Meghan and Kyle's Ball Park Reception

Last night we went to the most creative and fun wedding reception last night. Chris's lovely cousin Meghan got married last week to a great guy in a beach ceremony in Naples Florida. The reception was last night at the Red's Great American Ball Park. The evening was spectacular from start to finish. We got off the elevator to the Club Lounge and their initials were projected on to the wall. The tables were decorated with little chocolate baseballs, Cracker Jack boxes, and hand decorated sugar cookies (all hand made by the mother of the bride). The food was all Cincinnati food, cheese coneys, Montgomery Inn sandwiches and chips, LaRosa's pizza, and great cheeses and meats. The happy couples initials were also projected onto center field. The wedding video and the proposal video (remember from a previous post he proposed on Fountain Square) were playing on the club t.v.'s. After appetizers we moved to a 2nd lounge where a live band was playing and dessert was set up. Here is a great picture of Meghan with my father in law and her very favorite (and only) uncle.

Dessert was also unique, instead of wedding cake, we had gourmet cupcakes and ice cream sundaes in little Red helmets. The bride was glowing. It was a great party!! I am so sad I was sick and didn't get to taste a thing. But I am thrilled for Meghan and wish them all the best!

Monday's child...

Today is my birthday. Alex asked my mom what she was doing 38 years ago yesterday. Mom told Alex how she was trying to have me before midnight so I could be Sunday's child which had everything in the poem. Well, I was born at 12:25 am on a Monday morning, which made me full of grace... NOT! Yesterday I got my foot caught on a curb and fell flat on my face (or really, my knee). Once my head cleared and I got to my car, and I had a good cry, I realized I was very lucky I didn't really hurt myself. Then to top it all off yesterday, I had a nice 24 hour stomach bug. We went to a fabulous wedding reception last night (more info on that to come) that I couldn't enjoy.

So today I got a nice meal at Brenda's since we celebrated Emy's birthday and I am feeling much better. Susan called and sang to me since she is happy I am always going to be 3 months older than her. I get to spend the next 3 months finding a card that will creep her out as much as the one she bought for me.

Spoke too soon!!

The power is back off at our house! We are hoping it is turned back on so we can sleep in our own beds and get ready for school in the morning at home! We shall see!!

Let there be LIGHT!!

Today after 6 days of chaos, our power has been restored! Many thanks to the Putnam's and my Mom for putting up with us this week. It has been a very expensive week of eating out and entertaining the kids. Tomorrow comes the additional cost of restocking the fridge!

Off to sleep in my own bed!!!!

Walking for the Cure!

Today Spahr's Stars walked for a cure. By this morning we had 130 people on our team and have raised over $4,200. I know lots of people came with donated money, so I am sure we met our $5,ooo goal. Although the race is very uplifting, for us it was bitter sweet. I was very torn up at the end when the survivors walked through their own finish. I was wishing Charleen was able to walk through.

Susan made a great sign for us and we gave it to her son and his family to carry. It was a great morning. Next year, we will make our own shirts and have even more people!

Congrats Kel and Kev!

I am so thrilled to be going to my oldest and dearest friend Kelley's wedding reception tomorrow. She and her lovely husband Kevin were married in a private ceremony in the Bahamas last month. After seeing her be soo lonely these last few years, I am so happy to see her married to her soulmate. I have always said she should never pick her own men! Match.com did just as good as a job as I would have done (even though you could have been a Zanchetti). I have never seen her so happy and at peace (except maybe when we were 19 and ruled the world). So I can not wait to celebrate with them tomorrow!

My last sad post...

I am sure tomorrow I will wake up with my positive, let's move forward attitude, but I have to get this out. Tonight we said goodbye to Charleen. I guess I was thinking that tonight would bring me closure, but it did not. My heart hurts. It did help to go through all of this with my friends. Of course, Bobbi gave me specific plans on what I had to do at her funeral. Good thing she is never dying so I never have to use it.

So I promise after today, all of the mention I will make about Charleen is how we are working to celebrate all she did for the kids in our community. I will go back to channeling my energy into positive ways. But today, I am sad.

Didn't race fast enough

Our friend Charleen lost her battle with breast cancer yesterday. This comes less than one month from diagnosis. It was a very hard, emotional day for us all at school. Mixed in with our grief are feelings of being angry with Charleen for not getting her regular mammograms and taking better care of herself. For those who do not know her, she is the kind of person who would never let us get away with not taking care of herself. These next few days will be very hard on all of us big kids who will miss our school mom and her wonderful baked goods she would make to show us her love!

So sadly, I am now racing in memory of instead of support of my friend Charleen. If you would like to support the race for the cure on September 14 or would like to contribute to our fundraising efforts, please click here.