Home Sweet Home

What a whirlwind trip--it was a great trip to Baltimore this weekend...and now it is great to be home! I was so excited to see Catie and Anna... I got home from the airport this afternoon and went to pick them up early at Kathy's house. (and I get to see Rob in just over an hour!) It is so nice to be close enough to Baltimore to get there and back with just one hour in the sky!

The gala last night was a blast...Alicia blogged about it too! Yes, it was a great Academy Awards theme, complete with a red carpet, cosmos handed to you as we walked in..and roving reporters. So proud of our Alumni and web teams--we won 4 awards! We were dubbed "the party animals" because were screamed for our co-workers every time Nazareth's name was announced!

I won an Oscar! Or...should I say...he decided that he wanted to visit WNY permanently! He was the centerpiece at our table, and he somehow jumped into my purse before we left the ballroom. ;) (my posse made me do it!) He'll look good in our trophy case next to the CASE awards. (This was taken in the mirror of my hotel room with my cell phone after I was in my jammies...pretty bizarre lighting effect that happened all by itself!)

Alicia and I volunteered at registration yesterday, and today--our colleague from MCC (who was co-registration chair) told us that they are looking for new co-chairs for registration next year! Hmmm...could that be in our future? Could be a lot of work, but great higher ed connections!

In the airport today, I actually worked on a digi page while we waited for our flight to board! Project 365 still lives! I finished tonight. Here is Week 11!

credits: template Jen Wilson Designs, One Haute Momma kit by Jen Wilson Designs,
and days of week font by JWD

Baltimore Fun!

I'm sitting in the hotel of the Marriott, overlooking Baltimore's Inner Harbor at 11:45 on a Sunday night...30 floors high...very nice view! I'm here for a higher ed conference with my pal Alicia, we flew in last night...and have managed to pack in a lot of fun and a little work! ;0

I'm missing Rob and the girls..luckily, I've talked to them a couple times today. The girls both said to me tonight "I want you to be home NOW mommy." (or in Anna's case...she calls me mama..her new thing lately. So sweet in her little voice)

We met up with our co-workers from Naz..our VP Kelly, and our Alumni team of Kerry, Kerry and Meems! We all went out to a recommended crab restaurant--but I was afraid to take the plunge and crack open and pound the shell off of a full crab! I settled for the crab cakes instead! Then we just got back from a cool and laid back Irish pub--the James Joyce Pub.

Earlier today...Alicia and I did a little sightseeing of the Inner Harbor--and took a trip to the National Aquarium...wow, I've been dying to go there...very cool experience. Especially coming face to face with a great white shark, with only a piece of glass between us!

We did do some actual "work" by registering and attending the opening Keynote speech for the CASE conference with an amazing speaker. Wow, we were really impressed. His name is Bill Strickland--he has an amazing story.

Last night, we got into the Baltimore airport, and spotted President Obama at an airport newsstand! He was kind enough to let us grab a photo op with him! :)

We also had a fab dinner last night...the doorman of our hotel recommended a place called Sully's...a jazz bar and steak house that was hoppin! It was a Saturday night in a place that just opened last month..I felt very hip. The best crab cake I ever had was my appetizer...(noticing a crab cake theme here ? )

Tomorrow Alicia and I are volunteering at our conference and attending sessions. Then, tomorrow night--we get to get dressed up for a big gala where our co-workers earned some big awards!



Back on the Homefront

Just before I left for the airport yesterday...we had big news happen on the homefront! I was so glad I didn't miss it! The photos speak louder than words!

Lucky!

credits: Kissed Studios template, Jen Wilson Designs Serendiptious kit

Hope you all had a wonderful St. Patrick's Day! We had lots of fun...in the Irish spirit, and lots of leprechaun pranks..starting with green water in the potties this morning! I couldn't wait to share these cute photos of the girls in their green!

We had the traditional corned beef last night and tonight...thanks to Rob--yum!

Spring is Here?!

What a beautiful Sunday! The sun was shining, and we had some mild temps--I think we have spring fever for sure! We headed to church at St. Peter's for a nice church mass, and at the end we were all surprised with a bagpiper who walked down the center aisle playing some beautiful music and then ended by walking back out of the church playing Amazing Grace. Very moving for sure.


We then went home for a quick bite to eat and walked up Main Street for the "St. Patrick's Day Crawl" in our hometown...many local businesses were open and we heard the bagpipers again. The girls wore their St. Paddy's Day ribbons in their hair, and we went to McDs for Shamrock shakes...and...they were out of the shamrock mix! What??!? The girls didn't mind...they got chocolate shakes, and we sat on a bench outside listening to the bagpipe some more. It was then off to a a new giftshop that I wanted to check out, and they have a whole wall of Yankee Candles..so the girls were in heaven. They love to smell all the scents and we ended up getting 12 little votives because they had a good sale of buy 6, get 6 free! (we'll be set for a bit with good scents in our home!)

Here is my latest Project 365 layout. I realized that I only have one photo with people in it! That is what happens when I remember after the girls go to bed that I haven't taken a photo yet! I like how it turned out though...the Beverly Hills Chihuahua movie photo was taken on our new flat screen...pretty cool, and I did take a couple pics of the girls watching, but they didn't come out very well. The photo of Catie with her friend was taken on my cell phone camera at Chuck E. Cheese.

(click to enlarge) credits: template from Katy Larson at Shabby Miss Jenn; SMJ's Shabby Babies kit, "March" from SMJ calendar toppers kit, and 1 through 7 numbers from SMJ Rock Star Girl kit; font is Times and Times Again

Jersey Boys Photos
I had grand plans last Sunday to take a photo in the lobby of the Broadway hit "Jersey Boys" with the cool sign, or something as part of Project 365...but the lobby was crazy busy--so I made my mom take a photo in the car when she drove us home! :) (flash photos in a car at night...not the most flattering--but, oh well! ) We had such a great time, we both listened to the CD all week!


Again, last Sunday--before I headed out for the show, Anna, Catie and I made some "No bake Cookies!" I hadn't tried in a long time because they came out all gooey the last time I made them for Rob. But these came out awesome! Maybe it was Anna's perfect measuring! ;)

Project 365 is Alive and Well!

credits: Shabby Miss Jenn Love Shack and Hoot Hoot kits; Jen Caputo monthly 365 template

credits: Jen Wilson Design Project 52 template; papers: SMJ Shabby Babies and Love Potion kits; date stamp and days of week: Jen Wilson Designs; flourish and clip: SMJ Shabby Babies kit; scallop edge: SMJ Love Potion; 2009Week 9 font: Scrapbook Graphics

I am so glad to have a second to work on my Project 365 layouts tonight! I don't want to get behind...because I don't do well with the catchup!

Toothy Grin!

I kept telling Catie that the day was coming....I told her that when she lost her front teeth that mommy would have to admit that her little girl was growing up! Well, the day arrived on Monday, March 9! I got home from work (Rob's day off) and Catie greeted me at the door with "Hi Mommy" and a big grin! I went crazy with joy for her...here is that toothy smile!

She has already lost 3 of her bottom front teeth, but the front top tooth--that is a big deal! My gushing was followed with Catie saying "mom, now don't go calling everybody, ok? I really want to show them myself, so don't call everybody!"

I obeyed her wishes..but did pull out my camera to capture the moment, and it makes a perfect Project 365 shot!
The big moment it fell out was during her kindergarten lunch period, and she was eating popcorn. She didn't even know it fell out--and one of her friends from our babysitter helped her find it on the lunchroom floor! She then took a trip to the nurse who gave her a tiny plastic pink treasure box to keep the tooth in..and we put it under her pillow last night, inside another tie tack case of Daddy's and then she wrapped it in a tissue for a complete package!

The tooth fairy paid her a visit of course...$2! We drove to Gramma Gabbey's tonight to show her..and she was so surprised! ( She then told Catie how lucky she was..that when mommy was little, I was lucky the tooth fairy brought me 50 cents! ;) )

Ok, Rob just got home at 12:30 a.m. and he told me a footnote to the Tooth Fairy story...after Catie left for school this morning, Anna asked Rob where Catie's tooth was.

Rob: "the tooth fairy took it!"
Anna: (raspberry sound) "Noo.....it was you and mommy."
Rob: (shocked inside that she would say that) "No, it was the tooth fairy."
Anna: (with inflection in her voice like he was crazy) "noooooooo....."

So, Gramma Long..here are some of these fun shots for you! Maybe the second one will be out by the time we see you next month for Easter!

Jersey Boys

If you have a chance to go see "Jersey Boys" (click on the link to see a performance with the cast from the 2006 Tonys ) on Broadway, or in your own city...DO IT! We got my mom tickets for Christmas (and lucky me got to go with her) and the performance was finally on Sunday night in Rochester. Unbelievable, fun, non-stop music--and all the Four Seasons songs that you know..even if you don't think you do! We were dancing in the aisles by the end of the musical. I loved it so much--I would go again this week if I could! The touring show is here until Sunday. I wish Rob could have gone too--he was the good dad and stayed home with the girls...thanks hon! I've been listening to the CD non-stop!

Beauty and the Beast

It was a musical weekend for us because Mom and I took the girls to see our town's high school musical.."Beauty and the Beast." Anna and Catie were loving it...and Anna has been Belle with one of us being the Beast or Mrs. Potts ever since! Both girls were SO good for a 3 hour production. At the end, when Gaston and the Beast were fighting and Gaston took a fall off the balcony to the abyss below, Anna said so deadpan: "that had to hurt!" I burst out laughing...such a little character. I think she may be up there on the stage someday!

After the show, the actors were out in the hallway greeting people, and Anna wanted to meet Belle. The senior who played her was so sweet to Anna, and she knelt right down in her big golden ball gown and talked to Anna, who was on cloud nine--what a moment! I didn't have my camera, but the musical's photographer got a shot...(Betsy, it is Joan F.--so she said she'd get me a copy!)

The young actress could have a job at DisneyWorld--she was perfect with Anna...and it made me think that a trip to see Mickey and Friends (who am I kidding, the Princesses!) is in our future! hmm...our 10th anniversary and my big 40 next year--a Florida celebration perhaps!?!?)

Bye Bye Pampers!

credit: photo frames from Michelle Coleman at Little Dreamer Designs

I think this photo says it all! Our little Anna has been doing so well with potty training for several months but we were still hesitant to completely switch over to underwear. But, last week she started with a pair of Princess underwear, and has stayed dry ever since! She does so well, and we are so proud of her.

I'm not saying it was completely easy...she didn't want to do the "double P" part of potty training at all...but the motivation that worked for miss Anna? the promise of mini marshmallows!

Baby Love

I've been in baby heaven lately....creating some adorable little onesies and brag books for some special new bambinos. I was waiting to post until the packages were received--so now I can post a couple photos! (I even heard from new mommy Kristin, and it makes me so happy that she loves her little gifts! Can't wait to have a photo of Mac in this cute little shirt!)

credits: Monkey Do Kit by Mindy Terasawa at Designer Digitals, HP iron on tranfer inkjet paper

I love how this little onesie turned out! I used the adorable Monkey Do kit, and just printed the little personalized design onto HP iron-on tranfer paper. Here is a tutorial for anyone wanting to break out the iron and try it! Not hard, honest!

credits: Shabby Miss Jenn Shabby Babies kit

Shabby Miss Jenn's Shabby Babies Kit is just perfect fo my brag books! Oohh...so precious! Here is the cover of one of them...this one for Catie's teacher.

I've also started Anna's baby album! Here is a page in progress...just to show you how tiny she was just minutes after her birth.


We have a busy weekend ahead! Catie has a birthday party for a little boy in her class tomorrow morning at Chuck E. Cheese (our FIRST time there, believe it or not!?) and Rob gets to take Anna to dance for the first time while I go to the party with Catie. Then it is off to the high school production of "Beauty and the Beast" with Gramma G. and the girls in the afternoon! Then Sunday night...I'm taking my mom to "Jersey Boys!" Can't wait!

Good Luck with Friends

what a great evening...a little grown up time for me! I had a wonderful dinner with my work team at an amazing restaurant in the city...Good Luck restaurant. And, surprise...it is Italian food! It's in an old warehouse, and the food is served family style as it is ready...delicious, every bite was to die for! We had great food, fun and conversation. It was a treat from the firm that just re-designed our website...a great group . Very trendy design..rustic, beams showing...and such cool menus, etc...look at the takeout box!