st. patty's day 2011

Mom and Dad loved St. Patty's day. They were always out and about on this day having fun with friends.....we were lucky to get them down to Cincy for one of them and while it was much too tame for them, we had a great time. I miss their smiling faces and love for having fun every single day. As the Spring nears and the anniversary of their death approaches, I get even sadder they are not here and won't be here to meet the little guy.....and cannot see what a beautiful, smart, loving person Elle has become.....

I had a long business trip and flight to Portland, OR and while it was great to have some amazing dinners, shop a little and catch up with my co-worker over virgin martinis, I am so glad to be home.....I feel blessed to have a great career and opportunities to travel and see different parts of the country but nothing beats a 75 degree March day both with our sunglasses on walking through Hyde Park, a neighborhood that we love to live in and even more so now that we have Elle. Sometimes when I think we need more space and a big yard, I walk to the square and grab a coffee or ice cream or sit outside and watch the many runners and walkers that pass by the street and square and I know for a fact, I am not ready to leave......

Now that we have completed the kitchen project we are on to landscaping but cannot quite figure out what is reasonable to spend and what makes sense if you are planning to stay here for another few years. So we will see......

Just enjoying a few minutes of peace right now after a traditional St. Patricks day meal cooked by Ted, several walks after an exhausting day of air travel...knowing April is around the corner when my heart will ache even more....yet I feel so blessed we will be on a vacation with our awesome friends just at the right time when we need it most.....

A huge thanks to my Mother-in-law for making our lives less stressful this week as Ted and I were double booked with travel. The help with Elle was so appreciated and I only wish we had my parents here to help out too. You all got along so well and it would just be one happy family and an overwhelming amount of support and love......but I continue to be so proud of Ted and I for making it on our own out of state, we have grown so much and have a great appreciation for our dear friends and family....