Well folks, we are back from Maryland. Two weeks of massive fun and frivolity. We got in to La Guardia on the 15th and Mom and my little brother Paul picked us up promptly. The girls were complete angels on the plane and several people remarked, "Wow, I didn't even know you had three kids with you!" That's right. They're always this quiet. And clean. And well-behaved. One woman even asked me if I beat them. Nothing like mingling with complete strangers for several hours to remind you just how miserable this world is!
We decided to fly into La Guardia and drive down because we found tickets that we just couldn't beat. For a three-hour drive, it was totally worth it. We stopped for scary New Jersey Denny's food and were home by 4 or so.
On Thursday morning, we jumped in the car and ran straight into the arms of a couple of our dearest gal pals, Em and Jenna. Em and Andrew met in high school and were so lucky to remain friends from there on out. Selfishly, I believe that Andrew was merely a pawn in God's plan to help Em and I meet, because we're so seriously like two people in one brain. When I heard about Em I was all, "A friend who is a girl that you've never dated and aren't interested in dating? Hm." But then I met Em and that totally answered all of my questions. She's witty, adorable, whacky, type A and completely endearing. There is truly nothing about her that I don't love. Peas and carrots, I tell you.
And then Em introduced me to Jenna, who was dating Em's brother Ben at the time. (I think they started dating in like, kindergarten or something??? No, really.) Jenna is one of those mind-bending types and has this girl-genius thing happening. She's one of those super-likeable and fun people and is totally fantastic, and then you find out she's in med school and is smarter than anyone you've ever met, and you're all, "Dude, who are you???"
And they're both married to incredibly awesome guys. It makes for the most fun ever when we're all together. There is really nothing like an old friend.
Oh yes, SO. Into the arms of Em and Jenna. Happily, they each have an adorable child, so we made it a playdate. It was so fun to have all of the kids together, destroying Jenna's new house. It was out first time meeting Jenna's new baby, E-Bizzle, and he was so worth all the hype. He's all squishy and cute and his eyebrows are just adorable. As a mother of eyebrow-less children, babies with eyebrows just dazzle me. All in all, a total 12 on the cute scale. (There is really nothing nicer than telling someone how cute their baby is and not having to qualify it with something like, "And I'm sure he'll grow into that mouth!" )
Cutie Pie and Lucy hit it off right away, as Lucy is a perpetual big sister to anyone who crosses her path. (Let's face it; she spends more time rubbing my back than I do hers.) Cutie Pie is almost to her next birthday, but Em sort of dies inside whenever anyone mentions it, so we'll just say she's more than 18 months and less than 24 months. She's got this wild hair that sort of dictates her toddlerhood, and she also has fantastic eyebrows. They must run in the family. Cutie Pie is also prone to wild gesticulation like her mother, so you can just imagine how animated and fun she is.
Claire had no idea what was going on, but the siren song of Jenna's stairs kept her nice and busy.
Once the kids really began to melt down as naptime neared, we all ventured out into the rain for Chik-fil-a and more chatter. The kind patrons at Chik-fil-a didn't give us more than a few concerned looks as we crammed 5 kids and three moms around a 4-top. I had no idea Chik-fil-a could get that busy!
On Friday morning, it was cousin mayhem with Lilly (R), Lydia (by the white chair), Josiah (front) and Ben (not pictured). Lucy and Josiah were pretty much drowning in happy tears at the thought of being reunited. I'm pretty sure that the entire two weeks of illness and insanity was worth it just for one playdate for those two. They've always been so close, so it was great to give them so much time together. And of course, Lydia is about as funny as they come, so we had lots of fun watching the madness.
It was Claire's first time meeting the cousins. I think she thought she'd have more respect among the extended family. Ha. Sucker.
Mom and I spent Saturday hanging out with Nina, eating and trying to sew a diaper bag. It went better than expected, except for the fact that the pockets don't hold anything. More on that later.
On Sunday, it was time for Uncle Calvin and Aunt Katherine. Calvin has been Andrew's best friend for about 20 years or so, and Katherine came into our lives the same week Andrew and I began dating in college at Frostburg. It was fate. When Andrew and I started dating and spending more time with Katherine, it was clear that Calvin needed her in his life. So they got married. No joke. Making Katherine family was by far the best possible thing that could happen, because now we're all together forever! LOVE!
So on Sunday, Lucy and Mo were beyond thrilled to get some time with Uncle Calvin. (Aunt Katherine is great, but she doesn't carry children on her head like Calvin. He has a slight advantage.) We went out to lunch at DuClaw and then stopped at Target for a new shirt for Mo after her big chocolate milk incident at lunch. Katherine and I ended up far from the kids' section, so Calvin entertained the kids while we pretended not to know any of them.
After Target, we took the kiddies to see The Secret World of Arriety. Lucy may or may not now believe that there are tiny people living in the walls of most single-family homes.
On Monday we had just enough time in the morning to get a few bored kids out before "Phase Two" of the Great Maryland Adventure began. So we decided to head up the road about 20 minutes to tour the Herr's Potato Chip Factory in Nottingham, PA. It was just charming and adorable. The kids had a blast and they were just tickled pink when they got to eat hot potato chips off the line during the tour.
Mo was rocking the new Snoopy hoodie that Uncle Calvin and Aunt Katherine were compelled to buy at Target the day before. She thinks her "dog costume" is just amazing.
Claire had a great time. Her favorite part was when Mama's camera smacked her in the side of the head. Magical.
And that concludes Phase One of the Great Maryland Adventure. Next up, Cooke Nation!
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