Zoofari

We're winding down the school year, and just getting back from a camping trip.  Posting has fallen to the bottom on the list, but I'd be remiss to not post these few photos I took at the Zoofari event I attended a couple weeks back with some dear friends from high school.   

I used to get invited to this event years ago when I worked at an ad agency, and Coca-Cola would sport us free tickets.  Its held every May at the National Zoo in DC, and its at least $200 a head to get into this shindig, but I tell you, its worth every darn cent.

Close to 200 restaurants set up tents throughout the zoo and dazzle attendees with 'free' samples of the finest cuisine to be had in this town.  Add to that assorted live musicians, free beer and wine, and the ambiance of dining among exotic creatures, it truly is a spectacular time.  I am awaiting photos of the four of us who attended together, those weren't on my camera.  But I did get a few shots of the evening.  I think my favorite taste of the evening was a tiny crab meat taco in a blue corn tiny taco shell, almost ceviche-like.   Lots of the the food sampled had lamb in it, and I'm not a fan.  Lots of cold soups including grape soup which sounds wacky but was delicious.  

Yes, it was well worth the two hours it took me to get into DC during prime evening rush hour, to spend quality time with my girlies tasting some most delectable vittles in these parts.   Special thanks to Ronda for taking me as her guest, it was a very special night!

9 years and still going strong...

I met these incredible ladies nine years ago at our local hospital when we all became new moms within weeks of each other.  Through the years, we have shared just about everything you can share with friends, and we've taken this parenthood journey together.  I feel so very blessed to have these women in my life.  Every single one of them brings joy to my life, and laughter to my heart.

This past weekend we spent a delicious three nights away at a beach house in Delaware.   Laughing, eating, telling stories, crying, sharing and enjoying each other.  Celebrating nine years of some of the best friendships I've ever had.

I love these ladies!  xoxoxo

my little plant is growing

The cutest ever kindergarten show last night!  Logan has been keeping the songs a secret and all the kids have been working really hard to memorize songs about gardening, planting and growing.   A fitting theme for the final month of their kindergarten journey.

Its just so amazing to watch your childs' journey as they develop and grow.   I'm so proud of you, buddy!

Thanks for coming to my special show last night, Grandma and Grandpa!  It was even better with you guys there!

a glimpse of the future

Today was exciting for both boys, as they got to enjoy big long-anticipated events at school. 

It was Third Grade field day for Dylan.   Instead of spelling and math and social studies, the kids got to spend all day of field day outside, playing games and sports, and watching a movie during lunch.  Andrew took some time this afternoon and hung out with Dylan at school, having lunch together (trying the very popular Buffalo chicken bites) and helping out with some games.

Logan got to actually spend the entire day at school.  Kindergarten here is still half day and he only has school each day from 11:30 - 2:30.  This morning, I got to drive both boys to school at 7:30 and drop them at the kiss-and-go line.   Logan spent most of the day in first grade, seeing a glimpse of what lies ahead  next year.  Most excitedly, he got to buy lunch at school, and then the kindergartners did two preview shows of the super excellent and totally cute kindergarten program they'll perform for us parents tomorrow night.  He has been looking forward to this day for weeks, knowing he got to go to school today as a 'big boy' and you can see it by the smile on his face.  

They both had great days, and I had a special treat waiting for them when they got home.   I have to admit, I got a little choked up dropping him off in carline this morning thinking next year my boys will both be at school for 7 hours a day.   All these years of being home with me, at least one of them at least half the day for the past nine years, and now that will be ending.  Another chapter closed.   Don't get me wrong, it will be fantastic to get some 'me' time back, and focus on my new business (more info on that another time), but nonetheless, a little sad this part of the journey is going to change drastically next fall.  I am eternally grateful for the priviledge of staying home with them all these years.

Tomorrow night is the annual Kindergarten program and I know I'm going to need to bring some tissues.  These are the parts of parenting that are truly so utterly special and sacred.  I love watching my boys grow and learn and enjoy.

a fake-cation

This past weekend, we didn't have much going on for once, and it was rainy, rainy, rainy.   A few months ago, we bid on some items at a silent auction at the boys' school and we had the winning bid on a basket filled with goodies, including a hotel stay at an Embassy Suites down the road.

We thought it would be a fun family sleepover, since the boys LOVE staying at hotels.  And with it being just down the street it was a getaway that involved very little planning, pretty much just throwing some undies in a bag and going.

It turned out to be a really fun evening... some indoor pool action, ordering pizza, watching hours of Discovery Channel about the Secret Service while munching on Sour Patch Kids, sleeping 'family style' in two queen beds, and enjoying a delish breakfast buffet in the morning before heading home.

The only problem was Dylan's snoring.  Well, it wasn't exactly snoring.  I think he has some seasonal allergies going on, and as Andrew put it, it sounded like he was eating a badger all night.   But besides that, we had a fantastic fake-cation!

oldies but goodies

One clear benefit to living generally in the same area for most of your life is getting to see dear, old friends who have known you since you before you had a drivers license.

Birthday Sleepover

Its taken a few days to recover (ha!) but last weekend, Dylan hosted a birthday sleepover to celebrate turning 9.  He did this last year for the first time, and had so much fun he wanted to do it again this year.  We let him invite 6 boys this time (3 last year), still trying to keep it fun and manageable.   He invited his best friends from school, his dear friend A from his old soccer team, and his friend J from swim team.  We had pizza, Nerf battles, silly string fights, and watched Tin Tin.   Not all the boys ended up spending the night, a couple of them were ready to escape the rowdiness and go home to their own beds after the movie.  But for those who stayed, we finished off the party in the morning with doughnuts and Beyblade battles in the trampoline.

It was a great way to celebrate 9!

nine is fine

Dear Dylan,

Every year on your birthday, I write you a letter here, reminiscing and wondering where all the time has gone.  I was just telling Daddy the other day that its been so long since I’ve thought of you as a little boy.  Now, you’re my grown boy.  One who is mature, and responsible, and cares about making other people feel good.

Tomorrow you turn 9.  As you observed today, the last year you'll ever be a single digit.  Pretty amazing how time flies, isn't it?

Since the day I learned you were going to join our family almost 10 years ago, my life has been forever changed, brightened, and full of love.  Gone are the days I could pick you up, swaddle you, feed you and hold you.  But these are the days we can play together, laugh and make jokes, go on adventures, and talk about the world. 

You have grown so much this year.  You’ve turned into an avid reader, fitting it in between your beloved video games.   You blossomed as a swimmer, joining two different swim teams and always showing your desire to learn and improve.  You became a Scout, embracing good deeds for others and learning about community and giving back.  You’re a good, caring brother, even when he tries your patience daily.  I’m so glad he has you to set a good example and show him the ways of the world.  

You’re a good friend.  You’ve had many of the same friends for several years now, and you’re all so kind to each other.  You have learned very young what being a good friend is, and how to show your friends you care about them.   You make new friends as well, and I love when you come home from school telling me you've made a new friend.

You’ve learned so much at school this year.  Its amazing to me to hear you talk about all the things you know.   You’re so interested in history, and math, and how things work.   I love to watch you learn and grow at school.  Sometimes you sneak and stay up late reading in your bed.  You think we don't know, but we do. 

But mostly I just to watch you grow into a boy. One who is confident, caring, kind and full of adventure.   We’re so proud of you Dylan.  To us, you are the perfect son and we’re so thankful for the joy you’ve brought to our lives.  You bring so much happiness to so many people.  You are very, very loved.

If you want to read my other birthday letters to you since I've had this blog, here are 8, 7, 6, and 5.

To the moon and back.

Love,

Mom

in 3 days...

In 3 days, my darling son will be 9. 

9.

Takes my breath away. Where did all this time go? 

Every birthday is so bittersweet.  I think about all he has taught me about the world, and about myself.   I think about how many more things we have to experience with him.  But most of all, I think about how much I love him and wouldn't trade him for all the gold in the world.



farm goodness

Yesterday was the last day of Spring Break.  Gosh, it felt like the boys were off for a month with all that we did.   Lots of fun and many adventures.  I don't remember schools being closed the Monday after Easter before, but since they were we took advantage and met my Mom, Jessica and cousins Josh and Maya at a local farm.  It was a beautiful, windy day and there was hardly anyone there.  The kids had so much fun chasing goats, and playing with each other.  They must have gone down the slides hundreds of times. 

There's nothing like watching your kids play with their cousins.  The belly laughs and the hand holding, the pretending and the hugs.  Love it.

When we got home, it was straight in the bathtub!

Easter 2012

Its funny how the holidays evolve as the boys grow. Some things stay the same (coloring eggs and egg hunts and goody filled baskets) and some things change (sleeping in!).  We had a fun filled Easter weekend that started with a Topkick tawkwondo egg hunt, easter egg coloring, and ended with an all day family day at my Mom and Robby's.  There was Easter fishing too, but I didn't get any photos as I was inside cooking and running my mouth!

We tried using beet juice to dye some of the eggs.  It was smelly (according to the boys) and didn't color the eggs as well as the fake stuff, but it was still fun to try.

I love that I bought Logan a jewelry beading kit and he LOVED it, and didn't care one bit that it had a girl on the front of the box!  Dylan got alien Legos.

My Mom makes the best deviled eggs.