Happiest Mother's Day to Grandma Carole and Grandma Joan

Or, as Gehrig would say, "Happy Mudder's Day!"

We just want you to know how special you are and how thankful we are to have you in our lives. The old quote may sounds cliche, but it rings true, "The only thing better than having you as a mother, is knowing my boys have you as their grandmother!"

Gehrig, Colin and I have been working on a little something for you. I wish you could have been here to see the process....it was quite comical, but we think that they turned out beautiful, just like the two of you. God has truly blessed our family with the two best Grandma's in the world! We love you.

Here are a couple of up close shots so that you can get a good picture of what it looks like, because when it comes in the mail, it will be unassembled for shipping purposes. There will also be another gift enclosed for each of you....but we need to keep something a surprise! However, in true Jennifer Gesch fashion, it will be late!

And while your roles as grandmothers have been so important, we don't want it to be overshadowed by your role as mother and mother-in-law. Your love and support over the years has meant so much to Chris and me. We cherish so many memories from childhood on up through adulthood and know that there is no way that we would be where we are with out your love and support. You have gone from being our Mommies to our Mothers to our Friends! We love you and hope you have the Happiest Mother's Day!!!

"My Cup Runneth Over!!!!!"

I have always loved this quote from Hope Floats. Birdie Priutt's mother often uses this expression to describe how she feels about her various blessings. I can not think of a better way to describe how I feel about my life and all the things that I have been tremendously blessed. On this Mother's Day, I am especially thank for my two blessings, Gehrig and Colin, who give meaning to this day!

Gehrig made me an extremely special gift in preschool and I got choked up, okay I cried, when he gave me this precious, hand-made present for Mother's Day. This glue and glitter covered treasure is my absolute favorite gift, and I don't think that it will ever be topped. I have read this poem so many times, and probably even given it to my mom years ago, but it had never tugged at my heart strings the way it did when he proudly presented this master piece to me. My Cup Runneth Over!!!!

Gehrig and Colin also got me a gorgeous bouquet of lilies, chocolates, a balloon all accompanied by a card that read:

We love you Mommy! You're the best in the world.

Love, Gehrig and Colin

When the flowers arrived, the buds were closed, but they are already starting to open up and the sweet fragrance is filling my house! All this was, of course, orchestrated by my amazing husband hundreds of miles away in Texas. I am the luckiest Mother in the whole wide world! My Cup Runneth Over!!!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week and Gehrig has two wonderful preschool teachers that he sure appreciates and adores, Ms. Delores and Mrs. Gertz. He made them each a special card, and we planted these beautiful Gerber daisies in the terra cotta pots we decorated.

He was so proud to present the cards and flowers to them, and they were touched by the special gift!

What a wonderful week to reflect on all that teachers do. We appreciate all the teachers out there who selflessly dedicate themselves to their students. You truly make a difference in your students' lives and make the world a better place!

Introducing Allie Lee Gross

We are just so happy to announce the newest member of our family, Cousin Allie! Chris' sister, Kelly, and brother-in-law, Gabe, had their sweet baby girl yesterday, May 3rd, making Chris and me an uncle and an aunt and Gehrig and Colin cousins for the first time. Allie was 7 lbs, 5 oz and 21 inches long. We can not wait to meet little Allie! Isn't she just precious???

Colin's First Birthday Party!

So bittersweet. My baby is ONE! It is my last first birthday party. And yes, I say "my" birthday because isn't the first birthday really all about mom anyway? Such a major accomplishment to conceive and bear a child and sustain him or her for a whole year and manage to remain relatively sane. Besides, by their second birthday, they start having their own ideas, likes and dislikes.

I had so much fun planning the party. The planning started back in January when I saw the most adorable jumbo whale cupcake on a flyer for a cake decorating class at Michaels. I started planning the entire party around this cake!

I decided upon an Ocean "One"derland theme. I had seen this play on words on one of my new favorite blogs, Everyday Celebrating, and loved it. Michelle had planned an adorable Winter ONEderland party for her son's 1st birthday, so I adapted it to fit my theme.

Shortly after, I found these adorable paper plates, bowls and cello bags in the dollar bins at Target, as well as these plastic plates and placemats which made wonderful party favors. They were perfect because of their juvenille look...most of what I found on-line was too realistic looking for a one-year old's party.

I designed the invitations to look like the whale cake.

Decorating was really fun, too! I borrowed yet another idea from Michelle from Everyday Celebrating. The popcorn cones were really easy to make following Michelle's tutorial. Each "whale cone" held Crunch 'n Munch that guests could carry around and snack on.

I made this pod of whales using terra cotta pots, chennille sticks, wiggly eyes, foam and a hot glue gun!

One of my favorite decorations from the party was the time line that I made using ribbon, scrapbook paper and glitter sea creature shapes that I found at JoAnn Fabric back in January. The time line showcases pictures from birth, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 8 months, 10 months and 1 year.

No party is complete without balloons!

The Birthday Boy!

The guests had a fun time decorating foam sunglasses with foam sea creature stickers, all purchased from Michaels.

I made this cupcake stand using this tutorial I saw on cakejournal.com. I had to modify it a bit, as I could not get my hands on cake dummies so I used an oatmeal container. I used rick rack and wrapping paper instead of satin ribbon.

The Jumbo Whale Cupcake!

Colin did a great job digging into his cake!

Opening his gifts!

In keeping with the Ocean "One"derland theme, I used beach pails and shovels for the favors. Each bucket contained a plate, a matching placemat, a package of sea creature capsules that grown in water, and three sea creature lollipops made with Wilton cnady melts! The two baby guests recieved smaller buckets containing a Pepridge Farm goldfish shaped goldfish holder and a packet of goldfish. Each bucket had a tag that said, "I hope that you had a Whale of a Time!"

The "Baby Buckets"

Starfish, seahorse, sea turtle, tropical fish, and shark lollipops! YUM!

The best part was that Daddy was there for the special day. He flew home for a quick weekend visit!

We Are Moving!

Well we have all heard the cliches; "Home Sweet Home," "There's no place like home," "Home is where the hearts is," "Home is where you hang your your hat," and another that has rung true for Chris and me growing up as Air Force brats and continues to ring true even now, "Home is where the Air Force sends you." And, the Air Force is sending us to Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico. Where? Yes, that was my original thought/question too. It is a largely agricultural town situated near New Mexico's eastern border. Clovis is approximately 100 miles from both Lubbock and Amarillo, TX and boasts such restaurants as Chili's, Applebees, Burger King, Dominos (the only dine-in Dominos with full buffet, LOL), Red Lobster and K-Bob's Steakhouse!
Despite the fact that Clovis was not our first choice, we find ourselves very excited about what God has planned for us there and are eager for this new chapter of our lives!
Our new chapter will begin sometime near the end of September and we are hoping to live in base housing in a neighborhood that is acutally off base and associated with the top elementary school in the area.
Until then, we are still missing Chris as he finishes up training in Texas. He has been there since February and is scheduled to return at the end of May. Then he is headed to Las Vegas for three more months of training. We have arranged to live in a grogeous, 4-bedrooom vacation rental home there, so if you are planning a trip to Vegas between June and September, come stay with us!!!!! (Because we know that not too many of you will be interested in visiting us once we move to Clovis, haha!)

Gesch Who Has a Blog... Take Two!

Well what good is a blog if you never update and never share the link with friends???? I am going to try to be better about keeping everyone posted with all the wonderful happenings of our life!