Memorial Day

On this Memorial Day, we had grand plans to go to Eastern Market first thing this morning and stock up on some flowers for our fresh new flower beds.  Except we had one problem...  Eastern Market was closed.  Oops.  I was expecting huge Flower Day-style crowds.  Not so much.  It felt eerily empty.  Luckily, there were two flower vendors who had set up shop at the end of one of the awnings.  So much for getting a really good bargain since they priced their flowers all the same - go figure.  Well, beggars can't be choosers, so we made the best of it and got some great flowers.

Tess and Nora loved it too because there were no crowds, no faraway places to park, and they were even gifted a free flower each by one of the nice salesmen.

By the end, I was convinced that Memorial Day is the best day to go flower shopping at (closed) Eastern Market!

 

 

Nora thoroughly enjoyed her cheese puffs on the way home.

Then we got out the sprinkler...

... followed by sidewalk chalk...

Poor Nora has been struggling with her teething lately... she is getting a bunch at once right now and what a roller coaster ride it is.  One minute, she's all smiles and the next minute she's miserable.

Tess has started this new little routine where they climb into our bed after bathtime to watch a show before bed.  She also demands that Nora be put in the bed right next to her.  Nora loves it.

Hope you had a nice weekend too!  Good night!

Our new house!

Well, not really, but it sure looks like it!  We are so lucky to have such amazing friends that came over and spent the day here today helping us to do our new landscaping.  Mom's friend, Courtney, designed the plan from start to finish and came all the way here to direct the troops with planting.  And what a troop we had with Courtney, Jesse, Nettie and even Mackenzie and Blake.  Tess and Nora had fun playing with them.  Mackenzie is on her way to being babysitter extraordinaire as she was so good with Nora while everyone was working! 

Yes, we even put small children to work.  It builds character.

Mackenzie, Nora and Tess looking for worms

Score!

The excitement was too much for Mackenzie.

Who let the dog out?

Tess and Blake.  Or Ben, which is what Tess spent most of the day calling him.

 
Tess and Mackenzie.  Tess also referred to her as "the 7 year old" numerous times. 
Me:  "Tess, her name is Mackenzie."  Tess:  "Oh, yeah."

Going for a ride in the truck... all the way around the corner to the driveway.

Before

After!

Happy Birthday, Great Grandma!

Great Grandma Mary is 85 today!  We celebrated with her by going out to dinner and to church.  What a nice day!

Tess and the birthday girl

Nora has the best humidity hair EVER

Papa and his girls

Tess is showing Nora the picture that Uncle Brendan and Aunt Debie gave to Grandma.

Now it appears that they are taking credit for the gift too.

Yes, this would be cake number two.

And this was cake number one.  Don't ask.

Grandma and the grandkids

The pink family + one.

Nora and her new buddy, Thomas

Nora is wondering why Thomas won't just sit back and relax?

Happy Birthday, Grandma! We love you!

What a catch!

This post is a little tardy, but a few weeks ago, Tess had a very special thing happen at the ballpark.  She was lucky enough to get to go to two ballgames back-to-back... and not just any two games, but two games versus the YANKEES.  This girl has a rough life.

The first night, Uncle Mike was doing his best to work over Magglio in right field to toss up a ball in between innings.  Magglio never came through (but we still love him).  However, Casper Wells DID come through and tossed up a ball for Tess!  Neither Tess nor Uncle Mike caught it as he had Tess perched up on his shoulders (so I apologize for the title of this post as it is completely misleading!), but when someone else tried to take it, Casper motioned that it was to go to Tess.  And it did!

At the game the next day, the highlight was a celebration for Paws' birthday.  He's 16 now, you know.  Tess was pretty excited to get to sing to him.  I guess Paws even got a car for his birthday (now that he can drive, duh), that lucky cat.

Brendan & Debie's Wedding!

What a beautiful day we had yesterday!  Our Uncle Brendan married his lovely bride, Debie.  It was just perfect and we couldn't be happier for them.  Meena was Debie's Matron of Honor and Tess even got to be the ring/flower girl.  She did great!  We are so thankful that they let us play such a special part in their day.

We are thrilled to have Aunt Debie in our family!