What Memories Are Made Of

This weekend was filled to the brim full of family, friends and fun! Indeed, one of those weekends where memories are made!



On Friday evening, I hosted a BBQ at my crib for a bunch of ladies from my mommy-board! There are about 100 women on my board, and we all try to meet up "in real life" whenever possible! Friday, we had a lady from Texas, a lady from Iowa and a lady from Massachusetts, and their families!!!

This is a picture of my best friend Melissa, her son Elijah, and Bennett and I.


Saturday night, Ace's sister bought us tickets to the Jason Mraz concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion for Ace's birthday. It started out the perfect night for an outdoor concert - and the the heavens opened up and we got DRENCHED!!!!










He we are trying in vain to stay dry under our picnic blanket! That lasted all of 10 minutes...












And here we are post-downpour, using our ponchos as make-shift green houses to stay warm! It never felt so good to get home and peel off the wet clothes!

But it was so worth it - Jason Mraz was awesome and sooooo talented!!!!









Sunday, we went with Ace's family to Medieval Times to celebrate Ace's 31st birthday (yep, old dude!) and my sister-in-law's birthday as well.









Both boys really loved it! Bennett was clapping and cheering the whole time! Carter was pretend sword fighting in the aisle!










And a bonus picture of Bennett giggling with his uncle!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cherish EVERY Day

I know I semi-promised you all photos and stats for the end of Phase I for P90X, but um...my monthly visitor decided to show up and I'm bloated as a whale. I'm looking better this a.m., so maybe I will take those pictures tonight.

Last week, my mom said something rather profound (which is an unusual happening for her... just kidding ;) . We were sharing the usual "Thank God its Friday" banter, when she said, "you know, we spend all week wishing 5 days of our lives away just waiting for the weekend to arrive."

Wow. She's right! First thing Monday morning, I'm already praying to fast foward to Friday afternoon! All week, I grit my teeth and grumble "man, I wish it were Friday already!" What a waste! I'm wishing away 5/7 (71.4%) of my life!!!!

Sure, the weekends are wonderful, but weekdays are a matter of fact and here to stay. So, I've determined to instead of just trying to get through the weekdays in an effort to hurry up the weekend (which is futile since time cannot be sped up), I'm going to make an effort to enjoy EACH day for what it holds!

I love Monday for the freshness and newness of the new week. Its a re-set button, another chance to do things right.

I love Tuesday because I'm settled back into the week's routine.

I love Wednesday because its the halfway point. Even if I'm having a really bad week, I can console myself with the reminder that I'm half way through!

I love Thursday because you can really feel the week's momentum going and because the next day is Friday (sorry, I can't help it!).

What's there not to love about Friday? Its got a more relaxed vibe, a sense of "finishing up" and anticipation of the rest days to come!!!

Add yours - what is there to enjoy about the weekdays??

What a weekend!

Operative Word: BUSY!!!

We had a rich and full weekend. Too bad the only "productive" thing I accomplished all weekend was the laundry! We may not eat this week, but we'll have clean clothes!!!

Saturday morning, we took a scenic drive up to Poolesville, Maryland to the Homestead Farm with the best of intentions to go cherry picking with several of my husband's siblings and our niece and nephew. It was a tad overcast on our way up, but we weren't too worried. Until we started strolling down to the orchard that is, and were pelted by rain droplets! So, we headed back up to the store to see what would transpire. With impeccable timing, the heavens parted and buckets of rain began to downpour within a minute of our reaching shelter! Carter decided to take a rain shower, but the rest of us stayed warm and dry until the skies cleared again. We decided to just buy cherries (and some peaches) and go home, but the kids really wanted to pick something. So, we had the great idea to pick strawberries. Fabulous idea, except the fact that the strawberry fields were nearly completely under water at this point, and the trails to get to them were (in the words of the infamous Dora the Explorer) "muddy mudpits."

Bennett's first farm visit!

Carter's umpteenth farm visit!

Saturday evening, we went to the first birthday party of a little girl we met while Bennett was in the NICU. Her mum is a lawyer like me, so we hit it off from the start. Her water broke at about 29 weeks and she delivered a little before 33 weeks. Her little girl stayed in the NICU for 7 weeks due to her habit of having bradycardias secondary to reflux. Not fun!!! It was a beautiful party and we saw several of our other NICU friends there too! Needless to say, after this fun-filled day, the kids were conked out early!

Today, we drove to Charles Town, WV, to attend the baby dedication of my best friend Melissa's son Elijah. It was a beautiful ceremony! They had a fun party afterward to celebrate.

From L to R: Bennett, Ace, Carter, Elijah, Melissa, Chantelle

Mommy and squirmy Bennett

Then we headed to my in-laws' house to celebrate Father's Day!

YAWN! I'm sleeeeeepy! Fortunately, (and unfortunately) this week is going to be a busssssy one as well!! I guess I ought to sign off and try for a few hours of shut eye! Goodnight!