Happy Easter 2014

Dear Em,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

- John 3:16

Happy Easter, little love.

I love you so.

Mommy

Throwback Thursday: Easter 1995

Dear Em,
With Easter coming, I thought it would be fun to show you one of my photos with the Easter Bunny. This was circa 1995, & my brother, your uncle Jared, had been born just months earlier. So this was the very first Easter picture with all five of us siblings.

Yes, when I was in 8th grade, I still got to sit on the Easter Bunny's lap. I'm pretty sure I hated every second of it at the time, but now its kind of fun to look at a picture of me & all my siblings together for Easter. It's been a really long time since I've been able to be with my whole family for Easter.

Oh, you know your very best friend, S? Her mom & aunts were some of my best friends growing up too. My family was very close with her family. After we took our family photo, we took a group picture (so many years before either you or S were even a thought in our minds).

Which brings me to a TBT photo from last year, a picture of you & S with the Easter Bunny. How stinkin' fun is it that our families are still so close?!

I love you so,

Mommy

Wedding Shower Wednesday: The Newlywed Game

Dear Em,
There were two wicked fun games we played at your aunt Andrea's shower. The first was the Toilet Paper Bride Game. When we thought about a second game, we knew Wedding Shower Bingo was out. Since the Bride registered on HoneyFund, there would be no gifts to fill the Bingo sheet with (also, I feel like I play that game at every wedding shower ever). After doing a Google search, I found fun ideas for a Newlywed Game, & all the girls agreed it would be perfect.

Your uncle Lowell lives in Florida with your aunt Andrea. While he's been to RI to visit quite a few times, Andrea's friends & family haven't been able to get to know him like they would if he lived here. We thought including him in this game would be a fun way for everyone to get to know him & get to know them as a couple.

After looking for ideas online, I put together a list of questions for the game. First we asked Lowell to answer these questions about himself.

1) What is your favorite football team?

2) What is your favorite beverage?

3) Where did you & Andrea meet? What most attracted you about Andrea when you first met?

4) What is your favorite pizza (toppings & place)?

5) What person, character, or sound do you do your best impersonation of?

6) Andrea is a natural born…

7) What is your biggest pet peeve?

8) What is the cutest thing Andrea does without realizing it?

9) If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

10) How did you propose?

11) What is your middle name?

12) What did you want to be when you were a little kid? What do you do now?

13) What do you love about Andrea the most?

14) What was the name of your very first pet? How many pets do you have now? What kinds? Names?

15) What are you most excited about being married to Andrea?

Then we asked him to answer these questions about Andrea.

1) What is your favorite color?

2) What is your shoe size?

3) What is Lowell’s best feature?

4) What is your favorite restaurant?

5) Where was your first date?

6) Lowell is a natural born…

7) What is your biggest pet peeve?

8) What did you want to be when you were a little kid?

9) If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

10) What was your favorite vacation to take with Lowell? Where are you going for your honeymoon?

11) How many kids would you like to have?

12) What movie star are you most like?

13) Where did you first say “I Love You”? What do you love about Lowell the most?

14) What was the name of your very first pet?

15) What are you most excited about being married to Lowell? When is the wedding?

Then we printed the questions below and handed them to guests as they arrived. We asked everyone to fill out what they thought were the correct answers about the bride, the groom, & the couple.

How well do you know

The Happy Couple?

Bride

1) What is Andrea’s favorite color?

2) What is Andrea’s favorite restaurant?

3) What is Andrea’s shoe size?

4) What does she think is Lowell’s best feature?

5) What did she want to be when she was a little kid?

Groom

1) What is Lowell’s favorite football team?

2) What is Lowell’s favorite beverage?

3) What is Lowell’s middle name?

4) What did Lowell want to be when he was a little kid?

5) What does Lowell do for a living now?

Couple

1) Where did Andrea & Lowell meet?

2) Where was their first date?

3) Where were they when they first said “I love you?”

4) How did Lowell propose?

5) How many pets do Andrea & Lowell have (extra points if you can list what kind of pets they are & what their names are)?

6) What is the Andrea & Lowell’s wedding date?

7) Where are Andrea & Lowell going on their honeymoon?

Lowell had written answers to the questions on pieces of paper, took screen shots of him with the answers (he got really into it, there were props involved, & it was truly amazing), & sent them to us. We pre set-up Lowell's photo answers up on my iPad. We sat Andrea in the middle of the room with a dry erase board & marker. First Andrea answered the questions about Lowell on the dry erase board as her Maid of Honor held up Lowell's answers on the iPad. Then we asked Andrea the questions about herself, & her Maid of Honor showed us all what Lowell thought the answers were.

The plan was that the questions we asked the couple tied directly into the questions that the guests had filled out on the forms we passed out. The guests were supposed to tally whether they had answered the questions about the couple correctly as Andrea & Lowell's screen shots answered. Except- Lowell changed things up a little bit when he decided my questions were too easy. So, he threw in some really tough questions, like what is Lowell's blood type (which Andrea actually got right). While the questions no longer completely went along with the forms our guests filled out, Andrea was able to provide all of the answers at the end. Our guest with the most questions answered correctly won a prize.

I'm glad Lowell got to be there with us even though he wasn't actually there. It was super fun & kind of adorable.

I love you so,
Mommy

First Visit to the Dentist

Dear Em,
You recently went to your first dentist appointment. Yes, I know that's typically supposed to happen at age three. We were a little bit behind.

Our visit started with XRays. They were amazed with how still you stayed & the way you did exactly what they asked. I wasn't all that surprised. You tend to listen to people who are not me, & you have lots of experience with doctor's appointments.

You got your teeth cleaned & the dentist checked out your mouth. You got to enjoy watching a movie in the ceiling the whole time. They asked us a bunch of questions, & if I had ever thought about fudging the answers slightly, it wouldn't have been possible. You answered quickly & honestly. The dentist gave you a "No Cavity Club" sticker & a token to use to get a prize. It was so stinkin' cute. What a fantastic way to encourage kids to take care of their teeth.

It certainly encouraged you. You've been reciting the dentist's instructions verbatim since we left. Somehow all the times we talked to you about the importance of brushing your teeth never sunk in, but now you've seen the light. You love to brush your teeth & use the special tool from the dentist to floss. You've also agreed to only drinking orange juice on the weekends as a treat, because the dentist told you juice isn't good for you teeth. Sigh. Can the dentist come live with us?

I love you so,
Mommy

I'm a player not a maker.

Dear Em,
About a month ago, we got your hair cut for the second time in your life. The first time the hairdresser dried your hair, & you got to wear your hair down plain for the evening. This was actually a special treat. You almost never get to just wear it down. This time, she asked you if you wanted fancy hair. You agreed to braids, & she seamlessly french braided your hair.

I watched in awe as you didn't wiggle. You didn't squirm. You didn't say ouch, but every part of the braids were perfect. I explained that I has never learned how to french braid, & the hair dresser admitted it had taken a lot of practice. Since then you have been reminding me I need practice so I can learn as well. You told me that once you didn't know how to ride a bike, but you practiced & now you can.

"If you practice, you can learn to french braid just like I learn things. Bye Mom. I'm going to school, & while I'm at school you can practice french braiding my dolls' hair."

It would be the perfect plan, except, well, I have to work while you're at school. When you're not at school, you typically want attention from me. So, to your dismay I haven't been practicing at all.

"Mom, you need to practice french braiding," you urged. "Why don't you practice your french braiding, & then you can french braid my hair," I replied." You looked at me very simply. "I'm a player, not a maker. Well, I do make food. Just not hairstyles."

One night last week you were sitting in my lap reading me a book, & it felt like the perfect time to get a little practice in. I asked you if I could braid your hair while you read. You were so thrilled I might finally learn to french braid, you agreed. The first side wasn't too awful. It was a little bumpy & not quite tight, but not bad for a practice run.

I asked you if I could french braid the other side. You were not as excited but agreed. There was squirming. There were ouches.

"You told me you wanted me to practice," I said exasperated. "I told you to practice ON MY PRINCESS DOLL, not ME!!!!"

I might need more practice.

I love you so,
Mommy

Throwback Thursday: Our House

Dear Em,
Next week will be five years since Daddy & I first became homeowners. It's kinda crazy. In some ways, I feel like we've been here forever. In other ways, I feel like five years has flown by.

Our house has changed pretty drastically since the day we first unlocked the doors with our own set of keys. The original home owners clearly loved the color green. Everything in our house used to be green: the counters, the floors, the shutters, the walls. While some of the green still remains (we're really hoping to renovate the kitchen in the next three years), in the first year we painted every room of the house & put in new rugs upstairs. We held a little painting party with free food & beverages & were so fortunate to have the best family & friends come out to help. We still owe them big!

So, for this throwback Thursday I thought it would be fun to post some throwback pictures of the house & the painting party from the first weekend we lived here. Our house, circa 2009...

This is what the living room/dining area looked like (dining area makeover & living & dining room now).

When I look at old pictures of our kitchen, it amazes me what a big change a little white paint on the cabinets can make (this is pretty much what it looks like now).

Though this bathroom seems small & dreary, Daddy & I were beyond excited to have two bathrooms! One for him & one for me. Ha!

Our entryway was green...just like everything else (entryway now).

Here's our lovely family room (family room now). Mustard anyone?

Your bedroom was once referred to as the blue room (your bedroom now). It's kinda funny, because there's no way you'd let me paint your room that color blue now...and who would want to?

While we didn't know we were pregnant yet, we labled one room as the future nursery (the nursery after & guest room now). Your aunt Andrea & I fought over whether or not to keep the princess castle that was painted on one of the walls. She wanted it. I said it had to go. I won (although, in her defense, you probably would have loved it).

I do not miss the green rugs in our bedroom.

I feel like our bathroom was a very sad little bathroom before we painted it red, put up some art, painted the vanity, & put in a new medicine cabinet.

When I look at the pictures of the bare green walls from five years ago, I'm amazed at the personality our little house has now. I'm so truly thankful to all those who have helped to make our house a home over the last five years. Not just for the help with the painting & projects & pictures on the walls (& we've been so blessed for all the help we've received), but for filling our house with laughter & celebrations & fun & precious moments & amazing memories. 

I'm especially thankful for you, who has given me inspiration I never couldn't have imagined & brought more character into our home than I thought possible.

I love you so,

Mommy

Wedding Shower Wednesday: Toilet Paper Bride Game

Dear Em,
I have to admit, sometimes I'm jealous of your Daddy. Guys don't really have to go to showers (but they really should take showers). They don't have to pick out the perfect wedding shower or baby shower gift. They don't have to wrap it up. They don't have to go to a breakfast or a brunch or a lunch where they don't know most people just to watch someone open presents...forever. For the most part, showers are not my favorite. I had a hard time at my own showers (though I'm so incredibly thankful for them). It was hard sitting in the center of everyone- with everyone watching me- while I opened gifts for an hour. There's pressure to show the right amount of enthusiasm & gratitude while opening things- things like towels & bed sheets. I remembered feeling flushed & stressed & exhausted.

So, when your aunt Andrea decided that she would register on Honeyfund & forgo opening gifts at her shower, I thought that was the best idea ever. It also meant that an hour (or two) of her shower wouldn't be filled up with gift opening. So, as bridesmaids, we were tasked with thinking of fun activities to fill her shower with. While the photo booth became one fun activity for the guests, we also wanted to plan a couple games. One game that I knew of but had never actually seen at any of the showers I had gone to was the Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Game (we also played a newlywed game).

It was super simple to set up. We gave each table of ladies 3 rolls of toilet paper & asked them to choose one bride. The table had to work together designing & creating a toilet paper wedding dress for the bride in 10 minutes.

At the end of the 10 minutes we asked the "brides" to assemble in the middle of the room. We looked at them all together. I feel like we had some professional toilet paper wedding dress makers in our midst. There were toilet paper bouquets, braided belts, intricate headpieces. It was actually pretty amazing (especially since our bride mostly looked like a mummy).

So that we could all get a good look at their extravagant ($1.50) couture gowns, one by one, they runway modeled their "dresses."

There was laughter- so much laughter, but in the end, the real Bride-to-Be chose a winner.

I loved this game. Who knew toilet paper could be so much fun?

I love you so,
Mommy