Category Archives: Family

10.18.11

Ryann Colleen Photo Shoot.

My friend Ryann Laden of Ryann Colleen Photography was so sweet to come out and take some pictures of us.  Spoiler Alert:  For those of you receiving Christmas cards from the Salmons, expect one of these pictures to be on it.  Ryann did an amazing job and the girls absolutely ADORED her.  We had so much fun.

Thank You Ryann, these are pictures that we will treasure forever.

10.10.11

A Fall Retreat.

This weekend was filled with birthday parties, errands and a flooded basement for the Salmons.  After a long Saturday filled with a new sump pump and a steep plumbers bill, on Sunday we headed out for our annual retreat to Great Country Farms.
It was 80 degrees in DC yesterday.  Not exactly fall-like weather, but we didn’t let it stop us!

This was their cousin Olivia‘s first trip to the pumpkin patch.  She loved it!

Helen came along too.

We picked out the perfect pumpkins, and my little goblins are eager to start carving.

10.04.11

Put Your Name On It.

It’s no secret that I love Ikea.  Here’s another one of my favorite Ikea hacks.  Has anyone checked out their line of Ikea Family travel bags? They are great quality for a fraction of the cost.  E picked out a backpack at the beginning of the school year.  What a great bag- it’s so well thought out, there pockets for everything!  The backpacks start at $19.95 and the toiletry cases are $7.95.  I took them to the Stitching Station at the mall (I need to find a better source for embroidery– it’s highway robbery over there.)  Look at how cute they turned out!
E’s back to school gear.
One for Anna… It had to be blue, of course.
Daddy was in desperate need of a replacement.
A case full of sunscreen for the beach bag.
They even make great gifts…
Just fill them up with goodies for the birthday girl or boy.

09.28.11

4-0.

Today my husband turns 40.  He insisted that there be no parties, or major celebrations… that he just wanted to turn 40 quietly.  While I am respecting his decision, I would like to take today to celebrate him.  I could not ask for a better husband or father for my girls.   I have never seen a father who shares the closeness with his daughters that he does.  I am so grateful for the bond that they share.  So today, Michael Salmon, we celebrate you and your 14,605 days of life. (Including leap years of course!)

09.23.11

St. Baldrick’s.

Many of you who have been reading this blog for sometime know about our friends the Carmicals.  Well, on Wednesday at Union Station, Sherri and 46 other moms who have been affected by Pediatric Cancer shaved their heads for St. Baldrick’s.  
Sherri before…

… and after.
St. Baldrick’s is a volunteer-driven foundation committed to raising funds to find cures for childhood cancers.  In March, I watched as my big brother, Darren shaved his head in the fight against Pediatric Cancer at another event here in DC.  His company raised over $100,000 that night alone.  
You can see Darren’s before and afters as well as Stan Carmical’s moving speech in this very touching video.
Find out how you can get involved here.

09.22.11

One Truly Outrageous Party.

Last weekend we celebrated E’s 6th birthday.  There were a few mishaps and threatening skies, but the weather held out and the party was a ball.

 

Happiest Birthday to our baby girl.   We had so much fun.   Now that her party is over, her sister has already started campaigning for her birthday party (in May.)
Party Styling- Krista Salmon
Photography- James Woo
Invitations- Krista Salmon
Cake Topper- Tastefully Treated
Cupcakes and Cookies-2 Sweets
Cupcake Wrappers- Scraptags
Floral Design- Krista Salmon
Pinata- Birchangel
Guitar Picks- Steve Clayton
Disco Balls- Party Depot
Gloves + Pins +Tatoos + Flower Pails- Michaels
Sunglasses + Michael Jackson Gloves + Microphones- Windy City Novelties
Reusable Goody Bags- Papermart
Materials for Backstage Passes- Staples

09.16.11

I Don’t Know How She Does It.

Along with the millions of other working mothers out there, I am SO excited for the release of SJP’s new movie, I Don’t Know How She Does It today. This film, adapted from the British Novel written by Allison Pearson seems like it could so easily be any of us.   Often you will see the trials and tribulations of this working mother in my A Motherly Moment posts.  This scene was eerily similar to our lice outbreak last summer.  Now that it is behind me, I can laugh about it, and plan to when sitting in the theater.
One thing is for sure, motherhood is not glamorous, whether you stay at home or work outside of the home.  Dirty diapers, runny noses and of course the uber-gross bathroom moments are all part of the job.  I think we will all get a good chuckle out of these comedic gems.  Again, much funnier when you are looking in the rear view mirror.
I have friends that stay at home with their children, as well as friends that work to provide for their family.  Is there a right choice?  Of course not.  Being a mother is not an easy job for anyone.  Rewarding?  Yes.  But not easy.  I receive many emails from readers asking me how I maintain a family, a full time job, this blog and several other projects.  The fact is that something does have to give.   On a constant basis I feel the guilt of not being there for my children.  As many of you know, E started first grade this year and the fact that I have to hire a babysitter to pick her up at the bus stop each day does NOT sit well with me.  To add to the mounting pile of guilt,  I had to put her on a bus for her very first day of school, then hopped on a flight to California for five days.  I took the red eye home on Friday to spend “quality” time with my family, but was so exhausted that I couldn’t even keep my eyes open when I returned.
We all have goals in life and I can tell you that nobody can keep up this pace for long.  At some point we all have to set our limits.  I am so fortunate to have had the success that I have had professionally as well as the fulfillment and opportunities that this blog brings.  I (like every other mother) will have to make a choice, but rest assured that no matter what I choose, the one thing that will not give is my kids.