weekend news

We had a 2Cities girls' weekend at the lake this past friday through sunday morning.  It was so, so relaxing and so much fun!  We had absolutely no schedule...sitting, sunning, chatting, and reading out by the lake, yummy food, antique shopping, catch phrase and movies in the evenings, and a Saturday dinner out at Sinclair's on Lake Martin. 

Meanwhile, the minute I left for the lake, the fun really began for the boys.  Brian sure did spoil them!!  If it had been me, we might have done one or two fun things...but dads know how to have way more fun and don't stop even if they're tired.  For example, this was their weekend...friday night they went out for pizza with Nick, Noah, and Olive.  Then they went to california yogurt craze for dessert and probably went to bed pretty late.  Saturday morning Brian took the boys to the zoo.  then sonic for some slushes.  then ran by the house to grab swimsuits and went straight to the splash pad downtown by the river.  came home in time to eat a quick dinner of leftovers just to turn back around and head out to the Biscuits baseball game - they were able to get free tickets!  My parents came in town that evening and literally met them on our street and followed them to the game.  And of course, they stayed until the end of the game and fireworks.  Got home super late.  Sunday morning I met them all at church...but not after all of them sleeping in past 8:30!  They didn't even have time to miss me, they were having so much fun!

 After lunch at the deli (where kids eat free on sundays...our family literally eats there for less than $9, and we get tons of food, including drinks for all the kids) with my parents and our sweet friends, the Cheney's, we headed home for a relaxing Sunday afternoon.  That evening, Brian and I left with Oliver for Birmingham.  He had an outpatient surgery on Monday morning at Children's Hospital, so we decided to go up the night before and spend the night to avoid monday morning traffic on the drive up.  The hospital has a deal with a nearby hotel (a couple blocks away)  for hospital patients, so we got a very discounted price at a great hotel.

Oliver's surgery went very well, and he is recovering like a champ!

before his surgery...

a little pre-surgery nap...

my precious Oliver, post surgery.  He was so pitiful, sweet, and cuddly...

 Meanwhile, my boys continued to have a blast with Grandma and Grandpa.  Of course there was school for the older two, but also trips to burger king, the dollar tree, Hudson's flag football game, and then dinner at Mellow Mushroom.  We all got home Monday night about the same time.  And then Tuesday morning, my parents headed back to Texas.

I'm so grateful for a willing and serving husband to give me a weekend away, who is the absolute best dad to our boys.  I'm also so thankful for my parents' willingness to watch them while we were in birmingham with Oliver.  And praise the Lord his surgery went well and that we had sweet friends and family praying for him literally all over the world!