a new to-do list

just spent the last few hours outside in the glorious sunshine with ella (while brother naps) - lounging on a blanket with magazines, treats, beads, stationary, nail polish and our books... and let me tell you it felt good! though the conference ended earlier this week - my brain has been mush and motivation non-existent. how wonderful to have back the time to focus on a new to-do list.  one that does not include rehearsals, conference calls, lead generation and program management...but instead finishing my book for book club, planning our vegetable plot at the community garden, sending belated cards, recipe research, belated rsvp(s) for birthday parties & showers, manicures for ella, etc.

actually, think i'll scrap the to do list and just take things as they go - how great is that?! happy weekend friends...xo!

 

thankful tuesday, 5/10 (conference edition)

sending this week's thankful tuesday from washington, dc... conference edition!

 

 

 

• my wonderful husband holding the fort down at home
• having a drink with betsy while in dc...we could have caught up for hours more!
• the calm before the storm
• an awesome team of colleagues and clients
• a smart agenda
• tap dancing and thinking on my feet
• a glass of wine or two at the end of a loooooooong day
• dynamic presentations that we've prepped months for
• relevant content & case studies on employee engagement, health care reform, baby boomer retirement era, workforce analytics, global wellness, derisking pensions (not my typical post topics...ha!!)
• updates from home - even if they do include a bennett boo boo to the face
• beautiful evening at the historic meridian house
• the sights of dc - especially the view of jefferson at night from my hotel window
• caffeine. caffeine. caffeine.
• did i say caffeine?
• yummy and cute mercer cupcake from the famous georgetown cupcakes (dc cupcake on tlc)
• organized chaos
• slick production
• final hours... excitement of being almost done

mudder's day

dear sweet ella & bennett -
i am so very privileged to be to your mama. from the giggles and cries to the the battles and cheers - i am honored.

ella bella,
thank you for the pile of wonderful cards you made for me - and your bursting excitement over keeping the secret of your gift ensemble. i loved them!  lately we've been chatting about how much you are growing. each time i notice a new freckle - or each time i'm blown away with a new sophisticated idea, plan or thought you share.   i ask you - "dear ella, please, please stop growing!" - and you say "mommy, i can't...i'm almost 5 you know."  i know, i know - but, how can that be?  my daughter. my friend. my shopping companion. my creative artist. my little chef. my ice cream maker. my little planner. my adoring big sister. my daddy's girl. my shy angel. my love. my gift.

bennett pie -
how much i loved getting showered with your happy "mudder's day" tackles, hugs and kisses today. you are so very generous in your affection, words and abounding love. from your countless "whys" to your hair twirling loves - i adore you. like your sister, you've been reminding me lately how much you are growing "mama i not baby - i big boy")...but you are still my baby. my little train conductor. my kix & morning snuggles buddy. my friend. my muddy adventurer. my shake shake bridge conqueror. my big sister copy cat. my sing me a song sweetie. my little sweet tooth. my 2008 christmas present. my tough guy. my love. my gift.


i love you sweet babies - happy mudder's day!

will these make me smarter?

i'm procrastinating!  it's the final days, hours and all out sprint to the finish line that is my global conference for work. maybe these smarties will give me a smart boost tonight?! 

visiting my bro

we had a special weekend away to visit tim and leigh. our time with them is usually spent at our home in the midst of a holiday or quick afternoon gathering - therefore we so loved having a chance to visit, catch-up, play and chill with them for a couple of days on their turf...nyc! a few highlights...

checking out the playgrounds on every corner...

 

 

 the lights of times square...

 m&m place for these huge fans...

 

yummy brunch at fred's...

 

 dinosaurs at the american history museum...

 hot dog picnics...

 

walks in the upper west side neighborhoods...

 

 spring in central park...

 

 

visiting the animals at the central park zoo and the stuffed animals at fao schwartz...

 

 picnic and games at riverside park...

 

 we love you tim & leigh...and miss you already!