no couch potatoes here.

Our fun filled weekend last weekend all started off with sending my daughter to school looking like this. Last Friday was Wacky Friday and they need to dress accordingly. We put chopsticks in AK's pony tails and they worked better than the wire for Pippi Longstocking at Halloween. In the middle of the day I realized I had sent her to school and had not made her a lunch. Spending the morning dressing wacky was a little distracting for me, I forgot to feed my kid.

My brother Bevan and his wife Amanda came into town for the weekend. They made plans to come into town even before they knew they would get to go to the best concert in town this weekend - John Cougar Mellencamp! he dropped the Cougar but I seem to have not.

this photo courtesy of The Washington Post

It was at Walter Reed in the Old Red Cross Building. The building had lots of character. We all estimated that there was less than 150 people there. It was up close and personal.

this photo courtesy of The Washington Post

His band was great and the violinist you see in this photo was awesome!
We went with our neighbors, our friend from New Orleans, Eric and my brother and his wife. I had told them all that I become like a statue at concerts and really don't get into music like my personality my lead someone to think otherwise. But for some reason when those High School songs started a playin' I turned into a giddy school girl! It was so much fun!

does he not look so good for 56!

Amanda :) this video I put on just for you. It is Pink Houses.

I don't know if there would have been any other performer that I would have known so many of the words to the songs. When he started singing Jack and Diane - I surprised even myself with how excited I was.

just a little a little photo to add to "me in d.c."

Our friend Eric was nice enough to take the photo, but I wish I would have now insisted he was in it. Other than him not being in it, it is the greatest photo because you can still see the 80's musical bug that is still on our faces!
The night become complete when we made a stop at Ben's Chili Bowl. Please, Please if you are coming to D.C. put this on your list of places to eat! My favorite is the chili cheese fries, with the cheese and chili on the side to dip the fries into, the half smoke split with mustard and onions and a banana chocolate shake. Oh my it was so good and yummy.then make sure you sprinkle some of this Texas Pete Hot Sauce it is on every table. Bevan and Amanda brought us a huge bottle and we put it on everything!

Saturday

Annie Kate's Spring Fair was on Saturday. It was small and in the parking lot, but Annie Kate said "this is one of my favorite things we have done since we moved here" The cotton candy was free, pink and unlimited so what could be better!
Annie Kate did a little rock climbing, jousting, plastic necklace winning and cotton candy consumption.
They had lots of old fashioned carnival games and Caroline had difficultly understanding you just pick one prize, I think she dug three out of the bucket.

Caroline and her cousin Liam - these two are like twins - in looks and personality.

Liam and Caroline rode the train


Paddle boats.

we then went to ride the paddle boats at the Washingtonian Center. Annie Kate has been asking to do this since the weekend we moved into town. She was thrilled.
Bevan's family looked so stinkin cute on the paddle boat and in their life vests. Dang my brother is cute!

They were much faster than our slow boat. We had a great time and it was wonderful to do it before it gets so hot that you may be tempted to jump in the dirty pond.

Saturday night Jeff and I went to Manassas Virginia to go skating with the youth from our ward. I have not been roller skating in about 4 years. I forget how much I love it. It also brings back some fun childhood memories. I had the most awesome blue and yellow tennis shoe roller skates as a kid. I can still remember the day I tried them on at the store.

Jeff skating with one of the kids from the ward

Jeff and I are fair skaters, but we totally skate like the 80's. I don't really know how to describe that or what that looks like, be we were laughing at ourselves - we kind of had the groove on. We skated around and around holding hands... it was cheesy but sweet.

Sunday

One of the houses near our church building. This patchwork brick is so cool

Today was ward conference. We have a new Stake President and it was great to meet him. He came in and talked to the kids in primary and was so cute with them! He looks young, really tan, does triathlons, wore a pink tie , knew how to relate to kids and really brought the spirit in the room.
Caroline and her cousin Liam sat on the front row and were so fun to watch. They came to the front of the room and sang "Popcorn Popping" and it was like something out of a church movie. If the stake would not have been there I would have whipped out my camera which was next to me.

Arlington

We took Bevan and Amanda to Arlington National Cemetery after church. I just love this place. I have not been back since last summer and not dripping in sweat makes this place so much more enjoyable.

My Arlington tips are pay the $6.00 for the tour bus. The place is huge and if time is a constraint it will be difficult to see it all without it. And you can always walk around but having the bus option is so nice.

And if your name begins with the initial A - H take your photo in front of the letter at the Memorial Amphitheater.

Sally Jane in front of President Kennedy's grave.
Sally Jane's white dress still white even after church and running around
now that is a Sunday Miracle.
One of my favorite photos of the day.

So busy, wonderful weekend! This weekend i may just sit on the couch and eat potato chips.... oh no I can't just do that. i hear the ribbon outlet calling my name, "Kristi, come visit me"