pioneering weekend

This weekend has been a pioneering weekend.  Really.  I have explored many new areas of life that I have not yet discovered.  My weekend really started on Friday night.  I had just put Charlotte to bed, the windows were open and a perfect Virginia warm spring night was blowing through the house.  The phone rang and because I had just started to read some of my favorite blogs I couldn't decide if I should answer it.  I decided not to be a bum and get up and then decide if I was going to ignore the person or not.  I saw that it was our realtor company and picked it up and then my weekend started at a full force! The lovely woman on the telephone sweetly informed me that we had a request to show the house the next morning at 10:30 and promptly and loudly and crudely and rudely groaned nooooooo into the phone.  You always know when your house is up on the market that whenever you have plans someone is going to want to challenge them.  I then explained to the nice realtor lady that me and one of my best chums had planned for weeks to go see Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman at one of her book signings down in Norfolk.  After verbally running circles around the lady she asked sweetly, "so do you want to show it or not?"  I told her that I had to and that I would be prepared.

After a couple frantic phone calls to the husband and some close friends I had found a storage solution for the dogs for the day and some encouragement about getting the house cleaned and put back together after the party so it would be presentable for potential buyers.

I spent the rest of that night and then from 5-10:15 the next morning getting the house, the dogs, the baby and myself ready for a showing and a trip to go see one of my favorite bloggers and food network hosts.  I felt good about myself I had completed a bunch of things that I did not think I could do without the help of other people, I was pioneering!

The rest of the day went absolutely as smoothly as possible.  We made it down 64 and through the tunnel with no traffic, Charlotte behaved in the car, we got our tickets and then went to a cute little Irish restaurant for lunch.

The book signing was at a Books a Million and there most of been at least 500 people there easily.  The placed was packed, both sides of the store from front to back.  We got lucky where we landed in line.  We were between a couple of young moms with some babies a little younger than Charlotte on one side and some people who were really low key and thought C was cute on the other.  Charlotte played with toys, people, other kids, Beth, Beth's hairbrush and keys, the nook display and had a good amount of snacks to make up our three hour wait!

I was amazed at how she held it together.  It was a true parenting test.  Would I pack enough snacks?  Enough toys?  Would I got hot and flustered when (not if) she got fussy?  Just like everything else in life, the world is easier with a friend by your side.  Beth and I conquered the long wait and a one year old at the same time!  Our reward getting to meet Ree...it was great...I felt like a little school girl.  I thought I was going to be giggly, chatty and annoying like I normally am when I get nervous.  Nope, I actually couldn't think of much to say.  That is really weird for me!  I introduced her to Charlotte and thanked her for coming all the way out to Virgina and that was about it.  I have made more conversation with trees before...oh well, I guess everyone has to get shy at some point!

When we were finished with Ree (yeah, we are on a first name basis) we stopped by Statbucks and each had a treat and then got on the road.

Before we even got on the road, C was out!  She fell asleep before I even got out of the parking lot.

What a great weekend, conquering the house, adventuring into the unknown of book signings and a great time with one of my besties, what a pioneering weekend!  Now all I need is that cherry on the top, also known as an offer on our house!

 

and that's a wrap!

I know that Charlotte's birthday is over.  It is just so hard to believe.  I have been thinking, planning and scheming for this girl to turn one for months and now...she is!  I know that most of you are thinking, enough already.  But for those dear to our hearts that could not experience our fun bash, here are a couple of last photos.

Crazy how time flies!  Charlotte really did have a great time with all of her friends.  I think everyone had a great time- that is what happens when you get a bunch of great families in one tiny house!

Hmmmm...I wonder what theme she wants when she turns two?  Is it too early to start planning!?

-melissa

apples.friends.food.party.

Jay has been very busy with work lately so it was extremely fitting that we had a fun, action packed weekend together as a family.  I can not think of a better way to celebrate cool temperatures, the opportunity to wear warm snuggly clothes and the beautiful Virginia fall foliage than driving out west to go pick apples with friends, have some delicious meals with some great people and go to a barn party for A10.   We met some of our great friends that we met at our Bradley Birthing Class at Carter Mountain on Saturday.  The weather was great and we had a great time with Brian, Vera and Penelope.  Penelope is two weeks younger than Charlotte and the six of us have really hit it off in the past couple of months.  Vera and I both love to sew and we have already spent countless hours sewing together over the summer!

On our way home we stopped by one of the craziest looking/most authentic Mexican restaurants I know I have ever been to.  In past years this place might have creeped me out a bit, but by watching episode after episode of Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, I have become much more adventurous.  It was delicious and Charlotte stayed awake so she must of liked the authentic atmosphere!

On Sunday after church we met at a great little greek restaurant, Stella’s.  Another amazing restaurant!  We can not take the credit for this one, we met some of our first friends that we had in RVa, Fray and Belvia.  Fray picked us up from the airport when we interviewed with United about six and half years ago.  They have been a constant in our lives ever since, always supporting and encouraging us and today they met C for the first time.  I would love to have a warm charming picture to post of the three of them, but about ten minutes after we all sat down for lunch C had had enough and was not about to smile again for the rest of the meal!  She did eventually fall asleep, not in any normal baby way of course, but sitting on Jay’s lap.

We finished up our weekend at barn party that A10, our church, was having in beautiful Goochland County.  It was really nice and we got to chat with friends for a bit to wrap up our weekend.  By the time we got C home she was completely wiped.  

Here is to a restful week home with Daddy!