Playing Hookie

We played hookie one day and took the kids out of school for an adventure in DC.  Abby wouldn't hear of skipping school so she didn't join us.  We missed her.  

We met Bret at GW and hoped rode the metro over to the Shake Shake for lunch.

The metro was an adventure in and of itself.  We went to New York a few years ago, but Gavin doesn't remember riding the subway there.

McKenna had a lovely conversation with this gentleman who was sitting beside her, even though the swore it was a women and argued and argued her point.

Yum, Shake Shack.  We ate this on our trip to New York too, but by the time we got there and were eating we were so starving I don't think we even tasted the food, but rather inhaled it.  I didn't remember how good their hamburgers are, but man oh man are they heavenly!  And I'm not even a big burger fan.

After lunch we went next door to the Spy Museum.  (You know Abby is really dedicated when she wont even skip school to go to the spy museum...she LOVES spies!)

It was such a great day.  We definitely want to take advantage of all that living in this part of the country has to over.  I see many a more days of playing hookie in our future!

Taylor Swift Concert

Our fun girls weekend culminated in a night out to the Taylor Swift Red concert tour.  My dear friend Sally Wallace (Kate's mom) was able to hook us up with incredible tickets.  I had no idea how good they really were until we walked into the arena and found our seats.  

We met for dinner at Burton's Grill before the concert.  After dinner the girls decided we couldn't go to the RED concert without wearing red lipstick!  They even used red lip liner to write 22 on their cheeks.  

Sally and I had to act the part as well...red lipstick and fishy faces!  Yep, we're moms' of tweenies!

Two of our very favorite people...Sally and Kate

And here is yet another picture of Abby doing the fishy face...

This is what I'm talking about amazing seats, we were literally 15 yards from the stage!

Man oh man were these girls ever screaming and singing at the top of their lungs!  They kept saying over and over again how amazing it was and how they would never forget this night.  It really was so much fun!

When she was up on this platform that went around the arena the girls swear that they made eye contact  and she waved right at them!  

Such a fun night to spend with my girls!

Girls Weekend

The girls and I had the funnest girls weekend!  We took a trip down to Charlottesville for a weekend.  Oh my goodness was it a blast.  It was definitely the start of a new tradition, next time we're thinking the train to New York!   (Nothing wrong with dreaming big!)

A stop at the Moo Thru was a must!

Friday night was actually spent with friends.  Abby spent the night at Evelyn's, McKenna at Kate's and I went to Jodi's house.  It was so great to just sit and talk with Jodi and Jared.  In the morning Jodi took me to see the land they are thinking of buying and we went for a walk up Sugar Hallow.  It was absolutely perfect.  After getting my hair cut I picked Market sandwiches and took the girls for a picnic in Mint Springs, one of our favorite spots that was about 10 min. from our old house.

These two sisters sure have a remarkable relationship.  They are as different as can be but they are best of friends.  They confide in each other, they giggle with each other, yes: they make each other mad sometimes, they support each other, and they are there for each other 100%.  I often look and watch the two of them and it is confirmed to me again and again that they are so close in age (only 13 months apart) because they truly didn't want to be away from each other any longer then they had to.

After our picnic we headed into town for pedicures...

This is McKenna while getting pedicures...she is SO ticklish on her feet!

We all got different shades of red polish as we were headed to the Taylor Swift RED concert that night.

We definitely had to make a stop at the Lindt store, another of our favorite places!

We met up with Sally and Kate for dinner before heading to the concert all together.

The concert deserves a post in and of itself so here ends my pictures from girls weekend.  After the concert we made our way to the Evans where we spent the night.  In the morning we had a lovely breakfast with them and then went to church in our old ward before heading back up to DC.  

It really was the best weekend.  These girls of mine are so much fun!  As much as it makes me sad at how much they have grown up, I am so looking forward to the years ahead of us and the great memories we are sure to create.

The Big 12

The TWELFTH Birthday.

A pretty big milestone if you ask me.

Young Women's.

One more year till official Teenagerhood.

This big 12 year old of mine is pretty amazing.

Who knew she would be so excited about a round object, but when that round object is a volleyball I guess she was!

Other highlights included headphones...

And her own ripstick...

As I've reflected on this past year for Abby I realized just what a big year it was.

It was the year of a big move in the middle of middle school leaving behind a great group of friends, brining about a big trial in her

The year of passing up her mother in height.

The year she got on a plane all by herself for an adventure of a lifetime.

A year of tremendous personal growth.

The year her cooking abilities reached new heights.

The year we celebrated womanhood.

The year she read the Book of Mormon in three weeks, making it the third time she read the Book of Mormon cover to cover before turning 12.

It was the year she became an incredibly good and trustworthy babysitter.

I couldn't be happier with the woman she is becoming.  I am thrilled with who she is, the goodness that radiates from her, and the light she brings into the lives of those around her.  Abby is truly beautiful on the inside and out.  I look at her and think to myself, "How in the world am I lucky enough to be her mother."  

She is a gift to me every day.

Happy Birthday Abby dear!  I love you!