Kaitlyn Grace

On April 16, 2012, Kaitlyn Grace Kieszek left us.
I lit a candle that night to help light her way on the path to wherever we go from here and I said a prayer so that she might be reassured on her journey by familiar voices assuring her that there was nothing to fear.

Usually I find comfort in admitting that I don't know what happens when we die, in giving that up to someone or something greater than myself.  I am finding small comfort in admitting that I don't understand why Kaitlyn was taken from her family so young, why her bright light was taken from us all.

What I do know is that Kaitlyn, you are missed and even in your absence you are loved dearly. Your near constant smile, your charisma and and your determination to not only achieve but to simultaneously find joy in those efforts, has touched and inspired me.  I hold you close to my heart.

I will miss watching you grow but I am comforted in knowing that you are at peace and hopefully enjoying the Popsicles and swimming pools that I am certain were waiting for you.





Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl Sunday and the only picture I've got is my man Boston sitting in his "car." I did in fact watch the Super Bowl, in a bar, with some friends but I failed to take any pictures of said festivities.  So...Boston it is!

February 5, 2011

Pretty Lady

I don't get to spend as much time with my friend Laura as I would like. Not only did she abandon me at work to raise her incredibly charming children (three of the first mafioso's in my baby mafia) but she also lives close to the middle of nowhere and at the risk of being detoured off into the doldrums and never returning, I don't often get out there. 

Still, I get to see her every once in a while and this past Thursday we got snazzied up for a fancy party and spent the evening of schmoozing with free wine and food together.  Life is good I tell ya'.  There are no pictures of the two of us, mostly because I was behind the camera, so I leave you with a picture of her instead:
 

January 26, 2012

These Boots are Made for Walking

Give him a stick to hold on to, occasionally make some vrooming noises and he's the most cheerful walking partner a girl could ask for.  Throw his mama into the deal and you've got yourself a lovely hour each afternoon.

January 5, 2012

Be brave and bring a lable maker

Have I introduced you to the mad cuteness that is the Jackers?  Probably but let me do it again because I LOVE this little bugger!

Originally known as Blueberry Bullivant - the JackJack has reigned as El Presidente del Equipo de Divertido since his arrival.  This is the longest reign since the creation of Club Fun and one that from time to time leads me to contemplate instituting term limits in the bi-laws.  While he is currently quite benevolent, though adamant about adhering to meal times, I suspect that his leadership may get a bit more tumultuous come the Terrible Twos and I just can't rely on any of us to vote him out of power.   He's VERY charismatic. 

Anyhow, I digress.  A few months ago I visited Mashleigh and the Jackers and undertook the challenge of cleaning out and organizing the nursery.  The success of this project has given me the confidence to attack sorting through my old bedroom:

December 29, 2011

Wish me luck?

The Lily-Pad comes to work

December 13, 2011

She's a diligent little worker with a cheery disposition.  She's welcome back in the office any day of the week.

Elf on the Shelf

I find myself more than a little enamored with the idea of the Elf on the Shelf this year.  Maybe it's because it's Chrismas-y  and I love all things Christmas-y.  Except for those giant inflatable dioramas and snow globes.  I hate those.  Maybe it's because new ideas for Elf mischief have been all over Pinterest this year. I dunno.

Elf on the Shelf apparently started with children's book and has become something of a Christmas mainstay for my friends with Santa-aged munchkins.  Essentially, an elf moves into your house from Thanksgiving to Christmas each year to observe the munchkins and report back to Santa whether they're being naughty or nice.  Essentially, when Mommy or Daddy aren't watching...the elf still is.  The fun comes in that his Elf magically moves around each night while everyone is sleeping and each morning there's some kind of evidence of the mischief he's been up to.  Truth be told, the thought of coming out of my room as a kid and finding the Elf mid-Chutes and Ladders with Teddy, Alice and Tubby?!  Hello awesomeness!

This year, I volunteered to create a Christmas Passport for Nurse Leslie's oldest munchkin Donovan.

 

 The Christmas Passport contains all sorts of important information including the possessors demographics, pictures, address and preferred method for Santa to deliver the loot! In this case: the front door.

Each day he'll get a stamp for being either naughty or nice and be asked to draw a picture or write down something that he's grateful to already have. 

  

Then every night while he's sleeping, the Christmas Elf (or Reindeer as is the case here) will take the passport through the magic portal so that Santa can review the information.  Just in case there was confusion, Santa made sure to send a letter explaining this new process in details.  

Signed, sealed and delivered.

Merry Christmas :) 

Div-UH

This adorable, attitudinal munchkin actually belongs to a friend of mine. 

They are in SO much trouble when she hits middle school.


November 20, 2011

Date Night

October 18, 2011

I had a hot date on Tuesday.  We hung out, ate some dinner, went for a walk and read several books - a pretty impressive date night all in all if I do say so myself.

so about that 5K...

So the thing about writing things on the Internet is that sometimes details just have to be omitted for the protection of those around me.  Usually it's a details schmetails kind of situation but other times, well...the whole story just doesn't get told.

About a month ago I ventured down to West Palm to run in a 5K with Club Fun and I blogged about it here.  Looks like a lovely weekend yes?  Well it was, but it was exceptionally lovely due to a delightful little tidbit that I may have left out. Yes, Club Fun ran a 5k but it was a Club Fun of 4 instead of 3 as we had a new member along for the ride in Ashleigh's tummy.  Nine weeks along, little Blueberry Bullivant participated in what has become a Club Fun tradition to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research, such a little activist already. :)

So now that this news is out (with the permission of the proud parents of course) I need to call attention to the Club Fun Incubator who ran the race 9 weeks pregnant and distinct shade of pale green.  I can only tell you what a trooper she is and how I will never, ever be caught running a 5K at 9 week pregnant.  Squdges to you Madame Incubator, you are all that is woman. :)

I have to admit that when they first told me that they want to put someone up for consideration of membership I was not so sure, but one glimpse at the little tadpole in the ultrasound pic and I was convinced as to what a perfect fit he/she will be.

Welcome to the Club Mini-Bullivant, I am beyond excited to meet you and I promise that I will always share my Cheerios with you.  

Baby Boom (aka an excuse to post pictures of snuggly babies)

"You should feel happy, homes. I'm giving you and Vanessa the gift of life: sweet, screaming, pooping life. And you don't even have to be there when it comes out"

- Juno

When all of my friends were starting to get married someone warned me that my friendships would change after they got married.  I'm thankful though not surprised that they were pretty well wrong all the way across the board.  Babies on the other hand ARE the real game changers (though not necessarily in a bad way) and there is a baby boom going on amongst my friends. Primarily it's seriously damaging the variety in my happy hour friends.

I have friends who just love aaaalllll kids regardless of familiarity or cleanliness, and if there's a snotty nose or stinky fingers or poopy diaper to be changed within a 3 mile radius they are chomping at the bit to wash, wipe and re-cover.  While this may result in demerits against my hypothetical woman card, I've never really understood this.  I like to snuggle with baby-smelling tiny humans as much as the next person but when they require cleaning or feeding I like to hand them back over to their parents.  I limit that kind of activity to munchkins with whom I have the utmost familiarity. Specifically it's the ones whose parents I know well enough to be sure that they will still be my friend when they find out that Fun Aunt Anna let their toddler put chocolate sauce and caramel sauce on his ice cream while we watch our fave cartoons from the (horror of all horrors) new couch until the ungodly hour of 9 pm. I mean - what's the point of being Fun Aunt Anna if you don't get to break a few rules in the pursuit of fun-ness.

Two newbies have joined the ranks of chillin's I'll gladly snuggle and even clean if it becomes necessary.  

Grayson (aka G-man): 

Olivia Grace (aka Oli-G):

There are several more on their way and I'm excited to meet them.  Excited to meet them, snuggle them and then hand them back to their parents and then grabbing the Wes for a vodka drink in a smokey bar surrounded by people using foul language.  The more f-bombs the better!