Toddler Friends, Famous Cupcakes, and a Sumo Fight

Well we've been MIA because of a little Michigan vacation but before we get to that, the week before Fred and I took a drive in to the city to visit my mama friend JJ and her adorable toddler Ellie who had her 2nd birthday the other week. We were going to miss her party, so we went for lunch and for them to meet Fred. We walked to the local park and played a quick game of guessing is it the mom or the nanny (um, I will not be leaving my child any time soon after seeing some of the way these childcare providers suppossedly were caring for the kids!) we then went for a walk to a local bakery and I got Jeff a cupcake. Ellie is so cute and fun and loving, and then when we went to take a picture pulled the perfect toddler move of "there is no way I'm going to do what you want me to do" mini meltdown that was over just as quickly as it started. We are hoping for more visits soon.

Since Fred and I were downtown we thought we would surprise uncle Jeff at his office and bring him a cupcake - after all its not likely that Fred will be frequenting the city very often. I drove past the building to get my bearings straight and figure out where to park. When I passed on the street I saw this large crowd and I though it was some vallet backed up or a swanky trendy restaraunt with al fresco dining. I pulled out Fred's stroller and we started walking (side note: whereas in the morning the part of the city I was in was covered in strollers and dogs and city chic mamas getting out - I do not believe there was anyone under 21 in this part of town so we looked very bizarre). As I crossed the street to get to the building I spotted the black sedans, men in suits with sunglasses and ear pieces, and people on the street corner climbing up lamp posts and 'L' track truss braces. There had to be over 200 people across the street and on the corners looking at the motorcade, craning their necks to get a peek at the office building in hopes of seeing Obama. The one day I randomly choose to go see Jeff, Obama is in the building. Well now I start to ponder of how this would go down if I walk up to the office building (which is being kept clear by CPD) and try to go in with this ridiculous stroller saying I'm delievering a cupcake to my brother. Can baby say 'GITMO'? I call Jeff and thank god he actually picked up so he comes down to get us and is stunned to see this huge gathering. Now we look totally famous as we make our way through the street crowd and the cops are ushering us in as Jeff nods that I'm with him (how awesome to have power to say yeah its fine she's clear). We go up to the office and Fred wakes up in that "Where the hell am I?" mood and looks like he might give a whimper or a cry. Jeff wants to bail because Barack is behind that door working on a speech and blah blah blah. Meanwhile secret service I'm sure is just loving the comotion I'm causing all in the name of a chocolate espresso cupcake. Fred was that close to meeting Barack - maybe next time.

Then later in the week we got to visit with our buddy Noah and mommy friend Abby before their big move into a house to be closer to us (and Mike's work but whatever). While Noah is 6 weeks younger than Fred it is fun to compare their body types and sizes. Noah has real talent, while he's too young for the Bejing games he's already training for the London games in the Sumo martial art category.



After all the hub-bub of the week Fred thought he deserved a week off, next stop Michigan!

Like father like son

These pictures are from my very good buddy Erin, who lived with me in So Dak on the rez. She came out for a visit the other week and we had so much fun, I was so happy that Fred got to meet such an amazing woman. So looking at the pictures, I think I only contributed eye color as genetic material for the kid and otherwise was an incubator for mini-Stan.

Confession...

TV has certainly not been the focal point of our life as of late, but recently a new show has peeked our interest. Usually during the summer months with all the reruns and awful reality TV we are more of readers, but we found a new show that we are loving and I am so embarrassed to admit it but "I survived a Japanese game show" is a can't miss in the Worst household! I think it is because we got hooked on the human tetris Japanese game on YouTube (which is better because it's pure Japanese!). Japanese have the best games! Also this has seemed to be the least reality TV drama, I mean how can you take people running around in sumo squishy suits and ride teeney tiney tikes and the Japan's use of crazy American slang seriously? What's not to love? Check it out. Hiiiiii Majide!

FTK

FTK for those not in the know it stands for "For the Kids", Molly's catch phrase for her work on the Dance Marathon Board at IU that fundraises for the Children's Miracle Network Riley's Children's Hospital. On Friday she had a garage sale and we all chipped in. She was able to raise over $600 despite the heat, so that was great! Somehow even though I dumped all my crap into the sale I ended up walking with a breadmaker, baskets, tart plates, and a bunt cake mold... after all - FTK!

Monkey Business

Fred is 5+ mos now and it is amazing! He can roll (front to back or back to front) if he wants to - only if it strikes his fancy. He can pass from hand to hand. For his really cool trick he has been working on grasping and getting his nuk back in his mouth on his own. When he does I feel like he's such a big boy! Lots of grunting, whining, cooing, babbling, and my personal favorite making raspberries! He's such an observant little bugger swinging his head from side to side. Very nosey - I love it! Sleeping is awesome & we just love playing with friends and family. Other than that it's pure monkey business, as the video demonstrates (pardon my baby talk its a bad habit). The co-star was a gift from a set of triplets in my class this year (they were my favorites but shh! don't tell), Stan had to find a new puppet as Fred is his own man not to be controlled. Grow Fred grow!

The Wedding - Finally!

I know, I know it’s been over two weeks since the wedding. Part was just getting laundry and things back on track & then we had an unexpected plumbing emergency, which sadly has dipped into Fred’s college fund – only public universities for him. It was a wonderful wedding.

The day started with hair, nails, and make-up. Mary looked so cute in her blue jeans, white button down, and veil. She walked back to her parents condo and I so desperately wanted a picture of her walking down LaGrange road - I thought it would be so neat, but I couldn't capture the moment as I was having hair pins inserted into my scalp and being shellacked with industrial hairspray which did not wash out until the following Thursday!

Back at the Philips' homestead, everyone was getting ready. Jeff was so calm and just ready to go. The was some assistance with way too many people to help get on a pair of Obama cuff links and Molly's favorite picture showing Stan strangling...uh I mean helping my dad with his bow tie and my mom looking like Debbie Downer in the background.



But don't we clean up nice?




Off to the church!



No pre wedding jitters just ready to get married. Oh I should note here that some of these pictures are mine, but most were taken by the fabulous Nick, a bridal attendant for Mary, and my new bff. He had awesome photos that I had to steal. Isn't he a doll?

Mary's niece and nephew did so well walking down the aisle - super cute. The ceremony was beautiful.

It really was just about perfect and almost went without a glitch, until Mary was ready to yell at Molly and I for being talkative. It wasn't so much that we were talking as arguing. And it wasn't so much as we were arguing as I was trying to rationalize with a semiconscious individual. It was rather warm up on the altar. Molly has a tendency for ummmm, shall we say dropping like a sack of flour during such moments has choir concerts, Thanksgiving Day parades, and when people play with her hair. So I asked her during the first few moments of the ceremony if she was feeling all right, I could feel her breathing on my back. She responded all annoyed in that tone of "yes mother!" that she was fine. Ok, so I went back to paying attention to the ceremony. Not more than ten minutes later I hear "Jess... Jess...Jess" and can feel her breathing all weird on my back - someone locked their knees. So I quickly looped my arm around her waist and propped her up. I was trying to get her to sit down but she was arguing that everyone would be looking and she was fine. Now while Molly is a stick it was pretty obvious that I was supporting all her weight while standing up and we were both swaying back and forth, not the most subtle of moves yet in her mind sitting would be this big distraction. Finally we were all to sit. I told her to stay sitting, but she assured me she was ok now, as people began to bring her little cups of water from the congregation! The wedding party was to go up to the kneeler to take communion - I told her to stay there and she said she could do it. So we all stood up and as she got into kneeling position her head starts bobbing back and forth like she is going to take a head dive over the kneeler rail. I can just picture her butt flying up into the air. So I pick her up around her waist again and drag her over to the nearest pew. What a fun little side show we are. The Priest is coming down the line offering the host and looks at the two of us sitting to the side with a quizzical look as if to say "This is not how we practiced it girls. If you don't want communion just put your arms across your chest." Now the ushers start bringing us water, and we are able to get back into our chairs with the rest of the bridal party. She starts to argue again that she is fine, and through gritted teeth I tell her "If you don't drink every last drop of water you are not having one drop of alcohol at the reception". Mary's older sisters Julie and Krissy are silently laughing behind us, as well as the other bridal attendants. Guess who started chugging all the water? Stan is having a field day laughing at her on the other side of the altar while some of the other groomsmen show concern. Molly was able to get back down the aisle with out dropping so all was well. Jeff and Mary left in grand style.









On to the party!




They had their reception at the Danada House. It is this beautiful old estate that that is on forest preserves property and has an equestrian stable and grounds.

















Cocktails and appetizers were served out on the grounds and in the house and then dinner was in an atrium that attaches to the house. It was a really lovely setting. Mary and Jeff had such a neat idea for tables, each table had a card with a catch phrases of things that were important to them and then on the back of the was a he said/she said description on the story – it was such a nice personal touch and people were trading the cards to read more stories.



The toasts were marvelous, the décor was simple and elegant, and it seemed everyone was just waiting to get out on the dance floor. Lynn had practiced some Napoleon Dynamite moves, and Harry did his legendary twist.



































We had so much fun – I think next to my own wedding I had the most fun at this one. And that’s it now – all over after a year and half of waiting no more showers or parties and I think Jeff and Mary are fine with that. They had an awesome time on their honeymoon, the house they stayed in looked amazing. We got to catch up with them this past weekend at my folk’s house celebrating my dad’s birthday and Jeff’s 27th b-day. We just love getting together as this big family!

Fred's First 4th (F cubed)

Fred's first 4th as Stan noted being completely dependent on independence day. Our neighborhood was freakily quiet. I don't know if people went away, but it felt like we missed an evacuation order. We spent or day, napping, taking walks, and packing for the next day. We were so lucky to have some ridiculous neighbor shoot off a fortune in illegal fireworks that we were able to see from our back door. Next the ceremony....