Weekending (long! thanks to Memorial Day)

Linking up with  Holly and  Sarah for a recap of the weekend

Monday

Friday- This day must not have been exciting because I cannot remember what it all entailed! Friday marked the end of the first work week that I was off for summer break. I feel like I got quite a bit done last week- I had put a number of small tasks off until I had unfettered time off and last week was that week. 

Saturday- I got up and ran, showered and then got ready for the day (such work- I had enjoyed the previous five days of not having to get up and go anywhere ;)). Donnie and I had back to back eye appointments that were long overdue. The eye doctor recommended bifocal contact lens for me. I did not know such contact lenses were available but I'm glad they are. If they keep me from needing to use readers, that will be a good thing. The day was a beautiful one so we decided to spend some times outdoors. We went to nearby Cox Arboretum to walk around its paths and take all the pretty in. 

This path we walked on was probably about a quarter of a mile away from a busy road but you'd never know it here. Cox Arboretum is such a pretty suburban yet transported away briefly from suburbia place :).

After dinner (we went to Smashburger and were able to sit outside on their patio and eat), we came home and spent some time outside with our neighbors. We chatted with them and caught up for nearly two hours.  A few other neighbors joined us. It was great to catch up and laugh with them. Our kids' never ceasing age and grade increases never cease to amaze us ;). We have known several  neighbor couples since before Alyssa was born; they all have kids Alyssa's age and we have been friends since the kids were little so you can't blame us for trips back down memory lane as well as updates on other kids and life activities. 

Back in the day- Alyssa and two of her neighborhood besties taking a drink break from the exerting effort of hard play in the cul- de sac. Not pictured is another good friend of about their same age. Two of the four now have their drivers license and the other two will get them soon. 

Sunday was an early run for me followed by church and when we came home, Jacob was home. We had plans to see him on Monday. I texted him on Saturday and said we'd love to see him earlier but understood if he had plans and we couldn't see him until Monday. The allure of homecooked meals eating out on our dime brought him home early ;). He was actually a big help- he helped Donnie out with yard work and then he and Donnie and a couple of neighbors hung Donnie's new TV in the family room. Sunday after dinner (Jacob did get his meal out for dinner...), Jacob and Donnie saw the new Top Gun movie. The girls didn't want to see it- I could have gone either way. I decided to stay home and hang out with them since they did not want to see it. 

Jacob and Malcolm helped to hang the TV and then they sat down to give recommendations on how much to tilt the TV.

On Monday, we didn't have plans until late afternoon when went down to West Chester to meet some of Donnie's family at a restaurant called Agave & Rye. I recommended the restaurant after I heard some staff at school talk about how much they liked it. It was really good (unique tacos and such- mine had kangaroo meat in it!) and the service was outstanding, too. Plus I got presents ;). We met there to celebrate Mother's Day (obviously late) and my birthday (even later since my birthday was in April). So it was a win-win-win, especially for me. Jacob left from the restaurant to go home to his place and the rest of us came home. Abby is taking a film class this summer (online) and she needed to watch the movie Citizen Kane so we did that when we got home. 

Yum, kangaroo! Helping the taco immensely were the fried mac & cheese balls and bacon which was also part of the taco. Chips, queso, salsa and guac were all really good (I don't care for guac but those who do said it was very good). We will definitely come back to this restaurant. 

My mother in law and sister in law

...with their guys

Jacob and me

Donnie and Abby

Abby and Alyssa

Our server brought me out a dessert taco- so sweet especially after so much time had elapsed from my actual birthday (though we were there in part to celebrate it!)

My mother in law is so sweet. She always gets me a Mother's Day present. Between Mother's Day and my birthday, she got me candy, a pretty bowl and some gardening tools/ belt. So thoughtful! Denise and Don (sister and brother in law) got me a gift card. 

The weekend was a good one- thankful for the celebratory long weekend and the sacrifices of so many that make great weekends in this country- long or short possible.