Here are some photos from the fun and busy weekend I spent with my older sister, Chelsea, and two of her four kids last weekend. It was such a treat to have her come visit, and we had an awesome time. Her youngest children are just months older than my two boys, and seeing how well they all got along made the trip. It was also fun to get to spend so much time with cute Katie, who is my good friend from the time we were in Junior High, as well as Chelsea’s sister-in-law (they married brothers!)
I carried my camera around all weekend, and got a precious few photos of the fun. The three of us moms wrangling five kids kept our hands busy! Chelsea lived in DC as an intern, and has visited several times, to we didn’t do much of the typical tourist stuff. Our first outing was to the National Zoo. It was a beautiful day, which meant that every other person in DC was visiting, too! The National Zoo is part of the Smithsonian, and so it is FREE! I take the boys about once a week, and I have never seen it as crazy as it was the day we went! Luckily, the baby gorilla was out and about, and he is adorable. It was nice to walk and chat, and after a picnic lunch we headed out.
I was ready to take the babies home to take a nap. Silly me! This was vacation time! Instead, we headed into Georgetown to shop a little. It’s been a while since I went shopping just for fun. We had a great time! All of the kids were so well-behaved, and it was a fun time. Each of us found a couple fun things to take home (including all the same clearance tee from Madewell, that we took turns wearing the rest of the weekend.) We also indulged in frozen yogurt, lavender lemonade, chocolate truffles, and cupcakes. It was vacation, after all! I love how showing visitors around makes me remember how cool this area is! I totally love living so near DC, and need to make sure I take advantage of all the fun as often as I can.
My very favorite part of the trip was getting to know my cute nephew and niece a little better. It had been about a year since I had seen them, and of course they have both grown up so much! Can you handle the cuteness of baby Luke?
Milo and Jane were a total hoot. Three is such a fun age, and they played together all weekend! They are both really funny and quirky, and made us laugh. Milo would wake Jane up in the morning saying quietly “Good morning, Jane. Good morning, Jane…” over and over until she got up. So funny.
We spent one afternoon at the nearby outlets looking for pillows for Chelsea’s new couch (unfortunately, the Pottery Barn outlet is now closed! Too bad!) There is a new little play area set up for the kids, and they were in heaven. Don’t worry that none of us mom’s had quarters. The ride-on toys were just as fun without them, apparently! The cousins (minus Eliot) would all pile in and just laugh.
Remember how I said Jane is funny and quirky? Check her out! Sunday afternoon playing the harmonica in mom’s heels. Hilarious. We spent the whole day on Saturday in Charlottesville and I took nary a photo! We spent most of our time browsing The Second Yard fabric store (remember how awesome it is?!) We also ate lots of good food (Bodo’s Bagels, Splendora’s Gelato, Cinema Taco) and wandered the cool main street.
Sunday evening we headed over to Katie and Jeff‘s for a barbecue. The weather was amazing, and they have the most beautiful backyard (where we hosted Milo’s Fiesta). It looked and felt just like the beginning of summer.
Jeff manned the grill and turned out some delicious burgers. Sundays are my favorite because I have Dave around all day long!
Dave helped me set up to make homemade frozen yogurt. It was so easy! 3 cups of greek yogurt and 1/4 cup of sugar. That’s all. Throw it in the ice cream maker, eat dinner, then enjoy! I bought this cool ice cream maker for us for Easter and so far am so happy with it! It has a hand crank as well as the electric mixer, and I’m planning on taking it camping next time we go (you know, burn off our ice cream calories by making the ice cream…)
Is there anything as wonderful as a Sunday evening with family? We were so lucky to have Chelsea come visit! I don’t realize how much I miss my family until they show up and remind me how cool they are;)
The food was delicious. It was our first watermelon of the season and so sweet. Even baby Eliot loved it. Look at that focused face. So funny!
Dave and I began another meatless summer a couple weeks ago (we did the same in 2010). We decided that our meals at home will be all meatless, but when eating out or with friends, that we would go ahead and eat meat if that was the meal. Staring at this cheeseburger I knew that was a good decision.
Milo, on the other hand, decided he’d stick to his usual diet of not eating anything at all. Perfect.
Sisters and our babies. Chelsea and I have been confused for each other since our teenage years (I’m also confused for my little sister, Emmy sometimes!) It’s so funny, because I don’t see myself when I look at her. Looking at this photo I can see some resemblance in our noses and a little in our mouths…funny.
On Monday morning, Chelsea and I did a sunrise run from the Supreme Court to the Lincoln Memorial. It was just sprinkling rain, and so beautiful. It was also a fun way to see the monuments. On the way home, we passed the Holocaust Museum and I told her that the special exhibit on Nazi Propaganda is one of my favorites. So, once home we packed up the kids and took them to check it out. A couple sneaky fruitsnacks and goldfish kept the kids happy as we strolled through. It’s really fantastic. After that, we came home and spent the last hour of her trip making some cool tee shirts for her girls. I’m sharing the tutorial and a little giveaway on Monday, so get excited!
Chelsea is awesome. She’s been such an amazing example to me. She balances raising her four kids (all under age 7!) with living creatively, organizing play groups and book clubs in the three different cities she’s lived in over the last few years, and even becoming a certified Zumba instructor! I’m a lucky girl to have such a fun sister. (My other two sisters and two brothers are pretty awesome, too!)
*When Chelsea turned Thirty, I planned a pretty rad destination party for her called Thirty in the City.
*I made a yarn-wrapped reindeer for Chelsea for Christmas last year.
PS today is the last day to enter the Raspberry Creek Fabric giveaway! I’ll announce the winner tomorrow.
PPS don’t miss Mim and Melissa showing off their refashion swap clothes today!
