The Wedding

Doug, Bri and I were honored to attend the wedding for two amazing people - Zach and Jennifer. Zach is the nephew of Doug's best friend Jimmie. Jimmie and Doug and have been friends since high school.

We've watched Zach grow up into the amazing man he is today. Zach and Jennifer are high school sweethearts, just like Doug and me. It is so neat that they got married 20 years after Doug and I did. 

This was the first wedding Bri ever attended. She was at my cousin's reception with Doug for about a millisecond when she was almost two years old, but we just haven't been to any other weddings since Bri came home.

We were all dressed up fancy to go...

The wedding was supposed to be outside on a beautiful farm. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. The skies opened up right before the ceremony. Luckily, they had a beautiful indoor facility that served as the perfect backup...

The bride and groom are huge Disney and Steelers fans...

Zach and Jennifer had a beautiful daughter together two years ago, and Hannah served as their adorable flower girl...

The beautiful bride descending the stairs...

The happy couple was just beaming...

I love this picture of Zach with his mom Debra...

The rain finally stopped for a few minutes so I could snap this picture...

Bri trying to catch her first bouquet (didn't happen thank goodness!)...

They had a fun photo booth...

Bri danced and danced and danced. Mostly with me. But I did get her out there without me once...

Bri with Jimmie's mom and Zach's grandmother Ginny...

Bri and Uncle Jimmie...

Daddy/daughter dance...

Hannah discovered Briana right at the end of the night, and then she didn't want to stop dancing with her...

They were so cute dancing together...



Then it was time to say goodbye...

These two amazing "kids" have so much to look forward to in life. They are really perfect together. I wish them all the happiness in the world!

The 1st & 2nd Week Of Summer Break

After a super busy and highly emotional month of May/5th grade, I was so ready to just relax. But no. I woke up on the very first day of summer break, Saturday morning, with my back "out." No joke. During Bri's graduation ceremony, I had to sit on very hard bleachers. Doug said to me that evening, "This is going to totally jack your back up." And dang he was right. I was miserable that whole weekend with pain in my lower back...

I rested all weekend, and I did all I could to try to help my back out (ice, tens unit, exercises). Doug, Bri and I had plans for Memorial Day with the M family and I didn't want to miss out.

Luckily, I was starting to feel a bit better by that Monday and I was able to get over to their house. I wasn't great, but I could handle it.

We went over to their house for some grilled hot dogs and hamburgers...

Bri and Chani always love hanging out together...

The following day, Tuesday, I visited my chiropractor. I felt so much better after I saw him. I saw him again a few days after that because my back was still bothering me a bit. I am so grateful he can shift my lower back back into place.

When I started feeling better, I put together a shelf for Bri to put all her soccer trophies. I had already purchased a holder to store her medals...

B's dresser was cluttered with these trophies. It was time they had their own space. And her new running club trophy was put on top...

By Thursday, I was feeling a bit better. Bri and I desperately needed to do some shoe shopping...

A stop at Steak N Shake is always fun...

She still stops at the red ball...

Friday evening of that first week of summer, Bri went to her friend Imerie's birthday party/sleepover...

My friend Val put together the most amazing scavenger hunt for the girls...

It took them to Michaels, PetSmart, Dollar Tree and finally Menchie's...

They had so much fun searching for the items (all these pics are compliments of Valerie)...

Menchie's frozen yogurt was their prize...

I don't think Bri slept a wink that night, but she had the absolute best time...

Sunday night, Doug, Bri and I went to a beautiful wedding for an amazing couple (more on that in my next post)...

Briana's 10th referral day anniversary fell on Tuesday during the second week of summer break...

And the Wednesday of the second week of summer break, Doug and I took off for an amazing 20th anniversary trip to Rhode Island for 5 days. It was absolutely perfect (more on that soon)...

We just finished our 4th week of summer break. 4th!!!! This summer is totally flying by. In 5 more weeks, Bri starts middle school. I'm not ready, I'm not ready, I'm not ready...

My Frustrating Mei Mei

My sweet Mei Mei.

My sweet chunky monkey Mei Mei...

My sweet Mei Mei that has refused to allow the hair to grow back on her belly since her surgery (you can see one of her surgery scars in this pic)...

Yes, I have yet another cat that is licking her belly bare. Freaking why? How in the world is this happening again? Asia licked her belly hairless for years as well. I feel like the worst mom ever. 

I am so frustrated!

Asia's over-licking started with a small hot spot, and with the newness and stress of Briana coming home, it was the perfect storm of continuous belly licking. We even tried "kitty prozac" with Asia and nothing worked. She was hairless on her belly until the end.

Mei started over-licking her lady parts toward the end of last year. We couldn't figure out why. Then we discovered the hernia. Ah-ha! Made sense! She was probably uncomfortable and started licking that area to soothe herself.

When Mei came home with a buzzed belly after surgery in January, we hoped that with the corrected hernia she would eventually let the fur grow back. But with two stomach scars/scabs, she kept on with the licking. I've coned her several times on and off over the last several months (I decided to give it yet another try). I have tried washing her kitty blankets, vacuuming her perches, using unscented cat litter, spraying bitter spray to deter her from licking the area (that actually made things worse). Now I am washing her belly with an all natural, anti-itch shampoo every few days in case itchiness is the issue. My next resort is to possibly get her a steroid shot.

I'm not sure if she is itchy or if she just likes her belly this way now. She may like it. I don't.

How could this happen AGAIN?!! Ack!!!!

Despite Mei's stubbornness to allow her belly fur to grow back, I am still crazy about her.

She is the most loving thing in the whole world...

I just wish she would let her fur grow back!!!!

Last Day Of School (5th Grade Walk)

The last day of school picture. Very bittersweet.

Here are all of Bri's first and last days of elementary school ~

Kindergarten and 1st grade...

2nd and 3rd grade...

4th and 5th grade...

 Briana dressed up in a pretty dress so she could float around the halls of the school for the 5th grade walk...

Here she is holding the flowers she received the night before...

Doug dropped her off at school. Around 10, we arrived to find a spot to watch Bri walk around the school.

My friend Jennifer was subbing that day, so she snapped a picture of Briana as the kids lined up outside before entering the school...

Doug and I went to the front lobby and waited for Bri there. It ended up being a great place to stand. And yes, I did tear up when Bri passed me...

Doug and I kind of followed the kids around as they walked through the two buildings. I caught this picture right before Bri finally went back to her classroom...

The kids were pretty hungry after all that walking, so it was fiesta time...

The room mom outdid herself with this cookie cake...

Bri and her best buds...

Bri and her friend Allison...

Bri and her friend Lauren...

 My fiesta girl...

Bri and her teacher Mrs. T...

Bri with her language arts teacher Mrs. W...

Bri's running club coach, Coach W (along with the running club assistant Ms. Laura), came to the classroom special to give Bri a special "Lifetime Achievement Award" for running club. Bri was so excited...

As we started to leave the building for the last time, we luckily ran into Bri's Venture teachers in the hallway and Bri got to say goodbye.

Mrs. T...

And Mrs. W...

I took one last picture of Bri in front of the school...

See ya elementary school! It's been wonderful! It's time now to move onward and upward!!