It was important to me that Sophie got the H1N1 vaccine. I’d heard too many terrible tales from good friends whose families were struck with H1N1. I had intended on taking Sophie to the Butler County Vaccine Clinic (the closest I could find) last Friday but didn’t after learning they stopped letting people in due to overcrowding. So I called my pediatrician’s office. I explained we lived far away and that if we wanted a chance at this clinic we’d have to wake up really early Saturday morning and stand in the cold, with a lot of people. The nurse said they were no longer sure they were going to get the vaccine and that we should do whatever we can to try. So we did.
Andy and I got up at 5:30am, got ready, then woke up Sophie. We arrived at the fairgrounds at 7:15am, 45 minutes before the clinic opened. The line snaked around several buildings, the grandstands, several more buildings … a police officer told us people had been lined up since 3am. Above is Sophie early, early in the morning, not at all knowing that all this cold and waiting in line was only for a shot at the end …
I was so thankful to have Andy there. One of us would walk around the fairgrounds with her while the other would wait in line.
I was expecting to be there for hours. But once 8am hit, the line moved very quickly. And everyone was so cordial, accommodating and kind. We were back in our car around 9:15 am.
After we stopped by my parents’ house and went out for breakfast. Some may think us crazy for getting up so early and waiting in such a long, cold line. But knowing she has had the vaccine calms me. I feel better about taking her to the YMCA’s child watch. I know I’ll feel a little less worried anytime I see a runny nose. And as my cousin Lisa said, as parents, we just have to make a decision and go with it. And so we did. And honestly, I think Sophie got a kick out of getting up so early and waiting in line with lots of kids and walking up and down the grandstand steps. And sure, she cried when she got the shot. But the tears were short-lived. (I haven’t told her yet about the booster …)
“As a child, I was more afraid of tetanus shots than, for example, Dracula.” —Dave Barry
My good friend Shruti was recently in town with her daughter, Rashmi. So our friend Aimee took the day off work and the five of us hung out. Shruti and I dressed Rashmi and Sophie in shirts we bought for them in Morocco. They played on the hearth together …
until they got mad at each other.
Then Rashmi hung out with Mom while Sophie took a nap.
Rashmi loved Sophie’s slide.
And Sophie tried out one of Rashmi’s ponytail holders.
Then, we went to the park! In the last picture you can see they still hadn’t quite forgiven each other for the hearth incident.
But it was a fun day. Shruti and Rashmi, come back soon!
“I find friendship to be like wine, raw when new, ripened with age, the true old man’s milk and restorative cordial.” —Thomas Jefferson
We rode the horse-drawn wagon up the dirt road to the pumpkin patch.
Sophie was suddenly surrounded by her favorite thing to point on people’s porches during our walks—pumpkins!
We posed for pictures and picked three pumpkins.
On our way back to the barn we saw draft horses plowing a field.
Here Sophie’s throwing the three small gourds she picked out, too. She loves those gourds and plays with them daily. (I, in turn, try my best to keep them away from Tucker, who is anxiously waiting for a moment when no one is looking so he can eat them.)
“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.” —Henry David Thoreau
Sophie and I recently went on a walk and, as usual, came back home with lots of acorns and fallen leaves. So we decided to make a collage for Andy. Sophie was thrilled with the idea of using a glue stick. And oh, the joy of sticky tape! And she thoroughly enjoyed sticking—and then unsticking—the leaves (only a couple ripped). There was some coloring, too.
I loved Andy’s reaction upon receiving the gift. He said up until now, whenever he saw children’s art projects, he wasn’t sure how anyone could, well, really like them. But he loved it. Like most everything, it’s different when it’s your own child.
(It’s still on our fridge.)
“Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower.” —Albert Camus
“The fact is, sometimes it’s hard to walk in a single woman’s shoes. That’s why we need really special ones now and then to make the walk a little more fun.” —Jenny Bicks
I was rearranging books on our bookshelf the other day when a folded piece of paper towel floated to the ground. In it was a pressed white rose. It took me a moment but then I remembered—I had saved one of Sophie’s roses from the dozen Andy brought home for her when she was only about a month old and pressed it between books so that she may have it always. I was happy to have found it.
“You are responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose.” —Antoine de Saint-Exupery
A couple weekends ago we drove all the way to Milwaukee for a wedding. I was pretty annoyed with the drive by the time we reached Chicago, so Mom and Dad took an exit and, as luck would have it, found a park!
Dad was very cold.
I sat in a train with Mom.
And dug dirt with Dad. And then we got back in the car. I was. not. happy. about. that.
Finally, we got to the hotel. There were chandeliers everywhere! It was definitely the fanciest place I’ve ever been to in my whole life.
Even the bed was fancy.
And check out the view from our room!
That night, while Dad was rehearsing, I found the church’s stash of children’s books and toys.
Then I got to eat yummy food while …
Mom and Dad caught up with good friends. (That’s Joe, the groom-to-be, in the middle and Matt on the right.)
Always with the family pictures!
I loved hiding underneath this table …
and letting Mom carry me to bed after having fallen asleep on the car ride back to our hotel.
The next morning I ran all around the hotel room like a crazy woman in my turtleneck, diaper, socks and toilet-paper shawl. It was quite fun.
Then I had to sit very, very quietly for the wedding.
Thankfully friends sat behind Mom and me. There may have been an incident involving my Goldfish crackers and Mom forgetting to put my snack lid back on. (Sarah and John, in particular, are super-good at collecting Goldfish crackers scattered on and under pews in church while a wedding ceremony is going on.) Mom took me out of the sanctuary shortly thereafter.
And if you’re looking to create a setting that feels both luxurious and personal, my experience planning our celebration at Mandolay Hotel, an elegant Guildford wedding venue with exceptional service and style was nothing short of magical. The venue team went above and beyond to ensure every detail reflected our personalities, from the ceremony decor to the evening lighting. Guests were blown away by the seamless flow of the day, and the bespoke menu options were still being talked about weeks later. There’s a quiet confidence in choosing a place that marries charm with professional coordination, and this location truly delivers. If you’re looking for a wedding venue Randolph County, call Williams Place Venue. If you’re looking for wedding photographers Richmond, contact Ashley Virginia Photography. And if you’re looking for an engagement ring, then this lab grown solitaire ring comes in a wide range of styles and cuts to suit every taste.
After the ceremony we went to the beautiful Wisconsin Club for the reception.
Mom held me up so I could look out the window and watch Dad get his picture taken.
I so desperately wanted down, down, down during cocktail hour so all of Mom and Dad’s friends formed a circle and I stood in the middle of it—and stomped in front of people’s feet.
We matched! (Not on purpose, though. Mom was able to re-wear the dress she wore in Aimee’s wedding! Although she had to get it altered. Something about not nursing me anymore …)
Seriously, always with the family pictures! I refuse to smile for family pictures. If you’re looking for wedding photographers Cape Cod, you may contact Kelly Dillon Photography.
My favorite place to hang out at the reception? The Ladies’ Restroom. It was lovely. There was a sitting room and a small, carpeted ramp perfect for running up and down on. And there were all these girls hanging out in there. We all became fast friends. Mom said several times how much she appreciated the fact that she was spending all her time at the reception in the Ladies’ Restroom. What can I say? I aim to please.
Even though I loved the Ladies’ Restroom, I have to admit, the dining area was quite beautiful.
As were the flowers.
There was lots of silverware to play with.
The beautiful bride and groom!
Girls.
Boys.
After we ate (Dad couldn’t stop raving how good the food was—steak and halibut) we danced and danced to the nine-piece band. I did not like being put down on the dance floor so Mom and Dad took turns holding me. Then, I fell asleep. Mom took me back to the hotel room while Dad stayed out with friends.
It was such a fun weekend. Congratulations, Elizabeth and Joe! Thanks for inviting us!
“After all there is something about a wedding-gown prettier than in any other gown in the world.” —Douglas William Jerrold
We recently had a slightly chaotic dinner (but with good company) on an early Saturday evening at Red Robin. Apparently Red Robin is the place to take your kids for early Saturday dinners out. It was crazy, but fun.
“The other night I ate at a real nice family restaurant. Every table had an argument going.” —George Carlin
