it's been sooo long (sorry!)

Hello again in July.  It's been a while since I've posted so I really feel like there is tons to say.  Let's start with what's been going on since I last left you...well, I have been here in Sarasota and will be here until I go back to France on August 3rd.  I was going to head back on July 16th, but Yann had an awful lot of bad shifts for this month and he wasn't going to be able to be home in Marseille much at all.  So, we decided so that I wouldn't have to spend my 27th B-day all by my lonesome, that I should stay here in SRQ with fam & friends until August comes.  His schedule is much better then and we will be able to be together much more.  We were bummed when I changed my plane ticket to extend my stay here, but I know the time will pass fairly quickly and soon we'll finally be reunited!  I miss my guy so much!

And I had my bridal shower here at the house.  Abby took some beautiful pics that I will be posting as soon as they arrive.  It was truly a wonderful party.  Usually the bride is kept from knowing the planning details, such as the theme, games, food, ect.  Well, as you know, NOTHING about my marriage has been traditional, hence my mom and I planning and executing the whole thing ourselves. ( With some late night help on the eve of the shower from Steph & Abbs)  I felt first hand what it would be like to be a caterer/part planner.  First, we had to start with a theme; we decided to do a pink-y French, Eiffel Tower theme.  Sounds kinda trite but it really turned out cute as a button.  We wanted to have my dad's new espresso machine out on the counter for all to use, but we didn't want to buy 10 million cappucino cups that we can't fit in my mom's already full cupboards.  So, after a quick search on ETSY, we decided to buy customized latte mugs from an artist.  I thought it was better to support an artist and they did turn out so cute.  Each one was a little different.  Then after the guest used her mugs for coffee she could take it home as a favor.

We really went all out on the food.  The only things we ended up getting 'catered' was the cake and the fruit and veggie tray.  We made deviled eggs, creamy dill shrimp salad, mini sundried tomato and leek quiches, mixed olive plate, curried chicken salad on baby croissants, cheese board (with all French cheeses), home made hummus and toasted pitas, and tea sandwhiches.  We cracked open many-a-champagne bottles and had a great time overall.  I also ordered a cooper cookie cutter in the shape of the Eiffel Tower and made sugar cookies.  I iced them with Royal Icing in pink & black and put them in little bags as favors.  I made this fabric banner with said, "Congratulations, Heather & Yann" to hang on the walls.  It felt kinda funny doing all this extra work for my shower, but for parties, I go all out.  I really wanted to do an above average job so people would remember it.  

Instead of the stupid games, like, Pass the Greased Cucumber Between your Legs, we made up French Trivia games, where we tested everyone knowledge on French cusine & culture.  We also said some simple phrases in English and we gave a prize to the person who could translate it into French.  Good times, good times, maybe I should have made them play the Greased Cucumber game...

Anyways, all has been good since then.  I am headed up to North Carolina with the fam to do some summery hiking and camping.  Of course, my hound, Rascal is coming. We'll be celebrating my birthday on July 29th,  but it will feel weird to celebrate without my hubby there.  He will be there in spirit.  Katie R. is coming up from Atlanta and Rascal and her doggie are going to have a blast, I'm sure.  Her dog has never been hiking before so Rascal will have to show him the ropes on the trail.  

I've been doing this massive project for my family.  I ordered a machine from the internet where you can take all your old VHS and transfer them to DVDs.  So, I'm on DVD #61!! (OMG)  And it' been really nice to organize and catalog all the old family tapes.  I feel so nostalgic looking at us as kids; our parents really provided a great childhood for us.  So many adventures, birthday parties, presents at Christmas...I gleaned some good parenting tips from watching those tapes again.  I have to say old mom was the best birthday planner ever.  She would plan elaborate pool & patio games for us, and then we'd go inside to play Bozo Buckets and pin the tail on Minnie Mouse.  There was, without fail, always a pinata,  (this from their years living in Mexico in the 70's), which we would beat senseless until candy came pouring out. Then while we kids where shoving cake in our faces, there would be a knock at the door and a clown or a magician would come in to keep us entertained.  When I look back I feel like we've always had a lot of love and attention.  That's something so important to see on the videos, because many of the things on these tapes I was too young to remember.  But even though a toddler may not remember getting the ballon animal from the clown on her 5th birthday, she will remember the love surrounding the event.  I just hope I can give that same energy and excitement to my kids someday.  

Anyways, pics will be following soon...check back!