Nikki's Baby Girl

My friend Nikki stopped over to my mom's place with her brand new baby, Nevaeh. Needless to say we spent the next hour an a half gushing over her. Look at her santa suit!!

Joe and the baby

Look at those cheeks!!

Doesn't she looks like she wants to fly?

Travel to Minnesota

I'll post pictures of our car soon...

Joe and I decided to drive to Minnesota for christmas. It was peaceful and went by very quickly, until the last 150 miles. There was a storm we were trying to beat and we ended up right in the thick of it. The wind was gusting across the freeway blowing so much snow you couldn't see more than a few feet infront of you. Every mile or so there would be a pile of cars blown into the ditch. We were white knuckling it for about an hour and a half. Finally we were less than five miles from my mothers house and a gust of wind hit the car and at the same time I hit a patch of ice, we started to fishtale, I knew it was going to happen, "Oh no" I tried to pump the brakes and car started to spin, the front of the car spun into a snow bank, a WHOOSH of snow covered the entire car and I kept thinking in my head, "Please don't flip over, please don't flip over." We stopped with the front of the car facing the freeway and the rear of the car stuck in the bank. Joe tried to get out of his side of the car and had to dig it out. He was wearing sandles from this morning, when we left Texas it was 68 degrees, when we got to Minnesota seventeen hours later it was -6 degrees. Literally 30 seconds after he got out of the car a man pulled over and towed us out of the bank and we made it to my mothers house. The bumper was hanging off the left side of the car, but the rest of the body looked fine. We are fine but a little shook up. eh.

Pretty Girl

I loved this picture! One bird was in love with Cz and I caught this pic of the birdie mid landing.

Secret Shame- The Twilight Series

My coworker Mendy was talking to me one day about this so called Twilight series, "You have to read it!" she gushed. I wasn't completely sold- but oddly tempted. I've been aching for a new book to read and what was the harm? Or so I thought...in passing at the grocery story they had the book for six bucks- why not? I gingerly picked it up and threw it into the cart- title side down - so that no one would notice that a 28 year old woman had just bought a book written for teenagers. I pictured in my head the throngs of teenagers on MTV screaming over the new movie I really had no interest in seeing. I brought the book home and after Cezanne had gone to bed I started to read. 300 pages later I realized I needed to go to bed but couldn't wait to find out what happened next. Just one more chapter- hours passed in a blink! I finished in two days reading anytime I had a chance to, while I ate, while I was cooking, while helping Cezanne with her homework. When I was finished I asked Joe to get the second one, Mendy gave me the third and Joe had to go to several different stores to find the fourth. I'm more than half way through the fourth book-it's a great story. My mom said there are worse things I could do right now than loose myself in books. If nothing else it's something to do when I can't sleep.

One week later, still married!

This last weekend was a testament to Joe's patience and overall sainthood. Friday morning at 5:15 I woke up to drive my BFF's to the airport. On the way back from the airport, I started to feel not so good. I thought I had food poisoning. OH NO! The flu hit me like a mack truck- fever of 101 and all the goodness the comes along with the flu.

I was so sick when I got home that Joe had to get Cezanne ready for school and take her. I thought I would get better, but as the hours passed, it only got worse. Joe had to take off work to take care of me, running back and forth on stupid errands for more tissues, flu medication and icies.

In the afternoon he picked up Cezanne from school, took her out for dinner and they rented some video games to keep her entertained. Cezanne picked out some roses for me jumped in bed, proud of her purchase. Sweet girl.

The next day, I was barely making it from not eating or drinking the day before. Cezanne and Joe were buzzing around the house and Joe decided to go to Zilker park and fly kites- it was a perfect day. They went out to lunch and played on the playground. She had a wonderful day and didn't have to stay stuck indoors due to my infirmity. It made me feel truly lucky to have those two in my life. I am a lucky lucky lady.

Wedding Slideshow

We're Married

Joe and I sharing cake after the wedding
Elliot the ring barer- he was AWESOME!!

Dwight Joe and I

The most perfect flower girl

My BFF Becka with the bouquet she made- yes she the hip mama version of Martha Stuart!

At 7:00pm Sunday, November 9th I walked down a dimly lit path proceeded by Jeremy, Becka and Elliot as ring bearers; My sister Cara and Joe's brother Jonathan; Cezanne my flower girl, then myself and Dwight.

My heart was pounding and I felt like bursting into tears and laughing all at once, I kept putting one foot in front of the other with the gentle encouragement of Dwight. As we rounded the corner the gas lights of the chapel Dulcinea glowed around our friends, waiting to greet me and celebrate with us. There was Joe, waiting and beaming. All there was in that moment was he and I, the nervous energy melted away and I touched his hand to make sure it was real. He bent toward my ear and whispered,"You look beautiful."

The weather was perfect, cool and comfortable, children were laughing in the background, chasing each other around behind us bringing everyone more fully into the moment. I wouldn't have had it any other way. We exchanged our vows, we exchanged our rings, Vivian was giggling, Elliot was tearing flower petals off Becka's bouquet and smashing the flowers on the ground and laughing, all I could do was smile every time I heard them giggle. It was wonderful. We didn't want perfection, we wanted simplicity and celebration.

The minister proclaimed us officially married, Joe held my hands and kissed me. We faced our friends and were met with warm glows of friendly faces and eyes filled with tears. We were married! After 12 years, we are finally married.

Thank yous!

Cara, Thank you for supporting my relationship from the beginning, you've been there through it all, I love you for it. Thank you for spending all day Sunday doing hair and makeup for Cezanne and I, you made the day beautiful.

Becka, thank you for your endless support and infinite connections!! I am in awe of you. Thank you for taking on the flowers, finding the flower girl dress, giving suggestions, finding a photographer, taking phone call after phone call all while having a toddler in toe, I love you.

Elliot, thank you for carrying the ring pillow and making everyone giggle- you make everyday bright.

Jeremy, thank you for taking my man out for a night on the Austin town for his last night as a single man. Your friendship is a gift to our family.

Dwight, Jon and Chris, Thank you for driving 2000 miles to be with us on our day, you made the entire weekend. We love you guys.

Mendy, thank you for making the day possible- your friendship has meant so much to me.

Mom- thank you for supporting Joe and I. I know this weekend was difficult for you, but you helped us through. We can't wait to celebrate with you in August.

Dad- thank you for helping us plan with invites, and extra celebration means! They're wonderfully perfect.

Sara- Thank you for taking pictures! I can't wait to see them!

Beth- Thank you thank you thank you for the most wonderful cakes I've ever tasted, they were perfection.

Jill and Isa- thank you for lighting up our evening!

So many changes, so little time!

Yesterday:
1. Joe and I woke up early, drove to the county clerks office and applied for our marraige license. We parted ways and went to work.
2. After work I drove to Jonestown to pick up Cezanne's dress, which is beautiful!!! Jonesdown is in the middle of nowhere- past Cedar park- 25 miles outside of Austin. It was worth it.
3. Drove 45 minutes to South Austin to get my voter registration card that I forgot on the counter that morning.
4. Voted- it took 5 minutes
5. Drove to the mall to pick up our rings, went to 4 stores in the dreaded mall trying to find the perfect cream colored tie for Joe, no cream colored tie.
6. Picked up the ring barers pillow and flower girl basket
7. Drove to another store, found Shoes - no cream colored tie.
8. Drove to another store, found Joe a shirt - no cream colored tie.
9. Drove to another store, bought floral tape and wire, no damn cream colored tie
10. Went to Ross- found a cream colored tie!!! Woo Hoo!
11. Went grocery shopping.
12. Went home to watch election coverage and work our budget. I'm sleepy...BUT!!! I got everything done in one day- now I can sit back and enjoy the last few days as a Lossing and welcome a new beginning as a Bukowski.

~Holy Poop~ I'm getting married!

Sunday November 9th Joe and I are officially getting married! I was attempting to keep things low key, but that never happens with us. We decided after months of deliberation, that after knowing each other for 12 years, buying a house, two cars, having steady jobs - there's a lot at steak! I suggested just going to the court house and getting the legal part done, we can have our big wedding and reception in Minnesota, Cezanne did not like that idea AT ALL!!! So we've compromised.

We found a free chapel in Austin that's outdoor, we've found someone wonderful to marry us, Cezanne is so excited she could burst! Joe's youngest brother and BFF are driving down. We'll have a couple close friends there as witnesses and then have cake and champagne afterwards at our house, it will be wonderful.

We are still having the big to do in Minnesota on August 15th. We're going to do a vow renewal for family and friends there and a giant reception afterwards in Joe's parents back yard. It's going to be awesome! Bon fires and food- I love it~

I feel so lucky to have the people in my life that I do! I love you all so much and thank you for supporting Joe and I in our next giant transition.

Vampire Cz!

So Scary!! I spent an hour on her face getting it 'perfect'. Cezanne showed me a picture of what she wanted and it had to be just right.

She was so scary that a little six year old girl, upon seeing Cezanne started to cry. Cezanne felt terrible and gave her a glow necklace and bracelet and started to jump around like a 'crazy' frog to make the little girl giggle. They were inseperable for the rest of the evening!

I can't believe she's almost 9! She looks more and more grown up everyday.

Pumpkins!

Joe, Cezanne and I carved some pumpkins this weekend in preparation of Halloween festivities! Mine is the pic up above- I love carving pumpkins!! Cezanne is still working on hers and insisted I wait to post her picture. It should be a wonderful weekend full of action packed craziness and sugar.

Check it out!!!

Cezanne brought home her first report card yesterday- straight A's!!!! We are so proud of her and all of her hard work this year. She is doing beautifully.

I couldn't help but take her picture with her report card for posterity. She's so happy! Woo Hoo! I'm a proud mama.

D is for Dinosaur!

Cezanne decided to feed the T-Rex. Keep your palms flat Cezanne so he doesn't nibble your fingers off!

Cezanne made a beautiful dino mask at the Zilker Park Botanical Gardens! It was so much fun! She's showing off her artwork here.

Elliot decided he was a dino and wouldn't take his mask off. Isn't he cute?

The Singing Robot

While working the Makers Fair this weekend at the Travis County Expo center with my BFF Becka- She revealed her fantastic line of mom /kids wear Babybolt, it was awesome and such a blast- BUT behind our booth, a giant robot played the 1987 Rick Astley hit 'Never Gonna Give you Up' over and over and over and over and over and over and over... you get the point. For two days straight. I can't get it out of my head now! In between the song- it would shoot ping pong balls into swarms of eager screaming children. I never liked that song. I think it's permanently imprinted into my brain chemistry at this point- it's awful!! DAMN YOU ROBOT!

Cezanne and Elliot

Elliot has been spending some afternoons with us while Becka and Jeremy prepare for the superfantastic Bizare Bizare this Saturday and Sunday.

When I picked him up yesterday he asked where 'Silly Joe' was. I told him he went on an airplane. His little face sunk 'aww, I want silly Joe'

We picked up Cz from school, she started crying in the car because she didn't get all 4's on her report card, she got one 3+. The world was over. Elliot was looking at her with concern and patted her on the head lovingly and handed her his napkin for her eyes. Sweet boy.

Cz and Elliot requested a trip to the park afterwards, to which I obliged. We walked to the park a few blocks away and not 15 minutes afer we arrived Cezanne announced she had to go potty. There were no bathrooms close by... which meant we had to walk all the way back to the house, Elliot did not want to leave the park. He wanted me to carry him the entire way back to the house- 'carry Elliot' I huffed and puffed my way behind Cezanne who was heading full tilt to the house screaming behind her that she couldn't hold it. It was a comical moment and a preview of what it is going to be like when Cezanne has her own brother or sister. I love watching Cezanne and Elliot play together- they care so much for one another and are two peas in a pod.

The Biggest Boo Boo

My poor girlie!! Ouch! She was climbing on a wall at school and slipped off and landed face first. She got a big knot on her forehead and a bloody nose. Her school called to let me know she was ok, but with so many boo boos I know she was going to feel shaken and upset. A wonderful woman, Mendy, I work with offered to cover my class for an hour so I could drive to Cz's school and check on her. I stopped and Walgreens and bought the most sparkly band aids I could find, some neosporin, tylenol and some halloween stickers, then dashed to her school.

She was sitting at her desk with an ice pack on her forehead. I called her name and when she spotted me her eyes started to well. Poor kiddo! I slathered her face in neosporin, gave her the tylenol and covered her with neon sparkly band aids. She felt better and was off to work again.

When we got home she sat in my lap and just wanted to be held for a while, even at 8, sometimes you just need your mom. For some reason I started to sing Hey Jude by the Beetles. It's not a particular favorite of mine and I've never been prone to singing it, yet it popped into my head. Cezanne started to sing right along with me! I asked her where she learned that song and she said she's learning it in school. Very strange, I told her maybe I was reading her mind. At least it made her giggle.

Our Livingroom and Kitchen! It really belongs to us- the bank says so.

The Party

For our Luau I made sun bathing teddy grams on a lifesaver raft complete with umbrellas-and for appropriate censorship, I added bathing suits. It's not hippie hollow after all!

To complete the experience I carved a wavy watermelon! It was so much fun to make!

Our Little Family

We took Joe for his first train ride at Zilker park this last weekend! For all the time we spend there, it's time we took him on the train.

Cezanne is 8, top of her class in math, and in a tree! How much she has grown and changed this year. She has come so far and we are so proud of her.

Life has calmed down substantially in our little world. We bought a house, painted her room blue with butterflies and flowers. Life is good!