A Going Away Soiree

Aloha friends!

Our apologies for taking so long to get to this blog post, but with the myriad of moving/work/fertility stuffs, it’s been nearly impossible to find time to post.

Our Going Away Soiree was really a lovely night – full of yummy food and sweet desserts, good friends old and new, and teary-eyed farewells (for now).

Thanks to those who made the trip, and to those who braved the Aloha cut-outs for my photo album.  For those who couldn’t make it, we thank you for your sentiments and notes!

A very special thank you to Emilee, Jackie, Rebecca, Keith’s mom and my mom – for all of your help cooking/cleaning/setting up!

Click here for some of the fun photos!

Our Good-bye Luau

Friends!  Relatives!  Colleagues!

Please join us at our upcoming Good-bye Luau on Saturday, October 20th, beginning at 5:00pm at the American Legion on West Avenue in Saratoga Springs.

Dinner and beer included.  Cash bar otherwise.  Dessert potluck.

Please do RSVP via email or cell (text is okay).

Looking forward to seeing you there!

A Day at the Races

Keith’s parents came into town for the weekend, and what a weekend it was!  His dad and step-mom have to be some of the most laid-back people that I know.  They’re happy just to be spending time with us, and are open to any and every activity we are (including naps).

On Saturday, we headed to the Travers Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course.  It was our first time at the races this summer, and first time ever at Travers.  Oh.  My.  How many people there were!  We arrived at about 7:20am, and while there were no picnic tables, it was easy to find a perfect spot for our four chairs, blanket, and boatload of drinks and breakfast food.

The morning was spent checking out the horses and awaiting the horns to signal the start of the day.  I attempted to learn some kind of card game, which apparently everyone else under the sun knows how to play.  As expected, the concept of card games just fried my brain and most of the time was spent with Keith telling me how to play.

Then the races began!  After an hour of choosing our picks, we ended up spending $150 and taking back about $75.  Keith’s parents nearly won a million dollars with the guaranteed pick-four!  They were off just one race.  Man, what a nice victory that would have been.

We did get a victory though – the opportunity to be at the track at one of its most historical moments – a tie between two horses for the Travers Stakes.  Never in its history has the Travers had two winners, so we’ll all be talking about this one long into the future…

The rest of the weekend we spent walking around downtown, playing mini-golf (yes, I beat Keith again) and enjoying funny movies like Bridesmaids and The Dictator.

The visit ended too soon, but we’re happy to have such wonderful memories for Keith’s dad and stepmom’s first visit to our Saratoga home.

Check out some of the photos from the weekend below…

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Miss Dinosaur Princess’s Third Birthday

Miss Dinosaur Princess Kaylee has turned three years old!  It amazes me how fast time flies.  I remember when she was just a little cutie pie, decked out with her newborn crowns.  Now she’s such a sassy lady, winning her own real princess crowns and smiling ever so sweetly for any photo!  (Okay, well, sometimes we get a scowl, but I like to think that Kaylee is always smiling…)  Oh, how they grow!

The Birthday Girl, Kaylee, when she was only wee big!

I even got to have a pedicure with the fabulous birthday girl, her momma Kristy Lee and grandma Linda.  We are all princesses and queens, after all!

We got to visit with the fabulous Mr. Alby.  He’s still got those squishy cheeks and big beautiful eyes.  I think Marcus and Keith have plans for his sports future, hehe.

Check out some of the photos from the fun days in the ‘Cuse!

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Did you know that I met Kristy Lee way back in college?  I think it was around 2002 when we first crossed paths.  She was probably wearing a perfect Jackie O dress with matching gloves.  Oh how the wardrobe jealousy began…

Today, she’s much more than the outspoken college student.  She runs a handful of businesses – from nonprofit pageantry to funeral services – all while giving back to her community and caring for her growing beautiful, smart, fabulous kids.

I am so happy to still know this remarkable woman, and now her children – her awesome husband and incredible family.  The Witts will be sorely missed when we go, though I fully expect several visits to paradise!

Keith and I had a grand ole time visiting with the Witt and Hochenberger families for the weekend.

Random Photo Updates

Hi everyone!

Just a post to upload a few photos from the last week, in case you missed it.

The first few are from the Tri-City ValleyCats game with the National Committee of Grandparents for Children’s Rights (it was a fundraiser).  Thanks to Mary and Michael or tagging along with Keith and I!  It was a ridiculously good time.

The second bunch are from Keith’s Birthday night out last week.  Despite the harsh news of the day, it was good to get out and celebrate Keith’s last birthday hurrah in Saratoga.  We started out at El Mexicano (awful, awful, awful – poor Blake sucked up a fly out of his drink and I had several chicken bones in my burrito), then made our way to Gaffney’s.  It was a fun night on the town.  Thanks to Kelly and Blake, Jen and Joe, Karen and Josh, Ruth and Nathan, Bird, Kirby, Doug, and especially Jackie for a much-needed evening of friends, food, and laughter!

Man, we’ll miss our friends…

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Here we go…

To Hawaii we go!

With less than 200 days until we officially pack and move, I thought it, well – soothing – to create a place where Keith and I can share our journey to Hawaii.

If you’re reading this, you’re already a friend of ours, and you know that we’re headed for Honolulu in November.  Keith will be stationed, most likely, on the USS Greeneville out of Pearl Harbor, and I will live comfortably in a lovely three-bedroom home, hopefully in a community called Halsey Terrace.

What’s ahead of us is exciting, exhilarating, and beautiful.  What we leave behind is even more incredible.  What we leave behind are family, friendships, favorite places, and memories.  Oh the memories…

Before I get too gushy and sentimental, I must remember that this is just the first day of this journey, and that there are many more memories to be created.  Speaking of that, we’re starting to plan for a few parties and soirees this summer, including…  a Golden Girls girls-only night, a birthday barbecue for my favorite man, a Danish Dinner party, and a good-bye luau to celebrate all the New York moments we’re going to miss.