Girlfriends, Georgetown, Gouging & Great Conversation

{Weekend Recap}

This often happens to me in blogging - I do something so great and wonderful and then postpone blogging about it because I don't want to miss documenting how wonderful it was, but then I put it off so long that I start to forget how wonderful it was. So here is my attempt to remember a much needed retreat for me.

My roommate in college grew up in the D.C. area. Emily (in the middle) is one of the most amazing people I know. She has an incredible memory, notices the small things in life, is very generous, has wonderful teeth, memorizes poetry, knows how to use a lacrosse stick, appreciates fine paper, uses every moment to teach her kids, travels the world, never brags even though she has many things to brag about, reads and reads, is a great listener even though she may not think she is, makes things look really cute, taught me how to ski (that story I will blog about someday, her and Jen deserve a medal!) ran a marathon, is politically involved, works with the youth in her church, appreciates good music and is #107 on my 100 list.

She and her (just as awesome) sister were in town this weekend and I was lucky enough to get to hang out with them and their (even more awesome) mom.
Friday we went to get Emily's visa's at the Chinese Embassy office for her awesome family vacation. Yes FAMILY vacation. She is taking her 4 kids to China this year. ( I am seriously rethinking our Disney Cruise for a trip to Thailand). We then made a trip to Paper Source and found wonderful goodies. Walk through Georgetown. Her mom took us to this little path of homes called Pomander Walk.

This was someone's front steps. Had to take a photo of the stone pineapple atop this entry way to a home.Had lunch at Nathans and ice cream at the girls favorite ice cream shop when they were kids. One of the best parts of the weekend was the amazing conversation. We sat and talked politics over ice cream. (ok I did a lot more listening than talking) I now love Dick Cheney, know about Scooter Libby and am excited to figure out who I will vote for President in 2008.

Saturday was filled with a trip to the Ribbon outlet and I have very bad news to share. After a recent article in the Washington Post about the hidden treasure they have doubled their prices! We were outraged by the price gouging. Still great deals but sad too. The previous $.25 bags of ribbon you stuff yourself ( you can get about 30 yards in) and now $1.00. But the $10.00 rolls are now $20.00. They were quite empty but it was still awesome.

Saturday ended with fun monogramming of $.97 scarfs from the GAP and once again engaging conversation and planning my Sunday lesson. The beauty of the weekend was having their mom with us. It was like a wise voice of reason with all of our conversations. I was so impressed with how she never missed an opportunity to teach her girls something, share her feelings, tell them how proud she was of them and love them. At lunch we were kind of complaining wondering if we are doing enough as moms and she said, "I will not sit her and let you talk bad about yourself, you are Wonderful!"
she is an amazing woman and now I know where Holly and Emily get it from. Thanks girls for a rejuvenating weekend!

Jeff was a total trooper and spent two days alone with the girls taking them out to dinner (went to Chipolte for the first time and when they found it was his first time they gave him his whole meal free as a way to thank him for coming in) and spent Saturday in Baltimore at the aquarium.I had to throw these pictures in here because it is heartwarming. This summer our girls (both named Annie ) met for the first time. It as friendship at first sight! Wicked in NY here we come, huh em?