Party Annie

Our Annie turned 1 last week. Isn't that crazy?! I hate her getting old. I want to freeze her in time so I can cuddle with her like this forever. We also moved into our amazing house after almost 6 long months of renovation. In celebration of our major hard work, a new house, birthday baby, and to thank everyone that helped us move, we held our first official party- hopefully of many. I had been looking forward to it since day one because I always knew the house was a terrific place for parties. We can fit 30 people on the back deck alone. It was a photo finish as I was still recovering chairs as the guests came and I totally forgot about a few staging elements that made me so mad when I discovered them the next morning. Oh well. Before and Afters of the Hadley House Love to come, but here are some party pics in the meantime. If I don't get to blogging the summer of 2011 this weekend it won't get done because I start work next week and I am adding more classes than ever. Oh Drudgery.

Annie does NOT, repeat, does NOT like being sung Happy Birthday. I figure it is the only song in the universe that she must hate since she loves music so dang much. I can't even sing it to her when we are alone without her crying. Strange.

We got Annie the perfect present... Baby Stella from Manhattan Toy Co.
I've been so excited for weeks and weeks. Baby Stella is super soft all over and her binki is magnetic. I also got Annie those amazing non-absorbant Boon bath toys, a birthday ball, a toy boat, and a book. Baby, bath toys, ball, boat, and book for a birthday... and I didn't even try!

Here is the limited birthday decor. I made a photo montage of Annie on our magnetic chalkboard wall and displayed some photo posters of Annie that I had hung at my school to show Annie to my students. Add the birthday banner from Gardner village and a time capsule for guests to contribute to and we were set. The time capsule was super fun. People wrote the most amusing things. We also stole some ideas from the twins like including a cell phone and CD.

Thank you to everyone who came to Party Annie!

GPo & New Years Eve

Annie got a bonus visit from her Great-Grandma Polly. GPo stopped by on her way home from her shopping trip to Vegas. GPo has a thing for Macy's. She loves Macy's. Finally, Dave decided to take her Christmas shopping in Macy's and, though I'm not sure what she bought, I do know that one of the items still has one of those ink security things attached and she's wondering how to go about getting it off. Last night I showed GPo all of your blogs and she loved your messages and Christmas pictures, but she ademently protests all the comments about her house being too hot and says she was freezing the entire Christmas party. We need to get her blogging again. I'll get right on it.

It has taken about two weeks of mild work but Annie is now a self-sleeper! Too bad she still wants to eat 2-3 times during the night. I'm tired.

We spent New Year's Eve in Pine Valley with some family friends. It was great but Kevin stole the show with all his stories. No really, all agreed that he was the life of the party after the Leany's left.
Check out our three little baby girls:

It was like old times... made me homesick for being young.

Yippee, I can finally start making my 2010 blog book on blurb!!!

I mentioned that we trained Annie to smile for cameras.
Here's the proof:

poem d'apology

poem d'apology:

After friends and I breakfasted yonder Monday,
I returned to my home and was simply dismayed.

I discovered by fault I had worn the wrong bra,
had appeared 10 pounds bigger in fashion faux pas.

Not merely increasing my large silhouette,
I had looked like an ape with side boobs for pets.

A better brazier could have shown them the truth,
that I've really lost weight, I'm no slob! Not uncouth!

I promptly changed slings, no more house bra for me,
and shed 20 pounds in the mirror instantly.

Then I thought, "What a shame," if only they'd seen,
I'm almost back down, not quite fat, not quite lean.

So picture me nigh at that breakfast again,
wearing good lingerie, that makes me look thin.

Keep THAT thought in your head, not the one that you saw-
At that sad morning meal when I wore the wrong bra!

JNAC

Did you know I have been BEST friends with these girls since the end of 8th grade?

Ciara drove down from Oregon so we could have a friend retreat and it was awesome! I can't believe that after 15 years, plus husbands, plus kids, our friendship is still going strong. It's like we haven't even been apart a day when we get together. WE ARE SO DANG LUCKY!!!! Especially me since they all know how crazy I am and they still invite me to our parties.

You only get to see these 2 pictures because I look INCREDIBLY fat in all the others (see full article on JNAC* here). I'm normally not obsessed with the fat issue but I hate how I just look huge in all these pictures and not one speck of prego-ness. Ug.

My friends and I keep a blog that is my saving grace most days. Only on JNAC* can I say what I really think. Just yesterday I posted my true reservations (or shall I say flat out paranoid fears) about the evil census campaign. Something is so up with that and if you don't see it coming, it's your own fault for getting thrown in Manzanar or Topaz or something. Even though we see each other once a year if we're lucky, my friends and I talk everyday on our blog. These girls are the best friends in the world. I wish everyday was a JNAC* day.

*JNAC is the name of our secret club.