Mazel Tov!!!!

Four years ago this past February we lost Scott’s dad, Jack Farber. Jack had such a strong presence in the family. He was Scott and Gary’s work patriarch as well as their father. His loss was felt so deeply, it always will be.

We all thought about it in one way or another, what would Ellen do now? It took time, but in June of 2010, Ellen and her most wonderful companion, Howard, became engaged. They planned the most elaborate wedding; bigger and more detailed than nearly any second marriage I had heard of before. Ellen, the joyful bride, at an age and point in life that one might just want a small wedding, opted to be a “real bride.” She wore an elegant gown, in ivory and insisted on a bridal party of all of her and Howard’s children, children in law, and grandchildren. A mere 20 plus people, but they wouldn’t have it any other way. Many of us thought about the chaos that could ensue, having flower girls, ring bearers and bridesmaids ranging in age from 15 to 1. All the drama likely to take place and all the “un-wedding like” behavior that was likely to happen and then, today came.

It went off without a hitch, well at least to the general public. Yes there were the photographs that a flower girl opted out of, yes there was a ring bearer who needed to be carried down the aisle, yes too a flower girl wanting her milk during the ceremony and even a yell could be heard from the wedding party for a “potty break,” but no one noticed, no one cared and really, it didn’t matter. The sun shone down on the in love couple who stood beneath the Chuppah-the wedding canopy. There were guests with smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes.

You see, as it was so eloquently put in song and in speeches, many times over today, the wedding of Ellen and Howard was not about just them. It was the true joining of two incredible families. The Libowitz/Sutton and The Farber/Caracoglia/Estradas are now officially one. I have said to Scott over and over and over again, how lucky he and his siblings should feel. There is now another man, who just as his father most certainly did, adores his mother, cares for her, wants to fulfill her every wish/want/dream. He comes along with an amazingly fun, sincere, gentle and genuine set of children, children in law and grandchildren. They couldn’t ask for much more.

As Ellen and Howard set out tomorrow for their honeymoon, a surprise trip for Ellen, we want them to know that we are so happy to see them so happy and are honored to have shared in the start of their lives together as a married couple. Mazel Tov!

Oh Happy Day! :)

One October night in 2004, I met this adorable man who I'd seen on JDATE.com and immediately was intrigued. Scott was a MUCH needed surprise after lots of frogs, I had finally found my prince. He won me over that first night at Sam Diego's in Plymouth, MA. (The poor guy had driven an hour to my apartment, only for me to have him drive another 30 minutes to bar.) :) We bonded over people we knew in common, sports, beers, food and more. He had a great sense of humor and was SO easy to talk to-plus, was really easy on the eyes.

After a short time, in December, we talked about him needing to move out of his apartment and me being a teacher that I could really work anywhere...It seemed just to make sense that as our relationship progressed I made the hardest and best decision. I left my job, apartment, friends and family on the south shore and moved to Stoneham to live with Scott in June 2005. I found a new job, which I loved, made new friends-though I missed and still miss my old ones and most importantly was so happily in love.

Scott proposed to me on 09/02/05 at Wright's Tower and we spent the weekend celebrating with both sets of parents. We got married the Memorial Day weekend following on May 28, 2006 at The Marriott Longwharf. That entire month of May, every single weekend, in POURED! And then our wedding day came-it couldn't have been more beautiful, sunny and we couldn't have been happier surrounded by family, friends and each other.

Life is always filled with ups and downs; it's inevitable. However, we've been so lucky, we've had a bazillion more ups than downs. Through the downs, we have had each other to lean on. Our two precious daughters, Jenna and Maya, allow us to the chance to share our love for each other and for them every single day. In our vows, I said to Scott, "I'd be so honored to be your Honey Farber forever." And I am. Now and forever. Happy 5 years Scott! Here's to 500 more! xoxo

May Candids

Here are some happy times from this chaotic month!

Poem

Footprints on our hearts

How very softly


you tiptoed into my world.

Almost silently;

Only a moment you stayed.

But what an imprint

Your footprints have left

On our hearts.

--Author Unknown

Club Med 2011

After SEVERAL attempts to load the movie I made of our trip, I thought I would at least add some cute pics since the movie file appears to be too big.

The BIG MOVE!

What a chaotic and busy few weeks the month of May has been. Unplanned tumult caused a substantial backslide in our packing and a permanent halt to my ability when it came to packing. As of the first of the month, all of the packing, nearly packing our entire house, was done by my amazing husband and our two adorable toddlers. Being restricted on what I could lift, Scott took the entire job on and never once complained.

EVERY night from our close date on, he would work all day and then come home, bathe and put our girls to bed, and then pack and head to the new house, unpack and come home around 10ish each night. He'd then wake up the following morning and do it all over again, never once saying anything but, "We do what we have to do." Each night I sung his praises to him and expressed my sincere appreciation, but I wished there was more I could do. (Scott HATES to move, mainly because he hates to pack and unpack! He took a great deal of arm twisting to get him to move in the first place.)

Our girls were off to Emmy and Sabba's for the night before the move. We went home, packed up the last few items, did a few drives over and unpacked a bit and went to bed for our last night at Pleasant Street.

A movie with a new ending-the one we never wanted.

We, well I, originally created this movie to announce to our family and friends that we were expecting our third child this December. Shockingly to us, as well as our doctors, things took an unexpected and extremely unfortunate turn this weekend. We had only told 4 people we were expecting a baby, not even Jenna and Maya, for fear that something like this could, but of course would NEVER happen. And then it did.

As I was laying on the bed in the emergency room on Sunday, in total shock, faced with the fact that we had lost the pregnancy so few even knew existed, I made a decision I never imagined I would. I told. I told family members, I told friends, I told Jenna's teacher, I told our Rabbis, I told. As incredibly upsetting as this all is, the one positive that I have found comforting is the love and support we have received from our incredibly caring community of friends and family. People have sent flowers, fruit, brought meals, called, emailed, texted-they've been there. My parents dropped everything from Sunday on so they could be here for us and for our girls. It is because of them, that Jenna and Maya know of virtually nothing that has happened except that "Mommy had a Ba-boom that had to be taken out by the doctor yesterday." They have done anything and everything for us, similar to what we did and would do for all of our children.

Yesterday, I had the surgery to "complete" the fetal demise as it was so eerily termed. While getting prepped, the nurse asked me what I did for work; my response was "I stay home with our two other children." I then rephrased that I stayed home with our two daughters. I think though, that that was and is how I felt. This pregnancy was our baby. We lost our baby.

Friends say that our lives will never be the same having lost a child, I hope in some way that to be true. I don't want to dwell on the sadness for too long, but do want to not forget the one we wanted so badly to add to our family and how incredibly heartbroken we are that it was not able to progress. We are currently looking for ways to honor our little one's memory for ourselves, our extended family and to be able to share with Jenna and Maya when they are older. Life has been SO incredibly good to us, as individuals, as a couple and later a family. We celebrate 5 years of marriage in a few weeks, the best years of my life. Having the duo of our perfect little ladies to heal for makes a world of difference and looking forward to continuing to build our family, in time, is an exceptionally strong incentive as well.