Bubbles + cousins + Baltimore Harbor = winning

This weekend, my sister Tahira and her husband had to go to a wedding, so we watched Russy and Matty.

We'd already planned to take our kids to the Science Center for Bubble Days, because Clair's absolute favorite thing (besides screeching at people and being irascible) is bubbles. So we just took all the kids with us. All five of 'em.

We ended up spending the entire day at the Science Center and the Inner Harbor (for lunch, ice cream, pirate-boat-watching and dancing). They got thoroughly soaked, playing in bubble solution for hours, and then we dragged the kids to Artscape for a little bit, where the boys made some spin art and mostly ran through a huge mist-er getting even more soaked, and Clair fell asleep in her stroller.

We were all BEAT at the end of the day, but it was  super fun and the kids loved hanging with their cousins (as usual).

See for yourselves:

What could be more fun than playing in a huge pool of sudsy bubbles?

"It's on my feet! It's on my hands! I need a towel!"

Hey Cary, check out your cool bubble pirate hat! Never mind that. Boohoohoo. Matty got suds on my glasses! (Sheesh. I can't with this kid.)

Russy tried to show Dean how to do this, but Dean knows EVERYTHING (in case you didn't know) so there was lots of tugging and minimal bubbling.

Mommy, Russy's bubble was THIS big!

As you can tell, they had so much fun with bubbles outside, they barely wanted to go inside the building!

Eating their ice cream on a sculpture at the Inner Harbor. And check out the dancing that ensued (below):

 

Poor Matty was so tired, he missed the ice cream. We bought him a cone, though, just in case he woke up while we were all eating ours. But he slept like a hibernating bear. So Lester ate Matty's. And his.

By the time we got to Artscape, we were all super tired and wished we could get pushed around in a stroller while we slept, like Matty and Clair did.

But at least the next morning, the kids slept until after 8:30 a.m. - and took nice looooong afternoon naps.

Bubbles + cousins = WINNING.

Is it bad that I am re-capping the weekend on Thursday?

I just can't get it together folks. It's Thursday and I'm just getting around to re-capping LAST weekend.

But better late than never, right? (If ever a motto was written by a procrastinator, that one is it.)

Last weekend, like most weekends, we had 50,000 things to do. Here are the highlights:

We went to Abby and Maya's 4th Birthday Party, which was held at the Mayfield playground, just around the corner from us. It was the perfect place for a party -- close by, shady and cool, with familiar equipment for the kids to play on. And Abby and Maya were the cutest!

When I pointed my camera at them and asked the birthday girls to hug, this is what they did. Awwww! After this, I learned to say, "Hug EACH OTHER."

They love this little playground. Look at my sweet pea!

Clair was the only one who wanted to keep her party hat on. And I had one on too. Me and my little girl -- always dressed for the occasion.

After the birthday party, we met up with our new friends the Stewarts, and their two little girls, at the Maryland Science Center for "Make-a-Mess Day."

This one LOVED making a mess.

They have no idea what they're doing with this touch-screen thing because they. can't. read.

Dean and Lester enjoyed a little show about electricity. Clair kept saying, "I don't LIKE that show!" And Cary just wanted to play with the touch screens nearby, even though ...see above photo.

Afterward, Lester went to a housewarming/networking event (with some big names in attendance!) while I took the boys to baseball and played with Clair. After that, Stephanie and Tom (my boss/friends) stopped by unexpectedly, which was really nice. And then Antwyne and Mari dropped off Antony unexpectedly, so we had an extra 4-year-old for dinner and bathtime, which was also really nice. The boys love Antony and the three of them get along famously, laughing and giggling and being super silly together. Too bad I didn't get to see too much of that silliness, because I peaced Lester out and went to Holly's 40th birthday party on her and Jessica's awesome rooftop deck, drank margaritas and ate Mediterranean food until I almost popped.

Check out the view of South Baltimore from their rooftop. Nice, right? Their rooftop deck is nicer than my entire house. Not even joking.

Sunday, Lester took the kids to church and I stayed home and cooked a huge Southern breakfast, because my parents came over for brunch -- and brought my little brother Rashad! (Oh, my heart!)
I wish I'd thought to take a real photo of my brother with the kids, but instead all I did was snap this spur of the moment photo, when all three of the kids were jumping and playing on my Dad, and laughing hysterically. I stood in the doorframe and saw three men whom I love so much, playing with my three babies, whom I love so much. And I may or may not have gotten a little teary.
 

It's almost hard to believe that's my baby brother over there in the corner, just hanging out at my house after stuffing himself with grits and sausage and cinnamon apples. God is so good! When I think about those first few weeks when he was in the hospital...I don't even know how to put into words how I feel.

And then after my family left (waaaah!), Antywne and Mari came back to get Antony's lovey, which he left behind the night before. They stayed for a nice, long time while I fixed dinner and the boys played again with Antony so well that I almost felt like they'd read my earlier post and thought, "We'll show her that she knows NOTHING!"

Seriously - they were like three peas in a goofy pod. Cary and Dean still don't always know to appropriately play with friends (Cary especially), but it was heartening to see that they can laugh and pal around sometimes, when they want to.

Thanks to those of you who commented or sent me notes about twin-closeness and friendships. You don't know how much it helps to be able to put your concerns/anxieties out into the world and have people take you seriously, even if you might just be being a little bit crazy (all the time). Thank you all! I definitely intend to try some of the things you suggested.

Happy 4th! Will post photos of red-white-and-blue-themed children next week!

Quick catch-up post!

I have 15 minutes before a call, so I thought I'd take 10 to get down for posterity's sake a few things I have been meaning to blog about.  In truth, each of the events could have been its own full post, but in the interest of time (which I never have enough of) this will have to do.

1. Russy and Matty spent a Saturday and Sunday with us, so my sister and her husband could spend their anniversary weekend sans kids. We went to the Harbor, and the Maryland Science Center.

B'more boys!

This photo cracks me up. A dinosaur ROARED and this is the look they both gave. Ha!

Isn't Matty the world's most adorable child? P.S. Please let me tell you about the temper tantrums when it was time to leave this water area (from Clair, of course).

We went to the Charmery, a new super-cute ice cream spot in Hampden, which boasts spoons that change colors when cold! I had salted caramel ice cream; Lester had fig and port wine ice cream! Weird! The kiddos all got gummi bears on their (various flavors of) ice cream, which was really all they wanted.

Clair is eating all my salted caramel ice cream while I try to document this moment!

The owner of The Charmery came over to personally compliment Cary on his "excellent ice cream mustache," complete with goatee!

And we took them to a really awesome farm, where little piglets ran past us, we got to milk a cow, the boys officiated a pig race, and we got to hold little chicks just a day old.

Pale green and peach-colored eggs? Say what?

2. Lester and I went to a really beautiful wedding (remember the aforementioned MACARONI AND CHEESE BAR?? [Whaaat?!]) and my sweetie and I clean up pretty good, if I do say so myself.

3. And we spent the night at my Mom's, which was good because my cousin Nikki (who had just defended her dissertation and so is now Dr. Nikki!) and her family came in town from New Jersey, so we got to see everyone, including my sister's Kadija's kids, who we haven't seen in way too long.

Nikki's daughter, Nia, who is the sweetest 8-year-old girl -- and very tall! Also, Alahna and Kwahli. Hi kids!

Me and my "little" cousin, Nikki.

For perspective, here we are at my Nana's house in Boston circa 1981. That's my cousin Dru sulking in the background.

The kids had a FABULOUS time playing with all their cousins. As usual, there were tears galore when it was time to leave.

This is my nephew, Kalonji, who will be 13 next month. I can't stand it.

This is my brother Haleem and his girlfriend and her baby, Olivia. I was really excited to see Haleem. He almost always misses the family events. Love him so much.

OK, now I'm all caught up. Whew!

Weekend museums, hikes and chai tea

This weekend Lester took Clair to the Science Center and I took the boys to the Walters Art Museum for some art-making and museum-exploring.

The activity was called "A Horse of Course," and was really fun. There were scissors, markers, "model magic" and pretend hay involved. How could it not be?

"Drop-in Art Activities: A Horse of Course - Saddle up as we explore equestrian artwork throughout the month of August. Drop-in, make, and take a fantastic piece of art home." 

The theme was horses. The boys made horses out of clay and stables. I helped Cary with his, but he drew the eye and the nose himself. And he did the legs and ear.

Dean insisted on making his all by himself,  without help, as you can see.  (I did casually mention that horses have 4 legs and not 6, so he took two away.) The instructor lovingly called his creation "Horse-o-saurus."

The boys did so great at the museum -- even on our hour-long walk throughout the building, looking at all kinds of things that are not really for 3-year-olds. But they loved it, and didn't want to leave.

But food was calling all of us. So we stopped at Kumari, my favorite Indian/Nepalese spot for lunch buffet. It was a rainy day, so chai tea was in order. I even let the boys sip some. Afterward, Dean said, "Mommy, I don't want my water. I want adult tea."

I love that my kids eat Indian! What they didn't eat, I happily finished!

While we were gone, Lester -- who wasn't feeling so well -- stayed home and rested with Clair, who took an epic 3-and-a-half-hour nap.

But the next day, the boys had a playdate with Hugo! So Lester took her to the Science Center, on a Daddy-daughter date. Lester said she had a ball! And the three musketeers and I went on a "hike" along the Herring Run.

Dean, Cary, Hugo and I explored exposed roots, mud puddles, the rushing stream and hidden caves.

It was a great weekend -- the temperature was ridiculously perfect -- and I am starting to get sad that the summer is almost over.

Fun-filled weekend!

Friday night, Lester and I went out on a date.

It was a beautiful warm evening and we decided to skip having a fancy dinner and instead try this fancy, newish pizza spot we'd been hearing a lot about. 

So glad we did! It was relaxed and delicious and easy-going. Just what we needed.

On Saturday, the boys and I headed out to the library and picked up a few books. Then, after their nap, we went to a Taste of Two Cities, a huge food truck competition. 

I got fried green tomatoes from this truck. NOM NOM NOM!

There was a big, open play area for kids and I tried to show the kids how to hula hoop.

FAIL!

We also miscalculated a bit by thinking there'd be a hot dog or pizza slice somewhere on the grounds of this gathering of food trucks, so when we figured out that it was all mostly "adult" food, and expensive to boot, we decided this was one night the kids could eat nothing but junk and it would be just fine.

Needless to say, this was a very popular decision on our part.

Unfortunately, Dean insisted he wanted a cupcake and not ice cream, so after he inhaled his (very delicious) cupcake, he had a severe case of dessert envy.

"He's not sharing!!!

He badgered Cary and whined to me and badgered Cary some more, until finally Cary gave in to the peer pressure.

Dean always gets what he wants from Cary. Check out his knowing grin. (This kid is hilarious!)

We were out late Saturday food-tuck-tasting, but we managed to get up and out of the house first thing Sunday morning to go to a lovely rooftop breakfast at the Maryland Science Center.
 

The event was sponsored by the Center as an attempt to woo members from specific neighborhoods. Of course you know we're already members, but that didn't stop us from taking advantage of free breakfast, looking out over the Inner Harbor on a beautiful Sunday morning.

We spent a couple hours roaming the nearly empty museum, exploring the laws of physics, looking at turtles and playing in the water room.

They happily sat on this bed of nails. Yikes!

Clair yelled at every child who came her way, because she totally believed the entire water table was hers and hers alone.

And then we headed home to nap and get ready for the work week ahead.

But the weekend would not have been complete if Lester and I didn't recognize in some small way the anniversary of our first date, which was June 2, 2006.  We didn't know we were on a date at first, but that night we drank a lot of sangria and talked and talked and talked -- through three different watering holes -- and realized we had stumbled (a little tipsily) into something special.

So last night, while I was cooking dinner, Lester whipped up a batch of sangria!

And after the kids went to bed, we sat at our dining room table, surrounded by three high chairs, and talked and talked and talked until we were both a little tipsy. We talked so much we completely missed Mad Men and before we knew it, it was midnight (egads!!) ...

I'm exhausted and just a teeny bit hungover this morning. But I don't regret staying up late drinking sangria and talking with my husband for three-and-a-half uninterrupted hours. The fact that we still enjoy each other's company after 7 years (7 years and no itch!) ..well I think that is something special.