without a child.

 There were lots of cool animals to see at the aquarium and these giant lizards/iguanas were everywhere. Do you see it?

 Cute Carter.

 Here Raegan is in her first Congo line. The girl in front of her didn't really get it.

 Splashing and Jumping with Carter and Aunt Amy.

 Bon Voyage! Thank you for the millionth time Nonnie and Papa. It was amazing and we are so lucky to have these memories forever.

Cruise Part 2

When you set sail, they throw a party. Raegan was all about dancing the entire trip. She always wanted to "go to the dancing party". She still wants to. The video at the end is of her dancing. She was a maniac!

 The first couple days were really windy. It made it hard to go swimming, but kids don't care.

 In our rooms they had these little round pillows that the kids loved to ride as horses.

 The water was so blue! This is at our first stop in St Maarten. Or was it St Thomas? I might have gone a little overboard on the sunscreen.

 The islands really were gorgeous. St Thomas was prettier.

 Here is a good picture of our boat.

 Here we are dancing as usual. Whenever music was playing, Raegan was dancing and demanding that I dance with her.

 Cousin love.

 Raegan and Mack mostly enjoyed going up and down the many stairs and riding the elevator.

 The first couple days were super windy. Did I say that already? And with the boat already rocking, it made for some crazy waves in the pools.

 Formal night. raegan would get out of her chair at every meal to go sit with Cody. He was seriously a trooper and let her sit with him through most meals.

 Amy!

 Yummy pudding with sprinkles. After the first couple of nights we realized we should just order her a bowl of sprinkles cause that's all she wanted.

 More fun on the stairs.

 This is during Family Feud when I won.