I just can’t.  This is one of THOSE pictures.  My friend Katie and I kept flashing it at each other last night on our phones and groaning because it is just too cute.

From his (my friend Laura and Jon’s new baby Benjamin’s) newborn shoot with Stephanie Cotta.  More down below.

Vanessa held him tonight at our house.  She must have smelled funny because he had to cover his nose.

Embarrassing for him that he’s wearing the same pants I last saw him in…

Are those the fingers of a violinist?  I guess he got used to Vanessa after all.

Lucky for us he slept long enough that Mom and Dad could eat dinner and visit with friends.  He’s still very small.  We wondered if my cat would find and try to sit on him, but she kept her distance from everyone (she hates noise.)

Chris manning the grill.  This was before he hurt his ankle playing Nintendo 64 Mario Golf.  Don’t ask, because I honestly don’t know what happened.  The brats were fantastic though!  Too bad it was actually really cold.  Oh well, we’ll try again another day.  The bowling team represented in full force.

My man and his best man (if he’s the best man, why didn’t I marry him?  shouldn’t he just have been a really good man?)

Another beautiful picture.  If Laura weren’t my friend, I’d totally hate her because she is so beautiful! 

Happy Monday, friends!  I’ve got a full day of teaching children ahead.  What are you up to?

I had thought I might go for a run (or a walk) outside today but the weather doesn’t look that cooperative.  I suppose I’ll head to the gym—might as well use my membership for something!  I know they say you don’t lose all your fitness in a week, but I really feel like I have…I will probably be huffing and puffing no matter what I do.

I was asleep by 11:30 last night, which  is unusual for me on a Saturday night.  Is that a sign of getting old?  I was out with friends for dinner beforehand at the Royale—I tried just about everything on their menu that had ginger beer in it and of course had the fish tacos. Later, after his concert, Chris was over at our friend’s house with the new baby but I just didn’t have the energy.  Probably by the time I see him again he’ll have doubled in size. (That would put him approximately the same size as the cat, if you are comparing.)

I was too tired to do overnight oats, so I just made three eggs (with some cheese) for breakfast.  It was a nice, but not enough food.  I’m still hungry.  I’ll probably just deal with it.  I don’t feel like making anything else.  I accidentally spilled a container of blackberries on the floor getting the eggs out of the fridge, and debated washing them but decided against it and just trashed them.

We are having Chris’s bowling team plus a few extras over for a barbecue this evening.  The orchestra has another concert, which I had considered attending, but I think I’ll have too much to do.  I’ve got to buy food for the barbecue and maybe make a side dish and a dessert.  One thing I’ve been doing lately is trying to clear out our freezer—I froze a bunch of goodies over Christmas and I’ve slowly been thawing them.  Yesterday I took out the extra part of our wedding cake (NOT the top tier, we’ll still have that) and thought we’d better eat it sooner rather than later.  Maybe that’ll be on the menu tonight.  Or maybe it’ll be too gross?  (I definitely didn’t open the container and stick my finger into the icing last night.  I wouldn’t do something like that.)

Though I’m still a little disappointed in the lack of purple-ness in the cake, it is a good looking cake and it was delicious. 

Update on the shoulder (especially as my mother reminded me via twitter yesterday I had said I’d been going to the doctor if it weren’t better in a week):  I really do think it’s improved a bit.  It’s not where I’d hoped, but I’ve unfortunately been unable to completely go without playing—there’s just no way to teach the classes at City Academy without playing and I hate to go without in private lessons as well.  I’ve been trying to not overplay during the lessons and I don’t think it’s truly bothering it.  I think it just needs more time.  Unfortunately Wednesday through Friday of this week I will have to play for the upcoming encore performance of our Chamber Project St Louis concert (if you didn’t come the other week, you should come to this one if you can!).  But then I’ll be back to resting it, and perhaps for even longer if necessary.  If it sounds like I’m just avoiding the doctor, well I am.  But what are they going to say?  Rest and ice.  Stop playing the violin.  I am not in constant pain and it’s not broken.

How are you spending your Sunday?

I have a few wonderful things to share with you today.  Some of this stuff you’ve probably already seen if you active in the internet world, but it’s possible you’ve missed some of these, and they are well worth a read or watch.  Especially if you are stuck in the office until 5 pm but don’t want to work because it’s Friday.  (I have no idea what that even means, starting with the word "office" as I am a musician who generally STARTS work Fridays at 5 pm, but I’m making an attempt to relate to the rest of the world, who have jobs during the day, and also, as my dad pointed out, live in Eastern Time.)

Video of "The Best Workout Ever"  (really, very funny)

I posted it on facebook the other night and this happened.  (Sorry Vanessa but now you are internet famous!)

Other funny stuff you should check out:

I Re-Watched Titanic So You Don’t Have To.  You’re Welcome.

33 Animals Who Are Extremely Disappointed In You

The Most Hilariously Depressing Cat Video on the Entire Internet

I hope you have wonderful weekend plans.  I have some teaching tomorrow morning (ugh, makeup lessons, and that is violin lessons that have been missed and must be made up) and then a wedding at the Jewel Box…but then I’m free until Monday morning!!  I didn’t think I would make it through this week, what with teaching the children and all, but things look promising at this point.

I’ll leave you with another facebook "gem" that includes Vanessa again.

Born April 17, 7 pounds, 7 ounces.  I think he is possibly the smallest baby I’ve ever held.  I think Carrie weighed more than that?

Mommy and baby.  (My friend Laura and her husband Jon, this is their first baby.  He’s adorable.)