Insert clever posting title here...

Amy, Amy, Amy.

My friend. My long-time, dear, precious friend. I do miss you. Despite your frequent periods of dropping off the face of the earth, non- v/m-having cell phone, non-call returning, and no visiting policy...I love you. Much.

So, in light of our convo last nite...here is a post dedicated just to you.

-Could someone tell Miss Beirut-y to shut the freak up...otherwise, we would DEFINATELY get out of class early!
-Want to go on vacation this year? Oh wait....Amy is having another baby...make it 5 years from now.
-Let's go spend the weekend with Amy. Fun! Where is Amy?? Where is John?? Where are Amy and John???

Miss you, Amy. B/F/F. LYLAS. AAMOF. WTF.

:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHAUNA!!!

This is one of my favorite of all days--because without it, there would be no Shauna! So today, even though I don't get to spend it with you, know that I am thinking about you and praying for you. May the Lord bless you today and all year long. I hope you have the best birthday ever!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU....HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SHAUNA.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! AND MANY MOREEEEEEE~~~~~

I love you, my friend!!! Happy Birthday! :)

He is risen....indeed!!!

Happy Easter!!!

"1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." Matthew 28:1-7

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday in Maryland. Church and time with friends, good food, and even an Easter egg hunt for the kiddos. It was a wonderful reminder of God's love for us--to be loved on earth.

I got up early, drove to Dawson to meet Anne, Natalie and Nathaniel (friend and baby visiting from CT). We were running a bit late for the 9:30 service, so we ended up slowing down, going for a quick visit to another house and making it to the balloon release at church before the 11 service. The service was wonderful--fabulous music. We grabbed a bite after church--went back to Dawson, started cooking, layed around until folks started showing up--then had a great visit with everyone. It turned into a beautiful day despite the early coldness of it all. Pictures to follow...

Thanks to the wonderful hosts at Dawson! Happy Easter!

Chris, Anne and I hiding Easter eggs.

What is it?? An egg!!!

Natalie and Nathaniel hunting eggs...

Natalie hunting eggs.

Fun times!!!

Happy Birthday, Loverman!!!!

My girl Lisa turned a smooth 32 this year...so for her birthday, Anne and I hosted a little gathering that turned out to be quite fun! Lisa is notorious for having her b-day parties outside....in March...when it's usually cold. We were hoping for great weather...and actually it turned out quite nice. We spent a portion of the day at the National Arboretum, where we held a scavenger hunt. 32 minutes of heart-pounding excitement!!! We made up lists of 11 things to find and take a picture of with everyone in your group in the pic. (4 people in each group). There was one "bonus" item--worth 5 points. You had 32 minutes to find the items (specific trees, flowers, birds, squirrels, etc...), take the picture and make it back to the starting line. I don't mean to brag...but my team DOMINATED. The pictures are HIGH-LARIOUS...but unfortunately not on my camera...so I will post when I get them!

After the Arboretum, we went to this great little Jamaican restaraunt for drinks and apps. I was a tad bit stunted by the oxtail ordered by my comrades--but it was still fun. Then we went back to Dawson for dinner (frozen pizza), semi-ghost stories and a move (Bee Movie). Fun times.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LOVERMAN!!!

Here's to you!!!! Oh...and thank you for coming to my birthday, party!!! ;)

More pics from Shauna's trip...

Here are the good pics from Shauna's visit--we had such a great week!

At Jill's b-day lunch at Red Dog Cafe.

Shauna and Anne are entirely too excited to be in DC!!

In the Old Town CVS--there was a mascara sale...we know how to par-tay!!!

After an AWESOME italian dinner at La Tratoria de Franco...so much fun!!!

Had a very chill weekend this weekend, especially compared to the busy-ness of last weekend. Had car issues Friday nite--went for a quick hh, then Chris took me to pick up my car in Wheaton. We got dinner then I headed back to VA. Had coffee w/ a friend Saturday morning, then hung out all day/nite watching movies. Sunday went to church then met Michelle for a long walk and dinner and a movie. Nothing much else.

I feel kind of boring today...so I know this post is boring...I'll see if I can come up w/ something funny later!

Shauna time...break it down!

I think I'm out of mourning enough to share the fab few days I spent with Shauna with the world now!

Shauna came in last Wednesday and stayed until Sunday afternoon. We had a wonderful visit, and Shauna got to spend a ton of time with lots of her friends in metro DC. Wed, she had lunch with some girlfriends--Elana and Sarah, then worked at the Navy Yard Wed. afternoon. We met for dinner and went to Taquirilla Poblano in Del Ray--my new fave Mex. joint. So good!! Then we watched Tivo. Thursday, Shauna worked (so did I), then we met all the Dawson girls and a few others at the Rio Grande in Bethesda. So much fun and so good to see all.

l to r: Shauna, Me, Susan, Lisa J., Lisa O., Michelle, Anne--Thurs. nite at Rio.

I took Friday off-Shauna worked in the morning--we met after lunch and went car shopping for me--to no avail (that's another post). Then Friday nite, we had dinner w/ Beth, Dedra and Elana at Dungrat's. Good times!!

Saturday morning, we headed to Silver Spring for Jill's b-day lunch at the Red Dog Cafe. After lunch, we took Anne w/ us, and the 3 of us had a b-day day for Shauna. We went to Old Town for shopping and dinner, then rented a movie and hung out. Happy early birthday, Shauna!

Sunday morning, got up, got ready, went to early service, drove to the airport, got lunch, shipped Shauna back to Bama. Sniffo...it's always hard to see Shauna go, tho.

As usual, it was a great visit and I am always thankful to get to spend time with Shauna. So fun! Thanks for coming!

Ohio is weird.

I'm in Columbus, Ohio right this very second. I'm at a conference. Fun times. It's so cold and raining. You know how much I LOVE to travel for work, right?? :) Actually, this trip has been great. I've been w/ some of my work boys that I just adore. They are all great and we have a great time together and I don't see them much, so it's really good to get some face-to-face time.

Highlights of the trip:

-Only 1 nite in the Hilton...not a bad gig.
-Sleeping in till 7:30 cause the conference is in my hotel.
-Lunch at PF Chang's.
-Happy Hour at Fado's. Including a rousing game of Super Mario World on the Nintendo DS--while the boys discuss MS Exchange (we are dorks).
-Dinner at Chipotle.
-Finally spending my Barnes and Noble b-day giftcard on CS Lewis and Anne Lamott books.
-Going home at 8pm while my boys stay out till 1:30, get in a fight and get someone arrested.

Travel isn't all bad, I guess. One nite isn't so bad. But still--OH is weird, I don't care what people say.....