What a Weekend!!

Well, Saturday was a first for me -- I went to my first State Fair ever!! Pete and Emily and I drove to Louisville to meet Rachael and Sylvain and head over to the Kentucky Fair Grounds. We had a great time looking at all the livestock and vegetables, mullets, and Rebel Pride (it almost seemed like we were in Arkansas again!)
No seriously, the animals were great, and produce was VERY impressive. Then we went to the FOOD COURT where we saw the funniest signs known to man.

(Emily w/her Meat Mountains)

and lastly, our favorite...

In the car on the way over I had said something about if they had Fried Snickers, we would have to try it -- so I was the first to take the plunge, and then we all did our duty. I think I can still feel it somewhere in my lower intestines.

Sunday was my 28th birthday. Pete and I sang in a quartet in church, then we went to the co-op for lunch before heading over to the Woodland Art Fair. I think we were both still tired from the fair because we didn't stay for very long. Sunday evening we went for a nice ride on our new bicycles!!! We rode for 13.3 miles all around Chevy Chase and had a good time.

After our ride we watched a little of the olympics before ordering Abuelo's takeout for dinner --yum! We had Netflixed 'Death at a Funeral' and were excited about a relaxing night spent 'in'! It was nearly 11:00pm when we remembered we hadn't eaten any of the cake Pete slaved over all afternoon! So Pete quickly put some candles in it and sang to me, and we tasted its 3-layer goodness -- two layers of chocolate cake with a middle layer of BROWNIE!! -- somebody's been watching Ace of Cakes!!

We had to go to bed right after cake time because I had to be at the Prometric Testing Center at 7:30am to take the GRE!!! It was long, and cold in the room, and I couldn't have a bottle of water with me, but I survived and scored pretty well. Whew. Hope your weekend was as adventurous!! (if you want to see ALL the state fair pics, click here)

I'm home

I spent 2 1/2 weeks in Arkansas with my parents -- and a host of other relatives I hadn't seen in years -- and I'm home again. Pete, my lifesaver of a husband, flew to Fort Smith Sunday afternoon so that, three hours later, he could get in the car with me and drive home (how did I have my car? because he drove it out two weeks ago and flew home leaving me with it - his love truly knows no bounds). We broke the drive up into two days -- one 4-hour, one 7-hour, so that it wouldn't be too taxing.
It was a hard decision to make --do i stay or leave? But mom's strength has multiplied at least 300% since I got there on the 11th and they didn't really need my help anymore. My brother Peter is currently visiting, and will stay about a week (I think). Her latest sample of spinal fluid shows the chemo she's on is working, so it's supposed to be a good report. I'm hoping to go back soon, but classes start for me on the 27th and I needed a few days at home before becoming a full-time student again. (and if I don't take the GRE in the next 3 weeks Pete will wring my neck!)
I hate that it takes so much coordination just to see my family -- an 11-hr drive or minimum 2-plane flight -- it really makes times like these hard!!!

Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.
~George Cooper

Time to go Dark (for a bit at least)

So my mom's cancer has returned. It's in her spine this time (CNS Lymphoma) -- the prognosis isn't good. I'm going to go be with her for the next little while, don't know when I'll come home. Please know that any kind thoughts are more than appreciated.

Guess where we're taking Hannah next week!

Uptown Hounds -- a new place in town with a 'pooches only' pool! Now we don't have to wait until Labor Day weekend for our pooch to plunge!

New favorite website

It's gonna be hard to top Bakerella and Decor8, but this site I found today just might do it! I'm already trying to work up an occasion that merits the tiramisu cake, yum!

Insert *blush* here

Melanie blogged on us yesterday! Sweet Melanie, thank you for saying such nice things. :)

Happy Anniversary

Three years ago we said "I do" -- best decision ever.

Love you, Pete!

I don't think anyone else remembers this

because I've checked everyone else's blogs today -- but, I graduated high school Ten Years Ago tonight -- on Eric Vicker's 18th Birthday. We were the last class to graduate from the civic center, all the following classes got to go to Murray(?) Coliseum -- and the smell of cow urine from when the Rodeo was in the same place as our 525 seats is still in my memory. I can't remember who I sat next to -- I wasn't in the top 25 so I was with the rest of the class alphabetically, but there was something about the choir kids - we had to get up and sing "To Thee CHS" - so I might have been next to Molly (I swear if you got concert choir together tomorrow and blew a whistle we'd be able to line up in alphabetical order in under 60 seconds). Anyway, here are two pictures I scanned -- enjoy!

me, mom, & dad

me, Mike, Doodle, Ranae

Derby Day Festivities

Before I get to the fun of yesterday, I have to mention that I ran for 60 minutes tonight!! I've never run more than 45 before - but that is NOTHING compared to what my sister-in-law Jenni did this morning -- she ran her first half-marathon! Way to go Jenni! 13.1 miles in 1:58:32 - that is so AWESOME!

Of course, the Cupcake Cuties were the official dessert sponsor of Rachael's Derby Party - we arrived at her house early to make Mint Julep Cupcakes (with bourbon in the batter and frosting! yipes!) We were really pleased with the end result.


Everyone else arrived a few hours before the derby to play the mini-derby Rachael had set up in her back yard. It was so much fun! I haven't laughed so hard in ages! Being the good school teacher that she is, Rachael had a scoreboard all ready to go, with start and finish lines marked by cones, and all kinds of fun little games planned. There was a three-legged race, a hula-hoop race, wheelbarrow race, etc. The funniest event of the afternoon was the dizzy bat race - you may remember this from Field Day in elementary school -- run to the bat, spin around 10 times with your forehead on the bat, run back to the start -- well, I am now sporting a small cut on my forehead from trying to run after spinning - I fell flat on my face right away! Pete was the best entertainment of the afternoon with his running/falling/running to win the dizzy bat race.



After it was all said and done, Emily won, Pete placed, and just about everyone else tied for show (except me - I was barely on the board, also reminiscent of elementary school, oh well). We were definitely all ready for food after that, so Sylvain fired up the grill and we ate and got ready to watch the derby. I drew Big Brown in our betting pool -- so I won $50! Yay!
After dinner and the Derby it was still nice outside so we played a round of croquet before going home. Rachael and Sylvain and Ann came over later and we played Wii MarioKart until we could barely hold our heads up. What a great day!

Making the Cut

Well, today was the day - I cut 8+ inches of my hair off to donate to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths campaign. They use the hair to make wigs to give to women with cancer. I knew I'd cut my hair the day I found out my mom had cancer, but I had to wait for it to be long enough (and I wanted Melanie to take our picture in case short hair didn't suit me).

So here are the before pics:

and....







here.....







are...







the afters!

I have since gone running and taken a shower, so it will never be that well-styled again! I love how fast I can take a shower now -- it's crazy!

the wonderful melanie mauer

so maybe you've noticed the new picture of me and pete at the right. we were lucky enough to have a session last friday with melanie - the uber-talented photographer and my lovely employer. we ended up getting some great shots - here is one of my favorites:
i'm going get this one printed fairly large (16x26?) and we're going to hang it on the wall behind our bed -- we've lived in our house for 3 years now, but you wouldn't believe how bare the walls in our bedroom are -- i just couldn't find the right print - now i know i was waiting for this!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU melanie for the wonderful session, for teaching me that we can choose to be happy, and for teaching me how to 'act like a duck' and just let things roll of my back. i can't wait to see all the images we'll get through the years as you document our family.

First, it was my dad (circa 1983)

Then, it was my brother (last year)

Now, it's ME!!

I am the proud owner of a NEW 2008 Toyota Prius!! My first brand new new car!! The color is spectra blue mica - and I l.o.v.e. love it! (which is a good thing since I picked it from a tiny square in the catalog) The hybrid engine is pretty awesome - I haven't driven it too much - Pete drove home after dinner because I don't like driving after dark (I know, I know, old lady - but I have poor night vision!) The coolest part is the display screen in the middle that tells how many miles per gallon you're getting -- average is 48, but if you drive carefully, you can get 99.9 when coasting, etc. I'm also pretty excited about the automatic doors and windows, which tells you how far behind the times I have been car wise. I'll share more once I've got more experience with it -- I'm off to read the manual!

A sure sign of spring

Every year it always seems as if the grass will never grow back, then suddenly, as if overnight, the grass grows four inches and can't wait another moment to be cut. Saturday night was that night this year - Sunday the grass was suddenly SO long! So Pete fired up the mower (haven't found a push mower yet) and mowed the lawn for the first time of the year - I happily sat in the sun doing my Linguistics homework.
I love our yard this time of year - as the daffodils fade, the day lilies will come up, then the lilac bushes in the front yard will blossom, then the wisteria and azaleas in the back yard, and finally the lilies.

Since spring is here, I thought I should attend to my skin as well - we had a grand bathroom reorganizing, and my new rule for myself is no more 'potions and lotions' can be purchased until I've used up all of what I already have. Right now I'm going through this Origins microdermabrasion stuff I found in the back of the cabinet - it didn't have an expiration date, so I think I'm okay.
It makes my skin all red - but nice and soft!
(tune back in tonight - hopefully, HOPEFULLY I'll have another reason to post)

Cupcake Cuties!

Bakin' Our Mommas Proud...

Emily

Rachael

Laura

Emily and Rachael came over today and we watched all the cupcake segments featured on the Martha Stewart Show this week (don't you love DVR?) -- then we made Bakerella's cupcake pops. We had such a good time that we decided we should have a Cupcake Club and get together once a month specifically to try a new cupcake recipe -- Ben came over later and gave us our name and motto --we wanna get T-shirts made!
(be sure to check-out the cupcake collar on our official mascot, Hannah)

la-la boots!

my favorite little girl (melanie's daughter) has recently learned my name -- it makes me smile any time she's around and she says 'La-la'....well today I was wearing my black & white polka dotted rain boots (hello flooding in kentucky!) and as I left work melanie was bringing her downstairs from her nap -- i had made it outside to my car when melanie opened to the door to tell me audrey said, "La-la Boots!" -- how cute is that?!?!

check out the mmp blog every friday in april for green thoughts from a guest blogger (me!)

It's Cupcake Week

on the Martha Stewart Show! and Bakerella is going to be featured for her cupcake pops! I've got it all scheduled to DVR - can't wait to watch!

lucky, lucky

so, i left my ipod on the deck last night when i got home from my run. this wouldn't really matter except that it's been RAINING since about 10pm! i didn't go looking for it until just now - found it soaked on the outside table. i think it's okay - it is currently playing in its dock, but the headphones seem a little wonky. i'm SO glad it's playing - all i could think was, 'man - pete's gonna kill me!' :)

7 continents. 6.6 billion people. 1 hour.

This Saturday, March 29th, from 8pm to 9pm is Earth Hour 2008- businesses and homes all around the world will turn off their lights and non-essential electrical appliances to promote electricity conservation. Last year, Earth Hour Sydney is estimated to have cut Sydney's mains electricity consumption by between 2.1% and 10.2% for that hour, with as many as 2.2 million people taking part.
I'm super-excited about this!! I read about it in the paper sometime last week, then promptly forgot about it. Luckily, it was in the bulletin this weekend at church, so I was reminded - and a plan started to form in my head.
I think we should all get together at my house and play board games by candlelight - or maybe play charades (as long as Rachael can come)- and we can make s'mores in the fireplace! If you're not a Lexingtonian, think about the fun things you could do in your city for that hour - perhaps go for a nice long neighborhood walk, or have a pot-luck with friends - I know you creative Texans will come up with something great!

something entertaining to finish off the week!

I love this song! Imagine me and Pete at our house singing, "Hannah, the Blackish Pooch"

Best Week Ever!!!...and it's only Wednesday!

I knew I was in for a good week when Melanie arrived at the office Monday morning and wanted to know if I had time in the afternoon for a 'Beginning of Season Treat' -- that's right, not only do I get to work with one of the nicest, most talented people ever, but we have TREATS at the beginning of wedding season and at the end! So, most of my work day Monday was spent getting a f.a.n.t.a.s.t.i.c. pedicure next to my lovely employer!

Then, this afternoon, I found out I've been accepted into the Communication Disorders Program at UK! (Yes, I already have a bachelor's degree, I've been admitted as a Pre-Requisite Student, which means they allow me to take a year's worth of courses so that I will be able to apply to the graduate program.) If all goes well, I've got about 3 more years worth of school ahead of me to become a Speech-Language Pathologist! (the master's in teaching was sort-of a plan B if I didn't get into CD)

I haven't actually gotten the paperwork yet, but I called the Admissions Office this afternoon and the nice lady on the phone told me that the packets had been mailed out Monday and that she couldn't tell me anything.......except, "Congratulations!" Yippee! I started crying and thanked her for making my day.

FINALLY, I feel like I have some goals for myself.