Week 37--Ridge Rehab

This entire week was devoted to Ridge Street for me.  Outside of still doing life like kid commitments, cooking, previously scheduled dinner with the girls, etc....aside from those 'normal' things, I was at the house from 7am til 10pm most days.  Lots of work that I will put into a separate Ridge Rehab post with before and afters.  It was very physically demanding, such a circus of coordinating workers, so many trips to Home Depot and just trying to hold it all together!

Monday, Sept. 7th

We woke up to the news that Elia Valor made her safe arrival and Mama and Baby were both great!  She has a whole post of her own HERE.

Perfect weather for our tradition at Harkness!

The loveliest of evenings for our annual Girls Night Out in Mystic.

The dog was having a few bad days and I felt bad I didn't have more time to devote to him.  I also started wondering if we needed to make some difficult decisions before I left the following week.  He laid in this spot, not eating or drinking, and only getting coaxed outside to pee a couple times a day.

Tuesday, Sept. 8th

ONE day old.

A memory from Harkness popped up.

This was the big demo day for the bathroom.  This was the only professional job.  The rest of the house was me, Colombo, and my handyman.  This one involved plumbing, electrical, flooring, etc, so we left it to the pros.  I had interviewed multiple contractors and ended up using Thumbtack for the first time and found a small, local biz made up of three brothers.

Wednesday, Sept. 9th

Another memory Maddy sent to me.  

My dad stopped by to see the new place.  He wasn't there to work, but he couldn't leave without fiddling with something.  

Thursday, Sept. 10th

I attended "Back to School" Night at East Catholic.  I was on my own so had to do my best to meet Rocco and Renna's teachers.  I focused on meeting new ones who didn't know me since I couldn't be in two places at once.

Friday, Sept. 11th

Typing that date....I will never forget :(

The dog started acting himself again- even being nosy (just like Bo) about who was in and out of the garage.  

I wanted to keep my commitment to have Bo for the day, but I still needed to meet contractors, etc, so he came with me and grabbed his nap where he could. 

My mom stopped by to drop blankets for Ezra and Elia, so she got to see the new place as well.  Paint buckets weren't the most comfy place for a visit, but we made it work!

Saturday, Sept. 12th

Looking so handsome in his little man church clothes.

Sunday, Sept. 13th

Maddy was so sweet to send 'daily doses' of Miss Elia.

Renna's game was in Hartford so that made it easy to take a break between coats of paint and watch.

NFL week 1.  Albano's hosted the kickoff to Football Sundays indoors / outdoors, with the sweetest of boys. 

Week 36--September's Arrival

Monday, Sept. 1st

Rounding out our Labor Day weekend, we joined out friends at Harkness.  Such a beautiful day!

The babies keep coming!

Tuesday, Sept. 2nd

Renna and I went to see Gabby and Gianna's opener

Just the 4 of us, so we tried a new spot for Taco Tuesday.

Wednesday, Sept. 3rd

A pretty walk down Old Main Street while Rocco was at practice.

The cute little library that looks just like the church.

Thursday, Sept. 4th

Tryouts for Renna at the middle school- she made the team!

Friday, Sept. 5th

Year #16ish of dealing with ortho.  We've never gotten a break between kids.  This day, Renna had her spacers put in....braces next week.  She's not excited about the process, but excited for the finished product.  Her smile is nearly perfect, but alas, she is missing 4 adult teeth.

New hair for me.  I chopped off about 10 inches and I love the change!

I hit TJ's for flowers to make a friend a bouquet.  Sometimes the extra "scraps" make up the sweetest little bouquets that brighten me entire week.

Outdoor Night of Worship with 51 baptisms.

Saturday, Sept. 6th

Only one picture.  Colombo was deeply involved with a "situation" and was gone the entire day.  Rocco had an invitation to a dude lake day.  Could this group of boys be any happier??

An epic race across the Lake.  

Sunday, Sept. 7th

Games are in full swing.  After first service we ran down to Renna's game.  Halfway through, Rocco and I left to drive a looonnnggg way through backroads of CT to get to his game in Mass.  At least it was picturesque.

Fall league with S.W.- first game.

Meg hosted the weekly "football" crew.  I love that together is where they want to spend their Sunday afternoons.  Watching and playing.  Last minute, Meg invited us to join in on smash burgers for dinner.  Of course she had so much amazing food and dessert and is just the loveliest, most capable hostess!  It was such an impromptu treat.

Week 22--Tina's Bridal Shower

Monday, May 26th

Memorial Day which meant Harkness!  I had woken up at 2am, fully aware that this day would not be my favorite.  I tossed and turned and so did my stomach (probably got it from Harlem and prayed I didn't pass it to Ezra).  I dragged myself out of bed to finish my food assignments (so grateful for Maddy's help!) and to see the gang off.  I spent the entire day in bed!

Tuesday, May 27th

I woke up feeling about 75%, but able to move about my day.

Renna was thrilled to get this invitation!  

Trevor- officially the first one in the pool this year.  Pool looked great at opening and cleaned up quickly with little effort, however the rest of the pool area is a disaster, soooooo many weeds and so many lost plantings.  Very odd.

Harlem and I took team pictures before their match.

Wednesday, May 28th

The only picture of the day- I took it to send to Juju, knowing she'd appreciate my latest breakfast kick.

Thursday, May 29th

Happiest 16th to my sweetest Rocco!  I'll do a separate shout-out to him.

We hired an interior designer to "reimagine" our first floor.  Much of it is original to 1986 and many of our needs and wishes have changed since we bought the house in 2008.  We want to optimize the space and make it work for this season of our family's life and moving forward.  This day, we had a zoom call to see the plans and 3-D rendering she had prepared.  In a nuthshell???.....when's demo day???  Likely, it won't happen this year, but we're happy to have a goal to shoot for and it's fun to dream.

Friday, May 30th

My day started with my 12th-ish trip of the month to Trader Joe's for flowers.  #becausemaycember  I met Tina's mom to get all the flowers for the Flower Bar, which served as ladies' party favors.

Then back home to hang with the best girl.

Gramma and Bobbi made it to round 1 of the state tournament.

At 9pm, we gathered at the church to turn the community center into a garden wonderland.  We had lots of hands to help and Tina's mom enlisted a team of helpers to execute her vision.

The most involved groom!

Did my friend Sue actually cut down real trees?  Yes.  Yes she did.

Saturday, May 31st

The much-anticipated shower!  It was so perfect in every way.  Girly, sweet, fun, short, full of love.  It moved along with great food and fun games and the quickest time of opening gifts.  It all came together beautifully.  It was weird to show up at start time without the craze of hosting, or cooking, or the pressure of throwing an event.  I was just a guest and got to take it all in.

Click here for a video tour Colombo captured.  And here's too many pictures in no particular order because CBB.

Pink butterfly dress- perfect for the theme!  ...and the one shoe on, one shoe off is such a picture of this age!

Accidentally and unplanned, Nathanael arrived just in time to open gifts.  He came with flowers for his girls, thinking everything would be wrapping up, but since we were running behind on time, he was just in time to greet his grandmothers and jump in to open gifts with Tina.  I told him after, this should be the new shower standard!  It was so sweet that they got to unbox together and all his people got to see him on the day.

The Girls, minus 2 BM's.

Sunday, June 1st

Ahhhhh!!!  We survived May!  But wait...there's more.  This day we drove to Boston for our annual Maine gang family gathering at Nick and Katie's.  Beautiful day- great weather, great food, great time of reconnecting and even meeting the latest Withington baby!  Nick and Katie are so generous and host such a great day.  This year only missing one of the first cousins and her family.  My whole crew made it except for Rocco and Nathanael.

Wearing Reggie / Grandpa's relic Bingo Committee shirt.