The weekend in pictures...

This weekend, the whole family got dressed up to go to an 11 a.m. wedding.
(People with multiple children will know what kind of preparation that entails.)

But we did a terrible job taking into account the fact that Saturday was also the frikkin' Baltimore Marathon. So we were literally thwarted at every turn by roads closures and runners. Literally.

Thankfully, we were in two cars, so eventually, Lester just went on to the wedding himself and the rest of us turned around, went to the Red Canoe and had a muffin. All dressed up and slightly irritated, yes. But then... pumpkin muffins! Holla!

The boys looked sooo handsome in their button-up shirts and sweaters. Too bad they were covered in muffin 5 minutes later. Also, these heels were killing me! Ugh!

Lester said the wedding was really authentic and beautiful and it made him a little sentimental. This is the text message he sent from the reception:

Awwwww!

Later, Matty-Matt came to visit!

Of course, I had JUST put Clair and the boys down for a nap. So Clair missed her BFF. But at least that meant I got to have Matty all to myself!! He's AWESOME.

Matthew brought his Mom and Dad, too. And his big brother Russy, who absolutely loved, loved, loved Sara!

Russy and Sara ran and played non-stop. Do you hear me? Non-stop.

Russy played with the cat so much and so hard, as soon as he left, this happened:

Now I know what I have to do to get Sara to chill the eff out. Get a 5-year-old!

 A
nd still later, we all went to a playdate at Stacey's house. It was a ton of fun and noise and baked ziti and apple pie and ice cream. We loved every minute of it (except for the minutes when Cary was crying and Dean was screaming. But other than that...)

Kelly and Clair (who was starting to get sick, I think.) Also, Clair has no idea but she is sitting next to her future husband!

My friend Kelly came to the playdate with my sweetie-pie Naomi, and when it was time to leave, this happened. Unprompted. And repeatedly.

Check out Dean's form. Some things can't be taught, people.

We have always said that these two are betrothed. From the womb, we have said this. And Dean just keeps proving that we were right. Check out this photo from August, 2011. I think this might also have been unprompted. But even if it wasn't, you see who responded to a directive to "Give Naomi a kiss," and who just stared into space.

Why does Naomi always have the same face when Dean rolls up for a smooch?

Saturday night, Clair got sick. She had already been a bit snotty -- as are all the rest of us -- but overnight, she got so bad she couldn't sleep, and we had to suction her out at 4 a.m. FUN!

All day Sunday, she was miserable and barely napped. I felt sure she'd sleep at night, because she was so tired at dinner, she fell asleep in her highchair! (This would never have happened with C&D. They never slept anywhere but their beds. Ever.)

But she was so phleghmy and snuffly and coughing and hacking all night, she couldn't sleep. Even when I brought her in our bed, she was slightly happier because she got to lie on me and be comforted, but she literally kept us up just about the whole night. MORE FUN!

Lester stayed home with her today because I am super-swamped at work. I felt so bad leaving my poor sick baby. This is pretty much what she looked like when I left.

Finally, finally getting a little bit of rest, poor thing.

But later this morning, Lester sent this picture of her all cleaned and dressed and I feel much better that she feels much better! (Hooray for smartphones!)

Such a happy baby girl -- even when sick!

Now, let's see how tonight goes.  (Anyone want to invent some Baby Sudafed+Ambien? I'll be your first investor.)

Four heart-melting moments in the span of four minutes

Heading out the door this morning, I asked Dean for a kiss. He quickly obliged.

Then I asked Cary for one.

"No," he said. "I'm building a...." His voice trailed off. So engrossed in his Lego project, he could not even bother to finish his sentence, to explain why he would not be leaving the floor to kiss his poor old mother.

I dropped my head, poked out my lip and pretended to sniffle.

Cary ignored me. Dean put his hand on my arm and said, "Mommy? You sad?"

"Yes," I said, continuing to sniffle.

Dean turned and looked at Cary, with a disapproving face that made my heart melt. (Moment No. 1)

"TARRY!" he bellowed.

Cary looked up from the Legos.

"Mommy, what wrong?" he asked.

"I'm sad because I want you to give me a kiss, please," I said.

Dean continued to give Cary the stink-eye.

"Otay," said Cary, coming over and raising his face, with a little puckered mouth.

I leaned down and kissed him and then turned on my happy face. He smiled up at me.

"Don't be sad," Cary said. (Moment No. 2) He went back to his Legos. Dean stayed at the door.
 
"Mommy?" Dean said. "Don't be sad." (Moment No. 3)

I leaned down and gave my sweet, youngest boy another kiss. He stood at the door and watched me get in the car and drive away.

I waved to him from the moving car and from behind the glass screen I could see -- but not hear -- him say, "Good-bye, Mommy."

And it was that heart-melting moment (No. 4, if you're counting) that turned my pretend sniffles to real ones.