Yom Kippur

Next year I need to do a better job of scheduling these vacations - how did I arrive home just in time for a school holiday - talk about hit the ground running - or with 3 boys staring at you!

Thankfully we found some other families in the same boat and headed off apple picking

clearly these bikes were a HUGE hit

lot of apples, lots of kiddos!!

The Georgetown celebration continues

Gosh, I wish i took more photos - 

Sunday Chelcy held off on her training walk until we made it back from Austin.  I was honored to be able to join her - On November 6-8 she will be walking 60 MILES raising money towards cancer research - This journey driven by the recent and sudden passing of Deakon's father - Now her determined act to bring awareness where I know she will not only meet and come in contact with some amazing folks - but be amazed at her own ability, strength and determination.   

On a side note - I totally remember when she bought that visor I happen to be wearing - G'town 5K circa 2004!!

That evening we made a plan to link up at a Fox Hole Culinary Tavern for a little football watching - but lets be honest - it was way more about the people.  Having lived there for 6 years there are So many folks we want to see and catch up with.  So lucky that many of them were able to pop in to share dinner with us.

Of course we seemed to split up high school girl/boy style.

Some good looking guys!  I literally teared up watching some of these guys roll in to say hi.

Monday we felt like we were literally at the most amazing bed and breakfast ever.  I woke up with Chelcy and had a blast dancing in there living room to CIZE (it has not been that fun since!)  The kiddos went off to school, Deakon and Chelcy had to work a bit while we had a beautiful lazy morning.

They came home to grab us for a beautiful lunch in G'town.

All 3 of us are nicely decked out in Chelcy clothes after the amazing fashion show the night before - 

After lunch we had to grab some drinks -

and than of course some beers =)

 Georgetown has grown up SO much.  The restaurants were amazing and so diverse.  Pizza to brussle sprouts to Mexican - (all on one corner - not all for lunch, but we tried)

And apparently a second lunch.  That pizza was DELICIOUS!

I call this photo good looking guy with a pils (better than the previous beer selection)

Chris and I were able to peel away to meet with the homeowners in our 2 homes in Texas.  I always love going back to them as its such a reminder as to why we loved the home and literally why we still love them.  Even just being in this bathroom made me love it (yes, Chris - my man of many talents! was even fixing the water heater under the sink)  minor repairs.

Chelcy and Deakon are always up for some fun games - so we taught them a new one - during which Deakon and I confirmed we still share the same brain. - or taste in old music.

Or course Oklahoma sucks!!  Great beer though, Right Kerry?!

Thank you thank you Chelcy and Deakon for hosting us for an extended vacation.  We are thankful that through the years so much can stay the same between us.  We are thankful that you not only open your home to us, but to our good friends Megan and Kerry!  Kudos to Megan and Kerry for rolling with it all as if you had been part of the crew for years.  We all fit together just great.  these friends are our family - they just happen to be in Texas.

I loved making this trip with Chris - with 3 young boys at home - its often separate vacations, but the fact that I could travel with Chris, be with our couple friends together as a couple was more important than i realized or gave it credit.  Thank you mom and dad - thank you Chris for coming with!

Rodan and Fields Convention time!

Its that wonderful, time of year - time to escape, time to learn, time to feel empowered - time to get up darn early and head to the airport.  Here I sit at the airport (no coffee as I am giving up cafine at the moment) but not beer - surely not beer - and look what is right across from my connecting gate.  yes, a beer sure does sound nice.

Here we are folks - The Doctors wanted a photo with Megan and I - of course we obliged..

meanwhile at a home across town, Shane AND Drew were learning how to PUMP - not sure what Nick is learning...

Classes to start our time together - team dinner to end our night - BIGGEST difference from last year to this year - This girl right here. Love her and love this journey with her.

Wait - who just arrived?  Over the moon!!  I wondering how long we could be in the same state and not be together.  Texas is BIG - and this girl drove all the way down from G'town just to hang out - Love You to the moon lady!!  We headed out for more food and great conversations!  At ringers - I mean Sear Sucker. More to come with the Carson's.

More dinner guests?  No they didn't make the trip - but I hear they were out to dinner too.  Dad is brave - or really didn't want to cook.

R+F convention is filled with so many things - classes, training, product reveals and as the company is growing and bringing the products to new countries its so exciting to guess where - they talk so much about the Asian Market - skin care is so different there.  It requires research to understand how it will be received,  so not yet - but whats now.....  AUSTRALIA.  sweet.

celebration Stubbs sandwich!  They brought the BBQ to US!

New Products

New research

Understanding Men's skin and with shaving, they have exfoliation down

What do they may need.  

Unblemish Step 1 to shave (shave cream)

Soothe Step 2 to calm redness (after shave)

 Redefine Step 3 for Sunscreen, moisture, anti aging (yes, guys age too!)

Recognize anyone in this photo?

A room with a view - Austin - what's not to love.

Dressed up and ready to hit the town - Miller lite and all.  I literally matched our Pedicab and proud of it!

total steady hand.

We were widely impressed by our pedi cab drivers - teachers, students, newly married - all working to earn extra breathing room in life - or to get in great shape.  One of the 2.

love the late night photos

back to school Saturday morning!  All 10,000 consultants.

Just announced - as if there was any question - if there is one thing the Dr.s know its Acne!

Means many things to many folks!

hands down COOLEST thing about Saturday - getting a message from a fellow Simsbury High School classmate that I haven't seen in OVER 20 years.  Sure, we mildly keep in touch over FB  - but when he texted me saying he was in town having lunch with his brother (also involved with R+F) and that if I was around stop by - HOW cool.  I find it truly amazing that the folks you really enjoyed in school - often go on to make very unique paths of their own.  I loved hearing the paths life has taken Alex and his family.

Phew - classes over and time to relax - here are the girls of R+F - sure there are 10,000 consultants here - but these are the ones I really love.

And of course the boys of R+F!  Ha - Chris and Kerry just flew in and Deakon grabbed them for some time in Austin.  Shannon popped down for a bit to give a quick hug to her Brother-in-law.

We escaped for a little austin Exploring ourselves.  This is the container bar in Austin - very austin hip

back to get all dolled up for the evening - even got a sneak peak of Steve, Chelcy and Monica (sneak peak - I didn't take out my phone fast enough!)

The evening was back in the convention hall to recognize some amazing achievers and start the dreams for us!  Next year convention - Las Vegas - folks were excited - honestly I would have been happier if Austin was announced for a repeat.  They did announce the RF trip in Bamf Canada - now THAT I can get on board with

As they were pulling prizes from some fortunate consultants - this sweet lady was awarded - it was her birthday as well.  Her husband is deployed so they asked him to share his encouraging words to his wife.

And than, he walked across the stage.  

Having been that military wife and having had my hubby deployed, of course I cried.  While our husbands are gone, we drive on with life - we develop new careers.  We move life forward.  

To hear his encouraging words and to see him surprise her was beautiful.  

Thank you R+F for continuing to remember our Armed Forces and the lives they lead.  

This business model give purpose to many wives who are continually uprooted, moved and want to contribute to their families finances.  

After our party we headed to find our Austin buddies at a bar across town.  So surreal to now be at a bar catching up with some folks that we 'never' use to have to catch up with.  meaning they were just always in our life.  Thanks Brian, Steve, Monica, Deakon and Chelcy for bring on the Texas warm welcome to us as well we kerry and Megan!

One day baby - dream it, work for it - consistency and yes, this will happen.

Shiny White Lexus.  A sign of a strong Team.

What a great time - now to find someone with skin =)!

Cherry Brooke Open house

Its the cherry brook open house and a great excuse for a date night.  The 2 nights previous, Chris was in RI - staying with my sister and the next morning I was leaving at 6am for a flight to Austin - so....we got a babysitter and headed to 'meet the teacher'

Love walking through the halls thinking about Shane and Nick wandering around.  So surreal almost to sit in they chairs and listen to their teachers.  Shane's was first  - she is a mom of 3 boys herself (yes, I already love her  - her youngest is a senior in high school)  She is strict, loud and will love on the kiddos!  Next up is Nick's teacher - she is single, soft spoken and has a natural yoga type vibe.  The seriously couldn't be more different.  Love the notes the kiddos left, but the best part of the evening was opening Nick's locker and finding this......  

Its a magnet that Farrah got us and put on our fridge - Nick swiped it and made it his own. 

Yup, he loves football! - really just Tom Brady.

Kids are doing just fine - I truly just hope right now they are kind and helpful to others. work hard and be proud of what they can achieve.

It goes both ways

Yes, living my my folks means they are a big part of my life and the lives of my kiddos - it also means I get to help them out with their lives.  They travel - A LOT - and I think that is wonderful!  However the list of instructions I receive when they are gone is often LONGER than the one I offer up for my 3 kiddos!!  Plants, hang out with the cats, etc...  

Well my folks went to Boston and my mom had a premonition that Hoover wasn't feeling well.  I APPLAUD them for not paying a fish doctor to verify this premonition.  So they went on vacation - 

As my mom was starting to worry, guess who got to go check on him (can i insert, I am leaving TOMORROW for my R+F convention and to stay with my BFF in Austin?? - My own list was rather lengthy) After scooping up Drew - we headed to the Pond.  

Premonition confirmed.  Hoover had passed.

Yes, i am thankful I could help - that is EXACTLY why I am here.  My mom had a BEAUTIFUL pond with BEAUTIFUL fish that she cares so well for.  I know having this fish for over 10 years means so much to them.  It is time for Hoover to be fertilizer.

he was just making room for the other.

In Drew's words - Poor Hoover.

Back to a life with Jewish Holidays

Yup, Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year - 

Its a holiday for us, right at the beginning of school.  The kiddos woke up on Monday and I was having SUMMER flashbacks - feed me, entertain me, make me stop fighting my brother - EEK!!  I packed lunches and took them on a hike with buddies - 

 ah

a 3 hour hike at sessions forest in Burlington

Kiddos loved it - there were LOTS of them.

can you see ALL the water lilies - TONS!

And since Dad was traveling - I thought it would be fun to have ICE CREAM before dinner - of course it was well received.  Wonder why the one that needs to cup the most refuses the cup the most.  SHOCKING

Happy Jewish New Year!