#133 He Lets Me Take a Break

Mid-May until end of June was a blink-and-you'll-miss-it span of time.  There was so much going on.  There were so many things I wanted to write about.  Yet, there was also only so much time.  I could jump into what has been currently going on with me (my recent Vegas trip?--oh yes, there is plenty to say about that!), but first, I would hate to ignore all the perfectly fantastic things that have already transpired.

First...

My brother, Jonathan, competed for his final season with his SONJ swim team, The Pioneers.  Since he graduated this year, he'll have to join a different team next season.  It's sad, but exciting, but still sad.

Jonathan spent a better part of the Saturday competition day dancing to music that made my ears hum for two days.

Next...

My sister-in-law, my brother, my Gram, and I sat by Gram's pool at a table on the patio under an umbrella (yikes, so many prepositions!) as a passing thunderstorm came by while we were attempting to get the pool open for summer.  Instead of running inside as the drops pattered on, we huddled closer together at the table.  I'm chalking it up as a family bonding moment.

Then...

Hubby turned 30.  I know, I know, he's super old.  Thank God I decided to stay 25 forever.  I can't imagine what he feels like.  

We went to our favorite restaurant in the entire world, so far, to celebrate.  I'm not sure what it is about Oyster Bay Restaurant in Cape May, okay wait, that's a lie, I do know what it is and it's pictured above.  If you love filet mignon, crab meat, and Bearnaise sauce, holy moly, PLEASE go there immediately.  It is absolutely my favorite meal I've ever experienced in my life.  I've ordered steaks Oscar Style (with crab meat and Bearnaise sauce) several places, but Oyster Bay has it down to a science.  An incredibly delicious science.

Next...

I said goodbye to my Kindergarten classroom forever.  I've said goodbye to several jobs before, but this one cracked my heart a little.  I've had quite a time trying to discover what I was made for in life, and I've discovered that being a Kindergarten teacher was one of the things sitting at the top of the list.

And then...

Jonathan graduated high school.  First, he received an award for perfect attendance.  To any ordinary person, such an award would probably not be that great a deal.  In my home growing up, it was expected.  For starters, my mother would never let us stay home from school.  Ever.  If you didn't have a fever and/or you weren't barfing, there was nothing, no matter of begging, no pleading your case that could convince her as to why you should be at home instead of in school.

Thank you for your sympathy.

Therefore, Jonathan receiving perfect attendance was, as you can imagine, quite an achievement.  

I think he actually was more of a ham on the stage than my brother, Joel, was when he graduated.  And Joel walked down wearing Hulk gloves.

Yes, my family is a special breed of strange.

Later...

As soon as Jonathan had his diploma in hand, I screamed, hugged him, plopped an Olaf doll into his arms, and then hopped in the car with Hubby and his coworker for a road trip to Indiana.

We stopped about three hours into our trip in Bedford, PA at the Jean Bonnet Tavern.

And...

I ate this beautiful masterpiece.  I had been craving scallops, but this was supposed to be my lunch, even though I was having it around 5:00 pm.  That said, I had gone into the restaurant with the intention of having a sandwich.  

But who can resist pan seared diver sea scallops in a basil pesto sauce served over fresh asparagus, tomato, and orzo?

Not me.

A little later...

Hubby, Gram, and I boarded a plane for Vegas less than twelve hours later after returning home from Indiana.

Our view from the hotel room was perfect.*

Another thing of perfection were the desserts at the different buffets.  I'm not too big on the whole buffet scene, but I do love being able to nibble on a variety of desserts.  These were fantastic.  

By the way, that is a chocolate truffle cake pop.  

Be still my heart.

*Have no fear, there is more to come on my trip to Vegas.**

**I'm sure you are on the edge of your seat in suspension.

Finally...

The day after we returned from Vegas, we celebrated my boy's graduation.  Back when we planned our Vegas trip it should have fallen two weeks after the end of school.  All the whacked out Jersey snow pushed the end of school right up to the start of our vacation.  We were on pins and needles for a little thinking that Jonathan's graduation might end up being scheduled during our trip.

Thank goodness that didn't happen.

But either way, I wouldn't have missed his party for the world.

We had a pig.

And it was an oh-my-goodness-melt-in-your-mouth-meat pig.

As tradition with any parties involving Jonathan go, we also had a pie in the face. 

Two innocent men dressed in blue.

Pie in hand, ready to be delivered.

Jonathan is in the zone.

And, whack!

Jonathan!  There's something stuck to your face!

Oh, that's better.

He sat there, then stood, for a good three minutes before deciding he needed to wipe the whipped cream off.

Of course, there was more dancing and singing to be had before the party could come to a close.

#107 He Cuts Off His Mustache

It's been one of those months.  Of course it is the times when I have no time to write that there are a million things for me to write about.  So much has been going on, so many things I am storing in my mind for later, but I thought I'd give you a little glimpse into my world for the last two weeks based on the pictures in my phone....and a few from my DSLR.

We harvested our corn.  Even though it wasn't the sweetest or largest corn, we enjoyed it because it was our own.  Hopefully next year we can make Jersey proud with some more authentic tasting Jersey corn.

But it's a start.

Hubby took me to my first Yankees game.  While I'm not a real sports fan per say, I have an odd attraction to the Yankees and their team colors.

And I don't mind the game of baseball all that much either.

Now football, that's another story.

Sorry.  I've tried, a pathetic number of times.  I just can't make it happen.

  
We enjoyed dinner over our friends Jen and Tyler's house.  Tyler made us coffee in this strange science lab like piece of equipment.  It was an experience of epic proportions, at least, for a coffee lover like me.  More on this, eventually, over at The Orange Strainer.

I celebrated my birthday a little early with my family.  We ate pizza.  The best pizza in the world.  It was heaven.

Everyone entertained my stance that I am celebrating my 25th birthday for the fourth time.  It made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Or perhaps that is just what senile feels like.

After my early birthday dinner, hubby took me out to Cape May to enjoy the sea air, go shopping, and eat at our favorite restaurant: Oyster Bay.  We found this decoration at an olive oil store and I contemplated yanking it off the wall and making a run for it.

Sort of like the scene with the blue horn in the first season of "How I Met Your Mother".  Except I didn't have the nerve to do it, so I suppose in the end it is nothing like that.

This was also one of the last days I spent with Hubby's curled mustache.  Yes friends the time had finally come.  He snipped off his curls and made me one of the happiest women on earth.  And believe it or not, his reason for cutting it had nothing to do with my birthday.

Or me at all.

I promise.

I celebrated most of my birthday with 18 five-year-olds.  It was a fabulous day.  (And that comment has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that my students had an early morning special, which was back to back with lunch and followed by recess).  It seems that when it's your birthday the goodies and snacks you receive from family, friends, and co-workers is endless.

After I rolled out of school, literally, I had a quiet dinner with hubby.

Friday night we went to see my sister-in-law, Kristina, in a local theater production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum".  During intermission Jonathan and I took a thousand pictures on my phone.  I've spared you and posted only one.

Apparently, the blurriest one.

Hubby took me shopping for my birthday present: a new kitchen table.

I'm in love with this table.

We have very limited counter space in our kitchen.  Considering the amount of time I spend in the kitchen, the table we currently have just wasn't cutting it.  The height was too low.  When I would use the kitchen table for food prep, I'd end up with my back strained, my brain spinning, and steam gushing out of my ears.

It's true.  My poor husband has endured so much.

Our new table is the perfect height and has a tabletop perfect for tasks like rolling out cinnamon rolls and chopping up onions.

Sunday I went to the first ever family reunion of my father's side of the family.  

I think the best part (other than, you know, reconnecting with family I've never met) was that they all share the deep reverence that I have for desserts.  The dessert table was overflowing with an abundance of sugary delights.  I couldn't have been happier to be from this family.

I brought four desserts because I don't know how to minimize.  These mini doughnuts were a hit.  While I've made several mini donuts before, I've never made DOUGHNUTS.  I've made donuts.  Not douuuggghhhnuts.  I've learned.  I've cracked the mystery that has baffled man for centuries: What is the difference between donuts and doughnuts?

Donuts can be made with an oven (or in my case, a mini donut maker), with flour, without yeast.

Doughnuts are made with yeast and frying and oil.

And Dunkin' Donuts just has it all backwards.

The end, amen.

We let the non-Lunetta blood hop in for a picture.  Not a bad lookin' bunch, if you ask me.

Here's my question...

Why is the sun shining on my face only?  It makes me look photo shopped into the picture.

But I swear.

I was there.

This ends my short rendition of the past two weeks.  But don't worry, there's more a'comin.