The Maine Wedding

{The entrance to the garden at The Barn in Yarmouth, ME}

Nichol, my husband's friend from summer camp, married Katie this summer in the quintessential Maine wedding. The ceremony took place outside, in a clearing in the woods with rose petals covering the rocky ground. After the ceremony, we sipped wine under the enormous tree next to The Barn. Guests filled their plates with local fare and dancing (lots of dancing) followed. It was simply a magical evening that began our Maine adventure.

{the sweet life}

{Snacks outside The Barn}

{Lounging after dinner... Maine style}

{Inside The Barn. I mean, look at that wood!}

{Let there be light!}

{H and Alex. A match made in heaven.}

{Not a fan of this pic but whatever}

 

 

Naked and Famous

H and I went to see Naked and Famous a couple months back at the Ogden. I was a big fan of "Young Blood" and I thought it was enough to stay up past my bedtime. H and I split a red bull vodka when we got there. Maybe my first in 10 years. We sat upstairs for the opening bands. Not memorable. And then we made our way to the floor for the show. It was unreal. Alisa Xayalith has this unearthly presence on stage with her poetic voice and long dark hair. Every song was intense and made me want to dance my little heart out. If they come to a town near you (or not at all near you), check them out.

I'm not sure who those dead guys are or the scary men in the masks, but I love this song.

This one rocks too.

And then "Young Blood" was the last song. Soooo good.

On stage

{Ellie and Alex, May 2012}

My daughter, Alex, performed in her second ballet performance recently. We were out of town for the dress rehearsal and her last class so I was a little nervous driving to the theater. Would she totally forget what she was doing and freeze up? Would she frantically look for us in the crowd? Would she pee on stage like that poor little girl last year? All I could think to stay when I dropped her with the volunteer was, "Just smile big, honey!"

And then she completely surprised me as she twirled and tiptoed her way through her routine like she had spent the last week not at Disney World but diligently perfecting her pirouette. I could not help but tear up as she curtsied with a big smile on her sweet face.

You will be missed

{When Harry Met Sally, 1989}

My friend, Katie, send me a lovely email a few days after Nora Ephron's death. It included the following quote from a commencement address given by Ephron in 1996. I think after much discussion with other moms regarding Anne-Marie Slaughter's piece in The Atlantic "Why women still can't have it all" , Ephron (not so surprisingly), brings sincerity and humor to the most complex question. Because sometimes it is in the moments of total chaos when I surprise myself the most. 

"Maybe young women don’t wonder whether they can have it all any longer, but in case any of you are wondering, of course you can have it all. What are you going to do? Everything, is my guess. It will be a little messy, but embrace the mess. It will be complicated, but rejoice in the complications. It will not be anything like what you think it will be like, but surprises are good for you. And don’t be frightened: you can always change your mind. I know: I’ve had four careers and three husbands."

Before and after: The Nursery

We purchased our first home in Whittier, a neighborhood right outside of downtown Denver. It needed a TON of work, and we always had at least 2 projects going at any given time.


The Race Street house was a two bed/one bath. When we found out we were expecting, we did not want to give up our guest room as ALL of our family lived out of town. So we turned the L-shaped master bedroom into a bedroom with a nursery (or study or dressing room) attached. We had to give up our closet, but it was well worth it. Also, we didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl, so I was going green until we were surprised...

{The original floors which H sanded and repaired. Old carpet covered the second floor when we purchased the home}

{My brother-in-law assisting with framing the nursery}

{I wonder if how many pull-ups H could do now?}

{From the nursery, looking into the master bedroom, before painting trim and walls}

{The closet turned nook for changing table, storage, etc. }

{French doors leading into nursery. Shades replaced and fixtures painted}

{View from middle of master bedroom}

The Panini

{Panini with grilled portabello mushroom, swiss chard and sundried tomato tapenade}

So easy and tasty and vegetarian. Grill or saute some of your favorite veggies (various peppers, mushrooms, onions). Add cheese (I like a soft cow's cheese like Brie) and a green. Drizzle olive oil on bread and place fixins' in the middle. Done. Oh yes, the panini maker (this is a fancy one but a cheap one works fine). We have had a "make-your-own panini" party, too... No work for the host!

Perfect T for the small

{Shirt, Splendid. Sunglasses, Target}

One of the best ways to clothe your second child (should he or she be the opposite sex of the first) is to swap baby clothes with a friend (preferably one with an eye for styling her little ones). I purchased most of my daughter's clothing and then traded it for boy clothes from her first born. The sizing can be a little off, but overall, it's a sweet deal. 

Sometimes, however, you want to purchase a special outfit for one occasion or another or you may receive a gift (from a very very generous friend).  The later was the case for this adorable Splendid shirt. I know how soft their womens' shirts are but honestly, it doesn't compare to the snuggle factor in their tiny line. They have just the right amount of stretch and the fit is so smart. Next time you splurge, do it on a Splendid T.

Get out

{Braille Trail, Genesee, Colorado}

My friend, Sheila, visited from L.A. recently with her daughter. We took her to Genesee to one of our favorite "nature walks". I stopped using the word "hike", not for my children's benefit, but for my own. A "hike", to me, conjures up images of a painfully slow pace up the side of a mountain with no end in sight and most definitely some perspiration involved. No, I prefer "nature walks", completed in under an hour with multiple stops to look at the beautiful wildflowers and bugs that delight us.


The Braille Trail is a roughly one mile walk with interpretive signs in braille along the path. There is also a wire following the trail, designed for the visually impaired (but loved by all). To get there, take I-70 W to Chief Hosa (Exit 253). Hang a right and continue on Stapleton road. The road deadends at the trail head.

Father's Day Traditions

{"Darth Vadar and son" by Jeffrey Brown}

I really like the idea of starting a few of our own traditions with our little family. Of course, I realize that in order to be a tradition, you must do the same thing for a very long time. This involves planning before the event and actually remembering what you did the previous year. Nonetheless, I am game to give it a go. For father's day, I gave H a children's book from each child and taped the cards we had given him to the inside. Hopefully, they will not get ripped out tomorrow and stay there for all eternity.

My father asked H what advice he would give after having three children in five years. He did not hesitate, "Pick a good wife."

He's good, that one. 

Simple pleasures

{Hank, age 3}

I came across this photo of Hank and am reminded all of that is pure and sweet in children. Plus, it is refreshing to know that the heat (and terrible fires!) will come to an end and our street will be still again on the first snowfall of the year.