Band 6th grade style

Band concert time - Thanks to the moms for capturing these gems for the night.

This tribe is just too adorable

Look out middle school dances - here they come!

Oma Sue's Birthday weekend

Mom's birthday weekend at the Cape at East Dennis - 

Feels good to be 70 right?  They started on Thursday and quickly found all the great haunts.  Walkabout to Seasuit cafe made for easy dining.  

Stosh's crew got there Friday afternoon and while Thursday was our original plan,  with baseball obligations, Friday became the new schedule.  We arrived by midnight on Friday.  Completely worth it as there was NO traffic and waking up AT the beach all together was wonderful!  

Our weather was AMAZING.  

The kids had multiple layers of sunscreen - however that proved to be not enough.  We did LOTS of this

A little of this too - love these 2 together.  Clearly they do too.

Makes for a good place to even get a hair cut!

more of this - love the guy in that photo

Would love to say we ALL used the outdoor shower - the best.  Having a house right here on the beach was such a treat.  Love our cocktail hours on the deck.

Trying to snag a quick example of my father's expert sunscreen application - impressive right?  WE need to get better at getting him while he is sleeping.

My sister and i rocked 2 great dinners while we were there allowing us to truly enjoy the house together. and things like this.

Love that we had a yoga following on Monday morning.  We kept it pretty active doing workouts with my mom and trying to stay alive playing ultimate Frisbee with the kids on the beach.  Not long before they are beating us!

Cape cod chips in cape cod?  Yes please adorable dude!

Yes!  We managed a beautiful family shot - this time and fun together was the true treasure.  Beautiful birthday weekend Mom.  Hope your soul enjoyed this through and through!  We are all so very fortunate to be able to celebrate with you.

My folks got to stay and enjoy the peace of an extra day while our families joined many others on the road home to start the week off.

Minnesota, Minneapolis

Sometimes I record things to remind myself I actually got to do them.  This is a conference called CLAHO (Council of Large Affordable Housing Owners) different aspects of several companies meet to discuss best practices.  I represented Vesta from the construction side.  The other companies present were MUCH larger, therefore as a whole it was a HUGE eye opener for me.  

Conference aside, I left CHILLY CT to balmy Minnesota and had enough time to explore before the conference started.  When I typically travel, its too our affordable housing locations - NOT THIS TIME.  

The city itself was really beautiful and very walk about.  Had a hip vibe to it

Many artsy aspects - 

\This is the site I will be headed to tomorrow - 

The view from where I spent 5 minutes to just sit.  Imagine this place 5 month earlier.  Bet there would be a lot more white

Cool aspect - RIGHT in front of my hotel - 25+ food trucks pull up every day and folks pour out of the offices for lunch - genius!

Kinda proud I can dress accordingly and feel confident about where I am headed.

Now here is the MASSIVE project.  I won't bore you with the countless photos I took as I couldn't stop being amazed by the scope and stature of the project.  Valued at 170M - they rehabbed an old flour mill that used the Mississippi for electrical power.  Redesigning the electrical power portion and turning the building into artist loft accommodations - complete with performance rooms and other artist areas.  

It also got my wheels turning about the Axe factory in Collinsville.  (came back to find out that had crossed over the Vesta tables many times)

All the detail - to include a pretty cool parking structure.

Because someday I wouldn't mind visiting it all again

Oma Sue's Birthday

With a wonderful weekend PLANNED at the Cape - My mom opted to keep her actual 70th birthday pretty chill.  Being a Friday, she enjoyed a lunch with my dad!  I begged her to let me plan SOMETHING - so here it is - 

CINCO DE MAYO MOMMA!

Love this capture of her with the boys.  

I loved shopping for her with them.  There are so many sweet simple things that make her smile it was a joy to see the boys picking them out. 

 I agree that age is just a number and I cannot believe you are that number!  I pray that you continue to value the every day and stay involved with book clubs, bridge, roaring brooks, Garden club and all the things that continue to remind you how YOUNG you truly area. 

In the meantime - here is a great photo frame to be able to remember those good ole' days and capture the ones we are living today.

Just email it and watch!  Circa - 2008?

The night ended cozy on the couch watching a dog movie that Shane thought Oma Sue would love.  Not a dry eye.