Diet Coke with Lime

My Best Birthday Ever

Why?

Because I didn't expect a thing and I received everything.

People at work lit a candle taped between two little milk dud boxes and sang to me... gave me a container of the most delicious dark chocolate truffles... and just stopped by my office or called me up to say, Happy Birthday, Sara.

Facebook was filled with birthday wishes from people I have shared my past and will share my future.

At home, I was greeted with a beautiful bouquet of flowers on the table from my dearest friends.

Then Jack summoned me to the office. The boys had made me balloons out of foam and pip cleaners each painted with a different letter spelling H-a-p-p-y B-i-r-t-h-d-a-y, Jack painted me a picture, and Dave gave me a funny card.

Then I saw a present. I had no idea what it could be.All I had asked for was more time in the day and my memory back... which I knew Dave couldn't buy me.

Really, the only thing I had wanted was a sushi dinner. So as I lifted up my present, it was heavy. I thought, did he get me a photo album?! But why? As I started to unwrap it, I saw the box and thought why in the world did he buy me some Mac software? I have a PC!? And then as the last piece of wrap fell... it was an iPad. I felt like a kid in a candy store - a true surprise.

Dave promptly said, I got you more memory and it should save you time.

Brilliant! I couldn't have asked for anything better.

Then just as we were getting ready to leave for dinner, the doorbell rang. It was a florist with more flowers! These were from my mother-in-law. They were beautiful and her thoughtful message made them even more so.

We headed for dinner. As the valet opened my door, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

I have to say, it was one of the best meals I have ever had. The food was glorious, the experience was delightful, and I couldn't have asked for better company - the three men I love with all my heart.

And the best thing of all... I got to drink Shochu! I thought I'd never again.

Thank you to everyone who turned what I thought would be just another birthday day into my best birthday ever. I was deeply touched.

 

 

He Does, She Does

Wedding photos... Part 1.

We'll start with the best part... my boys!

Aren't they handsome?!

I find it interesting to look through different people's photos of the same wedding. You start to wonder... were they at the same wedding as I was?! Everyone takes photos of who they know and what is most important to them. And if there is one thing I learned in my life... What's important to each of us is never quite the same.

I'm no different. Well, actually, sometimes I am. Sometimes I want to capture an event as if I was the hired photographer. Not sure why... I end up with tons of photos of people I don't know. I guess I like to capture time in a series of increments and be able to relive the moments in Lightroom. Only a fraction of the photos I take are ever viewed by someone else.

Not this time though... I was stingy. This time I was faced with two major limitations: 1) I had one memory card and no computer and 2) my camera automatic focus is broken. You may not know this, but I can't see very well. I'll be the first one to jump when a camera manufacturer comes up with a manual focus system for the nearly blind.

Anyway, back to the wedding...

That's my sister, Kathy - Mother of the Groom. This is the perfect picture. She was so excited... it couldn't be contained.

Then my beautiful niece, Taylor, walked down the isle...

She looked stunning. I remember painting her nails when she was just a little tot. ;-)

After a slew of bridesmaids that I didn't know came the most handsome little man - my son, Jack. He was so stately. He walked down the isle just as he was told...

Now, with regards to the next handsome little man, we have a much different story.

Uncle Bud (aka Steve the Groom) told him to drop the petals on the ground as he walked. Will after a little bit of waiting for his turn to walk asked, Uncle Bud, do I throw the petals on the ground or at the people. Uncle Bud replied, On the ground, Will. On the ground.

At the beginning of the isle, William paused. He looked at the ground. Then he looked at the people.

Then the ground... Then the people...

He smiled. He had made up his mind.

He proceeded down the isle... throwing handfuls of petals at the people. Taking pause after each throw to soak in the reaction of the crowd.

It was a proud moment to see my once-shy, little boy's personality explode in public.

Da, da, da da. The Bride!

Katie was radiant... as any bride is. And what a proud Papa!

You could just feel her joy as tears started rolling down her cheek before she even hit the end of the isle.

Hey, look! ...look at that stud officiant. Yep...

That's my husband, Dave... performing his fourth marriage ceremony. No, he's not a Pastor. It's just a trend that caught on... When Dave and I married we asked our friend, Margita, to marry us. Then Dave's brother asked him to married him and his wife, Karin. Then friend heard the story and asked Dave to marry him and his wife... and so on. Dave is quite proficient - from understanding how to make it official with the county to delivering the ceremony. I often help write the ceremony and vows. It's a team effort.

This time I had the honor of reading a beautiful and fun passage from a book by a old nun. I loved the ending...

"Finally, laugh when all your carefully laid plans get changed; when the plane is late and the restaurant is closed and the last day's screening of the movie of the year was yesterday. You're free now to do something else, to be spontaneous… to take a piece of life and treat it with outrageous abandon."

With that being said, you may kiss the bride!

Isn't that just always the best part of a wedding. All the guests seem to sit anxiously in their seats until that moment. Then it is as if everyone is released from an invisible hold the moment the bride and groom kiss. Shoulders relax, smiles grow wider... it's magical.

Oh, just look at my handsome nephew, Steve... aka Krit... or Bud... or Stevo... depending on how you know him. He has more nicknames than spanking the monkey. I think it's a testimony to the fact that everyone love Bud. I know not one person - whether friend or family - that wouldn't say he is a special person. Always there when you need him. Always going the extra mile. A rare soul.

Congratulations, Steve and Katie!

You are two wonderful people who deserve each other. May your life together be filled with love, laughter, and understanding.

Thank you for including us all in your special day.

Hats Off to William

William is growing up.

On one hand, too fast for me. I can't believe he has graduated from Kindergarten.

It seems like only yesterday he was a little baby that cried all night long and didn't let me get one decent night of sleep for over three years. 

On the other hand, I am so proud watching him grow into such an interesting young man that it can't happen fast enough. Every day he demonstrates a little more of who he will be as an adult. My anticipation is over-flowing.

Speaking of anticipation, we weren't sure William was going to finish his quilt in time for graduation. Sewing and other fine motor skills aren't his forte. But his perseverance paid off... along with a little help from his mom and Juanita, of course.

...drum roll, please...

Introducing the Hope Class of 2010 - minus one who happened to be in Hawaii.

William stood so proud and patiently through the whole ceremony. All the other kids were fidgeting.

I was beaming...

Until he noticed his tassel handle just to his left.

It started with a little swing of the head...

Then a flip or two with his hand... back to swing... and a flip...

We all smiled and possibly even giggled out loud. It was classic kid stuff.

The big moment came and went as fast as the last five years.

William had blossomed at Hope. He had matured, gain confidence, and become a leader among his peers.

He was respected by students and teachers alike. He was a friend to all.

William, a kindergarten graduate.

The moment was a touching as any could be.

William was so lucky to have his Grammi fly in for his big day.

Big days for the boys always seem more special when a grandparent is there.

Must be the history... mixed with the extra dose of love filling the air.

We took a moment to pose for a family photo.

I love this one... I look like a mom, William is beaming, Dave is so proud, and Jack... well, Jack is always Jack. Loved his look that evening. He picked out his favorite shirt and belt. You might recognize them from his play. ;-)

William gave special gifts to his teachers, Ms. Jan and Ms. Carol. Then they gave him a bag of goodies to remember the day by.

Ms. Jan and Ms. Carol had become family in a sense. William spent three years with them.

They helped nurture William into the wonder little boy he is today... and I'm certain their influence will carry on through his life.

Teacher conferences were always so wonderful. I was able to see William through their eyes. I could tell they really cared for him and truly understood him. Their stories were always fun and insightful.

Speaking of stories, Ms. Jan gave William an incredible gift... She wrote a childrens story for him about William, the talking fish. It was quite the story. I hope it gets published some day. Wouldn't that be something.

Every child should be so lucky to have such fabulous teachers.

After some pictures, we visited a little while longer. All the children were given cameras. William clicked away.

We drank juice and ate cake. We celebrated William.

Then, like most other special moments in life, it was over and we went home. It was the end of an era. Jack started at Hope Montessori in 2005. The school and their teachers had played such a large role in our lives for four years. It was hard walking out... knowing we'll never be back.

Good-bye Hope... Thank you for everything!