Another Reason to Love the Midwest

We went out to dinner tonight. Max, Abram and I each got a meal and I got a drink. The bill came to $31. After tip.

I don't think our bill came to less than $40 once in Alexandria. My grocery bill last week was 2/3 what it has been for the past couple years.

At this rate Abram will be sipping his diet root beer in his skipper cap on a boat in no time. Pay cut, shmay cut. Well, it might be an inflatable row boat on the golf course's pond, but it will be a boat none the less.

Roommates

I'll tell you what's a good time: living with Shawn and Lisa.  

Tonight after an exhausting day we were all upstairs chatting.  Lisa decided to lead the troops downstairs for some must see TV.  She and I went downstairs and shortly after heard giggling.  Lots of giggling.  And then full blown laughter.  The next thing we know, Abram comes down the stairs with Shawn over his shoulder.  Yup, you read it right.  Apparently the scene went something like this:

S: (in his pitiful voice) Abram, will you carry me down?

A:  Okay.

pause

A:  Like a potato sack or wedding style?

But no worries people, masculinity in tact, they chose potato sack style.  

Quick Update

No time for anything fancy, but here's a little update for those of you wondering...

Our movers were scheduled to come pack us up and move us out on Tuesday.  To make a very long story short, they arrived at 10:30 PM, didn't know they were supposed to pack us up, went to wall-mart to get some packing materials, worked all night throwing things into boxes (ignoring my written instructions for each room), and finished at around 11 AM Wednesday morning.  

We spent the night with the Hales (the kids and I did anyway, Abram was up all night with the movers) and flew to Michigan Wednesday morning.  The movers arrived Thursday and we are now living on top of poor Shawn and Lisa.  We have no idea where anything is because of the ridiculous packing, but thank goodness for a humungous basement to store things in.  

Shawn and Lisa are putting in an offer on a house down the street tomorrow.  We are going to Australia in two weeks to visit my parents, so the hope is that they will be in their new home by the time we come back.  

Max has reverted to waking up at 5 AM, which let me tell you, is a real treat.  He also woke up this morning throwing up and continues to do so.  

We were so sad to say good bye to our friends.  Every time I read an email or a blog from one of them, I get teary eyed.

Despite a few rough days, we are so happy to be by Shawn and Lisa, see old friends, and already make some new ones.  Not to mention there is a new Potbelly's by us and I do love me some Oreo shake with chocolate sauce.  Mmmm.  

Block Party

I think it is safe to say that the thing I will miss most about our neighborhood are the impromptu block parties in front of our house. It usually starts with Max and Aida playing out front. Then Kate and Beth, with her big cup of tea, find their way over. Eventually Noah leads Marianne or James to the party as he has memorized the way. Then one by one other kids in the neighborhood out with their parents see us and stop to join in the fun. The block parties tend to include sidewalk chalk, bubbles, races, the sprinkler, Popsicles, fighting over toys and otherwise having a great time. Here are a few photos from Saturday.

The Oldhams

For about two and a half years of my college career, I drove up Covered Bridge Canyon every Sunday to break bread with my roommate Alyson's family, the Oldhams. Don and Leslie adopted me in to their family and I went right ahead and made myself at home, inviting myself to pretty much every family event. In fact, the last time I hung out with the fam I believe was the night Alyson's brother Dave proposed to his girlfriend in front of all of us. So there you go. I'm all about barging in on family affairs.

Anyway, Don and Leslie are in town for a work conference so we got together tonight for dinner. I believe I used the word "delightful" while talking to Abram about the evening on the way home. And it really was. We caught up with what we had all been doing, we ate some delicious food, and we laughed. And laughed some more. I can't say enough about the two of them. There's nothing like hanging out with people who leave you feeling happy and energized. I just feel blessed to have them in my life.

I've Got a Fever, and the Only Cure is More Amy Barker

Saturday night some of our friends threw us a little going away party. Competition and food being the two main themes of the night (they know us well). The competition was centered on Heather and Spencer's Wii (which did not come without a price).

Here is the tournament bracket for Guitar Hero. As you can see, Heather won, but I did make it to the final four thank you very much.
The prize was this beauty: 

Here's Abram. I'm sure it comes as no surprise that we were always serenaded when it was his turn since he can't help but sing along.
And Ms. Hales here wins the award for biggest trash talker of the night. (Note her standing in the bracket above :)


And just a little peek at the night:

See You Later Aligator

Thursday night was Abram's departure party.  It was really nice to hear everyone say nice things about him, but here's what was really nice to hear: "I read your blog all the time!"  What?  My blog?  Really? 

I'm so flattered.  But here's the problem.  The pressure!  Don't you always wonder what people are reading your blog you don't know about?  I know you do.  Don't try to act like you haven't found your ex-boyfriend's wife's blog.  And don't try to act like you don't check it weekly (Amy B).  

Anyway, now I have a whole new audience I'm writing for.  So Christine, Ann, Kyle... consider yourselves fully accounted for.  And if any brave lurkers are reading this that haven't made themselves known, do it.  I will write for you.

But this post isn't about me, it's about our boy Abram.  Good work man.  Thanks for bringing home all that moola, but I'm excited to get to know you again :)

Abram, Rawia, Scott

Doug, Hilary, Kristin, Abram

Abram, Brijesh

Chart House

Friday night we went to the Chart House with Kristin and Jamie.  It was packed, so we were pretty stoked when they sat us right next to the window with a gorgeous view of the Potomac.  Of course with the flash and all, you'll just have to take my word for it.  

I'm embarrassed to say in the almost three years we've lived here, Abram and I have never come down to the waterfront in Old Town.  I loved it.  It was almost enough to make me decide to stay - except that the reason we never went is because Abram was always working.  Well, that and I  couldn't drag him away from The Carlyle.     

And yes, I'm wearing the same outfit I wore Thursday night.  My baby's only 6 months old and I have nothing to wear I can fit into.  So don't judge me. 

Fine, she's 7 months old. 

First (paid) Haircut

Historically, Abram and Kristin have cut Max's hair. Of course, each time they did it looked like Max was signing up for the military. So today, Max got his car cut by a true professional -- one of the Hair Cuttery's finest: Ulia (from Afghanistan). Ulia gave Max a perfect haircut (see photo). Sadly, she did something very funny with Abram's hair and she did not give Abram a certificate or a lollipop. Abram forgives Ulia because Ulia was probably just using the haircut as a political protest against the horrible treatment of some of the detainees in Guantanamo Bay.

Deep Thoughts

We went to the grocery store today and when we walked in Max asked, "Where Jesus?"  Um, como?  (sorry Kris, but that's what I really thought).  I told him I didn't know and that was the end of that.  We walked home and stayed outside to play for awhile.  Max pulled his little folding chair up to my folding chair and this was our conversation:

Max: Mama, Jesus at the store.

Kristin: He is?

Max: Yes, with the babies... a bunch of stuff I didn't understand... watch TV.

Kristin: Does Jesus watch TV?

Max: (condescendingly) Noooo, Jesus no watch TV.  Jesus watch SPORTS!

Never a dull day or conversation with this one.  

The Greatest Show on Earth

I took Max to the circus.  I was excited to get some Max and Mommy time.  Whenever it's just the two of us, he says, "No baby.  Juuuu-st Max."  I was also excited because, let's be honest, I figured it would make good blog material.  But no.  He pretty much just stood there looking like this the whole time:

Beauty Can Be Painful

Brandi sent these cute leggings to Aviva and I recently got them out to see if she could fit into them yet.  I must have left them out, because the next morning, when Abram went to get Max out of bed and to go down stairs, Max said, "Daddy, too tight.  Too tight!"  Abram couldn't figure out what the heck he was talking about until Max pulled up his pajama bottoms to reveal these beauties: