Eva's Birthday Weekend (Quarantine Style)

Happy Monday Friends!  Despite being in quarantine, I hope you all found at least some joy over the weekend...we sure did.

We were determined to celebrate Eva and make her birthday feel special...she turned 6 on Friday and she has had a hard time understanding what  this virus is all about.

As I have written before here, our kids are amazing us.  We hide our fears and insecurities from them and I am so grateful we are strong enough to do that because for the most part, they are resilient.  Don't get me wrong, there have been tears throughout but all in all, they are keeping positive.

Friday was a magical day for Eva.  We started the day with presents and with an ice cream sundae for breakfast :)

(Truth be told, she took a bite and then asked me to make her a breakfast wrap...so I did..the kid kills me)

Then she got some school work done...we added extra work earlier in the week so she could have a light day on Friday/her bday :)

During her class Zoom call, her teacher and fellow students sang for her and she was SO HAPPY :)

and then she listened to her school's morning announcements and ejoyed her Bday shoutout from Mr. Blair!

 

Then a few minutes before 12noon we all went outside to wait for her birthday parade.  There is a group in town that created these birthday party parade events and we couldn't be more grateful....Eva was shocked and just kept waving...she was so overwhelmed, she didn't know what to do!  Please don't mind me blubbering in the background...I was a mess...cried the whole time...so touched by our friends and this great town once again...and Rob surprised us all when he got the police to take part in the parade too...Eva wants to be a police officer and boy was she shocked!  

The bonus was that the photographer from the newspaper showed up as he is doing a story on the birthday parades...we know him from the dance studio and from his work around town..you have seen his pictures here on the blog and he is so talented!  Thank you once again Chuck Swierad!

The rest of her birthday weekend consisted of socially distant visits and presents from Mimi and Papa, Uncle Matt, The Fourniers and of course cake....we even got a surprise driveway visit from Auntie Janie....Mama's work bestie....thank GOD...just wish we could hug her...friends also sent us pics of the posters they made that also made her day...and she couldn't have asked for anything more....she said it was the "best birthday!" YEAH!!!!!

The rest of the weekend was also filled with pieces of joy...Mama's Zoom with her besties....a.k.a oxygen :)

and then during Rob's FB Live show on Saturday night, Diana joined him for a  song...they let me video it earlier in the day when they were rehearsing so going to share it here...it is "Mean" by Taylor Swift....

When they were performing, my friend Judy sent me a pic to show me that they were enjoying their fire pit while listening along...Exhibit A

Yesterday, Diana got to participate in a Triple Threat Zoom Call where her Theater Director and Coaches were giving audition tips and getting the kids pumped up for their summer camp (even if it may look different).  We then video'd her audition song and slate as well as Eva's...oh my word...we were dying...Pidge!!!  I will include the videos below here so I have them....

Last night, we wrapped up our weekend with a family Face Time call...always fun catching up with the big kids AND they always have good tech tips for me of course...love them so much! :)

That's a wrap!  Hope you had a joyous weekend too!

Linking up with Heather and the crew HERE

Friday Favorites (Eva's 6th Birthday Edition!)

Hi Friends!  We made it through Week 6 of Quarantine- we should all be proud!

Today's Friday Favorites is being dedicated to our Little Eva who is turning 6 today- yeah Pidge!!

Our daughter completed our family on April 24, 2014- she was a blessing.  Since Diana was sick her entire first year, we thought that would probably happen with Eva too but she surprised us all.  As a Mama, I was actually able to feed her and she kept her formula down.  I would stand over her, watching her sleep, waiting for her to get sick...and she didn't.  Then when she would wake up, she would always be smiling...pure Joy...and I always said we should've named her joy! :)

She amazed us all at how kind she was from day one....she was and is always thinking about people's feelings and she is a great snuggler too!
 

She would let us take her anywhere...still does...when we were at our friends' pool in the summer, she would sit in her booster seat for hours playing and "talking" and eating snacks...and never complaining...again pure joy!
 

She is and was always a great eater...we always joke that the kid never misses a meal (just like Mama) :)
 

Although she went to daycare a few days a week, she remained pleasant and shy...until... 

She hit Kindergarten...then her personality really came out!  She cracks up her teachers and friends and has made some special bonds...Eva is funny...very direct and sometimes doesn't have a filter...we usually laugh but sometimes get worried that she may say the wrong thing to the wrong person! Ha!
 

She loves playing hockey, Frozen, Descendants, Zombies, Jo Jo Siwa, playing Road Blocks, reading, eating and doing ballet with Mrs. Mullen!

She also wants to be a police officer when she grows up just like Officer Matt!  She wants to "keep people safe and get the bad guys!"
 

 So My Little Pidge....today's birthday is very different and I am so sorry because I know you are having a hard time understanding...Mama's heart is breaking too...but we will rally as we always do and friends will do a birthday parade for you today at lunch time and we will have some cake and presents tonight and do what we can to honor you...our Baby...our special girl...Happy 6th Birthday!

 

Linking up with the lovely ladies, as always, HERE

Quarantine Cocktails

Hi Friends....how are we doing?  How is working from home going?  How is remote learning going?

We are getting through it all here...I am not sure about you but I have more hope now that I have heard the president has a plan.... a gradual plan but safe plan and we will slowly get back to normal...that is the hope I need to push me forward...the hope I was lacking over the last 5 weeks....so yes I am more hopeful now...still sad...mourning the joyful events that have been cancelled for my girls...but focusing more on the joy.

I thought I would put a fun post together because who of us doesn't need a little fun right now?  My blogging friend Andrea started a YouTube channel called "The Yeti Bartender".  She kills me but I love watching her and she always has great recipes to share.

She got me thinking of some cocktails I have recently "pinned" and Rob and I thought they would be fun to make and try during this quarantine...so sharing a few with you today.  Please let me know if you try any of these...I would love feedback!

The first one will not be tried until we are "free" to get together again and I will be making this and serving it to my besties.....

Hippie Juice

Doesn't that sound like the perfect girlie drink?  Fruity and refreshing and perfect for summer!

 Next up

The Dirty Banana

This one sounds more like a dessert and oh so yummy...you can even make a "virgin" one for your kiddos and pour it into fancy glasses

Lastly, is Andrea's cocktail

The Peach Bellini Martini

I made these for Rob and myself on Friday night and they were absolute perfection!  Perfect spring cocktail- refreshing and just strong enough.  Side Note: If you can't find peaches or don't want to make your own puree, I found a totally easy hack.  I bought organic canned peaches at Whole Foods, drained the liquid and threw them in the blender and they provided the perfect puree to rim the glass AND add to the cocktail FTW!

There ya have it...just a nice little distraction when you are looking for something different to help you decompress after a crazy quarantine week!

Friday Favorites (Quarantine Week 5 Edition)

Well friends....we are wrapping up Week 5 of Quarantine...it is surreal...life changing....trying to learn...grow...stay calm and push forward all at once....my blog is my scrapbook anyway so someday I hope to look back and remember how hard this time was...how it changed us...and how we prevailed...God willing


I enjoyed some bright lights in our week this past week...work calls that made me realize why I chose this career over 20 years ago...getting back to basics tends to do that sometimes....Zoom calls....excellent progress with school work (my girls)....meals that were eaten with gusto...and even you my blogging friends....you always lift me up with your posts...Patty...Rechelle....Sarah...Jaclyn...Heather...
Andrea...all of you...thanks for the inspiration and thanks to Shay for entertaining us with her info on handbags this week too...I chuckled a bit but got inspired at the same time

Linking up HERE and sharing some faves from our week...

Math Facts- 100% FTW!

Getting a bday gift together for her best friend = pure joy

Weekly Team Zoom Calls...brings tears to my eyes...we have the best team at my firm...would be lost without this company

Diana's Ballet.....

A Friend Walking By Snapped this Cute Pic

Eva's Ballet

Mrs. America- great new series to watch on Hulu 

Watching the landscapers put down fresh mulch gave me some hope this week..... 

until this happened....sigh...someone is not happy with us right now

 Selection Committee

I was honored to be asked to sit on the selection committee for a new Director of HR for our School District...I got to enjoy final round interviews via Zoom and it was so interesting and such a privilege...I also just got accepted onto a local HR board after some tough interviews....will be happy to officially announce that soon....I am truly excited for the future opportunities that this will bring my firm and me...can't wait to get started!

Extended Remote Learning

Our Governor announced yesterday that our kids will be home-schooled/continuing remote learning through the end  of our school year.  For us it is June 18th.  Though I was expecting this, it is still a tough pill to swallow- so much sadness from my girls- stress and exhaustion for Rob and me to continue working full time and teaching full time and yet still....we need to have hope....so...I want to wrap up by reminding you all that there is always, always, always something to be grateful for....

Though things are dark and uncertain right now.....

"Listen to the birds that were sent
To sing for me and you
Can you feel me
This is such a wonderful place to be
Even if there is pain now
Everything would be all right
For as long as the world still turns
There will be night and day
Can you hear me
There's a rainbow always after the rain"

Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally and Natalie Hemby

Let's Look- Inside My Purse Edition

Hi Friends...though we are still in this scary quarantine period..I am focusing on the positive...having our girls at home while we are at home...will probably never happen again and you can't get these years back...great conversations with candidates and clients..the weather getting warmer...I am holding on to the slices of joy when I hear about them...read about them or see them on tv....anyway....today's post is a light...fun...mindless one...a great distraction if you will!

 

 

I am linking up with Erika and Shay HERE and sharing what's inside my purse....

 

 

Here it goes.....

 

 

 

The first thing I have to mention is the cool organizer that my BFF Cass got me for Christmas...she snagged it on Etsy and it was custom made for my exact bag and does an awesome job of organizing and helping me to find my items in my big bag...it even has compartments for water bottles...FTW!

 

(She is also responsible for the adorable charm on the outside of the bag)

 

 

 Ok now...the goods....

Essential key chain with keys for home, work and cars...and my swipe tag for my gym (which I miss so much and never thought I would say that- ha!)...the keychain is Lilly of course...need a splash of Lilly everywhere in my life :)

 

and another splash of Lilly...this trusty notebook/journal...I jot ideas down when I am not at home...in the car..on the road...for work...personal....etc

My trusty wallet....

 This wristlet came with the bag and fits neatly inside...sometimes I carry just this for a girls' night...etc...less cumbersome

My nail bag...insert crying here....no nails right now....can't wait to go back to my nail shop too...who is with me??

and my sewing kit...never thought I would see one of these in my bag BUT this is specific to pointe shoes and ballet shoes...the needle is so sharp and the texture of the yarn makes it very easy for me to sew ribbons and elastics on Diana's ballet shoes...it is a God send...Thank you to The Dancers' Closet in Nashua!

Hand Sanitizer...because duh ;)

Lip Gloss...though I haven't opened this in over a month

and shades of course....

 So...what's in your bag?