I Believe This is Heaven To No One Else But Me

The kids are napping, I turn on the Pandora for a little music therapy.  It's not a bad day, just not a great one.  I'm not particularly unhappy, just not feeling my groove.  I turn on the Sarah McLachlan station, hoping for some solace.  The first song that comes on is Elsewhere by Sarah herself.




This song used to be my theme song, circa 1994.  I was on my own in a dorm room at Mizzou, dating a guy my parents didn't like, but I was far away from them, making my own decisions, going at my own pace, in my own direction.

I often say that I need to give my children wings.  I feel that is the point of parenting.  I also think it might be the hardest part of parenting.  Not the diaper changing, the temper tantrums at the PTA meetings.  It's the "wings" part that is the most important, and possibly the most challenging.

And so, I have to give myself wings.  That which I wish to impart, I also need to embrace.

Christmas Eve at the Farm

 Dad making brunch

 Dominic looking cute

 Uncle Matt getting a smile from Dominic while Hannah holds him

 Family of 5

 Grandkids

 Charlotte playing with her Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs Little People

 Cecilia and Rapunzel

 Norah peeking out of the new Princess tent

 Chef Matt

 We got Lesa a new little French egg basket

 John plays Princess with Charlotte

 Charlotte checks out one of my mom's Christmas decorations

The teeny boppers play Hedbanz

Barrel Sales

My brother, Joe and I took a trip to Napa in early December to sell some of his hand crafted Missouri oak barrels.  It was a whirlwind trip, full of coffee, wine, and focus (and a few long showers for me with no kids banging on the door.)  We stayed at our cousin, Mark's, hotel in downtown St. Helena.  There are worse business trips. =)  Joe is an easy traveling partner and it was nice to spend a few extra moments with him. We visited a few nice wineries, and I had a mini Fresno State reunion.

 My old classmate, Sara, is one of the winemakers at Peju.

 The Hotel

 Joe unwrapping his barrels in the Hotel common area.

 The barrel room at Ovid was magical.

 A nice view of the Golden gate Bridge and San Francisco behind

 Mark, his youngest daughter, Lucy, and his wife Kris

 the outside of the Hotel

 the inside of the Hotel

 Sara amid her barrels at Peju

 The view from Ovid

 Mark, Joe and I at Ovid

 Ovid tasting room

 Joe enjoying himself at Ovid

 outside of Ovid

The Wydown Hotel's Open House/Meet the Cooper night

One of the best parts of the trip was when I struck up a conversation with the lady behind me at Dean and Deluca waiting for a coffee, and she ended up being the owner of Ovid winery and invited us up to the tasting room.  It was very exclusive, very expensive, and all three of us were on a high, not only from the wine and the view, but sometimes wine can be so exciting and make you feel so alive.

We went out there ultimately for an Open House/Meet the Cooper night at the Hotel.  Joe's barrels were well received and he has already sold some.  Very exciting to see him succeed at something he loves.

Party of 5

Family Photo 11/28/12

O Tannenbaum

Our 4 day weekend is going might well.  Pick out our tree yesterday, trimming it today. =)

Oh Goodness

This picture was taken literally months ago, but that's ok, right?  This was taken on our 11th anniversary, May 26th, 2012.  A lot has changed in the past 11 years, and I imagine a lot more will change in the next 11 years.    The summer flew by, we're all up and out the door every week day morning now, which makes me sad.  John's back at work, Dominic goes to a new babysitter, and the girls are off to preschool.  This weekend is the annual Jour de Fete in Ste. Genevieve, and now that we live in town, we'll be in the thick of it.  I'm being pulled in a million different directions right now, and just between you and I, something gotta give. Wish me luck, send me hugs, say some prayers.

Vacation Video

Make your own photo slideshow at Animoto.

Onlooker

Last Thursday was the first Muny Band concert of the year, and it was a chilly one.  Can't remember too many where we're wrapped in blankets and jackets.

The top picture was in the local paper.  The bottom picture was taken by Sara.

Dominic's Christening

We had everybody over for Dominic's Baptism and Charlotte's birthday party a week or two ago.  The priest did a nice job, and Dominic was so sweet and good.  The priest said he couldn't remember an easier baptism. =)  We chose Joe and Amanda to be Dominic's godparents.  Afterwards, everyone came back for Subway sandwiches, and all the fixings and cake and presents.  The weather was nice, and it was an all around nice day together.

5.26.12

Yesterday was John and I's 11 year anniversary, and I asked the babysitter to take a family picture before John and I headed out for the evening.  Life sure is busy nowadays, and definitely not a fairy tale, but real life isn't too darn bad.  It all started  so many years ago...

Easter 2012

 Dominic 4 months old

 Posing for a picture before heading to the farm

 Charlotte hunting for Easter eggs

 Cecilia found an egg!

 Charlotte, Norah and Cecilia in matching dresses

Family of 5

Lovin's what I got

We've been able to get out and about with all this nice weather.  It's 75 degrees F right now.  Crazy.  My sister, Christy, took these pictures last weekend at Hawn State Park.  They have a nice little trail that runs alongside the Pickle Creek.  Sublime.

In other news, we have people coming to look at the old house today, and I would appreciate some nice thoughts, vibes, prayers, anything to sell that house.  I never, ever imagined when we moved into that house on November 10th, 2003 that 8 years later it would be such a burden. =(  Maybe the luck of the Irish will be on our side today.