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 :-)

The twins

Congratulations to my SIL and BIL! The twins have arrived - a little early at 32 weeks, but they are doing well and we are so happy to have them in the family. It is going to be a little hectic for a while as they are in the NICU, but they are doing good and growing stronger every day. Peter weighed in at 3 lbs 15 oz and was 16.5 inches long; Isabella weighed in at 3 lbs 14 oz and was 16.5 inches long. DSIL is in a little bit of pain after the c-section but is also doing well. DBIL has been there to help all in his family along to better health :-)

Now it's just waiting to go visit and begin spoiling them.

Tiki Bar Building Weekend

This weekend was dedicated to getting the tiki bar built. Jason's new pride and joy.

First and foremost, I would like to thank and recognize all the hard work put in by Marty and Marty (father and son), for the foundation and roof of the tiki area; the volunteered hard labor put in by Mike, Bruce, Rick, Matt and, of course, Jason for the hauling of wood, cutting and building of the actual - wonderful - tiki bar. Joanne, Kerry and Kathy for the watchful eyes and helpful comments on bar construction (not to mention drinking some wine with me :-)) And, last but not least Lucie, Kira and Penny for keeping us company.

The guys rallied together and pretty much finished building it. Now we just have to apply the finishing touches - bamboo on front, thatching on the roof, tiling on top of bar etc.

Here is a link to view the process of getting the bar built - I have a few other ones I have to get from a friend which show the finished bar off a little better.

http://picasaweb.google.com/drearosson/BuildingTikiBar4262008