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!

Cary and Dean are 4!

Cary and Dean turned 4 on Sunday, which was also Mother's Day.

I honestly couldn't think of a better way to spend Mother's Day than to celebrate the birthday of the two sweet boys who made me a Mom in the first place! The boys are FOUR. Can you believe it?

We spent their day at my Mom and Dad's house, where they were surrounded by 10,000 cousins, stuffed full of jelly beans, cupcakes, juice boxes, lollipops, ice cream, chips and a million other things. This is the first year they really get what it means to have a birthday, and they were so excited all day! They especially loved getting to do any and everything they wanted, eating crap all day, and playing outside with all their presents and cousins. If you ask them, they would probably say they had the best day of their lives so far. And I couldn't argue with that. It was pretty great.

Here's the day in (way too many) pictures!

Headed out to the festivities. Look who's wearing her sandals!!! (After being bribed with gel pens.) And look whose shoes are on the wrong feet (as usual).

The party was construction themed, hence the little hardhats.

Blowing out the cupcake.

I made cupcakes for C and D, and also some for Aminah and Kwahli, whose birthdays are on the 4th and 5th, respectively. The boys graciously shared their birthday party with their cousins.

Hi Matty!

Opening 1 million presents from Nana and Granddad and Auntie Hira.

This series of three photos of Clair cracks me up.

OK, I am taking a picture with this stupid hat on.

Now what do you want me to do?

Seriously. I am way too old for this. LOL.

My beautiful Mom, who bought the boys all the things they asked for. They were so happy.

Happy Mother's Day to us!

There were 10,000 children outside. No kidding. If you count the three teenagers (one of them, Kalonji, is in this picture, with an early 1990s-style high-top-fade) there were 14 kids. FOURTEEN. All 1st and 2nd cousins. This is why I don't really ever have to plan a real party and invite kids over.

Dean running one way.

Cary running another.

My Dad bought them scooters, which they LOVE. Especially Dean.

Russy is looking more and more like a big boy every day!

Aminah is 9. I can't get over that.

She has major attitude and drives my sister crazy. But she is still always super sweet to me.

This picture of Clair makes my heart skip a beat!

Alahna is at that age where she is always super sweet and still super helpful.

Kwahli did not get off this bike, except to try to help Dean learn how to pedal on it. Which lasted all of five seconds.

My sister bought the boys these blow up mallets and shields so they could beat the crap out of each other. 

Lester got on one of the kids' bikes and Cary thought this was so funny!

My sister's husband, Reggie. My husband. Same stance.

Reggie and Kalonji tossed the football around for awhile, until the ball smashed into my sister and that was the end of that.

My Dad bought Clair and Matty matching tricycles.

And he bought all the mothers of the family chocolate-covered strawberries. Isn't that sweet? (He had my sister write the note, to which she replied, "Why do I have to write my own Mother's Day note?")

When it was time for us to leave, Matty cried and cried. My boys didn't want to leave either, but they were too exhausted to cry. This birthday wore them out.

Happy birthday, Dean and Cary!

Fire party!

Our friend Hugo turned 4 in April and his Mom and Dad planned a fabulous fire station party yesterday.

Seriously, this might be the best birthday party idea EVER.

We got to ride on a real fire truck - around the block. Sirens and all!

These boys almost peed themselves, they were so excited.

Clair wasn't exactly thrilled about the riding on a fire truck part. She clung to me like this the entire ride.

The kids got to spray the fire hose! ZOMG!

Dean was serious about putting out the house fire.

Cary was even more serious about it.

Clair was seriously mad that Matty was with us all weekend, horning in on everything in the world that OBVIOUSLY belongs to her and only her!

We got to hear all about how the firemen put on their gear, and how much all the gear weighs and how fast they can put on all 70-pounds of gear and on and on. And we even watched a fireman slide down a pole! (I won't tell you how many stripper jokes we heard at this party. It's embarrassing how a firepole turns every adult in a 5-mile radius into a 13-year-old. Including me.)

There's the birthday boy up front in the center. You throw the coolest parties, Hugo!

We also just got to be super stylish in a fire house. Who's on fire? Clair, of course! 

 

C&D in front of a huge fire engine tire at the party. And this is the two of them at Hugo's party last year - at the streetcar museum. Look how babyfaced they look there!

Of course, there was also cake and pizza and fruit and juiceboxes and just all in all a seriously fun time!  These kids sure are lucky to have friends who throw super-cool parties. Because this Momma is Duncan Hines cupcakes and Party City balloons all the way. They'll see this weekend when Cary and Dean turn FOUR!

OMG. Where does the time go?

And did I mention there was ice cream -- from the ICE CREAM TRUCK -- on Saturday? 

Mom's birthday/my anniversary/Angel-takes-photos weekend!

My wonderful Mom's birthday is on Sunday. She'll be (cough, cough, ahem!) years old, but she doesn't look a day over 40.

To surprise her, my Nana (her mom), and her two sisters Fern and Valerie drove down from Boston today!

Aunt Fern is on the far left, my Mom's in the middle. Auntie Val is on the far right and my Nana is in the middle. The other two dudes are two of my Mom's brothers. (Uncle Mike didn't make this reunion.)

With all that family in town, we knew we needed to do something fab. So we're having a party this weekend!

I'll be busy, busy, busy (what else is new?) cooking for the party, dealing with the kiddos and basically being hostess-with-the-mostest, because my Dad has made me Chief Party Planner.

But I am so excited because my girl Angel C. is coming to take photos of the party, and some portraits of the Jackson girls (that's my mom and her sisters and Nana)! The photo shoot is my gift to my Mom and to Nana, whose birthday is on the 10th.

I get to see my family! And hang out with Angel! And get some kick-ass photos!! (You can see some of Angel's beautiful portraits at asc-images.com.)

And...tomorrow is me and Lester's 6th anniversary! 

AND...Nana and my Aunties brought LOBSTAH! (Gotta say it the Boston way!)

So this is going to be a great weekend! Can't wait!

Granddad/Pop-Pop turns 97! Happy birthday!

So much stuff has happened since I last blogged, including a Davis family visit to a church (finally!), a bunch of cook-outs and visits from friends; I finished book one of Game of Thrones; Michelle our nanny got MRSA (!!!), so we had a bit of a panicky scramble trying to figure out childcare for this week (Lester ended up taking the week off); and lots of other interesting things to blog about.

But tonight the boys start soccer practice, so I know I'll want to blog about that tomorrow. Which means I HAD to get one very important thing down first. My Granddad turned 97 on Aug. 30th!! Isn't that a blessing?!

We all got together to celebrate him over Labor Day weekend. We had birthday brunch and the menu was off-the-chain. Grits, corned beef hash, eggs, waffles, pancakes, cinnamon apples (which I made and they were goooood), sausage, two kinds of bacon, coffee, orange juice and then...CAKE.

The kids had a blast playing with their cousins and eating everything under the sun. I loved seeing all my family together - even my brothers, who are usually MIA. And we all loved thinking about the blessings that my Granddad's near-century of living has brought. The older I get, the more I realize that family means everything. I'm grateful to have such a big and boisterous group of people who I love and who I know love me.

97 and still smiling!

Granddad and my sister Kadija.

Granddad doesn't move out of this chair, so we all had to pose for pics with him here.

Matty and Clair waiting for food.

Isn't Matty the cutest?

My boys love Auntie Hira!

My oldest nephew, Kalonji. Can't believe he'll be 13 in November.

My brother Rashad's daughter Nasya, Aminah, Kalonji, Kwahli and Russy.

Nasya, Matty, Aminah, Kalonji, Kwahli and Russy.

I love how Matty is looking at Dean. His little face cracks me up!

Kwahli and Alahna

My brother Rashad! So happy to see him!!

My Dad did most of the cooking. Everything was delicious!

Clair had on a pretty dress, but she spilled my whole cup of coffee over on herself and me. So we had to change her clothes. I had to walk around in coffee-stained clothes.

The Holmes Family.

My Mom put 97candles on Granddad's cake. It took three people to light it.

This is what it looked like all lit. Call the Fire Marshal! Seriously, after he blew out the candles, we all almost choked from the smoke. LOL.

Granddad is so special he had to have two cakes! Kadija and her family brought this one. Dean said, "How did trees get on a cake?" And Cary said, "They just grew!"

This man has been alive almost 100 years. He still eats any and everything he wants. He is healthy as a horse. And sharp as a tack. I said to him, "Let's do this again in another 97 years." He said, "I'll be here!"

My sister and me, doling out cake.

Clair was soooo tired, but not too tired to eat cake and ice cream.

Twins!

Dean and his Granddad. I hope Dean and Cary get to celebrate HIS 97th birthday!

My brother Haleem showed up -- late, of course. But he came!

Haleem and Cary!

And just because we were there  marveling at Granddad's 97 years, we had to pull out the photo albums. Such GEMS in here! I could look at these old photos all day.

That's my Granddad in 1973 giving my Dad a look that says, "Why won't you cut your hair?!"

That's my beautiful Grandma holding my Dad in her arms. Isn't she amazing?

My Dad!

That's my Grandma on the right and my Aunt Pearl. Aunt Pearl was a hot ticket, wasn't she?  I think my sister Tahira looks like her a little.

And just for good measure, that's my Mom (weighing in at 90 lbs.), holding me as a little baby, and kneeling next to me in my stroller. We're in front of my Grandma and Granddad's house -- the same spot where I took the picture of Matty with the hula hoop!

Anyway, it was quite a stroll down memory lane and quite a marvelous day. I'm so happy my kids got to be a part of their Pop-Pop's 97th birthday. I hope they'll get to be a part of his 100th!