The Cute and The Pretty

I'm liking blogging with pictures - means I don't have to type as much or doesn't it? I wanted to post these adorable pictures of Lucie and Kira, so here they are....

Lucie, somehow ended up with the ball and has it on her chair, she's actually looking at Kira sorta teasing her like - "ahha, I have the ball"
Here Lucie is playing coy and pretending that she's just lazing about with the ball and not really keeping a close eye on Kira - who will steal that ball in a heart beat .

Kira, is looking at me expectantly, like - "whatcha going to do mom, Lucie's teasing me and you know that I'll at least play with the ball and you if you go get it from her."

Kira has tried resorting to giving me the eye - "Look into my eye, look deeply into my eye." "You will get that ball from Lucie and give it to me." I, of course, chose to ignore both of them, take my pictures of them and then tell them they had to play fairly and that daddy would referee while I read my book.

Feeling Boney

OK, so I'm sitting here at the office working away. I've been sitting most of the day with little trips here and there to the copier, but nothing big. Now, you've seen pictures of me, I'm not a small girl, and will admit that I have more "back" than I do "butt" as it is the butt is sorta conclave, but this is ridiculous as of right now as I'm sitting here I would think that my behind is the boniest thing on my body and belongs to one of those girls who is waifishly thin. I can't get comfortable, it feels as though it is digging into the chair or the chair cushion is just not providing any relief at all.

I am going to get up and walk around in a minute - have to get off the phone from trying to order records - which I have no idea about how to do and where in their little report to find the box numbers so that I can do this, I'm sure I've been told a thousand times, my mind just doesn't retain the information --- woo hoo, it actually did, I'm so proud of myself, I bet my records manager husband would be proud of me as well. I knew the proper information and we are getting the boxes we need - I understand there will be no lashings from the records department - LOL.

Ok, I'm going to stretch my legs a/k/a work out the kinks in my A** :-)

Aren't y'all glad I shared :-)

The Melting Pot and Wrap-Up

The last part of Saturday, well, not really the last, but that would be TMI, or, was this anyway? - was that Jason had made reservations for us for dinner at the Melting Pot. I have only been once before, grew up loving fondue anyways and have been begging Jason to go there with me, so I was really surprised and totally happy. We had a great time and I actually think that Jason now likes the place and will definitely go there again - woo hoo - though might save it for another special occasion because of cost :-)

Here are some pictures below from dinner. Also, a complete set of the pictures for the day/evening can be found by following this link - http://picasaweb.google.com/drearosson/JNDrea1stAnniversary

On Sunday we had a nice breakfast with made-to-order omelets, fresh fruit and bacon. We then went to the movies to see Ironman with Robert Downey Jr. It was a good flick. If you like those types of movies, I would definitely recommend that you go see it. Oh, yes, and stay to the very end after all of the credits if you want to see the added little bonus.

I was completely and totally spoiled and loved every minute of it. I will be planning my own little anniversary weekend for the two of us on May 31 when we are finally able to get the free room at the Sheraton Annapolis - since we had our wedding at their hotel, we get to come back and enjoy a night on them for our first anniversary, which, of course, once again is in the midst of all the fun things happening around Annapolis - Naval Academy commencement week, the Preakness, nice weather tourists, the next weekend being Memorial Day, etc. hence the reason we have to wait a couple weekends to celebrate on a weekend. Anyways, I have a nice dinner planned for the two of us as well as getting together with friends to hang out with downtown in Annapolis.

Cheers!

Wine in the Woods 2008

After checking into the hotel and finding the loverly flowers, we headed off to Wine in the Woods 2008. The weather was gorgeous. The lines bearable though a little on the long side since we got there in the middle of the event around 3:00, but we made it through and started tasting with gusto :-) I'm actually looking at the list now and am just realizing we didn't make it to all that many - oh, only so much wine may be drunk before it's time or before I get a bit tipsy - lol.

We started with the wines of Loew Vineyards they had a few that we liked. From there it was to Bordeleau - “edge of the water”; Basignani Winery; Little Ashby winery; Terrapin Station Winery (The Diamondback Terrapin, a native of the Chesapeake Bay, is the Maryland state reptile. Once plentiful in number, the Terrapin is facing tremendous pressures on its environment that threaten its very existence. We think fighting for the Terrapin is a good way to give back for the blessings bestowed upon us by the beauty of the Bay. A portion of our sales will be donated to the Terrapin Institute to help save the Terrapin.); Fridays Creek Winery.

We also stopped at St. Michaels Winery where we tried most of their wines as well as their Gollywobbler Red (This fun, fruit-forward wine is made with a combination of Concord grapes and a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon. A great picnic red with hints of lime and lemon. Drink it well chilled over crushed ice, or as a spritzer or martini.) This wasn't us. But we also tried their Chocolate Zinfandel (The sin ... is in the zin. Sumptuous chocolate mixed with oak-barreled Zinfandel equals “Mmmm.” Drink Chocolate Zin as an after-dinner delight, with chocolate mousse and raspberry sauce, or as dessert.) Had to pay $1 per tasting, but it was pretty worth it if you like chocolate!

Fridays Creek is where we stopped, bought a nice Syrah to share and went and sat and enjoyed the delightful music of King Teddy (swing, jump blues and rock-a-billy).

Our pictures:

First Anniversary Flowers at Hotel

Our First Anniversary weekend started off wonderful. On Friday night we went over to Matt's and played poker with the gang where Jason and I came in first and second in two of the the three games and walked away with a little more than we started - though once you added in the cab fare from Rosslyn to Union Station we may have just broken even - but it was great fun finally playing poker again.

Saturday started with these beautiful flowers waiting for me in our club level room when we checked into the Sheraton in Columbia on Saturday. I just love them. They have my favorite flowers in them - Gerbera Daisys, Daisys and roses which are not red :-) I know, I know red are the color for love and passion, but they are just so, so overdone - I'll say that Valentine's Day has completely thrown me off that color probably for the rest of my life - not to mention the ridiculous amount of money people want for them. Jason knows me perfectly. The room, which I didn't take any pictures of for some reason was wonderful, the view of the Columbia Lake (?) was very nice though at this point we didn't stay there to long. We had to run off to the Wine in the Woods to sample many wines and sit and enjoy the various musical talents. Woo Hoo.

Housewarming Party 5-10-08

Ok, so it's about four days after the event and I'm finally going to write something about it. I think it was an overwhelming success. Everyone I spoke with has said they had a good time, though they could be lying - whose really going to tell the host or hostess to their face - your party sucked :-)

It rained Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning so, when the sun broke through around noon, we crossed our fingers and hoped for the best. We had a good turn out. I may have missed someone but I counted about 70 people showed up for the party at some point during it. I was running around playing, I hope, the perfect hostess, making sure that everyone had what they needed seats, drinks, food, conversation.

I will say there are not a whole bunch of pictures, but if you follow the picture link, you should be able to see a few that were taken on my camera and by a friend. I'm hoping to get more from others - we will see. There are pictures of the tiki bar being finished - finally got the bamboo and thatch.

http://picasaweb.google.com/drearosson/51008HousewarmingDay

A great big thanks goes out to Bruce, who was a godsend during the end of the week, on Saturday and during the party. He took off on Friday to help us get things together, worked diligently on the tiki bar, mowed the grass - thank you, thank you, Jason and my allergies would have had us under the weather the rest of the day if we had done it, getting people drinks and cooking up sausages and burgers. Thanks to Mike for coming over to work on the tiki bar and also manning the grill for us. Kerry for helping with food preparations. Carol for utensils. Darrick for chafing dishes. All those who brought sides and desserts, offered help, etc. Woo Hoo - it's great to have good, really good friends!!!

I must give love and hugs and thanks to and for my dear husband, Jason, who worked hard on the party and getting ready for it all the while having to put up with me - I am such a witch when I stress out! I really, really know this and I can't help it and I will probably never change and when I tried to propose divorce during my worst - he wouldn't even entertain the idea - LOL I know that on Saturday I was yelling, ooppss. speaking very strongly to him that he should be helping me set up stuff while at the same time he trying to work on the tiki bar with his friends who came to help.

Finished Patio Pictures

I took a few pictures on Saturday of the finished patio and walkway - not the best but figured I'd post them so people can see the finished product. I'll take more the day of the housewarming when everything is set up as much as it's going to be. What gets done, gets done :-)

Front Walk Paver Project 5-1-08 - Basically Finished

Here are pictures of the front walk basically done. I think that my parents shouldn't have much trouble getting the walkers down the path to the house now.

front walk from doorway:
Front walk from street:
Closer view of front walk: Front walk closer doorway:

Patio 5-1-08 Paver Progress - Basically Finished

Here are pictures of the patio. Hope all of this comes together including getting everything in order and pretty by next Saturday for the housewarming party.

Front Walk Paver Pictures

Here is the front walkway - this is a wedding, housewarming and first anniversary present from my parents. They just wanted a smoother walkway up to the house for their walkers so they can visit us more often - LOL. I'll have to take pictures of them trekking up the walk. If you look really close in the third picture down - Lucie is making a break for it out the front door. I like to think she missed mommy for the two seconds it took me to take these pictures, but I'm sure it was more the prospect of messing up the sand that the workers have meticulously put in place for the pavers to be laid. Sillie puppies.

Patio and Front Walk Pavers Pictures continued

More of the back yard - they had the wrong border bricks - the charcoal ones stacked up laid out, but are correcting it today - there should be a chocolate border.

Patio and Walkway

So, Long Fence began putting in our patio and front walkway pavers. Here are before and during pictures. I think it's coming along pretty good. Ignore the overgrown grass - that will be cut, I swear :-)