Baltimore

The very last weekend before school let out for summer, we of course had both our local houses rented (MD & DE) which meant heading to a hotel excursion for the weekend.  Don't feel bad for us.  These excursions have turned out to be great fun.  And its like getting paid to go on vacation.  This particular weekend we stayed near Arundel Mills, MD (part way between DC & Baltimore) at a hotel that turned out to be super fun.  They had free cotton candy for Lily and free chocolates for Chris and I.  That Saturday we had a great time attending our friend Simone's birthday party and hanging out for a BBQ later.  Then Sunday we decided to spend the day in Baltimore before dropping Chris at the airport to depart for Seattle.  We had a great time in Baltimore and enjoyed being tourists.

Memorial Day Weekend Festivities

Bounce houses, water balloons, electric jeeps with bunny wagons, king of the hill, kayaks, trips to the wave pool, bay beach and just general fun and get togethers around the house with our most awesome friends.  What more could a family ask for.

Sam, Chloe, Simone, Lily and Dahlia (with Dahlia enjoying the first water balloon)

Lily pulling her four friends in the wagon

Lily, Sam, Chloe and Simone

The wagon pulling made easier with Sam's jeep and bunjy cords

King of the hill!

Lily and Dahlia kayaking

Simone, Lily and Dahlia kayaking at the bay beach

Even the bay beach got a lot of love this holiday weekend

Simone and Lily catching up

The gangs all here!  From left to right:  Simone, Lily, Madeline, Sam, Dahlia & Chloe

Lily is always happy with her friends around

Rehoboth Beach

We were joined at the beach house this Memorial Day weekend with our friends from Virginia.  Simone, Dahlia and their parents Elizabeth and Mike.  They truly were the most amazing guests.  Mike used to judge BBQ competitions and was an excellent and helpful cook in our kitchen.  However, we started the weekend off with a trip to Rehoboth Beach where the girls enjoyed pizza on the beach, wave chasing, sand castle building and some super fun friend time.

Ladies in Blue

Like mother like daughter in so many ways.  O.K. maybe its because I still help pick out Lily's clothes that we often seem dressed alike.  This blue day was definitely obvious.  But boy, did she ever look cute.

Cooking Club Week 4

Up for this weeks cooking club was mini pies and tarts.  We had pumpkin (wrong season I know) and strawberry.  The kids did an amazing job.  Everything turned out perfectly and so very tasty.

Mary Grace & Kim

Mary Grace, Kim, Lily, Rut & Sarah

What to do when your house is rented for a school day

So this week, we rented our house on a Tuesday to a production company filming a lemonade commercial.  Yes, I know we are crazy, but the money was good and we didn't have to give it up overnight, so what the heck.  Lily and I started the day at 7am at Starbucks, then we had plenty of time to hit Brookside Gardens before school started where we got to walk around the gardens without them being packed.  Then Mom got to volunteer at school for "field day".  Then in the afternoon I got to goof around downtown DC.  And finally we wrapped up the evening meeting a friend at Jaleo for a great dinner in downtown DC.  It was definitely a full day!

Brookside Gardens

Downtown DC

House swapping in Virginia

Our friends from Virginia wanted to head to our Delaware house and since our Maryland house was rented for the weekend, that left us without a place to stay.  So like a crazy family, we decided that a house swap was in order and we just shacked up at their place.  The big bonus, all new toys for Lily to play with because they have 3 boys.  She was in heaven and commented on "these boys must be really good to their parents because they sure have a lot of toys".  I had to explain to her that there is actually three of them.  

Although the weather was dreary, we did have a great time none the less going shopping at Tysons Corner, having brunch at the American Girl restaurant and just generally goofing around.