Costello Celebrations, Part 2

Ok, I have to say that I am appalled to discover that neither I, nor any of my amazing SILs have ever posted about what awesome party planners we are. It's almost nearly as appalling that I would take any credit whatsoever for the awesomeness. My SILs are amazingly creative, crafty women. I have monkey paws. But I can write about things, so I'm extra sad that none of our endeavors, from our first baby shower BBQ nearly FOUR YEARS ago to our most recent Tea for Two shower last year, have been properly documented. Oops.

So let me tell you about the awesome birthday party my domestically fabulous SIL, Jill, planned for her precious little guys.

She decided to use a monkey/jungle theme for her two little monkeys.

She is an amazing cook and loves to bake. She made the most precious little monkey cake for the boys! For reals, how cute is he?!

In addition to making the cake the night before the party, she decided to make a monkey bean-bag-toss type game. Easy enough. She just needed to paint a monkey hanging in a tree on a giant piece of cardboard with no guide whatsoever. And this did not concern her at all. It seriously would have taken me a week to make some sort of mammal-like creature that could probably be confused for anything from an anteater to a buffalo instead of a monkey. After our big day of travel, DKG & I were pretty exhausted, so I totally bailed on her and went to bed. When I got up the following morning, this guy was hanging (ha! see what I did there?) out in the living room.

While Jill was working away making this guy free-handed (did I mention that already??), Cortney was working hard on favors. Barrels of monkeys for a monkey party! Sweet, eh?

The next morning was a full-family effort as everyone pitched in to make the food...

(I made these!!)

The DELISH jambalaya!

get & hang the balloons...

set up the table...

set up the cupcakes...

make the backyard into a jungle fiesta...

and blow bubbles to keep the kids out of the way entertain the little ones

It was a whirlwind of preparations, but totally worth it! The fun stuff is coming in the next post. :)

Costello Celebrations, Part 1

We had such a great spring for fun family visits! The girl cousins on my side came to visit us in early April, we saw DKG's family in late April, and just a few short weeks later, we headed to TN for Memorial Day and my sweet nephews' first birthday!! We seriously are blessed with some amazing and super-fun families!

We're going to skip the part about how this trip was supposed to include and earlier portion that We ended up not doing, but our luggage did. So, after all the fuss of packing for a week-long trip in one state and weekend visit in another state - including the big birthday party, for which we packed presents - we ended up not getting on our flight (It was going to be cancelled in Atlanta anyway. No point in getting stuck there.), going home, packing again, and leaving the following day for an extended version of our trip to TN. Follow all that? Me neither, which is why we're skipping that part.)

SO... By the time we arrived in TN, the little guys were already asleep, but the little girls were ALL FOR having a Princess PJ Party. (I have to give huge props to thoughtful Auntie M. for bringing over some princess PJ's for my kiddo, whose matching jammies were on their way to a different state without us.)



I don't know what kind of subliminal messages go into the Disney Princess stuff, but even my girl, who had only ever watched ONE princess movie LOVES her some Princesses. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

I wanted to take some pictures of the princesses being cute together, but once they saw the camera, the girls decided I needed to take individual shots of each of them. Funny girls.

This actually is the picture that started it all...

Princess H was showing off her mean and scary faces when I took this one. It cracked us all up because it was just so her (in a silly way - not that she's really mean or scary!), so she wanted more pictures.

I have the most gorgeous nieces and nephews!!

And, of course, what one sister wants, so does the other. That's just the way it goes, right?

Peek-A-Boo, Princess E!

My girl was only slightly interested in posing... because that's what the other girls were doing.

Really, she was just trying to figure out if there really was a little bird inside my camera like I'd told her.

She had her doubts.

After all the photo shoots, we had a quick dinner, put the girls to bed and got to work. You may remember, but my SIL's and I do some great parties. :) That'll have to wait for Part 2 and then we'll finally get to those precious birthday boys!

(Umm, OK. So, I just realized that I apparently NEVER blogged about the awesome baby shower we did for my SIL last year! *blush* Here's a link to a few pics of the Tea for Two shower!)

Mother's Day

Oh, Facebook. How I love you and resent you. I love, love the connections you bring into my life. How else would I know that my high school friend’s neighbor’s sister’s child just started on solid foods? Truly, I do love getting little snapshots of the lives of people who have left an imprint on my life. It’s brought some amazing people back into my circle of regular contact and it’s let me know that other people are alive and in the world. Sometimes that’s really all I want to know about someone. I’m a Fan.

I also resent the fact that I often think of my life in FB statuses. As I’m experiencing something, I kinda want to simmer the experience down to a statement of not more than 2 sentences or so and throw it out there for the universe to see. But some things don’t fit neatly into a FB status, nor should they. That’s how I’m feeling about my Mother’s Day greeting today.

I’ve been meaning to throw something out there to wish a happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing mothers I know, but I keep running into obstacles. This time, they haven’t been the usual 2-year-old-“Mommy carry me!” variety. It is a wonderful thing to have a day to celebrate mothers, but my feelings are complicated. I’d like to simply wish a happy Mother’s Day to all and to all a good night, but other people are on my heart today, too.

SO, here’s my long-winded Mother’s Day greeting to you, Universe.

First of all, I want to wish all you mothers out there a fabulous Mother’s Day and acknowledge how awesome you are. It’s great to have a day to recognize all the things moms do to help the world go ‘round. That should be relished. Period. Mamas deserve every bit of pampering, praise and love they get today! I’m profoundly thankful to my mother for teaching me the power of love through all things. Raising five children is not a neat and tidy process and there was certainly nothing particularly idyllic about our childhoods except that there was never a second of true doubt in my mind about whether or not my parents really loved me. My mother demonstrated love through difficult times and circumstances, reinforced the importance of close ties in a family, and taught me that if you lead with your heart and always choose love, things will go well in the end. They may not go easy or neatly, but when you choose to love, you create ripples of caring that resonate farther than you could ever imagine. Thank you, Mom.

I also am so thankful for my mother-in-law for raising a son who is kind, generous, faithful, and thoughtful. Love you, Lola!

I have had several other “mothers” who have mentored me and taught me how to be a strong, loving woman. I continue to follow in your footsteps and refer to the examples you set before me.

And to my mommy friends/sisters – rock on, girls. Seriously, you are my rocks. You help me navigate the endless questions and doubts that go along with being a mother and (usually) convince me that, no, I am not going to lose my mind/sell my child to the circus/run away to join the circus and that there’s very little in this world that quality time with girlfriends (plus or minus a glass of wine) can’t help. I love you all!!

I also want to say how much I love being a mommy to my sweet daughter. I truly adore her and delight in her. Being her mother has taught me so much about love, growth, joy and on and on. I am such a better person for having this experience. And I love that I get to share this parenting life with my equally awesome hubby.

So, that’s all the “yay us!” thoughts I have today.

Every Mother’s Day and Father’s Day I remember overhearing a conversation between a couple of coworkers about a month or so after my dad passed away. Father’s Day was approaching and they were discussing how they were going to celebrate the day with their fathers. I, on the other hand, felt like someone had punched me in the stomach and I couldn’t breathe as I mentally screamed something along the lines of “How could you be so insensitive to talk about this delicate issue within hearing distance of me??!! Don’t you know what it’s doing to me? That my world is crumbling, my heart is broken and that I’m only putting up a façade of having things together because if I really fell to pieces like I want to, I may never get them back together again?! Hello, salt in the wound!” More or less. Obviously, I don’t still feel quite so outraged that anyone might dare breathe the word “Father” around me, but I do still have such a soft spot in my heart for those who aren’t able to experience Mother’s Day (or Father’s Day) without some sadness.

To you who are missing your mothers today, knowing that even though they are not here, we always carry our mothers with us (for better or worse!), I wish you peace. I pray you will be able to think of your mother warmly, treasure her love, truly know that you still carry her in your heart, and rest in that comfort.

As a friend posted earlier this week, I’m also thinking of the mothers whose arms are empty as they wait for their babies. I’ve known so many people who have struggled with infertility and I imagine today is a very difficult day. When there’s nothing you want more in the whole world than to be a mother… I just hope that you know how much the love you put into the world right now matters. In no way do I mean to take away from current mothers, but I do want to send some love and prayers out to the mothers-in-waiting.

And, finally, for my friends who are mothers to angels… My heart bleeds for you and with you and I pray we all find peace. This Mother’s Day has been a personally complicated emotional roller coaster. We’ve been hoping and waiting for Baby #2 for a long time now and were thrilled earlier this year to find out we were pregnant. And then we weren’t. We lost our little Alex about 2 months ago. The number of friends who have shared that they also have suffered miscarriages or infant loss has overwhelmed me. I can’t help but thinking that on this Mother’s Day, I was supposed to be pregnant. It was supposed to be extra joyous as we looked forward to the fall when our new child would bless our family. And I think it’s funny and presumptuous that I could ever say how things were “supposed” to be. Clearly, I did not understand the plan and I am not in charge. So, I am searching to understand the ways Alex is blessing our family now. I have been so supported, loved, and inspired by such amazing friends and family. As with motherhood, I feel that this experience of loss has opened up a new sisterhood for me and I’m touched by the nurturing and love I’ve experienced as a result. A friend posted this poem and it really touched me. I’m offering it up as a prayer for all you mamas to Glory Babies.

What Makes a Mother

Written by Jennifer Wasik ~ In Memory of Zachery Wasik

I thought of you and closed my eyes

And prayed to God today

I asked "What makes a Mother?"

And I know I heard Him say.

"A Mother has a baby"

This we know is true

"But God can you be a Mother,

When you baby's not with you?"

"You, you can," He replied

With Confidence in His voice

"I give many women babies,

When they leave is not their choice.

Some I send for a lifetime,

And others for the day.

And some I send to feel your womb,

But there's no need to stay."

"I just don't understand this God

I want my baby to be here."

He took a deep breath and cleared His throat,

And then I saw the tear.

"I wish I could show you,

What your child is doing today.

If you could see your child's smile,

With all the other children and say...

'We go to Earth to learn our lessons,

Of love and life and fear.

My Mommy loved me oh so much,

I got to come straight here.

I feel so lucky to have a Mom,

Who had so much love for me.

I learned my lessons very quickly,

My Mommy set me free.

I miss my Mommy oh so much,

But I visit her every day.

When she goes to sleep,

On her pillow's where I lay

I stroke her hair and kiss her cheek,

And whisper in her ear.

Mommy don't be sad today,

I'm your baby and I'm here.'

"So you see my dear sweet ones,

your children are okay.

Your babies are born here in My home,

And this is where they'll stay.

They'll wait for you with Me,

Until your lesson's through.

And on the day that you come home

they'll be at the gates for you.

So now you see what makes a Mother,

It's the feeling in your heart

it's the love you had so much of

Right from the very start.

Though some on earth may not realize you are a Mother

until their time is done,

they'll be up here with Me one day

and know that you are the best one!"

Easter in the Mountains

This Easter, we had the wonderful chance to go to Ruidoso, NM, to celebrate with DKG's family. We rented an amazing house with gorgeous views of the mountains AND could fit the entire family under one roof. No small feat, since there were 12 1/2 people and one dog.

We had such a great time catching up with the family. It was especially precious to watch the sweet cousins loving each other. Seriously, is there anything cuter than two little cousin twins cuddled up under a Tinkerbell blanket??

Well, I guess maybe three little look-alikes together in a tub... :)

We spent some fun time hanging around outside The Inn of the Mountain Gods. It was just beautiful by the lake. It was so nice to see some... umm... what are those lumpy things called again? Oh, right. Hills. And mountains.

Mostly, though, we watched the little ones run around in the sunshine. It was glorious.

The girls were totally content to chase Tito around in circles forever, just like a dog chasing its tail.

P had more serious business to attend to...

1) Check on Momma

2) Check on the lake

3) Dig in some dirt (such a boy!)

And just when I thought they couldn't get any sweeter, here were a couple cousin-friends ready to go to Mass on Easter Sunday.

It truly was a blessed Easter!!

Toddler Tirade

I'm a big fan of fonts. My kid also has strong opinions on the subject. She told me recently that she does not appreciate sans serif fonts where "I" looks like an "l" and finds the similarity exasperating. How's a little girl to know what letter it is when they look the same? Or at least that's what I took the following conversation to mean...

K: Mommy, that's a letter "L."

MKG: No, baby. It's actually an uppercase "I." I know it's confusing when they look the same.

K: DA DA DAY DOIN UPPERCASE LETTER "I" AN DOE NEE DAT NOY LOWERCASE LETTER "L" DEE NA!!!!

I kinda think she has a point.

Cousin Lovin'

Last week, we were so blessed to have some

royalty visit our little Kumquat Garden.

Namely, K's cousins, Her Royal Highness Princess E...

and Her Royal Highness Princess H spent the week with us.

It has always been so fun to have 3 girls so close in age in our family. My sweet K is sandwiched between the princesses, who are separately only by 16 months. (Princess H is a mere 10 weeks younger than K, so they have a very special bond.) Now that the girls are a bit older and are starting to do more interactive play, it was so. much. fun. to watch the 3 of them together! Among other fun things we did during the week, we spent a blustery afternoon at our favorite park. We attempted to have a picnic, but ended up having to eat in our cars because of the immense Kansas wind. Once we ate, though, they had a magical afternoon playing together.

While their mommy, HRM Auntie M, and I delighted in our girls and dreamed of their future exploits together, our precious girls ran, jumped, hugged, dug in the dirt, and did all the things three little BFFs who love each other so would do on a gorgeous day. Love those girls!

PSA: Tom's Shoes

Note: I was not compensated in any way by Toms Shoes for writing this review.

I've been thinking of getting a pair of Toms for ages. Who wouldn't love the idea of One for One, where for each pair of shoes sold, the company donates a pair to a child in need? But I've had iffy experiences with canvas shoes in the past and was a little hesitant about buying a pair. Then, I saw my lovely friend sporting a pair recently and asked her what she thought of them. It was all love!

It seems I was not alone. I bought 2 pairs less than a week ago and have had so many people (friends and strangers) ask what I thought of them. Almost every single person said they've been thinking of getting a pair but have wanted to make sure they'd be comfortable. Sounds familiar. So, here is my (pretty steam-of-consciousness style) PSA to all those considering purchasing a pair. You're welcome.

I decided to get a pair of Classic Toms in Ash and a pair of Black Canvas Wedges.

Here are my thoughts of the classics...

• LOVE them. :)
• Way cuter on than I thought they'd be. Let's be honest... they're not exactly sexy shoes. But I think they are cute on.
• They've been a nice alternative to flip flops & real athletic shoes. In the spring & summer, I really kinda hate tying shoes. Lazy, I know. I love to be able just to slip on a pair and go. So, that makes me want to wear flip flops when it's still too cold for them and then I get sad because my feet are frozen. Warm toes + slip on shoes + not having to find clean, matching socks = AWESOME in my book. :)
• They're super comfy. I've had zero blisters from them and they have pretty decent support. I've worn them all day at parks, zoos, playgrounds, and the mall. Big yay for not getting playground rocks in my sandals. My feet have been tired and a bit sore after the longer days of walking. I'd say better than flip flops and worse than athletic shoes. I've wondered if you could use insoles with these shoes. I think if you wanted to wear them to Disney or something epic like that, it might be helpful. Not sure about how it would work with the fit, though.
• Probably not terribly important to anyone else, but I'm excited about having summer shoes that will keep grass off my feet. I'm crazy allergic to it and I worry that it makes me avoid taking Izzie out to play in it as much as I should.
• I'm in love with the Ash color. It's great as a neutral, but softer than black, which is important when your skin is as pasty as mine. I was going to get the canvas color, but figured they'd look kinda nasty after a trip or two to the playground. I'm really glad I got these. I totally love the color!

And for the wedges...

• I had a hard time deciding between black & Ash for these. Once I decided to get Ash for the others, it was easy to pick black. I'm glad I did. They've worked well both for dressy-ish (like church today) and more casual-but-nice.
• Really thinking I might need to get another pair at some point. Maybe these? (Don't worry, DKG. It won't be any time soon. Promise!)
• They're pretty steep, but I feel quite stable in them, even though I almost never wear heels anymore (sniff). They're also really quite comfortable for what they are.
• Today I started to get a bit of a blister from them. Bummer. :(
• I do love them and they make me feel way more fabulous and fashionable than I normally do. What more could a girl want?

So those are my opinions. Verdict? Love. And I do really love that two precious little ones will now have shoes on their feet while I love the shoes on my feet. I know I could get decent shoes a little cheaper, but I feel like it's well worth paying a bit more to get shoes that don't just make me feel great.

Oh - and speaking of shoes I love - Acorn is on Zulily today!! Acorn makes my favorite slippers on earth!!