weekend recap, july 8 edition

1. plowing through vacation photos | 2. noble beast | 3. Friday night tapas dinner | 4. Post sleepover sleep | 5. weekend snacking | 6. weekend snacking | 7. Flowers from Neel's garden | 8. Besties | 9. First harvest | 10. More plowing | 11. 4th of July dinner, a few days late | 12. And, cue dessert | 13. Breakfast at Wimbledon | 14. Not losing a chance to plow through posts and photos | 15. Tea break | 16. Violet's bath | 17. Lucy's bath | 18. Thea's bath | 19. Action shot | 20. Neel's garden, vacation inspired | 21. Evening light.

Hey! Guess what cool souvenir I brought back from our trip? A sinus infection! Woo-hoo! Why is it that Neel and Callum can get a little bug and recover within a day or two and I'm knocked flat in a take-naps-every-afternoon-and-need-lung-transplants kind of way? I'm finally feeling better today, but suffice it to say (what in the world does that mean, anyway?), we took it easy this weekend. 

Cal had a sleepover Friday night, and by the time he surfaced on Saturday he was ready for some snuggles. We piled on the snacks and a West Wing marathon (we haven't caught up to Erin yet!), and huddled under the fan on the family room sofa. It's HOT here. I may or may not have napped a little. Let's face it. I napped. I'm sick. 

Sunday I stirred myself a little. Meaning: we watched Wimbledon, I edited photos and worked on posts for the week, we went to the garden center (how could Neel not have been inspired by all the beautiful gardens that we saw?) and then we watched more West Wing. We also watched Bull Durham (the clean version) and The King's Speech (Neel has The Queen on the docket...we're in a British movie mood apparently.).

I've been agonizing (!) about how to write about our trip. Agonizing! It's a tricky balance, making sure I show you everything but not inundate (read: bore) you with story after story of My Summer Vacation. Yawn. I think I've figured out how to lay things out, and I'll start tomorrow with a quick overview. Hope I don't bore you too much. Hope I don't bore my own family too much!

So what did you guys do this weekend? Surely you got off the sofa more than I did? Surely you coughed less than I did? I'm starting my blogging class this week...excited and nervous...what are you guys up to? 

weekend recap, june 17

1. Barge on the river | 2. | TDB 3. Stormy sky, no storm | 4. Hitting lessons | 5. Neel freaks me out | 6. Garden work | 7. Saturday supper | 8. Spoons | 9. These boys | 10. Bagel shop | 11. Breakfast | 12. Doggies attend breakfast | 13. One of the best dads ever | 14. Father/Son dart game | 15. Brunch | 16. Pimento cheese plate | 17. Bloody, Beer, Water | 18. Father's Day pie | 19. Pool time | 20. Splash bound | 21. Soaker

Neel leaves today, so our weekend felt hectic. A little. Cal had a good day on Friday, just generally making good decisions and working hard, so we hit his favorite wing joint for dinner. That feels like a weekly thing these days which makes him happy, but me not so much. Don't get me wrong, I love The Dirty Buffalo, but sometimes momma wants a salad.  

Saturday was our usual. Hitting lesson, house (and yard) work, and we made BBQ nachos for dinner Saturday night. Those were pretty good! Cal's friends came to eat with us, and afterward we had a "death match" of spoons. Yes, those of you who have played, know it. Spoons can get quite violent. Part of its charm.

Father's Day was good. Had a good long talk with my dad. Took Neel out for two meals and made him make one (we grilled out for dinner). Neel and Cal played some darts, I made a strawberry almond clafoutis and we went to the pool.  I'm lucky to have a great dad, and I married a man who has turned out to be a pretty awesome dad as well. And all day long, I saw great dads going about their day. Doing things that good men do. Neel and our neighbor Tyler cleaned up the yard of a neighbor of ours who has a new(ish) baby and whose husband is currently deployed. At the pool, the dads were on it. To the point of having a cannonball contest to splash the kids while they waited out adult swim.

Good men abound, really. We should spend more than just a day celebrating them.

And now it's the week. We bundle Neel onto a plane in a few hours, and Cal and I are on our own to muck about as best we can. A lot to do (including baseball camp, but not for me), but that bright light at the end of the tunnel? That's the door to an awaiting airplane.