Projects around the house -

Chris is amazing need I say more - with the 'new to us house' there are quite a few projects and only so many hours.  So you have to prioritize (impossible for me)

here was my #1 - remove the crappy 1/2 wall on the entry into our pseudo garage - make sure to put Drew and Shane to work - Done!

#2 - what do we do with the entertainment center/fireplace area??

a step closer getting rid of the 1980 shelves  - that mantel should be scared as its next on the chopping block.  Just gotta figure out what's taking its place and trying to find something 'industrial rustic' to fill the TV niche.... 

Sam Collins Surprise

That next weekend was Sam Collins weekend in Canton.  Celebrates the founded of Canton CT - he seems to look a lot like Shane.

Wonder if this lady was around during those days..  I need to get that tatoo.

I took the big boys to check out the festivities - this was their favorite event.

it was my favorite too

Than we enjoyed our icecream while watching the local dance studio perform.  That is when I received a text from my dear friend 

Shawn 'do you live near Avon?'

me - yes!  Like 15 minutes - r u here?

Shawn - we have a wedding there are we are headed too, was hoping to catch you for a quick hug!

me - awesome, just tell me when

Shawn - any change you know a great babysitter we could snag, our cancelled last minute

me - yup, do you trust me?!?!  We would love to have your 3 boys!

Shawn - prayers answered - now to get out of this traffic jam

me - download waze

Shawn - you are clearly insde my head.

and just like that, we went from 3 boys to 6 and couldn't be more excited.

Shane prepped by looking like green lantern (clearly not done my the $5 face painter)

Chris made our back yard into a professional football field

and we became a full house

The boys played AMAZINGLY and I felt VERY safe

They got to watch a movie at the end of the night and we cherished an hour of time with James and Shawn after the wedding.  Thank you Shawn for thinking of texting me.  It was truly a God thing.  Love you all.

Convention

In May I made the decision to Partner with Rodan and Fields and learn everything I can about Skin Care, Social Commerce, Direct Sales most importunately - leveraging time and money.  So often I listen to the training calls that talk about how we dig our heal into 70 hour work weeks, leaving scraps of time for family and friends - learning that life doesn't have to be that way and you need to find the vehicle to remove yourself.  

When the Doctors created Rodan and Fields and opted to remove it from Department store shelves they truly gifted their brand, talent and products to folks that have the drive, desire and ingenuity to reallocate time and money and success.  

I love finding my way with this company.  Going to convention was one way of finding my 'legs'

The convention was held in the GWCC in Atlanta Georgia - Shannon was the ONLY person I knew when I flew out there.  I am so grateful she let me share and room and introduced me to some wonderful folks.  From there it all just started falling into place.  8,000 other consultants new, old, men, woman where there.  Everyone making Rodan and Fields part of the life and benefiting countless ways from it.  Here is a lunch stop in the CNN building.  In all our learning about social commerce I thought this photo was appropriate.

Apparently this guy had a bit too much.

Here is our class.  They asked us all to take a selfie and post it on social media.  Gosh its been a while since I have been in 'class'.  FOlks take notes by taking a photo of the screen.  Folks are ON their screens a high percentage of the time.  Its totally acceptable (in some cases)  but you still cannot replace the personal touch.

Just a few miles away Chris tackles the boys and prepares for the Army football game.  Love this crew.  And love the great dad taking care of them this weekend.

Now for the big reveal 

Lets not take this lightly

Dr.s Katie Rodan and Kathy Fields came out to personal describe what they have been working on, how and why it will change skin care and how awesome that they are trusting us to share and market it.  They are BEAUTIFUL (as you would expect) and 57, 58! 

Here is the new baby - fill a wrinkle while you sleep, no needles required 

The fun surrounding this release was awesome - see, he was literally dancing and rapping the technology (geesh, I need to go back to school - this stuff is kinda fun) 

Here's where my Chem E brain fell in love - the ingredients of the new products

Makes me want to go back to organic chemistry right now.

A little lab work possibly

The Doctors are truly changing the face of skin care

I woudl bet my class room would look like this

Here is my convention BONUS.  By posting on FB that I was headed to Atlanta - Ashley Hosey my wonderful friend from Germany who was headed to the Air Force vs. Georgia State game, figured out a way to link up.  She met me at my hotel bar the night after the big product release.  It was absoltely wonderful to pick up where we left off and share life togehter.

This was my favorite class.  Sally Hogshead came to speak to us on how the world views YOU and how you can be more effective knowing that.

  http://www.howtofascinate.com/

She had a personality quiz before hand and further went into describing how knowing your strengths and working within them is more full filling that trying to strengthen your shortcomings...  Here are my 'notes'  Trust was my big one.

The grid - bummer when the note taking machine isn't wildly clear - but her message was.  I teared up at the endof her speech where her Husband came out - gosh love her.

http://howtheworldseesyou.com/

MOre time with Ashley and now her little guy Peter too - at the tailgate as I scooted away for lunch.

What a tremendous link up - now GO AIR FORCE (Chris you didn't hear me say that right??)

Funny after talking to one of Ashley's friends about Rodan and Fields she mentioned her friend was at the convention too - uhmmmm  yah - rather successful friend.

Saturday night was the red carpet galla and a great reason to dress up.

This was the crew I got to pal around with and feel like I truly belonged 

This famous lady made her way up on Stage as achieving Milestone 5 - her last few months she grew her personal business so much!  I have been so fortunate to not only watch, but now be apart of what she is learning, doing and achieving.  I have thanked her many times for never giving up on me.  Now I am excited to see her success!

one of the gerat many things they talked about that night was the location of next years convention - can I possibly be more excited.  Maybe is the beer line was shorter!  Ha  - But here was come Austin Texas.  See you next year!

In the meantime - its time to bring it home.  After all the excitement it was like I needed to 'defrag' my brain and go for a run.  Here is my memorable running photo.  On the plane ride home I overheard another woman talking about Rodan and Fields and convention.  It gave me the confidence to introduce myself and now her and I are teaming up here in Canton.  Its amazing the paths your life can take.

Yup, this is my first booth.  Here we go!

Our new everyday life

Has my folks in it - and we are love it.  The ease of just seeing them everyday brings so much to our life.  Here is a typical Saturday morning soccer tailgaet - Anyone see the donuts?  Shane, Drew and Nick are convinced that goomba brings donuts EVERYWHERE he goes.

There is something about being around munchkins that can either make you feel really old - or much younger - my father believes he is younger - he is quick to play with them, happy to hug them and excited to amke them smile.  I love seeing the look in HIS eyes when my boys go running to him for daily or weekly hugs - that will never get old.

My mom soaks up and plans the time with each dude.  Having one separately really gives you the chance to bond with them.  Recently she popped over just to grab Nick to go shopping for his brother's birthdays.  Nick was super chatty, inquisitive and got some valuable time with his grandparents.  He also got to run the show choosing the dinner place (Hot Heaven the local pizza place that to Megan and I sounds like a strip club!!) than onto McDs for Ice cream - which he had to gobble in the car as to know divulge to his brothers where he was.

This time is a treasure

Our little golfers

We love some mini put - the fall afternoons after school are really perfect.  Here is a course just 10 minutes from our house - of course I don't take a photo of the course (I am busy making sure the boys use the clubs on the ball and NOT each other!!)  But I couldn't resit this photo along the farmington river.

Maybe they are getting TOO good.  Ast week when we went DREW got a hole-in-one on the 19th hole.  We were SCHOCKED!  The ramp was all lumpy but his ball just rolled right in.  AMAZING - free game - come back next week hot stuff.

Make the miles and years melt away

You know when you meet that friend that really makes life, better, more enjoyable, more spiritual - you are thankful for every moment.  

Megan was visiting her grandmother Josephine in Long Island who recently was in the hospital.  She drove all the way from NoVa and realized we were 2 more hours north.  So after her visit with her Grandmother and sisters.  She comes here!!  We got to enjoy an afternoon and evening with just her and Nolan!  She even wore Michigan for me.  Love love love her.

And that same evening we had already made plans with this colorful group.  Recognize any faces here?  I cannot believe that Rib and his family moved to CT just months before us.  They even linked up with my folks during their transition time - I have so enjoyed connecting with Heidi during their transition and look forward to more times together.  

This was the first time we got the both families together.  Michigan LOST HORRIBLY to ND - but thankfully we were in good company that night.  

Cheers!

Yikes that stings

The week after school started was SUPER hot - hotter than weeks previous - so we opted to soak up a few more afternoons at the local pool.  Chris dropped us off and took Nick to his soccer practice.  Drew Shane and I soaked up the baby pool.  

With clouds coming in, the lifeguards ejected us to sit outside - no biggie as its time to head home.  As we sat waiting for Chris to come grab us, a bee OUTTA no where came and grabbed Drew - 

ON THE EYE lid.  No fair.  He instantly squealed and my heart dropped.  No fair no fair.  

I asked the lifeguards if they had after bite or something.  They gave me an ice pack which I was shocked when Drew willingly put it on his eye by resting his face on my shoulder.  

Poor dude - He will never forget this one...  

Took a photo just so I would remember too.

He got benedryl and extra hugs that night.