This is my first Dr Who scarf. It is 66 stitches wide and 1,062 rows. Took me about one full day (but completed over two days). It's a present for someone who is going to be amazed!!!

I've Gone Quackers!

These little darlin's are for another fundraiser at the weekly band concert. They are yellow cupcakes, dipped in yellow frosting, with a donut hole for a head and 1/2 a marshmallow for a tail. The eyes are mini M&Ms.

What frustrated me was the dipping portion. I did chill them but I'm thinking freezing them slightly would have been better. The heads kept falling off and I ended up with yellow frosting all over my shirt, shorts, hands, countertops...you name it...there was yellow frosting on it!

My favorite is the one that is butt up - he's camera shy.... :D

Wedding Photo

It's a month late but I'm taking a moment to look back on my wedding to Chaz on June 12, 2010. It was a rather small wedding, with the children standing up for us and both sets of parents watching from the front row. We had a nice group of family and friends witness the vow exchange and despite the rain, everyone was all smiles for most of the day.

Chaz loved the dress! I looked exactly as he had pictured in his head - classy and elegant. He loved the hair up in a beautiful twist and was tickled all kinds of colors at everything we had put together. Here is a photo of the bouquets and the gorgeous toasting glasses my parents gave us.

There was not a thing I would change about the day (not even the rain bothered me!) I was happy and could not stop smiling all day.

KOI cakes

Ok so it's 90 degrees out and I'm making cupcakes (of all things!) Not just plain, ordinary cupcakes...oh NO! I have to get fancy and make KOI fish cupcakes! I got a new book called "What's up Cupcake?" and this was the first one that caught my eye (well honestly, I liked the yellow duckie ones that are on the cover that made me buy the book!)

They are made of yellow cake, buttercream frosting, two circus peanuts cut apart, M&Ms for the eyes and one lone apple jack for the mouth. Before I put the fish on, I frosted the cupcake and then dipped it into blue colored sugar so that they look like they're floating in the water.

Wedding and Honeymoon

Now that the wedding hoopla is over, we can take a collective deep breath and hope that life returns to semi-normal. Here is a photo of us at the Queechee Balloon Festival. The balloons were just amazing! There were only about 15 going up so I cannot fathom how spectacular the event is in New Mexico! Guess we'll have to save our pennies to make a trip west some time!

After a short honeymoon trip to Vermont, Chaz and I are starting to meld two households. We're looking at some kind of shelf along the kitchen wall and if he gets his way, we'll also have a bookcase right here where my desk is now located (I moved out here because I was feeling way too isolated in the bedroom doing homework and now am right in the middle of things).

Wedding Album

This is our Wedding Album

My Wedding Cake

Just freshly decorated, here is our wedding cake. It is the night before our wedding and I am sitting here just staring at it. Yes, I know there's no topper but we've both agreed that it looks just beautiful without one.

The cake is comprised as follows: the bottom layer is pound cake with strawberry filling; the next 10" layer is spice cake with a cream cheese filling; the 8" layer is a lemon cake with a lemon curd filling and the final top 6" layer is chocolate with mixed berry filling. I started baking on Tuesday and just now finished (well about an hour ago). The roses are all gum paste and completely edible! The only thing that isn't edible is the sprigs of baby's breath. Otherwise, it is a completely edible cake. Not too shabby for my first (yes, my FIRST) really big cake!!!!

Everyone...in one place...for a change!

Here's the entire clan! My parents, my brother and I ... and our respective children and spouses (current and ex) Of course the Man of the Hour is in the middle, sporting an official Graduation t-shirt in bright purple!

HE DID IT!!!

My second baby graduated yesterday! Here we are just moments after the ceremony. Doesn't he look proud of himself?!

I tell you, it was hard to not burst into tears (heck, it's hard now just to write about it without getting teary!) He has worked so hard to get to this point - he's reached his goal and now is standing on the thresh-hold of a totally new life.

I hosted a very nice party for him and it was great to see so many family and friends turn out for it. The burgers ran out, just slightly after the hot dogs!

Photos of the Broken One

Poor Rachel's hand before the cast just after the splint was applied. The fingers were simply taped together since the dislocation of her index finger was on a growth plate and there was concern that it wouldn't heal properly if a cast was put on to take care of the break. So...the doctor waited a week, the finger was healing beautifully and he felt the cast could go on and stay on until June 9th, when (HOPEFULLY) it comes off.

Then, there is the black eye. It's gone now but boy was it purple!!

How exciting can one life get?

It is official! Brian is graduating with his class on June 6th! I'm so proud of him I can't stand it! Now, we are just waiting for the day to arrive - I'm hoping he brings his cap and gown over so I can take some preview photos. Watch for more pictures of my baby as he takes his first steps into adulthood.

Meanwhile, Sam takes his state exam to be an EMT. He has studied hard and I am confident that he will pass with flying colors.

Rachel had the misfortune of breaking her hand a few weeks ago, as well as sporting a beautiful black eye. She was playing in gym class with a good friend and they bumped heads (hence, the black eye) As she hit the ground, she dislocated her left index finger and broke the bone in her hand under the ring finger on her left hand. A splint for a week and then, a gorgeous neon green cast, until June 9th (hopefully off before the big wedding).

Wedding? Oh yes, there's that too...Plans are moving along for my upcoming wedding to my Chaz. He's much calmer than I am about the whole thing - he assures me all will be well for our special day. He's like valium in human form lately - just talking quietly to him calms me down and helps me realize all will be ok.

I have finished the favors, my dress is ready to go, the napkins and other linens have been either ordered or purchased. The flowers are all set, the reception menu finalized. Now all we have left is to shower and show up!! I am dying to post photos of my dress but will refrain until after the 12th lest Chaz read my blog and get a sneak peek at this beautiful dress. I can't wait until he sees me in it - ME, who lives in jeans and sweaters - sporting a beautiful floor length gown. OK I'm going to hush now....

Pictures

My kids - Sam, Rachel and Brian (with considerably shorter hair!!)April, 2010

Chaz and I at the beach in Gloucester MA

Brian as Nicely Nicely in Murdock High School's production of Guys and Dolls! The show was wonderful! If you missed it, YOU missed out!

Chaz with Mia at Matthew's baptism - She calls him 'Her Charlie' (I think she likes him...)

Lots of news

It was brought to my attention recently by my mother that I had not written here in quite a while. There is no mention of the gazillion changes in our world that have taken place since July 2009. To start at the beginning:

Rachel has started 7th grade! It seems like just a blink ago she was born and here she is, all 5'5" of her bad self heading off to the great unknown of middle school. She has done remarkably well in school, maintaining highest honors throughout the fall, winter, spring and now, at the end of the year, she is celebrating achieving highest honors yet again. She's one smart cookie!

We played basketball throughout the winter and spent a good portion of the winter trying to stay warm.

Sam is finishing with his second year at the Mount - he's transferring to UMASS Boston in the fall of 2010 to finish his degree work in Criminal Justice. He seems to have found his niche in criminal justice. He has also been studying to be an EMT - busy young man!

Brian has been busy as well, entering his senior and final year of high school. Like Rachel, it seems like it has been a blink since I carried him out of the school kicking and screaming because he wanted to stay and couldn't because he was too little! Now, here he is, poised on the brink of adulthood and about to graduate. I'm sure there is a great deal of nervousness on his part - the unknown is always scary no matter what you're doing. He cut his beautiful chestnut brown hair short recently and he looks like the well mannered young man I've raised. I loved his brown hair but I understand that it takes a lot to keep it clean, and well groomed.

I have been crazy busy at work. It seems like the days never end, blurring one into another. My job is a daily treat - like the prize in the bottom of the cracker jack box - I never know what I will unwrap when I go into my building. The crowds are increasing which means we are having some affect on the seniors of Winchendon and piquing their interest with our programs and facility.

So in a short time, Brian will graduate from high school, Sam will move on to finish his degree work, and I will also finish my course work at St. Joseph's. I'm not sure if I will continue on to the Master's level - haven't fully figured that out just yet. I know I have enjoyed my courses and the challenges they have presented; I am simply tired and need to take a breath for a minute.

One of the bigger changes in my life is that I have decided to marry my Chaz. He asked me in October if I would be his wife and I said yes. We were at our favorite ice cream place and looking visibly nervous, placed a small box in front of me and asked his question. We had set a date of October 10 but have moved it up to June 12 of this year. It is hard for my parents to travel here in June for Brian's big day and then come back just a few short months later for a wedding, so Chaz and I decided to have a small wedding while they are here. Mom and Dad will be here by June 4th I hope; the house will be full of people the night before and even though it will be an insane week for sure, I am positive everything will get done that needs to be done. My dress is beautiful - after the wedding I will post photos. I wouldn't want my Chaz to get a sneak peek before it's time!

So, in a nutshell, that's what has been going on here. OH! We had SNOW yesterday! Yes, snow - on April 28th! I couldn't believe it but I saw it with my own two eyes. Big old snowflakes coming down from the sky. Didn't last, but it made for some very interesting lunch conversation.