This totally represents how I'm feeling today... It would only be more fitting if he was using his middle finger. Just kidding. Coming back from East Hampton in the next day or so. Will do new post when we get back/

Big Love,

Sarah

HOLY CROW! IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME!

Hello Folks!

Wow! So far, 2009 has proven to be quite a year. I don't even know where to begin. We spent a good portion of January living above my store so that Andrew could finally get around to renovating our house so that we can put it on the market. It was so worth it! It went from a great house with a bunch of small rooms to an awesome house that is almost completely open. There is still a lot to do, but the dangerous stuff is done so we can live there now. It's fun to go home every day and see the progress. It's going to be hard to leave when we sell it. But, then that means that we can complete the Alna house and not move again... Business has been better than I imagined it would be this winter. Thank you to everyone who has helped me out throughout these very trying times. You know who you are. Let's see, what else? Oh yeah, Ian potty trained himself. Well, Andrew and I helped, but, ultimately, it was his decision. So nice to not change diapers. Enough said. He is getting bigger and smarter and cuter and nicer as the days fly by. He has graduated to preschool and the change went so smoothly I was more displaced than he was. The girls at daycare are wonderful. I am lucky to have found them. Anyway, we are just plugging along here and waiting out the winter and looking forward for the spring sunshine. Hope to see some, if not all, of you very soon. Below are some pictures of the house and, of course, Ian.

Big Love,

Sarah

looking like a college student

learning the mandolin...

new stairs.. temporary

there used to be a wall and stairs here..

GOODBYE 2008! HELLO 2009!

Hello All!

Finally! I am so ready to say goodbye to 2008 and usher in a new year. This has not been a great year for me. Business is BAD and it's really hard on the soul... Enough said. Here are a few bright spots from the first part of the year. I'll keep posting until I've gotten through the entire year. Yeah, Ian was the constant bright spot...

On our way to East Hampton to visit with some old friends. It was a wonderful trip, but East Hampton just isn't the same as when I was growing up there.

Ian's Birthday. Such a happy day. He had such a blast. Andrew's parents were really just settling into their new house and we had a wonderful day.

Happy first day of Summer!!

Windjammer Days in Boothbay Harbor. Truly awesome day!

The beginning of the end... The Thomas obsession began. Despite a broken toe, I had a really great time with him that day.

Well, that gets us about halfway throught the summer and all the way through the battery in my laptop... Till next time.

Big Love,

Sarah

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

My favorite ornament.

Whoa! Where did all these come from?

Steamroller...


Reading with Grandma

Hello All!

Hoping you all had a wonderful Holiday! Things were a little crazy around here at the VonFranks, but we pulled it together at the 11th hour... Andrew has been battling an ear infection and not quite himself. On Saturday before xmas, Ian got a stomach bug. Poor little guy. It was his first real illness. Not so much fun. On Monday, it hit Andrew and I. HARD! This was not a fun place to be for a couple of days and Andrew and I may never look at eachother the same way, again. So a lot of the last minute Christmas stuff I meant to do did not get done. Christmas morning, we all felt a lot better. Not great, but a lot better. We had a wonderful morning with Grandma and Grandpa eating waffles and opening presents. We came home and opened more presents and got ready for an early dinner at Nancy's house. Oh Yeah. More presents. Ian hadn't napped and did not have much of an appetite, but we made the most of it. He and I went home a a little early and had to unwind. He was so tired, but wanted to play with everything he had gotten that day. It was hard to watch. Eyes half open, sluggish. He was really trying to give everything his equal attention. We finally went to bed. It had been a long day. The next day, we ended up at the doctor. He was not good and I wanted to make sure he didn't have anything serious. He's fine. I just hated to see him not his usual happy, energetic self. Four giant bottles of Gatorade and various foods to "bind him back up" and we are well on our way to recovery. We are off to Massachusetts for New Year's Eve with Brian and Jess and then back to the grind. I'll post a "Best of 2008" when we get back. Have a Happy and Safe New Year.

Big Love,

Sarah

WOW!

THANKSGIVING 2008...VONFRANK STYLE

HOUSE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR

Hello All!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful day at Andrew's parent's house. Ian hadn't had a nap, so he and I cut out a little early. The food was great as was the company. Their house is so comfortable and feels as if it has been lived in for years. It felt really good to be surrounded by family. It has been a rough month and I really needed some positive time with positive people. Andrew had been sick for a few days, so the house took some time off from being built. I hadn't been down in a very long time, but took some pictures at Thanksgiving. It's so Awesome! It is open and airy, but comfortable and cozy at the same time. Needless to say, I can't wait until it's done. On that, I have a lot of catching up to do. This month flew by and I seem to have missed some very important steps. Until next time.

Big Love,

Sarah