Who Wore it Better? Wedding Edition

Seersucker suits with pink/peach hued ties and tan bucks? I'd say that when it comes to this confident summer look, it's a dead tie between Henry and his favorite "big boy" Robert. Hen said "I didn't feel like smiling, because I wasn't happy, but I was." when he saw this photo and his scowling mug.  Other thoughts he has had today:

"I didn't like you dancing at the wedding because I wanted you to be my mommy and not to dance."

and

"I will take your iPad to school with me tomorrow so that I can do my plans on it."

and

"Daddy and I are doing work. We are doing the hedges outside. You can't do it because you aren't a big boy. Girls don't do hedges, they only drink soda."  (this invited a lengthy conversation on how girls and boys are equals and if mommy wanted to trim the hedge outside, she could certainly do just that.)

Oh the things that come out of a three-year-old's mouth. Precious.

May 8-14: Walk of Shame

Seven days.  Yes, it's been seven days.  I'll spare you the excuses and just say that I've been very busy NOT being busy.  It's been pretty spectacular and the break from busy was much needed.

I knew it'd been a little while since I'd written a post, but was kindly reminded earlier this week via a post on my facebook wall:

"as we approach the one week anniversary of the last time you updated your blog, I'd like to pause and reflect on all of the poor college students who should've spent countless minutes procrastinating and reading your blog instead. you single handedly might have increased the overall GPA of the Dickinson Community but no doubt left us without the h-core wit of yo blog. get on it molly bo bo!"

This is Teddy's idea of a gentle reminder.  I was honestly shocked that he didn't  come to my office to feed me a dose of guilt trip every day that I failed to update--and he is one of the last people who actually needs updates on my life.  I see him five days of the week!  Sooo---Teddy, here you go, you're welcome.  To anyone else who happened upon this site in the last week and wondered why they heard crickets, my apologies.

In short, this was a great week, including a very special day in our house--Mike's 34th Birthdaaaay!!  Love celebrating that guy.  Here are a few photos from the week:

Mother's Day present from Henbot 3000.  Mother's Day was such a lovely day with  my guys and my gal.  Note in this photo--Henry is wearing his old winter hat.  No weather-related need to wear it, he just likes this hat a lot.  Reminds me of that washing machine commercial with the boy who has the favorite blue & white hat that he wears everywhere.  Except that his mom washes his hat after a day of wear and tear.  This mom just sprays stuff with Febreeze.

Mike's #1 birthday wish--Dinner out at Issei Noodle.  BEST.FOOD.EVER.  We are die hard Issei fans and with two kids, don't often get out to eat.  Hen is chowing down (with one chopstick) on his order of Miso Udon.  He loves the fish cakes and gets a real kick out of the fact that there are hard-boiled eggs in his soup.  After an Issei-amazing dinner (always puts us in the best mood), we went home to sing the bday song and eat Mike's dessert request--Oreo Truffles.

Henry at 6:15am.  He's been getting up at around 5:45am lately and I just can't understand WHY I have to be awake when the first number on the clock is anything below a 6.  Honestly Hen.  Of course, I get up, but will try my damndest to get Henry to focus on something other than sitting on the bed saying "Mommy!!!  It's WAAAKE UP TIME!!!!!  I WANT CEEEREAAAAL!!!"  Usually I end up moving into his room and lying, awake but resting, while he plays with his toys.  On this particular morning he built a few tracks on his train table. 

Thursday morning activities--accomplishing so much before 6am.

Oh my wordness.  Alice's legs could not be any chunkier.  They are so cute, SHE is so cute.  Dressing her in warmer weather has been beyond fun for me.  You'll see her in a little plaid skirt above (with bloomers)...

...and then, in no bottoms at all.  It took me a few minutes to squeeze her into that skirt (it's sized 9 months, so it should fit her).  After realizing that trying to contain the chubbiness was not only silly, but near impossible, I released her from the confines of clothing.

There you have it.  A quick week-in-the-life.  There are a lot of other things going on (some work changes, last week of daycare for my cherubs who will be off for the summer with dad, family activities, volunteer-work-related commitments), but the few things mentioned above are those that are most dear to me.  I'll get back into the groove and will put something up tomorrow.  We're hamster-sitting for my sister and I have a whole photo-shoot planned for Porgy the Teddy Bear Hamster.  Look forward to it. 


P.S. Again, a little tale about the post title.  I recently explained to my mom what the phrase "walk of shame" meant.  She was aware of it, and got the concept in general.  Some of the folks in her office were using it in reference to the walk from the candy jar back to their desks...appropriate usage, and pretty cute, if you ask me.  While visiting her at work, I overheard someone mention that they were doing the candy walk of shame. Of course, being the good daughter that I am, I DID take the opportunity to share with my mom what the "college" walk of shame meant.  She screamed, covered her mouth and laughed, and then just said "Oh!  Molly!!"  :)  Love that mom of mine.

April 24: Eggstrodinary Alice

 

Purple cat toile peter-pan collared baby dress?  Purrfection.  

Easter was hoppy, relaxing, delicious, holy, sleepy, lots of other words that make little sense when strung together.  We needed that down time so much, and after a ridiculously large meal at the Boegel farm (seriously...like four proteins...the fam knows how to entertain), we headed back home for lazy television-watching and nap-taking.  Now that April is slowing down from "speeding bullet" to "chugging locomotive", I hope to have more of those nonsense low-key family weekends. 

March 27: Three Years, Three Parties

Sunday was the last of Henry's three birthday parties--one at school and then home w/us on his actual bday, one with "little friends" (accompanied by their "big friend" parents) on Saturday and then the large McDougall-Boegel family shindig on Sunday.  I had to laugh when, at his third third birthday party, after having heard the Happy Birthday song four or five times already that weekend, he casually looked up from his Plex keytar, and blew out the candle in one small huff.  He smiled, quite pleased with himself, and went back to composing.

All three parties were really lovely.  Our small celebration at home was low-key and quite appropriate.  Henry opened his present from Alice--a remote control police car with sound and lights--and played with it for the rest of the night.  Saturday was awesome--a herd of preschoolers and toddlers playing dress-up (I was working to get them into parade formation, but we never made it downstairs), while adults enjoyed the company of friends and a glass of wine or two (no 3rd birthday party is complete without it....didn't you know that?!)  Lastly, the big "to do" with the fam.  Always a favorite event in my calendar year.  There is nothing I love more than seeing my kids surrounded by the people who love them and have watched them grow.

After three days of parties, Mike and I are exhausted.  It's off to work today, no rest for the parent.  Perhaps I'll make a celebration of it and bring along one of those chocolate peanut-butter cupcakes from yesterday.  Happy Monday to me!

March 17: Ireland Forever!!

They're 12.5% Irish...can't you tell??

February 14: Happy Mummert Chocolates Day!

Today is Valentine's Day. An event I've celebrated joyously on some years, and cursed mightily on others. I still remember my first valentines gift from a real and true boyfriend...a chocolate rose and large Hershey Kiss w/a card signed "love, Matt" (oh...how my heart filled with joy). I remember an awkward but touching first V-day with my husband--he cooked quite a feast for his doting girlfriend...and his roommate Charlie. Not really a holiday meant for three, but it was just one of the many examples of his thoughtfulness and loyalty.

On the flip-side, I remember a less than pleasant V-Day on which there was a rather emotional break-up. I also recall the pain of unrequited love, when, in third grade, I tried to muster up the courage to tell my first crush, Michael, that I "like, liked" him...but got scared and ran into the girl's bathroom where I turned about 76 shades of red.

No matter the year or situation, though, I have always had one very true Valentine. My dad. He never forgets, and delivers on the day with a box of Mummert Chocolates or some other equally delicious treat. I've come to look forward to it each year, and even though I sort of expect a valentine from my dear old dad, I'm always caught off guard when it arrives. As I think about it, I realize that what strikes me the most is how understated my dad's valentine is. It's not done with show, it's not boastful or looking for any kind of instant approval or praise, it just appears, all of a sudden, at your door. A little reminder of something so big--your dad's love for you, his daughter.

This morning was like any morning--crazy, last minute, rushing out the door. My hands were full as I juggled two children, a diaper bag, Hen's backpack, snacks for his V-Day party, his pillow pet, the car keys, one leg shoving the dogs back in the house as I grasped blindly for the door knob. I looked up from the middle of my "mom-capades" and there it was, the box of Mummert Chocolates with the big red bow resting under our mailbox, waiting for me and only me.

Happy Valentines Day! I hope you feel as loved and appreciated as I do.

February 11: I lurve you, you know, I loave you...

Annie Hall...what a classic. February is such a good movie month. Not only do you have so many fun, romantic, quirky films about love (especially the ones by Woody Allen...can't get enough of those), but it's awards season, which means dozens of past Oscar winners for your viewing pleasure.

Shifting gears--in the spirit of yesterday's post, here are a few shots of my mantle, ready for V-Day. I don't typically decorate the house for this holiday, because I usually forget all about it, but this year, since I'm home, it seems like I'm bombarded with reminders. If I weren't on maternity leave, I'd be working late into the night and every weekend getting applications read, re-read, checked, checked again, cut, bumped up, merit-aid awarded, committee-d...etc. etc. etc. This year would have been especially taxing given that Dson is up significantly in app numbers. I'm really proud of this, since I know that building the applicant pool doesn't start in app season, but, rather, with counselor outreach efforts, on-campus programs, interviews, info sessions, high school visits beginning when these kids are in their junior year (a long process). Still, I feel like I can't take ownership for this impressive pool since I'm not the one making the final decisions. I'll get over it, and I'll stop worrying about work so much. Right now there is really nothing better than being at home with my little baby. March, April and May will be busy enough with a 3/4/5 month old, a 3-year-old, a husband who works 50 minutes from home and is in class 2 nights a week and my own responsibilities at work (which will still require night and weekend work).

I can hear Henry and Mike making breakfast in the kitchen while Alice "talks" away in her little bouncy seat. Weekend mornings are my favorite, and I'm going to go enjoy this one with all of my funny valentines.

February 10: ...on the 48th day of Christmas my true love gave to meeee...

A wreath that is Christmas festive, but not overtly holiday themed--meaning that I can get away with letting it hang into mid-February. My obsession with decorating the house for the holidays began in, well, late September when I fully accepted the fact that for the bulk of the holiday season I would either be enormously pregnant, or healing postpartum with a newborn. For this very reason, everything was moved up. Fall decorations were up after Labor Day, Halloween candy was purchased about 3 weeks before Halloween (and then "repurchased" a few days before due to the fact that I'd consumed most of what we had) and we were ready for Christmas by Thanksgiving.

I didn't do this alone. My sister Megan, who had her first child in October, generously offered to come during her maternity leave time and help me. It was really kind of nice to have someone else tending to garland and lights while I rested on the couch cooing with my then 5-week old nephew. Fall decor was down and holiday decorations up by November 22nd, tree was up and decorated by November 26th, cookies baked by December 1st, baby born on December 3rd--scheduled down to the minute. I kind of feel bad for not taking it easy, especially since I was supposed to be on bed rest, but it was truly out of my control. A ridiculously dangerous marriage of my passion for holiday decorating and an extreme case of nesting had consumed my brain. It was a lost cause from the start.

This beautiful wreath and the holiday flower box arrangements that you can't see were compliments of my very talented mother who, in addition to coming and helping me with Alice the first week home, created and added the finishing touches to my Christmas cottage. She made this wreath, adding four birds--one for each of us. Everything else is down, packed away in the basement until next winter, but I just can't bring myself to remove the wreath, a beautiful symbol of my very loving, giving, tender family.