CONGRATULATIONS!

Nevin & Leslie Stoltzfus

Two beautiful people pledged their love and promised their lives to each other yesterday on the beach of the Outer Banks, NC!

So, baby brother, I wish you a lifetime of health and happiness and I pray your marriage is filled with enough love to overflow the ocean.

Leslie, welcome to the family. You are a perfect fit!

We love you both! See you soon!!

Philadephia Freedom...

Saturday my 11-year old's art class went to the PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM of ART and my husband and I joined them! It has been a long time since we have done anything ALONE with our oldest. So we had a DATE DAY! It was a blast! Of course I got all GIDDY over all the art....makes my fingers itch...I imagine going home and digging out my canvasses and paints, donning my beret and slapping on some hues! Here's our day in a nutshell!

Running the steps, ROCKY STYLE! Not me, I was winded just from walking!

This painting was the very first cubist piece I had ever laid eyes on. It was the cover of my elementary school music text book. It is Picasso's The Three Musicians.

Ahhhhhh, Degas!

Renoir!

Seurat!

Rodin's Thinker and mine!

We didn't even look at the name of this one because we were laughing so hard (a TOTALLY un-cool thing to do in such a sophisticated place). We choose to refer to it as, "I SAID I DON'T WANNA HOLD THE CHICKEN!!!"

Cezanne!

Ahhhhhh Monet!

GASP! (*reaches for oxygen*) Van Gogh!

Picasso!

WOAH! Modigliani! A fave!!!

Jasper Johns! Love him!

A large exhibit which was depicting a war in 11 frames...lotsa scribbling going on here! Can you almost hear what Matthew is thinking, " Well, geez, I could do that!"

OHMYGOODNESSILOVESALVADORDALI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jackson Pollock!

Then the boys got their fill of guns, swords and armor...I, on the other hand, was hearing Charlie Brown's teacher...."Waa waa wa waa waa."

Shield from the MADONNA era...*smirks*

A helmet's not a helmet without a little spit-door on the side! WTH?!

I walked up to Matthew who was standing and staring at this part of the exhibit.

"Whatcha thinkin', bud?"

"Mom, they even had to make helmets for babies!" he said with a sad face.

I was shocked.

I looked at the description... and almost burst out laughing but I swallowed it!

I cleared my throat,"Honey, those are the Medeival equivalent to the athletic cup."

BWWWAAAAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAAAA!

We had a blast and I would LIVE there if someone would let me.

*IDEA ALERT*

I just scribbled down some ideas for a book about getting stuck in a museum after closing.

Oh the HORROR!!!!!!!!!!!!

C is for the carnivorous bugs that will eat my flesh... A is for all the comforts of home I will miss (and sob for!)... M is for the mounds of dirt and leaves in my sleeping bag... P is for the poison ivy on every square inch of my children... I is for the fact that I don't like it... N is for the needles I would rather stick in my eyes... G is for the grit under my nicely manicured nails! I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. Why on earth ANYONE would subject themselves to a dirt floor, a tent, buckets full of bugs, a toilet that doesn't flush because you just peed in a hole that is simply decorated by a wooden structure to make you THINK you are in a bathroom is BEYOND me! Tomorrow we leave for Root Hollow. The annual Fellows Family (my husband's family) Reunion. We do this every year in July. Friday - Sunday the week of or after July 4th. 70 people from across the country meet in the BOONDOCKS in Pennsylvania to reunite with family they haven't seen since they packed up their tent last year. This is my 17th year. It's my husbands 30-somethingth year. Ugh. Now, let me qualify this camping experience. There is an actual family reunion committee (and I have made it quite clear to them that at anytime they would decide to hold this function at a local hotel, I would step up and vote YES!) that decides on all the events and activities for the weekend. It is thanks to these wonderful women that I can bring myself to smile and pack for Reunion. They make it as un-camping as possible. I pretend they are doing it just for ME. I am not spoiled (my husband just giggled sitting at his desk at work - not knowing why but those words being broadcast over the Internet jolted him out of his computer trance and tickled his funny bone) and I am not exactly high maintenance either. Sure, I like to have my nails done and I kick off my shoes and prop up my feet when my toes are looking a little, how you say, Francais. But, I just don't GET the thrill of being OUTSIDE in the SUMMER (or any season for that matter) for like 200 hours in a row. Why is that fun? The weather's not always nice, I sweat, it's cold at night, there are bugs... and in Nothern Pennsylvania, rattlesnakes and bears, too! Bugs, Sweat and Tears is what I (affectionately) call it. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being outside. I like a summer breeze, the feeling of the hot sun on my tanning skin, lapping waves, a cold drink and not a care in the world. Somehow that image does not translate easily to camping. There you will find me up to my ankles in mud because of an unexpected downpour, wiping mud off my toddler with Kleenex so he can take a nap with 400 mosquitoes who seem to find his pack-n-play quite comfy. All the while my older kids are sneaking their 34th s'more (yeah, they will sleep tonight) and tucking a rubber snake in my sleeping bag and my husband is kicking back with his uncles or out golfing with his cousins. In one scenario I am relaxed and quite happy in the other I am being fitted for my straight jacket. Now, I need to be brutally honest! I DO love this reunion! This family is soooo much fun! There isn't even that universal weird cousin or anything! There is a house with bathroom, running water, etc. There is a HUGE pavilion with a men's and women's bathroom complete with changing tables and showers, a commercial kitchen (yes, I said commercial kitchen!), a large cement slab with 6 or 8 large picnic tables and the 2nd floor (yes, the pavilion has a second floor!) has dorms for those of us who would prefer sleeping with a roof over our heads. This is still CAMPING to me but all these woodsy amenities make it do-able for me! Each year the committee wracks their brains for a theme. We have done Mississippi Riverboat, The Renaissance, Hollywood, The Brothers Grimm and many, many more. This year we are all swabbing the poop deck! PIRATES! Which means costumes, thematic activities and food all day Saturday! The kids just love this! I will have pictures because, of course, even though I am not packed yet I will be MAKING their pirate costumes today/tonight! I work best under pressure. Here's the schedule of events: Friday - arrival, lots of food and fun with family! Some of the cousins get an early tee-time and head out golfing after setting up their tents and kissing their wives good-bye. The kids play in the creek and the women sit with fresh-brewed coffee and catch up on the year gone by. Saturday - a big breakfast is served and art show (everyone brings their entries) entries are placed on the cabin porch, surprise guest arrives and gives out gifts to all the kids (last year it was Fiona from Shrek), come out after lunch and soon after thematic food is served for dinner. Then there is an auction that raises money for that year's designated philanthropy (we usually raise THOUSANDS of dollars as people get really creative with photos of kids from the previous year and grandparents and parents start bidding wars!) and then the kids (and some grown ups) do a talent show. The Menehune makes his appearance (and the little kids squeal) - he is the family's fabled "man of the mountain" who comes down through the trees with a big torch and takes a drink at the creek every year, extinguishes the flame and runs off into the darkness. Afterwards the little people get tucked into their tents and the grown-ups gather around the fire pit with hot drinks and lots of laughter! Sunday - the coffee pot goes on early because last night's trip down Memory Lane lasted into the wee hours of the morning! A big breakfast is served and everyone starts to slowly get packed up. There is a family tree ceremony where carved leaves are placed for new babies and rectangles are placed for newlyweds. There is an awards ceremony for the talent and art shows and the yearly family photo is taken (run, Peter, run!) Cars are packed up and Aunt Winnie rings the big bell as cars pull out of Root Hollow for their trek back home to reality! See. Not so bad. I dread the packing, the drive there and setting up the tent. However, the memories and experiences my kids take away are immeasurable. So, slap some mud on me and call me a Camping Queen, I'll do it for them! And yes, for YOU, I will take pictures! Look for them Sunday night! Pray for me! (LOL!)

KA-BOOM!

Wow! What a weekend! It was awesome! Sorry I didn't update throughout but every time I sat down I fell asleep, that's how event-filled our weekend was! Nothing better than a long weekend filled with FRIENDS and FAMILY! Throw in some FIREWORKS and VOILA, perfection!

But, before I tell you about my weekend, I have this illustration FOR SALE...

It's on 8 1/2 x 11" cardstock and is done in Prismacolor Pencils and ink. We are again raising money for another it's 4 the kids child. Her name is Jessica and she is 9. Her family's story breaks my heart but her smile melts it. Her family is in need and we are reaching out to raise some much needed support. So, please email this link to whoever you think would throw in a couple bids to raise money for them. I will donate ALL of the proceeds from THIS auction instead of my usual 50%. Place your bids in the comments!

***************

So, our weekend in a nutshell (ha ha, Mimi!)...

Friday started with... Oh, oh, oh...WAIT, I GOT NEW HAIR THURSDAY NIGHT!!! LOOK!

OK, so anyway.... Friday morning me and my girls (yes, Giggy, Goose and Bob...and a couple more crazies) went knock-off purse shopping! There is a place about 20 minutes from here that is a flea market on CRACK and there are TONS of booths with Louis Vuitton, Coach, Kate Spade, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Prada...you name it! So, in the rain, we went... like we were on safari searching for the elusive purse. I think we all sort of hope that a REAL one will get thrown in the mix and we will walk away paying $25 for an authentic PRADA BAG! Although, when the dye comes off on your hands or you see a woman scraping imperfections off each purse she takes out of the over-sized garbage bag...reality sets in. But it makes for a fun outing! So there!

Came home, made some broccoli salad and headed off to Giggy's for a picnic. Poor Giggy, it rained so there were WAY TOO MANY people running in and out of her house but she was a good sport about it and we all had a great time together. However, I left early and brought the baby home for bed. The older two and Daddy stayed for what I thought was a quick romp on a waterslide...instead, I find out the next day, they were PLAYING WITH FIREWORKS! I don't know about you, but I planned to let my children mature to adulthood before giving them a 2000 degree metal stick that spews hot sparks. Call me crazy. Well, Daddy broke them in and they apparently burned over 100 molten sticks into oblivion! Ugh.

Saturday we got up and headed to HANDS ON HOUSE in Lancaster. We had a lot of fun there watching the kids get to touch everything and play with all the displays and exhibits. It's so nice to take them all somewhere and not have to say, "PLEASE don't touch. Hands on your belly. STOP IT!!!" every three and a half seconds. They had so much fun! It was a little young for our older two - which they knew - but they were good sports and helped my little guy to have a memorable time. We knew it was time to leave though when he started ricocheting to and from displays like a little pinball. So, we headed to lunch! BIG SALAD at Ruby Tuesdays! That, in itself, would make my day!!

Hubby took the boys to the pool later that day and then we got ready for Sunday's picnic. Well, that was my intention...I really just made a simple dinner, got the kids to bed early and surfed the net. I am working on a new project so I did a little research!

Sunday it was off to church and then home for lunch, baby's nap and chopping fruits and veggies. It was actually just an excuse to get the whole family together because my "fake brother" and his fiancee were in from Boston. They are that childless couple that just ADORES anyone's kids. You know the kind that will roll around in the sandbox or get all sweaty playing badminton for hours in the hot sun. The kids just love them! Then it was lots of food and off to see fireworks. My youngest had never seen them and just sat in my dad's lap and giggled like someone was tickling the SNOT out of him! It was hysterical!

So, that about wraps it up...you add to all of that the mounds of leftovers and the fact that I won't have to cook for months and you get ME DOING THE HAPPY DANCE!

I have some more NAMESAKES to work on this week and I am wracking my brain trying to figure out how to get them into the hands of some celebrities - wouldn't that be cool? Man-oh-man could I raise a lot of money for cancer families if I was selling to all the preggo celebs! When I was getting my hair done I saw a story on Trista and Ryan from The Bachelorette and she ad given him what looked like a sort-of-NAMESAKE of the word DADDY for Father's Day...that's when it HIT ME! Hmmmmmm. I will have to think on this one. Any celebs out there who are closet readers of MY SEMBLANCE, (yeah, right) please contact me!

Thanks for reading! Thanks for always spreading the word for my cancer kids. Thanks for sticking around!

PEACE!

Just Me and Kenny Rogers...

Look who I found on the boardwalk outside of the TROPICANA yesterday...

Just kidding - it's just my dad! Handsome, isn't he? Actually cuter then Kenny R! Since I can remember, we don't go anywhere without people stopping him for an autograph, asking if he IS, in fact, Kenny Rogers, or just feeling compelled to let him know THEY think he looks like him! It's funny!

We took a bus from Reading to Atlantic City yesterday and spent the day together - just me and my dad! Two years ago for Father's Day I gave him a hand-made gift certificate for a trip to AC, just the two of us. Since then, he has been socking away quarters in a big jar. He said when his jar was full, we would go. Well, a couple weeks ago he plunked the last quarter that would fit into his jar and we set a date!

We tried to break the bank and win this JACKPOT but no such luck! We came to the realization that with the computer age came the end of "luck" when it comes to slot machines. Most of the machines aren't even the old-time spinners, they are a computer screen with virtual spinners. That computer knows what its doing. It ain't gonna let you win the MILLION! Sucks!

Anyway, we had a really great time. We 'walked the boards,' giggled, texted our friends and pretended we needed $$ wired, and had some yummy snacks. My dad is the greatest! And I had him all to myself ALL DAY yesterday! Sounds more like a gift to ME than a Father's Day gift to HIM!

:) Love ya, Daddy!