Too busy to blog?!?

Hard to believe that I could possible be too busy to blog, but alas...tis true! I'm gonna take a quick minute to cram in some pics from Stephanie's day in Chicago over the weekend, and tonight, I will get on the update from Halloween. Just wanted to share the all important message of "Don't Blink" with you today. Last night I picked Stephanie up from school at 9:00. One comes to realize how old their child is getting when practices at school last until 9...shouldn't she be in bed by 9? Oh...I guess that was a few years ago. I took my place in the passenger seat and asked her if she wanted to drive. "Sure!" (I mean, what else would she say?) She just began driving on roads other than the neighborhood roads yesterday and I thought I'd push my luck and have her drive at night too. Of course she did a wonderful job and I really wasn't scared at all. However, when we were coming down perryville, the song "Don't Blink" came on and the tears started to flow. Perhaps it's all catching up with me. Who knows, but I do know that my time at home with her seems so fleeting, and although she is very smart, it seems I still have so much left to teach her before she's on her own. She's 'too old' to trick or treat this year and instead will be taking my great nephew trick or treating. And then I think...this time next year I won't even have to pick her up...she'll be driving herself. You may find me in the fetal position next Oct. 26th. Good thing I have a year to prepare. "Don't Blink..." Steph at the American Girl Cafe for Brunch White Chocolate Mousse for Dessert! Stephanie and Devin @ Ed's
Stephanie and Devin at the Hershey Factory Stephanie picking out her hairstyle for Michelle

Let's do it all again...

Sunday night and I am wiped out...some from cooking at work last week (and doing the dishes two days) because really cooking and doing dishes for 200 is not my idea of a good time, some from the crazy schedule, some from the weekend, some from the lack of sleep I got last night. The neighbor's car startled me awake at 2:30 AM-- really must muffler's be that loud? Then, the tennis elbow and the carpal tunnel syndrome did it's trick and after tossing and turning for 4 hours, I finally got up to get ready for our big day in Chicago. This weekend feels like it has been about 5 days. Of course, there is all the activity from yesterday...last night my niece, her new husband, Aubrey, us, Ms. Shannon and Devin had bday cake for Steph as noted on the previous entry. My niece brought her honeymoon pics from Jamaica for us to see. SOOOO beautiful. So happy they had a good time. What a great couple they are and I'm so glad to have him "officially" in our family. As strange as we all are I wonder if he's happy about that!?! Anyway, I digress...again! We headed for brunch at the American Girl Cafe...will post those super cute photos tomorrow, then shopped at bit at the AG store. Off to the Hershey factory, then shopping at Water tower. I could stay there all day and then some! Drove down by the lake to check out the views, had dinner at Ed's, and then stopped to see Poppy on our way home and drop off his winter clothes. Did I mention 2 hours of homework and 2 loads of laundry? A great way to round out a perfect day! My cook is off sick, so tomorrow, I can begin to do it all again...

DMV Here we come!

We were up at 7 am today to get to the DMV before the really long lines form. Stephanie had her last driver's ed class at 10:00 today so we didn't have a lot of time to spend there. Yesterday, we stopped at the SS administration to order a duplicate social security card. They gave us a letter stating that it was ordered. I sure hoped that would work. As I was sitting on Stephanie's bed [wondering if she would really get a permit without her SS card] when I asked her...."Where did you see it last?" She said, "In the cabinet in my desk." So I looked in there one last time. Drats! No luck, I said, "The only thing in here is this reader's digest fund raising envelope". And I threw it on the bed. Stephanie looked in the envelope and said, "Here it is!" I looked at her in amazement with her new found card in her hand. "That is nothing by God" I said! We found ourselves with renewed enthusiasm now that I knew we had ALL of the pieced needed for a Driver's Permit. "Oh wait...what about that form they gave me 6 weeks ago from Drive Right?" Stephanie said. "I thought you had it" I said. To which Stephanie replied, "No, I gave it to you so I wouldn't lose it." I said, "Well that was absolutely not the right thing to do...I lose everything!" Upstairs to my room I went to look for it and lo and behold there it was. OK, now we were really set. We were off, and it was 5 'til 8. The line shouldn't be very long when we get there :) We checked in at information and the lady said we had everything we needed! Hooray. She gave us this...Number 231. Shouldn't be long now! Finally they called our number...I was a bit nervous as the guy checked in all of her paperwork. "Do you have something with her name and address?" Uh....Ummmm...Well....Uh, No. He paused as I nervously looked through my purse. Steph said, "Hey, what about that letter we got yesterday at Social Security?" I told you she was a smart girl! "You're exactly right!" I said. Sure enough, there was the letter in my purse with her name and address on it....Perfect! Ok...step down to the cashier...$20 and she was on her way to take her test. She finished with a 97% cuz of course she's a genius :D As she was waiting in line...I heard...."Jacque!" and turned around to see my friend Angie standing there. Who knew? I sure just talked to her last night and we didn't realize each other was being there. She exclaimed how she couldn't tolerate how Stephanie was getting so old (that's a general consensus among my friends lately)-- and just then....Stephanie walked over with her brand new permit! :) She was done...simple as that. Of course, you know, she has never driven before...so we were home about 5 minutes when she said, "How about we drive around the block?" I am sensing I'll be doing this quite frequently for the next few weeks...Ok, I said, let's go. Stephanie ran out to the car and began to get in the passenger side. "Ummm, you gonna drive from over there?" I asked. Oh! In the driver's seat she got. Really, she could not be any more excited than she was! As she got in the car she said..."Um, Mom, there's only one pedal." OMG, this is going to be tougher than I thought! "Stephanie, there are truly two pedals, the gas pedal is on the right hand side." "Oh, there it is!" She replied. Her first drive around the block wasn't really too bad. Next, we had to drive to Devin's to brag about, I mean to show her the new permit :) Driving to Devin's was another story...but not bad for her first time. After that we were on streets with a 45 mph speed limit AND traffic, so it was my turn to drive. Whew. Did I mention her Dad went with us? This is him in the back seat... Of course, that's a conversation for another day. After running several errands we finally arrived home for Stephanie's birthday dinner...mac N cheese, broccoli, sausage and cake!Yummy ice cream cake from A La Mode ice cream! It was very tasty. Then, Stephanie was off to the trail of screams with Ms. Shannon and Devin...Are those the cutest girls or what? That was about 3 hours ago, and they're still not home. Long lines...Tomorrow...Brunch at the American Girl Store (for my all American Girl), shopping on Michigan Avenue...and dinner at Ed's. My mom leave Monday, and the kids are already down in the mouth about that...But for tomorrow...we will celebrate! Until next time...

Happy Sweet 15, Stephanie Joy

Today, my first baby is 15. (Sarah, wait til they are 15!!!) We will rush to get a copy of her lost social security card today in hopes that she can get her driver's permit tomorrow! Stephanie has been such a joy her entire life...ok, maybe not her entire life :) 3 was a rough age for her, but that was such a long time ago that who can really remember the fact that she would never go to bed, would scream she hated me and pound her head on the wall if she didn't get her way? Stephanie? NO! That's what everyone that knew her would say. Well, she has more than made up for it since she has been the easiest child to parent perhaps in history! It has been a fabulous road, and the older she gets, the more I burst with pride at her accomplishments. Now that she is a freshman, and attending the same high school I attended, I am so excited to share with her all the terrific things that high school brings. I relish in the comments I receive from my friends, when they boast of her intelligence and responsibility, her willingness to help the less fortunate, and her integrity. Stephanie, you are my joy in every sense of the word and I love you with my whole heart. Mom

Couldn't be more proud

There were a few more wedding pictures that I wanted to share...here they are...The reason these pictures are so important is that they are all my greats :) Great niece and great nephews. What I was especially proud of at the wedding is the exceptional parents that my nieces and nephew have grown up to be. They are trying their hardest to "break the cycle" by raising their children in loving, competent, functional homes. Robby, my nephew, and his bright eyed, baby Dylan, and then there is Gabe, son of my niece Cassie, and then of course Aubrey...no additional information required! Of all the jobs on Earth, there is none more important than parenting. I am so happy that my nieces and nephew take their responsibility seriously...for that I couldn't be more proud.

41 and Having Fun!

I had quite an enjoyable "homespun" birthday. We hung out at home and watched dancing with the stars and spelling bee. I took time to read some scrapbook magazines. My Mom and Kevin took care of the chauffeuring so that I could lounge around in my pajamas all night...really the greatest gift! My mom made me German Chocolate cake, and chipped beef on toast by request. Man was it tasty! I will soon be the proud owner of my new Tivo, compliments of my husband, I got some great 3-D cookie cutters, flowers and Halloween decor from Kristina, a card from Stephanie and some money from my Mom, Mother-n-law, & birthday club with which I will purchase my new Vera bag, the books I wanted and a new under the counter CD player. The most interesting part of my birthday, was when I went to blow out my candles...and it was time to make a wish.I took so long that Kevin said, "It's not a prayer, it's a wish!" Funny thing was...there really wasn't anything I wanted to wish for, nothing that I needed, or really wanted, besides what I already have. What a satisfying place to be in my life. :) So...I wished for .... shhhhhh! I can't tell, right?!?

The funniest thing however, was the card that I got from my Mom. I noticed that it had postage on it. Odd. Then I noticed the postage was from 2000. Ever buy a card for someone and give it to them several years later? Well, I do too and so does my Mom! I said, Mom, did you buy this in 2000 and forget to give it to me for seven years? Sure she did! Cracked me up!

Mr. & Mrs. Ryan Fritz

To all my faithful bloggers who have emailed me to inquire about the wedding photos....here they are for your viewing pleasure :)