Anticipation...

is making me wait...it's keeping me waiting!!!

I am so NOT good at waiting. Ask my mother. I have always loved things to happen instantly and the idea of hanging around for hours, days, or weeks for something to occur is absolutely devastating to me. We are on week 5 of the pool construction and I am just about ready to go over the edge. We are hoping that our concrete guys will be here tomorrow to put the wire in the concrete forms and then the county will need to inspect them. When will that happen??? Hmmmmmmmmmmm...I have no idea. Hoping that some major progress will occur in the next week - ten days. I pray. For now, here are pics of the latest things going on here:

Feeling Enchanted

We watched this movie this morning as a family. Oh, it is so cute, sweet...just adorable. LOVE IT! Haven't seen it? Please go watch it.

Scattered Thoughts Saturday

Here's a little of this and that:

My birthday was a great day. I received so many sweet cards, phone messages, and gifts from so many of my friends and family! I also got to enjoy some yummy Carvel's ice cream cake...bonus.

I love to read other people's blogs. Here are a few that I really enjoy:

http://www.reluctantentertainer.com/

http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/

http://www.homegrownhospitality.typepad.com/

http://tarawhitney.com/justbeblogged/

http://thompsonfamily.typepad.com/thompson_familylife/

http://paperandink.typepad.com/thegoodlife/

http://donnadowney.typepad.com/simply_me/

There are many more, but that's all for now.

Is imitation the most sincere form of flattery or really annoying??? Just wondering.

Today we are heading out to look for an outfit for Lily for May Day. She was selected as the Lady for her class. Each class chooses a Lady and a Knight for the court for the May Day festivities.

I am so looking forward to watching Enchanted with the girls and John this weekend.

Yesterday, the concrete guys came and they smoothed out the dirt and placed the concrete forms for almost all of the concrete. They will return to put in wire and have it inspected and then finally the concrete will be poured on another day. Can't wait for this part to be complete.

We took some of the invitations to the neighbors for Lily's party. She is busy, busy making plans for their big sleepover.

May is going to be super busy...birthdays, parties, May Day, Mother's Day, PTA stuff, field trips, dance rehearsal and recital...lots happening.

Well, happy weekend...

image from this site

42 on 24

(Image courtesy of this site)

Today, I turn 42 on the 24th of April! Like the idea of the reverse numbers and feel that must mean I am destined for exciting things this year! When you turn the age of your birthdate they call that your golden birthday. I think I will call this my nedlog birthday...get it??? Golden backwards! Anyway. If you know me well, you know that I adore my birthday and always have. I love everything about it. I love that it means the beginning of new things and I love that I have some experience behind me. I have never been a gal to wish for past years of my life. I guess I am lucky enough to have always loved the life I'm living right now.

So, today I had a pedicure and got my car washed. Came home and finished up Lily's birthday invitations for her sleepover. I downloaded the invites from Justiceforgirls.com and then used DIP to put the info on them and printed them in 4x6 size. Then I created little 5.5"x7.5" pillows from facric scraps I had and filled them with polyfil. I attached a little ribbon to the cards to pull them out of the pillow. She will hand deliver them to her friends. I am happy with the design of them. (Blanked out the addy and the phone number)

Tonight, we will celebrate the day with an icecream cake from Carvel's and some gifts from the girls. Looking forward to that time with them and John. Off to enjoy the 80 degree weather and sunshine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Monday

We spent the weekend dog sitting. Lily loved it. Shelly tolerated it. The little dog, Sadie, is just adorable and so well behaved. She was fun to have around and we all missed her when her owners picked her up last night.

The pool assembly is moving along. The retaining wall is complete and the electrician has finished his part of the set up. John took out the old deck stairs and installed a new set of stairs. He also sledgehammered the front concrete sidewalk near our steps to the front porch. John did such a great job and I know it was extremely hard work.

During all of the activities outside of our house, I get a bit stressed. So my answer to this stress...bake cupcakes! Here are the cupcakes with the Magnolia Bakery frosting. John thought these looked like Smurfs.

Looks like all we did this weekend is sleep...au contraire:

And finally, here is my little ray of sunshine on a Monday morning:

Graduation 1984

So, as I reminisce through some of my old photos, I am reminded of some really great friends and times in my life. My best friend in high school was Veronique Pirrone and we had tons of fun together. We got ourselves into a bit of mischief back in those days. We would go to The Wave (a punk rock bar at the beach) when we were just Juniors (underage) in High School (sorry mom and dad)! And we both loved the Stray Cats, Adam Ant, The Police, The Psychedelic Furs, and many many other alternative bands. We graduated from high school in 1984. Here we are on our graduation day. This was by far one of the top 10 days of my life. My 4th grade teacher came to my house that day to give me a graduation gift, my sisters presented me with a beautiful sapphire ring, and my parents threw a fabulous graduation party for me!! It's fun to look back at these not so perfect pictures and remember the good times.

Rainy Days

Well, today is not a rainy day, but Lily recently wrote this great little story about rainy days. So, I thought I would share it here. It makes me smile.

So, I am attempting to remember those day-tight compartments. Today is a struggle with several workers here trying to get things done. Hoping that it all works out well and looks good. So many decisions and issues. Thank goodness I have never dreamed of building my own house. I think it would literally kill me!!! This is just exhausting. Oh well, this too shall pass.

Pool Progress

I get lots of questions about the pool progress. So, thought I'd expound upon it here! For three days (Mar. 26-28) they dug the pool, put in the steel walls, and filled the area behind with concrete and dirt. Then the rains came and settled the dirt and the pool into place. This takes place for about 4-5 weeks to ensure a secure foundation for the walls/pool. So, we are lining up the stones for the retaining wall, the electrician, the concrete guy, and the supplies for the deck redo. John tore down the railing from the existing deck and will have new stairs built. He plans to finish the rest of the deck himself. I am not a good waiter...I am all about immediate gratification and instant feedback. So, this is all a lesson in patience for me. I am not so sure I am doing well with that part. I am eagerly anticipating the end of May/beginning of June. I have high hopes that we will be in a semi-done state at that point. I sure hope so.

Until then I need to take things one day at a time. I am thinking of day-tight compartments...from Dale Carnegie: The principle is to live in “day-tight compartments.” Meaning, you should only be thinking/worrying about the things going on today. Don’t waste time thinking about the things you have to do tomorrow, or next week, or next year. Just get through today, just do the few things you need to do today. That’s it. I was introduced to this idea by a good friend when I was teaching. Anne always offered this advice and the older I get the more importance it has taken on in my life.

So, here are some photos from the yard. The deck without railings and the girls "swimming" in the pool:

It's Flashback Friday!

Ok, it has been awhile since I posted some scanned photos. So to liven things up around here (lots of tension when one's life is under construction) I thought I'd post a lovely duo of photos.

Let's start with the first picture. Here we are the three Ruesch girls. Are we hot or what!!!??? It's me, my sister Linda, and my sister Kathy standing outside of her apartment in Alexandria. Oh, and a red hot fashion note...the cute little Pappagallo green button purse (the ones with all of the different covers...circa 1980-81) is now quite hip and trendy at your local Old Navy store. I just saw one there today. Oh, and Linda's cool Candies pumps were one of my all-time favorite pairs of shoes. My mother wouldn't let me own a pair! So there I am at about the age of 14...right in all my hideous glory.


So, on to another photo taken in 1989 at my friend's boyfriend's house. There we are in our ultra short skirts, slouchy tops with shoulder pads, and major pouffy hair. Let me tell you we thought we were lookin' hot that night...I am quite sure. I'm in shock that almost 20 years has passed since that picture was taken! Could I please have those pretty tan legs back!

Bonnie, me, and Sherry

Tidbits of Randomness

First off, I am so not good at coming up with the blog post titles. Oh well.

I am excited to receive this print from etsy. Just love the look of it. And excited to be putting it on our "fun wall" in the hallway.

This coming week I will be attending a Pampered Chef party. Looking forward to ordering a new large bar pan. Mine cracked in the oven. Oh, and I am no longer really doing Pampered Chef. So, it will be fun to sit back and watch.

Lily and her friends are practicing for the end of the year 2nd grade talent show. They are doing a dance to the Hannah Montana song, Rockstar. This afternoon is a practice day for it. I think we need to hook up with the dance teacher in the neighborhood to perfect this routine!

Trying to decide how I feel about this guy. And, who I want to see him with, ultimately.

This show is like a train wreck that I must keep watching.

Saw this little item and thought it was cute and unique.

Funky and fun little top.

I'm looking forward to April cruising along. We have so many plans and decisions ahead of us. Can't wait until it's all finalized.

Love the idea of this type of wall art.

These little guys are consuming our every moment. We discuss care, feeding, responsibility. You name it. One may be on the horizon for someone's birthday.

I made this soup the other night and we are still enjoying it this weekend. Very tasty.

Cute place for decorating ideas for a girl's bedroom.

Ok, well...that's all for now. I'll leave you with a little photo.

Fondue Fun

I love fondue. I think it's such a fun and happy eating experience. I bought some HUGE and beautiful strawberries at Costco the other day and was slicing them up for the girls. John asked them if they'd like them dipped in chocolate and they both jumped at the idea. So, after their baths, I set up the chocolate fondue pot and we dipped strawberries and the big marshmallows. We even discussed fondue etiquette (no double dipping outside of the four family members' fondue pot). It was a nice little unexpected activity for a Thursday evening.

Today, the rain continues. It has been amazingly wet here for about a week. Of course, we need the rain. And ironically, our pool guy said that once the walls were in the ground would need to settle for several weeks and he advised us to pray for rain. Literally, the day after the walls went up and the concrete and dirt went in, the rain started. So, I guess we can be thankful for small blessings along the way.

Hoping to see the sun again, soon.

Happiness

Need I say more????

Ahhh...April

For some selfish reasons (my birthday!!), I love April. I love the smell of Spring in April. I love all of the new life...flowers, baby animals, fresh beginnings...that come in April. April feels like a big huge ray of sunshine following the darkness of winter. So, here's a little calendar photo for April. Love the silly look on Lily's face.

Hope your April is extra warmy and sunny!!!