Seven year-olds are the best

My baby girl Evelyn is, in my view, the definition of the word sweet. She's very affectionate and one of her favorite things to do is go on dates with Mommy. We usually end up at Starbucks playing a game of checkers. In fact we even donated a new checkers set to Starbucks recently so we'd have a complete game to play with. I love enjoying simple pleasures with her. Last night as I was putting her to bed this was the brief conversation we had:

"Mommy, let's go someplace together and have a date."

"OK, where do you want to go?"

"Paris."

So much for simple pleasures. Someday Emmy, we'll go and drink strawberry frappacinos together in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. Love you, Em!

What are you doing this summer?

Ahhh, summer. Some things we've been doing recently....

Enjoying the pool with friends.
Of course, Janelle continues playing basketball. She finished up on her third team since October, playing for Bob Ferry's summer league. She had a great time getting to play with the Varsity team. (Thanks for coming out to support her, Coach!) She'll head to Five Star Basketball Camp for a week in Emmitsburg, MD next week.
Elise spent almost 3 weeks in Mexico with the Youth Ministry from CLC, but being on the Admin. Team there are almost no pictures of the Admin. at all. Apparently they were busy shopping and cooking for dozens of people and didn't get in many pictures. (I think she's fine with that.) We're glad to have her back home!!
Evelyn was delighted to participate in Olivia's Camp Ladybug. It included Arts & Crafts, Cake Decorating, Sewing, Spa Day, and making Ice Cream Sundaes, all while continually reminding them of God's love and care for them.
(She's playing "Tongues" with the girls)


Olivia did a wonderful job creating a very special week for these little girls.
Evelyn had a couple of weeks of swimming lessons with her favorite teacher, Katie. She even began learning butterfly.
We tried out Rita's Italian Ice, but it was a No-Go with my family. I don't like ice cream so I can't judge, but custard and shaved ice just didn't measure up to real creamy ice cream for them.
Evelyn just finished up a week of Sewing Camp with Joyce. What a wonderful opportunity for her! The other girls were several years older than Ev, but she held her own and came away with a cute pair of shorts she'll enter in the 4H Dept. at the Fair.
Joyce is quite a talented and sweet young girl. She kept everyone on track all week with great patience and joy.
Last night we tried out our firepit and roasted 2 bags of marshmallows with the Rashfords. (That's a lot of sugar!)

(Ok, what is up with them in this picture? Don't they look like they're about to start incantations any minute?)
The mesmerizing effect of a roaring fire.
And in just 2 weeks we'll head south to the brand new Marriott Grand Dunes Resort in Myrtle Beach.
August 5th can't come soon enough!
What are you doing this summer?

Somewhere, someone is always watching you - be sure to smile.

On July 4th, before heading to RFK for a noon game, my generous husband took the 4 women in his life to a lovely breakfast at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in D.C. We then took a side trip to the site of the new Nationals Stadium to see how it is progressing and get a few pictures. Little did we know they were taking pictures of us from the webcam. Christoph went onto the Clark Construction website and found us. Kinda cool/creepy!

Click to enlarge.

(Remember, you're always being watched.)

Eight thousand, fifty-three days (and still counting...)

That's approximately how long I've been married to my childhood sweetheart and best friend. We celebrated 22 years recently by heading north to Pittsburgh to catch a NATS game in impressive PNC Park. (He's wined and dined me at some of the best restaurants in resorts around. Enjoying a baseball game together for our anniversary was just as wonderful.)
Before the game, we had lunch on top of Mount Washington, took a ride on the Duquesne Incline, built in 1877 and still running, and walked around the city a bit.

(This Segway Tour along the Alleghany River was too funny not to snap a picture of.)

Heinz Field
My happy husband watching warm-ups and waiting for autographs.

We met precious few NATS fans up there. Funny how there is instant camaraderie with these folks when you're in the enemy's camp.

We had fantastic seats right behind the NATS dugout.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have the Perogies Race. We told the people in front of us that in DC we have the Presidents Race. He turned to his wife and said, "They have the Presidents Race and we have the Perogies Race. What does that say about us?"

We happened to be there on Fireworks Night - a very impressive fireworks show at the end of the game over the Ohio River which you can see from your seat in the stadium.
It was a wonderful weekend. There's nowhere else I would have rather been than with you, my friend. Actually, considering that I've known you since I was, *gulp*, thirteen it's really more like 11,315 days that you've been my best friend. (Wow! We're old, dear.)
Happy Anniversary!!

: This post is dedicated to fellow diehard NATS fans, young Andrew T. and Dre & Becca K. :