1 year-old and 30 year-old Bunnies

How is it already Wednesday? And mid-April? When do I get my tax refund? I only have one more month of classes? Who's writing my thesis? Wait, I have to write it myself? What will I do after graduation? Who will hire me? Can't I just blog for profit from home and populate the interwebz with pictures of my favorite birthday bunny and wee little bunny as a career???

C'mon, Baby Girl. The hat's not THAT bad...

Bunny cake for my 30 y.o. Bunny

30 y.o. King for a Day reading his birthday memory book

College Shopping

I have finally made my decision about college. And I have decided that my cousin Mo sure-as-a-seventh-inning-stretch had better come to college in Boston. Of all my cousins, Mo is my girl. She's just original and adorable, has a true set of girl balls, and will change the world for the better, propelled by her quiet passion and her awesome sense of humor. We spent the weekend touring different colleges around the Bean, commencing with a starlight tour by car up and down the Charles River, I with my gnarly driving and my Auntie N and Cousin Mo with their tired selves keeping eagle eyes out for Cheers. Of course we got their picture with that big old finger pointing down them famed stairs. Using a camera phone. At midnight. (Cool your jets, taxi, we're just making a memory as we park in your spot for 32 seconds, gah!).

We laughed so much this weekend, mostly at ourselves, a bit at the rest of the family - departed and still gracing us with their quirks and quibbles - and then we laughed some more. At one point, Loverpants was ironing in the living room and the iron emitted a loud puff of steam and Mo said, "Oh! I thought that was my mom laughing!"

We also made it to the St. Paddy's parade - the first time I had ever made it to Southie for the big march in my 7 years of life here ::dies:: - and it was worth every huffing step up the Dorchester Heights hill carting Baby Girl (who thought she was the drum major in the parade, so wildly waving were her hands). The parade was delayed for like two inexplicable hours, but the weather was sunny and warmish, and the people-watching was rare and green.

I was so sad to drop them all off at Logan, even though they needed to leave so that I could get back to sleeping more than 5 hours and eating more than half a pan of brownies. But I've got my Paddy's fingers crossed that Cousin Mo will be joining us at this time next year, meeting at the top of the hill and introducing us to her college posse, and laughing at all of the gold legwarmer rocking, green slut sling wearing teens who think they are the parade.

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The only good thing to come out of this

Hi Loveys, Thank you for all of your kind thoughts and prayers over the past week. The grief was almost crippling at times, we loved my uncle so very much and are going to miss him so terribly, but the blessing of my close-knit family and the support from friends helped me to walk, helped me to hold up my head and smile for my Baby Girl, helped me to share memories and give comfort to my young cousins who will only have vague remembrances of our uncle and of his death. Your support truly does mean so much.

The presence of Baby Girl for all of the services was definitely a boon to all of our spirits, though. When Nana Red picked us up at the airport, she looked at Baby Girl and said, "You're the only good thing to come out of this." A visit from her granddaughter was indeed enough to comfort her this week, and I'm so grateful that God made it possible for us.

Not to dwell too much on my own experience in light of my cousin's and auntie's loss, but I truly saw the hand of God moving this past week. For example, we had to book a flight home within one day. We also needed a flight with a stopover because anything more than 2 hours on a plane brings out the baby beast in my daughter. Every flight we saw was over $800. Yet, there were only a few seats left on a USAirways flight for the perfect times on the perfect days with a stopover -- for $200. Amazing. Additionally, since "business has been kind of slow" for Loverpants, I was hesitant as I went to Tarjay the other day. Baby Girl needed a couple of outfits for the funeral, etc. since she had nothing that fit her and that was nice. I remembered that friends had given us a gift certificate but I didn't know the amount. Needless to say, I was blown away by their generosity as I stood at the cash register and saw our bill cut down to 25% of the total. I felt so cared for this past week, and have emerged with a heart that still grieves but gives thanks for all of the blessings, some hidden, some undeniably prominent. Thank you.

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That little face. [One of] The only good thing[s] to come out of this.