My version of Heaven (in pictures)

Lester's 40 for 40 gift this weekend was a surprise trip to my Mom's house. On our way there, he made a quick stop along I-95 at a new place he discovered that is now my favorite place on Earth. And then we continued on to my Mom's for a little party Lester planned, with my two sisters and their kids, my Mom and Dad and us. I was totally, totally surprised, and totally, totally thrilled!!

Instead of gushing about it in all caps and a million exclamation points, I will just show you what Heaven looks like in my dreams.

Well, hello lovers.

"Mommy! They are moving!!"

Not anymore, they're not. (Five little loverboys. 12 pounds of amazingness.)

He bought a bushel of crabs. They are all gone.

More sea-dwelling protein.

And still more, doused in white wine, onions and garlic.

A couple sides (and my Mom's famous potato salad: not pictured.)

Mom went out and bought these adorable crab-and-lobster cracking accessories. This double-sided paper towel holder is genius!

Drunk off lobster, lemon and butter, I had no problems wearing this stupid lobster hat.

Aaaaaaaand -- there was chocolate cake for dessert. BOO-YA!

I wish I was turning 40 EVERY YEAR!!

Father's Day Fun!

We had a great Father's Day weekend!

Saturday, we took the kids to the Sailabration, to acknowledge the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and give the boys the synapses for Holy Cow! Those are some tall ships!

Holy Cow! Those are some tall ships. And Holy Cow! There are a ton of people out here!

Cary and Dean, as you can tell, were thrilled by this outing.

I had plans to spend most of Sunday morning with my Dad and Granddad in D.C., fixing them a Father's Day breakfast, so I celebrated Lester on Saturday night. After we put the kids to bed, we chowed down on 2-dozen steamed crabs. I bought them earlier in the day, as a surprise to Lester, and got him some beer and me some wine. So we got to hang out, pick crabs, drink, listen to music and relax together. He loved it so much, we've decided to make it a Father's Day tradition. Soon enough, the boys and Clair will be able to join us! But I think we'll take one more year of enjoying our crabs, and the peace, by ourselves. :-)

I bought Lester some extra-large females for Father's Day. My man does like the "big girls." :-)

 And then Sunday morning, after the boys and I gave Lester his cards and celebrated him some more, I went down to D.C., and my sister Tahira and I cooked a huge breakfast of grits, eggs, biscuits, fried apples, sausage, bacon and salmon cakes for my Dad, Granddad and my Dad's brother. It was the very least I could do for my Dad, who is my favorite guy in the world (aside from Lester), and taught me what it meant to be truly loved, so that I would accept nothing less from the man who would eventually be called "Daddy" by my own daughter. Thanks to this man (below), that cycle will continue. :-)

I love you Dad!
 
After breakfast, I came home and gave Lester the night off, so he could go watch the basketball game with his buddy. But he insisted on taking the boys with him to the grocery store first, even though Clair had refused to nap all morning, and he hadn't had a break. That's just how much he enjoys his kids. Isn't he the best?

He truly enjoyed his Father's Day, and we truly are blessed to have him as the best Father/Husband anyone could ever ask for.

We love you, Lester!

Our love...

...multiplies...

...and keeps getting better!

Summertime sweeeeeet.

We had a great long weekend with friends and family, cookouts and crab feasts.

And now it's back to work. Bleh. Well, actually I love my job; I just hate getting up in the morning after a long weekend of long nights and early mornings and staying up way too late drinking sangria. :-)

This weekend, the boys really, really enjoyed playing with their cousins in my parents' backyard and I caught glimpses of what life will be like when they're a bit older, and more adventurous. Summers are going to be a lot of fun!

Speaking of summers, I am easing our family into the concept of "summer vacation." We have not gone on a vacation since the boys were born because it just seemed like way too much. And by way too much, I mean way too much everything. Too much effort, too much stress, too much planning, too much money.
But I really want us to be a family that vacations, so this year, I am planning a 3-day trip to the beach, with two nights in a hotel. Yikes! I get the chills just thinking about the drama that might ensue on this trip, but I am determined to do it and have FUN, darnit!

Next year, we'll actually do a road trip to somewhere in New England (also to the beach, but also to visit my Mom's family and eat lobsters!) and maybe the year after that, too. And then three years from now, when the boys are 5 and Clair is 3, we'll think about doing a big vacation. Disney? Road trip? Not sure.

Starting next year, Lester and I will also plan a short trip for just us, too.

So that's my plan and I'm quite excited about it. Today, during lunch, I"m going to start looking for hotels/deals for this summer's long weekend. I can't wait!!

Meanwhile,until we become pros at vacationing with three small children, we'll hang out in my Mom's backyard, with my Dad on the grill and my Mom doling out popsicles and all the cousins and family fun we can stand. And all will be summertime sweeeeeet.

Here's one of my FAVE pics of Lester ever. I'm posting it here because he is on the beach -- foreshadowing our summer trips -- and also because he looks soooo debonair. Check out this hottie! I'm such a lucky girl!

And here is an adorable pic of Ms. Clair -- who really is the world's happiest baby. Seriously. She makes my heart melt!

Did I say I was lucky girl? 'Cause I really, really am.