Nikki's D.C. weekend with 'BFF' Kelly

My dentist finished putting a crown on my back tooth last Thursday before I flew out which made an unbearable night's sleep, and worse, an 11 hour travel time with two dizzying flights on Friday. I got to the hotel before Kelly but they wouldn't let me in the room because I wasn't on the reservation. So they offered me water! Great! I'm hung-over, dizzy, vomitous, exhausted, on the verge of passing out and they offer me water! I was a little miffed until they handed me this glass jar of water. It was so pretty, I was immediately mesmerized. Entranced I found my way to their cafe and ate a wonderful salad and stared between the view out the window and the view of this lovely little vassssssse of water! Isn't it pretty. (I got the last one too!)

After we settled into our darling little room Friday night, we walked up the street and ate at a sweet Italian cafe, out on the patio. It was great weather, although incredibly humid. After eating we headed off to the National Mall to see the D.C. memorial, the WWII Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial. Kelly lost 85 lbs since I saw her at my wedding last August. Way to go! She looks great! (I am signing up for the gym today!)

I think memorials are weird. They make you ask yourself some hard questions. But thinking about the way we memorialize things that are important to us, it seems a normal human behavior. The question begs, why was this so important to someone? Immediately a feeling of reverence for someone else's experience comes over you as you try to understand what they may have felt to find so much importance in what was memorialized. Kelly's biggest priority was to see the WWII Memorial, and I think for the reason that her brother was a veteran. I think somehow his service was ultimately the reason for him becoming so sick before he eventually died as a result of it a few years ago.

Reflecting on life still doesn't stop you from being silly from time to time. We sat here for a moment taking a bunch of self portraits and laughing our heads off. Such weird girls!

I think the Lincoln Memorial has always been one of my favorites. I have always admired our "Founding Fathers", but especially Abraham Lincoln. He look so astute here. And apparently 'he does not lie'! (I can't wait to see that movie - Night at the Museum II!)

After spending all day Saturday shopping, we relaxed at yet another Italian restaurant, and made goofy poses sipping our drinks. Never a dull moment! (Except for waiting for each other to get out of the dressing room a hundred times!)

If you can even believe it we went shopping AGAIN after dinner Saturday night for another hour or more until we came back to the hotel to try everything on again and 'fashion show' for each other. Which only made us jealous that the other person found something that we wanted. If you can believe it, we went back to more shopping again Sunday. Who said we had to go sightseeing on OUR vacation. Its OUR vacation...we can do what we want!

Finally after the late Sunday afternoon rolled around, we realized the museums were open only a couple more hours, so we dashed over to see some of them. But they were so crowded, we only tolerated about 45 minutes till we squeezed out the back door and couldn't bring ourselves to go into any others. I think we both hate crowds. (We're getting old, what can I say!) So we headed back to the hotel to rest up and get dolled up for dinner...

Here we are leaving for dinner our last night in D.C. We ate at a WONDERFUL mexican restaurant and then (tried) to enjoy a late night movie. (Poor Kelly was so excited to see Terminator III that she was completely dissappointed on our way out of the theatre.) It was ok, not THAT great. But overall, it was fun to get away, see some sights and do what girls do... shop shop shop.

Had to add that last photograph! See any similarities? There must be some reason why we both get along! We're both freaks! I know, but we have so much fun doing it! Next time I go on a vacation, I am gonna make sure my husband has a job so that I don't hyperventilate every time I get in a cab, buy a meal, or shop (a little?!) He is so good to me!

Lego Disneyland

For all of you Disneyland-lovers, here's a guy who did Disneyland in legos:

http://micechat.com/forums/blogs/weekend-update/815-lego-my-disneyland-weekend-update-november-1-2008.html

Happy Birthday Kathy!

See? I made you a cake! Just kidding, that's just a picture I found on the web. Hope today is a good one!

A Monster at the end of this Book

As long as we're taking a trip down memory lane, who else remembers this book?

There's a monster at the end of this book

The Wild Gang

Anyone recognize this gang. I found an old picture that had fallen down behind my desk.

100!!!!

Did you know that since we created this blog in September, we have had 100 posts created?!? I, personally, have loved it and feel like it's brought us closer together. So Thanks everyone!

Bar Graph

Jack has a bar graph assignment for school. He needs to chart what the most popular, or favorite, colors are among our family--you guys!! Please respond with your favorite colors, and please ask any children, co-workers, or other people lurking around you right now what theirs are too. Thanks!! Oh, the assignment has limited us to the following choices: red, blue, green, yellow, purple, orange, black, brown, and pink. You Rock!!

Suspicious Characters

Does anyone recognize these suspicious looking characters. While cleaning out some office files (getting ready for our end of month move) I came across these two characters. I don't know if I could trust these faces.

Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Brent suggested we celebrate "Cinco de Mayo" ...and I thought that was a great idea! So we rounded up some of the kids' neighbor friends (after we had a 'taco' dinner) and swung away at this Mexican pinata. (Yes we stuffed it with candy and toys!) Look at the blindfolds ...all the kids peaked under it!

This is Rachel, she's the sister of Kai's favorite babysitter, Alex. Their family is awfully patient with Kai asking for Alex to come 'play' every single week. (Yes, he gets payed for that.) I looked at Rachel one day and thought she looked just like Lauren's daughter Eden ...striking similarities!

The kids had a hard time being patient, waiting for that candy to come flying out. We used a plastic bat as a safety precaution. Taking turns is not easy when you're 4 years old!

After the kids had about 4 or 5 turns and that candy never came out, Brent went and got the wooden bat and we took the blindfold off too... so much more exciting that way!

I think Kai's friend, Stephan, was able to crack an edge and Brent sprayed the grass with all the goodies while the kids grabbed at their treasures without any haste. It was fun and the neighbors got a good laugh at the kids' swinging the bats.

Where were the teenagers you asked? Well Kasey took all these pictures until went on 'too long' and left before the candy was snatched up, so thats why we don't have any photos of the last scramble. Austin walked by while we were swinging away and cowered at the invite to try to take a few swings. Too cool for kid fun, I guess. (Now my kids are asking for Pinatas every day!)

battle wounds

How come nobody ever puts punching bag, jungle gym, or crash test dummy in with the list of descriptions of what a mother is? Everyday I am climbed on, crashed into, stepped on, pinched, headbutted, thrown at, hit, and occasionally bit or get my hair pulled, while at the same time trying to step cautiously through a mine field of toys though I always manage to step on those little matchbox cars with the sharp edges (the worst is the ones hiding beneath soft looking blankets so conveniently scattered at random on the floor). And not to mention all the elbows, hands, and knees that think my stomach, chest, or hips are convenient anchoring points for them to get more comfortable.

Now that it's warmer weather I look at the kids' legs with clusters of bruises and think, man, what they go through in a day and then I realize that my legs look just as bad, not to mention arms, hips, thighs, feet, well, you get the picture. Anyway, I guess now I know why I try and spend as much time as possible secluded on the couch-- it's pure defense.

Kathy, Lynnie, & Ross at the Huntington Library

Last Sunday was bright and sunny, so, we decided to go to the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens. Kathy wanted to see the roses that were in full bloom at the gardens. Lynnie liked the cactus gardens. Ross liked the orange chicken that he had for lunch.