Lovers? That Word Bums Me Out Unless it Comes Between Meat and Pizza

So, a few weeks ago Nicholas and I decided to get some engagement photos taken by one of the ladies in my Bunko group.  The reasons for this were threefold:

1. It seemed romantic
2. We really love us some us
3. It seemed important to get pictures of us as a couple that I didn't make by pasting the one good photo of my head onto photos of Nicholas with other people.  

Yeah, I think it was time for us to get some new photos...

Below are the photos taken of us at Case's farm.  And in the event that you also love you some us, let us know if there are any of the photos that you like in particular and we'd be happy to have them printed for you.  Now, sit back and bask in my near inability to take a photo without laughing hysterically (Yeah, that ought to be fun come wedding day...)

Just thought we'd share.  Anyway, I'd love to stay and chat more but I'm pretty busy.  I've gotta summer job and, I don't want to brag,but I'm kind of a big deal.

There ain't no party like a family party, because a family party is mandatory

So, I'm sure you're all wondering what we've been doing for the last several weeks.  And I'll tell you that we've been using the first few weeks of our vacation from school to rededicate ourselves to relationships with old and dear friends.

 

Yes, yes, the fact that none of our "friends" are real people did make us feel a little lonesome and pathetic.  Fortunately, in May we scheduled time for some sisterly bonding.

Alas, these Sisters were cancelled in 1996

So, we spent a week back in Philadelphia bonding with the Helimetses...Helimetsi...Helmets...My sister's family. 

The Smelimets Family

Alas, the euphoria...okay, mania (see above)...of seeing Molly, Tiit and Chloe was somewhat dampened when poor little Chloe fell ill.  Nothing too serious, thankfully, just fever and what I'm guessing is some pretty severe edema. 

Baby bloat

Mercifully, Chloe had drained and de-fevered in time for us to attend the bridal shower of my step-sister, Sarah, in Greenwich, CT. 

The food was delicious, the bride-to-be was lovely, and only once during lunch did Chloe look up from her plate to urgently declare "POOPING!"  Sadly, Nicholas did not provide the same warning and that brought the swimming to an untimely end. 

And then we came back to Cleveland and spent more time hanging out with our friends (See above). 

This weekend Nicholas and I drove from Cleveland to Morgantown, West Virginia, Morgantown to Nellysford, Virginia, and then back to Cleveland.  You might say that's insane...I would tell you that during a week when the headlines included "Police Shoot Naked Man Eating Another Man's Face", calling me crazy is a tad bit hasty.

Our primary suspect for that whole face-eating thing...

So when you consider the fact that everything is relative, I'm really a polygon of sanity.

Editor's Note: She almost certainly means paragon and not polygon.

No really, we went to Virginia for a very good reason.  Shelley Schwartz got married! 

The ceremony was lovely and the reception was a lot of fun. Stan gave a wonderful talk during the reception: 

Toast entitled "The Keys to Managing High Blood Sugar"

And Joey and Nicholas spent the whole time together corn-holing.

What? Not what you were expecting?

In the end a good time was had by all...

...Except by the person whom we forced to take this photo for us.

So say you love me here and now, I'll make the most of that. Say you love and trust me, For I know you'll disgust me When you're old and getting fat.

Guess who had a birthday since the last time we blogged...That's right!  Nicholas did.  On April 5, 2012 Nicholas hit the big 3-0 and he hit it hard.  At first I told him that I couldn't see any difference between 29 and 30 but now that I'm doing a comparison, I'm really not so sure...

Nicholas on April 4

Nicholas on April 5

So, in honor of Nicholas' milestone birthday, we celebrated...and celebrated...and celebrated! On Nicholas' actual birthday we stayed low key and he picked out a special birthday dinner--lamb chops, mashed potatoes, and broccoli--and I made raspberry shortbread for dessert.

Raspberry shortbread.  Compost sold separately.

Of course, Nicholas' big birthday present was his party.  The whole house was decorated to look like a shrine to Nicholas.  I collected pictures, only around 300 or so, from the last 30 years and turned them into triptych panels on card stock.

Nicholas is the old lady featured at the far right.

Then I made a photo timeline by hanging all of the triptychs around the first floor of our house.  The menu included Nicholas' favorite snacks and an homage to Nicholas' first birthday cake. 

Cake from April '83

Cake from April '12

Nicholas blowing out his candles with help from Bailey and Macy

The fact that the inside of this year's cake was red velvet really added a certain je ne sais quoi to the experience.  (Science fact: the bunny died, so all of our neighbors are pregnant)

Nicholas cutting the bleeding bunny while Jared comforts a traumatized looking Kelsey in the background

I really got a kick out of the cake. 

Ouiser was unamused.

Oh, and Shelby died.  (SPOILER ALERT)

Anyway, it was very nice to have all of our wonderful neighbors and Nicholas' family and friends pile into the house to celebrate.  David even flew in from Chicago to surprise Nicholas on the morning of the party.  The bigger surprise: David wasn't invited to the party...awkward.

And in the end everyone got to take away a little party favor.

Now that all of the celebrations are over and the dust has settled, it's time for finals!  I'm so sad that we're almost done our first year in Cleveland and I'm devastated that I only have one more year left of my program...APRIL FOOLS! 

Editor's Note: April Fools came and went 20 days ago.  Above sentence should probably read: I'm so sad that we're almost done our first year in Cleveland and I'm devastated that I only have one more year left of my program...PATHOLOGICAL LIES!

Anyway, life is pretty much back to normal now with the exception of today's great discovery: Pi is one of the world's most gifted performers.  Today she recreated that famous scene from Caddyshack with the Baby Ruth.  Except instead of a pool, it was the middle of our basement.  And instead of a Baby Ruth, it was actually feces. 

Nicholas with cat feces

Wendy breaking it down to Kenny Loggins

Remember how we always had four cats?  Well that's still true...for now.