Strawberry Fields Forever

At the end of April I packed Madeleine, Katelyn and Papa and we went to the strawberry fields by my parents' house to pick strawberries. These strawberries are an annual favorite! I have never tasted berries quite that sweet and yummy, they are a real treat. I initially was going to take the two girls by myself and then at the last minute dad was coming along and most gratefully so! What was I thinking trying to take a 9 month old and a 3 year old trying to pick fruit? Dad kept Katelyn occupied and I carried Madeleine on my back in my Mei Tai carrier. I picked two very full gallons of strawberries and suffered for it the next few days by having my thighs and calfs on fire from squatting to pick berries while carrying Maddy on my back. However, I would not trade it for the world. Katelyn had a ball, and Madeleine fell asleep on my back. I love making memories like these.

Getting ready to go!

Good pickins (Andrew loves that Dad is in his old OZ jacket :)

Me and my aching back!

Papa and Katelyn

Incriminating Photographs...

My girlfriends and I took off to the GA mountains for a weekend of fun and relaxation - sadly this was about a month ago and I am just now getting to this post (shame on me)! June and Kim worked hard on all the details and had so many great ideas to keep the weekend lively and a chance to make it a little more meaningful. The food was to die for good (we all chipped in on dinners) and the entertainment was fabulous. We were supposed to come with our bucket list (things to do before we expire) and 10 favorite things (like on Oprah's my favorite things) so we could get great product ideas from others who have tried and true excellent products they can't live without (or don't want too)!



We also drew names for a secret sister. I drew Rebecca. The gifts for our secret sister were supposed to be simple little items like candy or lotion - but I jazzed up my packaging with my signature hot pink and hot green polka-dot ribbons. Imagine my surprise when the first gift I got from my secret sister had the same pink ribbon around it. At first I was thinking it could be a coincidence or Rebecca was feeding my secret sis my ribbons to do their own jazzing until the next surprise came with more pink and green ribbons - the gig was up - I was on to you Rebecca! I thought it was hilarious - we ended up drawing each others names, but she didn't know I had her. I loved busting her chops about this on the day of discovery - here we are with our shared signature ribbons...



Two very memorable items of entertainment from the weekend included our "makeovers" and our "Me" books. June had us draw a card labeling us either a makeup artist or a client and then as a team we drew a time period. I was a client, Lisa was my artist and our "time period" was 'Night of the Living Dead'. We then had an hour to get into costume - this is what we came up with...



From this angle you don't really get to see all the leaves in my hair or the fake rubber snake - but I LOVE Lisa's joy on her face for this shot!

Kim and Rebecca were paired, as well Katherine and Ruth Ann, and Regina and Sherry. They had the 80's, Victorian Era, and Rennaisance woman.



From the moment we arrived to the next night Sherry was buried in these books she had brought with her, and we were all harassing her trying to figure out what in the world she was doing and could she please put it down. Well as always with Sherry, we were in for a treat. For each person she had bought these "All About Me" books, and in them she had created a section for each person who was there to write a funny memory, favorite attributes, what you have learned, your personal details for whomever the book belonged to. So everyone came home with a book with all the wonderful stories, memories, attributes everyone admired about you - it was priceless.

I had such a great time being in the company of such great women that make me laugh - it could not have been a more perfect weekend.

Does this helmet make my head look big?

One of our favorite things to do as a family (when we get the chance) is to take bike rides - nice street bike rides, much to Andrew's dismay I am not a mountain biker enthusiast. We have ridden all over Hilton Head Island, Stone Mountain Park, and the Silver Comet Trail (a trail that runs from Atlanta to the Alabama line). So when little Maddygins joined the pack we had to figure out a way to continue this fun past time. Answer solved in our new state of the art bike trailer from REI. It can seat 1 or 2 so it is perfect while we have Katelyn with us. I wanted Madeleine to have a helmet as well for her new set of wheels, but the smallest I could find, well you get the picture...

So no luck there, but we have been able to go on a few short jaunts through our neighborhood (which is quite the feat because it is very hilly - and let's be honest I am not in my fighting form). The girls love the ride, and it is fun to have something we can all do together.



Andrew on a turn around the cul-de-sac. Anybody else want a ride?

I (Heart) New York!

Andrew and I had the amazing opportunity to go to NYC this past weekend with our good friends, June and Jorgen. Andrew and I have never been, but have always wanted to go so when we had the last minute chance, we took it! So a warning to those who might be bored with my travelogue, stop reading now.

June and I were determined not to miss out on bunco, but Jorgen and Andrew wanted to leave sooner so they flew out on Thursday while June and I won big at bunco and flew out first thing Friday morning. My sister Kimberly was gracious enough to watch Madeleine for us while we were gone and my dad filled in while Kimberly taught school on Friday - what a great family! June and I had no problem with our flight into New York and the pilot was great to do a full circle of Manhattan before landing the plane so we got a sneak peek of what was in store. We then caught a taxi to our hotel in Times Square. Our cab driver was a crazy female driver - I was seriously shocked no one was killed or seriously injured in the drive. As soon as we made it to the hotel we picked up the guys, dropped off our luggage and set off to get our tickets for the shows we wanted to see. We had heard horror stories of the half-price ticket line taking forever line and in the end not being much of a savings so we just went directly to the box office of the shows we wanted to see. In the end we bought tickets to Phantom of the Opera and the Lion King and headed off to see Ground Zero.

Really, there's not much to see there. They have the site blocked off with high fences, but you are able to peak through chain links in some places to get a view. A street vendor had pictures of the site before 9/11 and to see the surrounding building with the World Trade Centers you could get an idea of the magnitude of the loss of that great structure. I could not for a moment try to imagine what it must have been like that day. We then made our way to Battery Park to get a look at the Statue of Liberty.

We didn't care to wait in line for hours for a chance to take the ferry over, it was just nice to be able to view it and imagine what it must have been like for so many transatlantic voyagers making there way into America. Also in Battery Park they had this huge sculpture that seemed so out of place, I could not figure out what it was doing there, but we soon found out it was a piece that was in the lobby of one of the World Trade Center buildings and was somewhat salvaged and the remains of which are now displayed in the park.

Our next location was probably one of my favorites, Chinatown. I loved it here! It was so strange being in a place in the U.S. where you totally felt like you were in another country. So many street vendors selling sunglasses, t-shirts, handbags - you name it!

After getting our fill of Chinatown, we headed up to Central Park. It was breathtakingly beautiful, like an oasis in a concrete desert. When we were first were walking into the park a group of New York police officers were walking out. I could not resist asking for their picture and they were so happy to oblige. I can not imagine what it must be like living in New York and not having a lot of green space, but I guess they go by quality not quantity here.

We made our way back to the hotel for a little rest and to get ready for our first Broadway show - Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic Theater (supposedly the longest running show on Broadway). I know there will be those of you aghast at what I am about to say, but I really could have gone without spending the money on this production. This was the first time that we ever saw it, and not knowing anything about the storyline, it was extremely difficult to follow and to understand what the heck was going on. That being said, the actors had amazing voices and the production itself was amazing. I am a huge Les Miserables fan, and I thought it would be more along that line, I just could not follow the story enough for me to really be enthralled by it. To top the evening off, after the final curtain call with all the cast on stage, the Phantom starts requesting charitable donations and holding up items you can buy to benefit charity. I am a full believer in giving of your resources to those less fortunate, however, I feel there is a time and a place and after spending hundreds of dollars to see a performance, I did not want to see the main character petitioning for my money - very strange for me indeed.

I loved being right on Time Square with all the hustle and bustle of people, we walked up and down the streets looking at the lights and taking in more of the action before retiring for our next day of fun.

On Saturday we first headed uptown to check out the shops and Macys surely did not disappoint - that store was huge. Fun fact I learned while being there, the original Miracle on 34th Street was shot there on location in the early 1940s and was filmed in 21 days. After Macys we also took our time to walk around the garment district and it was bead heaven, there was a street with a row of shops that all they did was sell beads and jewelry, if June and I had more time, you know where we would have been! We also saw the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the New York Public Library, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral (which was a little chaotic with the Pope in town - you can see the mob of people filling out of mass), and Saks 5th Avenue.

Andrew really wanted to go to this little island west of Manhattan called Roosevelt Island so we took the subway there. I should take this time to profess my love for the subway (as long as Andrew is there with me to decipher where the heck I am going!). It was so convenient to hop on and come up in a totally different area of the city. I am probably one of the few Atlantans who loves Marta as well, I wish it was closer to me and had a better network set up to make it more usable, but the subway in New York was surely proficient. At most stops the locale was noted my mosaic tiles on the walls, I loved that! When we did take the subway to Roosevelt Island we had to take about 4 escalators down, so you know we were a good ways underground so that it could go under the channel, and when we popped through on the other side we had to take the elevator back up to the surface - and it was well worth the trip! Seeing Manhattan from across the water made you realize how incredibly huge that section of the city is.

When we got back to our hotel, we had just enough time to change our clothes and head out again for our next Broadway show - The Lion King. As much disinterest I had in the Phantom of the Opera, I was completely opposite on The Lion King. It was FABULOUS! I can not say enough good things about the incredible costumes, the animals, the actors, the theatrics - everything was terrific. We were lucky to have 11th row on the aisle which normally you would prefer center, however, the animals come down the aisles and to see them up close was phenomenal. I was not that crazy about the movie when it came out, but the musical was well worth every penny spent. After the show we made our way uptown a little and caught a late dinner in a diner and behind us with a bunch of foul-mouthed Jewish buddies is Jackie Mason (a well-known Jewish comedian) - Jorgen could not keep his eyes off him, it was hilarious!

To top off our perfect weekend getaway, we left for the airport early Sunday morning. We were flying on buddy passes and with the Pope's visit the chances for making it out of New York were growing slimmer by the minute. After attempting directs from NY to ATL, we decided to reroute to DC and then on to Atlanta. We had to go to another section of the airport that is a taxi cab ride away from the main terminals and only handles small shuttle flights. We were making it through security (this section only had one screening area) when I hear the TSA agent checking tickets and IDs behind me say, "I know who you are, but I'm not going to blow your cover". To which a very familiar voice says, "I really appreciate that". I turn behind me to look and see what in the world they are talking about and low and behold I see Chevy Chase! Now if you remember from my LA post, I was dying to see a celebrity with no luck and here in New York directly behind me is Chevy Chase! So of course I went into idiot mode. Another one of the screeners said how much they liked his films which I stupidly replied, "Oh, I didn't - just kidding!" and then whatever stupid force posessed me to make the next statement I have no idea! So next I say, "Actually, there is a house in my neighborhood that gets all decked out at Christmas we call it the Chevy Chase house" (which is totally true, but tell me why in the world he would care to know this stupid piece of trivia) and then he replies, "Well good for you". Ouch! I totally deserved that one! I was tagged for additional screening along with him and his wife. His wife was standing right in front of me as he was being waved down. As the wands would go off, they would make this nannannannanna sound which Chevy then imitates sounding identical to his scene in Christmas Vacation - crazy! They were on our flight (Chevy, his wife and one of his daughters) and at the gate they sat separate probably to draw very little attention. You could tell he did not want to be bothered and after my stupidity there was no way I would stoop any lower to ask for an autograph. June starts playing the tourist pitch perfectly by taking a picture of me and then saying, oh take a picture of me too - knowing full well we weren't really trying to get her in the shot. I could just tell Chevy was in on us - see the picture below. Looking at it, it does not do justice to how much he looked just as he does on his movies - I was thrilled!

Sorry for another long trip post - I want to remember how great this weekend was. I absolutely loved New York. It was one of those items on my list of things to do before I die and it definitely did not disappoint. The weather was increbile, the Yankees were surprisingly very friendly, and there were so many amazing things to see and do - I hope I am able to go back sometime in the future.

#5 - A Little Too Personal Post

For the past 2 months I have been able to be pregnant again. This was quite a surprise as we were nowhere near "trying" to be pregnant. From previous experience I have taken opportunities of being pregnant as a blessing for as long as I am able to hold a pregnancy because I have had several miscarriages in the past. Most of my pregnancies I lose at 6 weeks, so this time when I had made it past that mark I was starting to feel more hopeful that this one might be the one. The longest I have been able to carry was 9 weeks - my 2nd pregnancy. That was an especially difficult time because I had heard the heartbeat and had finally been able to let down my guard that this might actually work, however, at a routine checkup the heartbeat was no more.

One thing I have learned through my journey to build my family is that Heavenly Father is really in charge. I unfortunately never learned this through my miscarriage trial, but was able to learn this through the process of Madeleine's adoption. I had felt so long that He was not listening to me when I pleaded for a child (we have been in the baby-making business for almost 5 years now). I have since learned that this was terribly untrue. I know now He knew all along my pain and the trials I was enduring and that He had a plan for me. I know He had Madeleine desginated for our family and was waiting for the opportunity to send her to us in the way that would bless us the most, and through adoption our joy was magnified by also having close ties with a loving birth family.

So when we found out about our surprise pregnancy (there have been times when we have tried for a year and not been able to get pregnant), I kept reminding myself that it really is His will and no matter what He loves me. I ended up losing the baby last night. That brings the total to 5 miscarriages. Although the physical pain is great, it has been easier for me to choose. I can choose to wallow in the emotional pain of another terrific loss, or I can choose to realize that Heavenly Father knows the depths of my heart and have faith that He has something greater for me. I choose the second option this time.

This is our personal trial that we have had to endure, I know there are many who suffer with other things, but I do know no matter what the trial Heavenly Father loves each of us individually and has a plan of happiness for all of us. I am grateful that I can now feel my Heavenly Father's love.

Taxes Aren't Everything!

This has been a packed week and a half! I got the wonderful opportunity last weekend to go on an all-girls weekend trip with a bunch of my friends up to the GA mountains - unfortunately I left the SD card with my pictures at my mom's store, so no pictures to post of that, yet! Also because of my card mixup, I didn't get pictures of my newest nephew born to Steve and Lynnette on Thursday night - still is nameless, but narrowed down to Brady, Brett or Tyler.

On Monday I started watching my niece, Katelyn, while my sister is at work. This is a huge change for me because with Madeleine, I usually get up at 8, when she wakes up, give her a bottle and play with her until she's ready to go down for her morning nap, usually around 9:30 - then I get my breakfast and get showered and ready for the day (her morning naps are usually 1.5 - 2 hours long). Then she wakes up, I run my outside errands, eat lunch and put her down for her afternoon nap, which she'll sleep for about 2-3 hours. Katelyn is dropped off at 7 (I'm usually not dressed at this point) and I've finally gotten her trained to come lay in bed with me until Madeleine gets up. Katelyn is still "supposed" to take an hour nap during the day - I usually make her at least lay down for my sanity check. I had a real hard time the first couple of days getting adjusted, but I think I'm finally getting into the swing of things. Then my sister went out of town for Spring Break and my parents and I are switching off in taking care of Katelyn. So Katelyn was the lucky girl that got to go with us to do our taxes on Friday.

It's really not as bad as it sounds. I actually love going down there. My Aunt Martha (my dad's brother's wife), graciously, does our taxes for us. So while we are there we get to spend time with my aunt, uncle and cousins. My grandma (Mom's mom) also lives in the same town so we got to stop in and visit with her as well. And, to round it all off we also got to see Madeleine's birth mom and birth grandma - quite the busy day, but a really fun one!

We were supposed to meet up with Madeleine's birth mom and dad for lunch, but that didn't end up working out so we ate lunch by ourselves and vowed to meet up later on. So instead we stopped at my grandma's house. She was so happy to see us and see the great grandchildren. Katelyn even got to take a ride in her elevator chair. It was supposed to be one ride per grandchild (we used to LOVE this when we were little), however, Katelyn learned (like I did long ago) how absolutely joyful it is to sit while going up the stairs and greedily indulged herself in another ride. I should have been mad at her for disobeying - but it was so darn funny! Grandma was beside herself because she is always so cautious about following the rules, but I think she too found humor in the naughty 3 year old.

Katelyn, Grandma, and Madeleine

We next went to my aunt's office to do our taxes where we met up with Madeleine's birth grandma and birth mom and my cousin Krista came over as well. It was a packed office as you can imagine, just before the tax deadline, but it was still so much fun to talk and visit together. Uncle Ken came by with my cousin Hannah and decided to take Katelyn with him back to his house so they could play and minimize the destruction to the office! We went over to his house after we were done with our tax party and got to have some fun while Madeleine conked out watching the girls be silly.

The Cool Kids, Hannah and Katelyn

Needs no introduction...

The next Hannah Montana?

Katelyn thinks Uncle Ken should join in the fun!

All in all a great day!

Easter Celebrations

Our Easter morning started off with Madeleine finding out what the Easter Bunny had brought her. She's not even 1 so the Easter Bunny went a little easy on her. She got a new stuffed bunny, several plastic Easter eggs to play with and a brand new rubber duckie.

We then went to church, but I couldn't tell you much of what was talked about because little missy thought it was really fun to talk and sing at the top of her lungs at the most inopportune times, so I spent most of time in the hall.

After church I tried to get my patient husband to take a picture of me and Maddy in our Easter attire. After a couple of clicks, he was ready to be done - I wasn't thrilled with pictures, so this ended up being the best one (you can only imagine what the others looked like!).

Then we were headed off to our Easter celebrations - first stop, the Torrez home for an Opp Easter. We had tons and tons of food and we gouged ourselves and then as you can see, the men took their time on the couch. I had to include this picture of Nana and Maddy because I love the way how Anne's arm is transparent (she was trying to do a funny pose and I caught her mid movement). I also loved Kaitlyn's face in this picture, I have no idea what she was planning with the shipping tape!

Next we were off to the Mills home. Yep, we still sit around the dining room table with the crystal and china for Sunday dinners, and Andrew decided to catch a second round of desserts (Mississippi Mud, can you blame him?) Next, another familiar couch shot (what is it about men and couches anyways?) and a few pictures of the cousins playing. I have to say my little nephew's bank outfit cracked me up!

Towards the end of the night, Madeleine had her fill, she was tired! Papa thought it was time to play a game of Patty-Cake. I absolutely love seeing my dad with children, it makes me think of how he was with us when we were little. He is a darn cute Papa, if I do say so myself!