A Sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa's!

Saturday was Jason and my six year wedding anniversary. After a treat to get a mani/pedi in the morning (and a daddy/daughter date for breakfast while I was away) we took Marin to the Morton Arboretum where Jason and I were married. We hadn't been back since (shameful!) and we were anxious to relive old memories and introduce Marin to the gorgeous trails and changing colors of fall. We had a great visit on a picturesque fall day- much like the day we had six years prior.

On the walk back to our car, we passed a bride and groom and their wedding party. Marin was in the middle of a full blown meltdown- she was tired, hungry, and thirsty. I felt like pulling the blushing bride aside and after informing her that I was in her shoes exactly six years ago, telling her to take a hard look at her future. But that would have been weird. And a little too smug for her occasion. Plus, like I once was, I'm sure she is under the impression that her children will never throw tantrums.

Marin did quickly calm down when she had a snack and some water. And her energy was back to 1000 by the time we pulled into Grandma and Grandpas house shortly after. While Jason and I went out for a quiet night together, Marin had a sleep over at Grandma and Grandpas. She wrote us this email the next morning. It's amazing how she learned to write so quickly, and does so so similarly to grandma, but it was clearly signed by Marin, so who am I to second guess? :)

Dear Mommy and Daddy,

I am having the best time!

Grandma and I walked in the leaves with my car while Grandpa made dinner.

Boy, was it good. I had filet, cauliflower in cheese sauce, potato, and best of all,

cottage cheese.

I had raisins for dessert while sitting in my green chair, feet up on coffee table, contemplating cooking with measuring cups

and measuring spoons, and watching a little 30 Rock. G and G didn't want to watch Dexter until I went to bed.

We read books, played with blocks, took a long bath, and I went to bed about 8:40.

They tried to put me to bed at 8:15 but I cried and Grandma said I could cuddle. It makes her happy and I love getting up and down from

the chair, I climb up on the bottom and pretend it's a mountain. I stand really tall, think I'm about to fly, and Grandma takes my hand.

She's so silly. Then I fall down on her tummy and she hugs me and says she loves me.

I cried at 8:40 a little when I left Grandma's lap. I put my head down right away and pretended to sleep. Grandpa took me anyway and said

he would rub my back. I was no more up there, that I just rolled over and went to sleep. Grandma was surprised to see him back downstairs so soon.

Grandma came up to make sure I was ok a couple of times in the night. She also left the living room light on. Grandpa kept turning it off, but she

won in the end. In case I woke up it wouldn't be pitch dark.

I'm still sleeping. Grandma checked on me at 7:15 cause she thought she heard me, but no, still in dreamland. I love my bed here with the cozy blankets

and animals and things. I forgot to tell you that I walked right up when I needed my paci that was in the bed.

I hope you had as much fun eating yummy pizza (did you save some for me) and the movie. Grandma can't wait to hear how you liked it.

I miss you guys. I will see you after church. We're going to sit way up front so I can see the priest and hear the music really well.

Grandma already packed raisins, cheerios, and a small water, but I'm not supposed to know. I guess it will be a surprise if I get a little ancy.

I love you more than the sky is blue in summertime. I've heard Grandma say that to you, Mommy. I like it.

Please don't call as I am still sleeping, Grandma is going in the shower, and Grandpa went to the store to buy white bread, to make French toast.

Do I like that? Grandma hopes so. It will be a special treat since I am here. :):) They never make it just for them.

Happy Anniversary Sunday,

Love, Hugs, and Kisses,

Your beautiful, talented, intellectual, modest, little daughter,

Marin

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

The celebrations continue...

We have had a lot to celebrate lately, and we've been having a great time doing just that!


Last Thursday we headed back to Swedish Days with Abby, Jeff and little man CJ. We patronized our favorite food tent- the Lion's Club- of which both Abby's and my dads are members. Marin enjoyed dancing to the live music while on Jason's shoulders, and of course we stopped for ice cream before we walked back to our house for the kiddos bedtime.

The next day we celebrated Jason's Aunt Jean and Uncle Don's 40th Anniversary. They were throwing a big party the following day, but Jason and I were going to be out of town, so we decided to invite the whole gang to our house for a pre-anniversary party, party. All of Jean and Don's kids were in town with their families, plus Jean's siblings- Jason's Dad, and their Aunt Carol and Uncle Jim and other Uncle Jim. Lindsay also made it out, and we had a happy house full of Patterson's! We walked up to Swedish Days to let the kids get their faces painted and to check out (you guessed it) the ice cream shop! Jack and Ella wanted to try out this big trampoline while hooked up to bungee cords thingy, and Amy, Lindsay and I decided to do it as well. It was a little demoralizing because we had to stand on a scale before they would allow us to ride, and then later referred to us "the bigger ladies" but I guess they hadn't ever seen grown ups actually give it a try. It was a lot of fun! A few days later when my abs hurt and I couldn't figure out why, I realized it was the flips I did on that bungee ride. Now I know why it is mostly for the kids and the teenie boppers. The "bigger ladies" could barely hack it! When we arrived back home, we all enjoyed Jason's famous pork loin for dinner. And with 8 kids running around, it seemed like one if not all of them were crying at one point, but there were plenty of hands and plenty of willing aunties and uncles to hold them. My parents joined us as well, and the "adults" (which, even with some of us in our late 30's, is how we refer to our parents) all sat around laughing and recounting their wedding days. After everyone left that night, Jason, Lindsay, their Dad and I sat on our deck talking until past midnight. Cops were called for the third time, but the joke's on the borington neighbors; we didn't move a muscle.

Saturday morning Jason and I left for our friend Katie and Sean's wedding in Michigan. Marin stayed with Pappy and Aunt Lindsay and had a glorious day going to the park, out to lunch and on stroller rides. Early that evening, the three of them went to Jason's Aunt and Uncle's anniversary party together. I am told that Marin was well behaved and once again had a ball with her cousins. Jason and I had a great time toasting Katie and Sean at their beautiful wedding and reception at a Michigan vineyard. It was a gorgeous night and the wedding was straight out of InStyle Weddings. We also celebrated our friend Sarah's recent engagement to Brendan, and are looking forward to their year of fun and preparations ahead. Sarah and Brendan are absolutely soul mates- and this was only further confirmed when we got into Brendan's car this weekend and in the backseat was every piece of sports equipment except a zamboni. It was great reunion with Stephanie and Shannon, who have both since moved to Ohio. It is rare when we are all able to get together, but it always is accompanied by gut busting laughter and a lot of inside jokes about P55's, 541T, The Lunch Lady, Rodent-like devices and doing "the show".

Sunday we headed back home and were glad to hear that Pappy and Aunt Lindsay enjoyed Marin as much as Marin enjoyed them. That afternoon Marin, Jason and I met my parents at the annual Swedish Days parade to mark the festivals end. Marin loved holding her little flag and waving to the floats as they passed, saying "HIIII!!!"

It was another great weekend!

Congrats all around!

Marin had another big weekend. On Saturday, Jake, Katy, Jason and I were thrilled to throw my parents a 40th anniversary party. Can you imagine 40 years?! As I said on Saturday night, I can only hope that Jason and I have the pleasure of spending 40 plus years together. My grandparents have been married for 65 years, so 40 is old news to them. We've just coming up on six years and we think that is noteworthy.

Both Katy and I took off of work on Friday to prepare and clean and set up. Jason and Jake joined us that evening. I'd say it was a ratio of about 80% work and 20% ridiculousness. Definitely the way to do it. Jake dared me to take a shot of mustard for 20 bucks. Of course the sibling rivalry, and my "that's nothing" attitude" fueled me to jump on it. Then he changed the game. For my cockiness, he said the ante jumped up to a shot of red pepper hummus, grape jam and mayonnaise. Same reward. I did it, but not without a few gags. When I threw the shot glass into the sink in disgust at the end, Jake made sure I had finished. He showed me that too much had slipped down the drain. I didn't believe it, but I looked and sure enough, it appeared that a large amount of the horrid concoction was in the drain. Jake said that as a consolation, I had to eat a teaspoon full of horseradish. Why I was still complying at this point is a psychological study beyond me. But, I obliged none the less. And after I washed the red pepper, grape jam, mayo shot down with horseradish, and I tried to wash the remaining evidence out of the sink, and discovered that what was in the drain was not the remaining shot , but a piece of pizza. Awesome. I have been tasting red pepper yuck and horseradish for days now- and it was all for nothing. Well, except that I am up 20 bucks. If I'd had a sister, we'd have stayed up late whispering and painting each others nails. But I have a brother, so we dare each other to eat gross mixes from the fridge.

But I digress... The party came and went on Saturday in what seemed like a blink. All of my parent's closest friends piled into our house for a celebration of them and everything that they have accomplished and been through together in the past 40 years. It was a wonderful tribute to their lives together thus far, and many stories of the past were shared.

Saturday morning, Marin and I made a quick stop at our neighbor's 2nd birthday party in the park. Marin loved seeing her little friends and it was a gorgeous afternoon to spend a little time at the playground. Then we went home and finished preparing for the party. Before the guests arrived, Erica came to take pictures of all seven of us and she stayed to take pictures of the party. We are so grateful that she gave up a Saturday night with her family to do this for us. Erica is always so much fun, and this picture really shows that. I barely was able to take any pictures myself, and I know that Erica's will be much better than I could have captured.

My sister-in-law, Holly, on Jason's side, makes gorgeous cakes, and the cake she made for this occasion was exactly that. I always remember my mom talking about how she loves the stephanotis flowers that were at she and my dad's wedding. Holly made them a beautiful cake covered in stephanotis flowers, with a pink banner that matched the color of my mom's bridesmaid's dresses. Since Holly lives in Indiana, Jake drove on Saturday to meet her halfway and brought the cake back. They both really went out of their way, and I really appreciate it. I wanted the cake to be really special, and it definitely was!

We made a lot of food and served plenty of beverages. Pictures of my parent's wedding and through out the years that followed were displayed. A crowd favorite was a picture of the four of us dressed up like pirates that we took during a trip to Disney World circa 1988. And the picture of my parent's on the night that they were engaged showed how young they were when they decided to be together forever. We also asked people to share their favorite memories of the past 40 years with my mom and dad in a book. Those stories got increasingly better as the night when on.

We took a few minutes in the middle of the night to publicly congratulate my parents and say a few words about what an excellent example they have set for us on how to love each other. We feel so lucky to have shared all that we have together, and we wish them many more years of happiness and health ahead. Marin wandered from person to person saying "Hi" and staring down their plates of food. She figured out how to play the crowd for optimum cookie and dessert eating. She stayed up until her eyes were completely glazed over. That girl is a party girl at heart!

The party ironically fell on the eve of Jake and Katy's one year anniversary. We kidded them that they had a little catching up to do, and reflected on the parallel between having just completed your first married year together, and that of 40 years together.

We celebrated into the morning, and Sunday came earlier than we considered the night before when we all agreed to one more drink. Marin, Jason and I kicked Father's Day off with a family bike ride at Jason's request. We rode along the river and ended our ride at Molly's graduation party. Marin was so proud to celebrate her Auntie Molly's graduation for Northwestern's Kellogg, where she got her MBA! We could only stay for a little bit, however, because from there we headed to my Aunt and Uncle's house for a Father's Day celebration with my family. It was a gorgeous day at the lake and Marin especially enjoyed the boat ride. She loved to reach over the side of the boat to splash in the water. We had to really hold on to her tightly, because she wanted to dive in head first! Marin and I are so grateful for not only her amazing Daddy, but for her Grandpa, and her Pappy and her two Great Grandpas. They are not only great dads, but amazing men. And we are so lucky to have them in our lives. I'm especially partial to Marin's daddy. He's kind of a hunk. And he cooks!

We ended the day with just the three of us and a walk to the ice cream store. I decided to treat Jason and Marin to ice cream with my red pepper hummus, grape jam, mayo and horseradish winnings. We are exhausted today, but once again we are thankful to be at the end of a wonderful weekend full of family and friends. We are so thankful for my parents- for all that they give and share with us and others. Our house packed full of laughter and the buzzing of stories from both old friends and new was a true testament to how great of a couple they are, and how FUN they are! We will be excited to be one of those people at Jake and Katy's 40th anniversary in 39 years. Marin could be there with her own family by then!

Nothing is better than a Saturday in the park with good friends, and we wish Parker a great 3rd year ahead! And of course we are proud of Auntie Molly! I know that she will always be a great example for Marin that no goal is too great, nor dream too big. She'll also come in handy when Marin asks a math question that mommy has loooong forgotten how to answer.

Congrats all around!