Archive for category Family

Jon & Kate Separate

Do you watch Jon & Kate Plus 8 on TLC?  I have been watching the show for the last few years, and to say that I’m upset about the outcome is an understatement.  Obviously, the show has impacted their marriage – we can’t forget Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson, can we? – but the media has really turned their family into a mockery.  I feel bad for both parents (and especially for the kids).  What was shown on television was Kate being demanding, controlling, and striving for everything to be done her way.  Is that how it was 100% of the time?  Probably not.  But that is how she was portrayed.  Jon should not have been treated the way he was on the show, but we don’t know what happened the rest of the time, and I really don’t think it’s far for America to judge as if they know this family intimately.  I feel bad for Kate for the same reason – she was portrayed one way on the show, and that was as a demanding, loud, controlling mother.  But how was she off-camera?  I hate how America just assumes and judges her for it.  I don’t agree with her behavior on-camera, but that doesn’t mean I think she acts like that all the time.  With the power of editing, you can portray anyone in a positive or negative light.

By the end of the hour long episode Monday night, I was crying.  Crying for a few reasons.  One, you could tell that Kate especially was having such a hard time, and I hate to see people that way.  It seems that Jon is less outwardly emotional, but you could tell he wasn’t happy either.  Two, I remember being the 8 year old, sitting at the dining room table and being told, “Mommy and Daddy can’t live together anymore.”  Memories of my parents’ divorce came flooding back, which is the main reason why I cried.  And lastly, I cried because I am afraid of the same outcome when I have children.  Granted, we are going to have half as many kids as the Gosselins at the most, but the thought is still in my mind.  I know I will never be the one to ask for a divorce, but we cannot guarantee that things will change once kids are involved.  We have both promised each other that we will not turn to divorce and that we will work through our problems to the best of the ability.  The fear is still there, though, for me.

Mostly, I feel so sorry for the Gosselin children, who for the rest of their lives will be prone to paparazzi and invasion of privacy.  They will forever be known FIRST as the kids who were on television for the first five years of their lives; the kids with parents whose divorce unfolded on TV and in tabloids, etc.  It is hard enough to realize that your parents are not staying together (and I highly doubt the kids understand that just yet, but they will in time), let alone all the other things that will happen to them.  With the discontinuation of filming of Jon & Kate Plus 8 I am hoping that the parents really focus on the kids, keep themselves out of the spotlight, and help them cope with the divorce.

I hope that the parents have planned ahead in the event that something happen to them.  No doubt Jon and Kate Gosselin have life insurance.  I wonder if they received it through TLC or if they got an online life insurance quote when the babies were born.

My Bridal Shower

Last Saturday, my best friend and I got up early to make our trip home for the weekend.  Well, to my home.  She lives on the other coast.  Anyway, we grabbed a quick breakfast at McDonald’s and started our trip.  As we drove, we talked wedding, goings on in our lives, and all that girly stuff.  We made it home by 11:30am.  My mom was so excited to see us!  We got all of our stuff inside and ran up to the cake place.  The cake lady agreed that the flowers we bought for the cake wouldn’t work.  We agreed on hydrangeas that she would die to match our lilac color.  I love going to the cake place, because the lady has it set up like a dainty boutique.  Seriously, it is wedding cake mania in there, with a cute dining room table and chairs for tastings.  She serves everything on china and even serves water in tea cups! 

We had enough time after going to talk with the cake lady to get home, change, and head to the shower.  My sister was already there when we arrived, but she and my sister-in-law (also my matron of honor) were still setting up.  It was weird; they wouldn’t let me help and I had nothing to do!  I started feeling really weird, almost like an out of body experience.  It was a combination of anxiety and the thought of being the center of attention.  People starting coming, I would greet and introduce them, and before I knew it, the party had begun!

We started out with introductions around the room; since there were about 30 people there, we pretty much needed to have everyone introduce themselves.  The sweetest thing was when we got to my stepdad’s family – everyone introduced themselves as my sister, aunt, cousin – no “step” involved.  It was a very subtle thing, but very special to me. 

We got some food (which was amazing – finger sandwiches, spinach dip, fruit skewers, sangria, wine, etc.) and started the first game.  My sister-in-law asked Tom a bunch of questions beforehand, and she asked me those.  People guessed how many I would get right.  If I got a question wrong, I had to put a piece of gum in my mouth.  Out of 12 questions, I got 7 wrong!  I swear though, Tom tricked me.  No joke, one of the questions was “How many times in a day do I fart?”  I guessed 50 times, but his answer was, “17.  One day, I counted.”  Tom’s mom was mortified, and I was slightly embarrassed, but everyone laughed.  I made sure to get a picture of my chewed gum for Tom, since he gave me such interesting questions to answer!

The next game we played was a “Bobbi or Tom” bingo game.  Several questions were asked, people would show a “B” or “T” on their paddle and would get to mark that square on their bingo card if they got it right.  We didn’t make it all the way through the questions before someone called “BINGO!”

Next up, we had cake and I began opening my gifts.  I got an insane amount of gifts!  My most prized possession was what I received from my future mother-in-law.  Her gift was wrapped in a shirt box, and when I opened it, there was a letter that told me about the gift.  The letter told me about Tom’s christening cap that was too big for his little head.  The christening cap is to be used for my handkerchief the day of the wedding.  As you can imagine, it was a very emotional moment, and I cried a lot!
The rest of the pictures are those that I picked from the 180 or so that my sister-in-law took and sent to me.  Click to see the full size pictures.  I had such a wonderful time with thirty or so women that I adore.  I can’t wait for the wedding!

What Do I Do Now?

May 3, 2009
May 3, 2009

Click the picture for a full size version

You guys, that’s me up there, shaking the hand of the Dean of my college.  Everything went by so fast, despite the ceremony taking two hours!  We didn’t even have a special speaker!  When we got back to the apartment, there were several family members waiting – the ones that have little kids celebrated at the party, since they didn’t want the kids to disturb the ceremony – and the party began.  I felt so incredibly loved and supported.  Unfortunately, my dad and my sister did not make an appearance, but that was to be expected.  And to be honest, it looks like I robbed a cash drawer or something, because I got a TON of cash!  Which is really good, because I can’t seem to find a summer job right now… so this will definitely help me get through!  More pictures to come on flickr sometime today when I feel like being more productive.

Protected: Forgiveness

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Did I forget again?

Guys, I am so sorry for the almost week long break I took from blogging!  My test went well (at least I think… but let’s wait until I get the grade) and Tom and I went away for the weekend with our dogs.  It was so great.  In fact, I have some pictures to share as soon as I get the hard drive back from Tom’s co worker.

We came back on Sunday night and went to bed early.  Yesterday I hit the gym bright and early and learned a couple new machines – I even tried the rowing machine which I have never done before.  I liked it – burned 120 calories in 15 minutes!  That thing is amazing.  I’m going to need to get a pair of gloves or something, though, because my hands were rubbed raw from pulling the wooden bar so much.

I wanted to go back to the gym today but I am getting this allergy/cold thing (not sure which one just yet) and feeling pretty gross.  I tell you, when does the sickness end?!  It seems like everyone keeps getting sick over and over again.  STOP IT POLLEN.

In other news, I have received two acceptance letters to law school so far, with scholarships to both schools!  One is out of state and I will not be accepting it since I have received acceptance from one school (so far.. hopefully the rest will accept me also) that is in state.  In state means cheaper tuition and less money I will have to take out in loans.  Pllllllease keep your fingers crossed for me!  I still haven’t heard from my top school but I should be hearing in the next few weeks.  We would be okay with going to the in state school I’ve been accepted to so far, but it’s not as close to our parents’ homes, the beach, our nephew, etc. as my top choice is.  As Rachie put it, my top choice is the “perfect place” for us.  Plus Tom could transfer within his company and continue to create cad drawings instead of starting all over at another company.

I promise to be better with updating and commenting.  For the record, I really do read your blogs on a regular basis.  It’s just the commenting that I’m bad at sometimes.  I guess that’s why I don’t get upset when people comment on my site all the time.  Life is busy and hectic, and people’s first priority isn’t to visit the blog!