A's bachelorette party

In late July, after work on a Thursday evening, I drove three hours south to the home of A's second sister M (of four, remember?). I spent the night basking in her hospitality, and early the next morning we took a tiny plane out of a tiny airport up to Michigan for a surprise bachelorette party for her sister A (the third sister of four). She rented a car and chauffeured me around the gorgeous natural countryside. We headed to the site of our first night, a cute little cabin in the woods. I emphasize cute but...rustic (there was a bathroom in the cabin, but there was also totally an outhouse, which I totally used in the dead of night, moths totally mobbing the flashlight app on my phone).

 

 Her crown!

 

 That's where I slept; it folded out into a bed, neath the head dressing of bygone deer. 

 There was a trailer behind the cabin where some of the girls slept. 

  Big thanks to these girls for planning the weekend and for welcoming me into their circle!

 

A was relatively surprised, although she was on to us pretty early (and rather pissed off, after we had to request some creative stalling when M and I got lost on our way to the cabin!). We all hid outside (in the rain!) and waited until she was in the cabin before we ran in one by one, greeted by her squeals of delight.

We ate and drank and played games. There was some light vandalism, courtesy of the poor bride.

Oops.

The next day A had to work for a few hours, so we all moseyed around a local festival before heading to her home, a farm that she and her fiance are creating out of dirt and sweat and love. 

At a nearby pier, very lovely!

It is a beautiful, beautiful place for beautiful, beautiful people. 

 MIDWEST!

They are beekeepers who are producing some of the most delicious honey I've ever eaten. I manned up and took some photos while she extracted a bit for us to try.

 

 

Then her fiance made us some delicious homemade pizzas on the grill and they both took a swing at a frighteningly reinforced pinata.

We love you so much, A. Our kisses will remind you forever!

Can't wait for your wedding, doll!

A's bridal shower

In July I attended a Fourth of July-themed bridal shower for one of my oldest and dearest friends. She's the third of four sisters, and each and every last one of them are the most sweet and kind people you would ever meet. The second sister did a lot of the party planning, and she did an incredible job. Like, designer magazine incredible! TGFP! (Thank god for Pinterest!)

 I made cake balls! They turned out beautifully (IMHO!). 

 She is so dear to me! And we both happened to wear dresses from Modcloth!

 This is the second sister, party planning extraordinaire, all-around amazing person!

A's fiance even attended the bridal shower (the only XY in attendance, brave man!). He helped her open gifts, and they participated in a game during that time, answering questions from guests about how they met, their future plans, etc.!

This is going to be such an amazing wedding, because the bride and groom are amazing people! I can't wait!

Six years

Six years ago I married my best friend. I am so fortunate. I love him dearly. Thank you for being everything to me.

G's birth

Before I went to Boston for a work conference in June, I told sisterfriend to cross her legs so I wouldn't miss the birth of baby G.

It didn't work so well.

On Friday, June 21, I awoke to a text from sisterfriend, sent at 3:22 a.m. They were on their way to the hospital. I spent that day hovering around my phone, waiting for updates, which I gobbled up and passed on to other family members. At 3:15 p.m., right in the middle of the session I was moderating, GCD was born after almost 13 hours of labor. He weight 7 pounds, 11 ounces, and was 20 1/2 inches long.

The next few days were so long as I waited impatiently to return and meet the newest member of our family! Finally, on Sunday, at three days old, I said, "hello!"

Sisterfriend did an amazing job at bring pregnant, giving birth, and now mothering her son. She set the bar pretty darn high!

I got to see him again, at eight days old, and he only became cuter, as if that was even possible!

I love you, GCD! You're currently the cutest cousin, and I can't wait for a lifetime of memories with you!