The wedding toast on the porch. Notice the tent in the background.

Jeff talking to his Dad after the ceremony. 

The ceremony on the covered porch. I simply walked out of our french doors so we had no aisle or attendants. 

Jeff and Jenn at the bridal dinner at Daniel's Cafe 

The setting

Here we are....all set up and ready. Hopefully I didn't drive the girls and Anne nutty. We did the hanging baskets, flower pots, and cut wild flowers and we roped off a no parking area around the barn. We also moved jumps, tried to plant grass (unsuccessfully as you can see), landscaped (twice due to a tornado and tropical storm), repaired the washed out driveway thanks to Donald and now...this is it...our wedding day. Our home and farm is not only my dream come true but I have my soul mate and two wonderful children to help celebrate our marriage. Our family and friends have truly made all this possible for us and we couldn't be happier.

I have to admit I am very relaxed about tomorrow. Not sure if it was the trail ride this morning or the appletinis and pedicure before the bridal dinner. Jeff had just as much fun golfing with Mel and Russ and the beer cart lady. :-)

Birthday presents!

Ethan's first Birthday

So this is me...uncrafty, not very original and tasked with my child's first birthday. Talk about stress. Why is it that this seems like such a momentus milestone and all he is going to care about is the toys and the food. I bet he won't even remember how stressed out I was cooking and cleaning. :-)








I decided to keep it simple and just bombard him with presents. We got him a real Radio Flyer red wagon he just loves pulling all over the yard. He likes riding in it too. Wonder if he can do barn chores with it. :-) For his party, I actually cooked dinner and made a homemade fruit dessert for him. We even used the dining room for the first time. The entire family was here to celebrate and E put his hand right in the cake. It was classic.

His favorite toys are the walker shown above and the John Deere phone. Can't get him off the cell phone and remote control kick. He is fascinated with our new cats as well. That is him with Starbuck, the manx. She lets him torment her and even lays there when he takes a fist full of her fur. Boomer on the other hand stays just out of reach.

Aunt Susan and Ethan (who is in his ever so cool Moo jammies)

Jean, Mom, and E shopping and eating cookies

A day trip along the Outer Banks

The Elizabethan gardens.

Jeff took E and me here for the day. We went to lunch at the waterfront in Manteo and then spent the afternoon touring the gardens. We also drove all the way up the Outer Banks to Duck and back through Hagshead. I think my favorite part was downtown Manteo. We ate at this fancy restaurant on the water and walked around the pier and watched some sailboats go out.

http://www.townofmanteo.com/

Russ surfing. 

Jeff and I flying our kite. 

Jean and Russ at Kitty Hawk

Grandma and Grandpa sitting by the pool with the dunes in the background. 

The Zanchelli's setting up for the day by the pool. 

Grandma and Ethan hanging by the pool. Sharp hat, eh? 

Jean and E 

Ethan on our bed. Will he EVER get any hair? 

Jean giving E a ride 

Ethan in the water for the first time! 

Jeff and Ethan in the pool. Ethan loved the water but hated the plastic rafts and floats. Go figure. 

Family beach trip

We went to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to celebrate my parent's 40th wedding anniversary. Jean and I rented this great house on the beach in Waves and it had an inground heated pool and all the amenities. Here is the link to the house if you ever need a great vacation home for multiple families.

http://www.outerbeaches.com/hatteras11_pics

We visited Manteo one day and also went to see the Hatteras Lighthouse. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, standing at 208 feet, is the tallest in the United States and we climbed all the way up to the top. It was an incredible view.

http://www.outer-banks.nc.us/tourism/hatter.htm has a list of the lighthouses on the outerbanks.

Jeff and Russ went golfing on the coast one day while Mom, Jean, E and I did some damage shopping. We also went to the Wright Brothers memorial in Kitty Hawk. It was an incredible week with everyone.

Ethan on the Merry Go Round with Grandma. 

Sydney and Ethan with the Easter Bunny. 

Ethan with the Easter Bunny.