This Weekend We

This weekend was an embarrassment of riches, all the more embarrassing because I was not very eager for it to begin. I felt like we had packed our schedule a little too tightly, and in my current state, I like there to be lots of white space in the mental schedule. 

On Friday we went and saw Ricky Skaggs play. Generous friends who bought us the tickets months ago, and it was great to hear some honest to goodness bluegrass while eating chicken fried steak. Before leaving, my sister, the evening's babysitter, thanked me for letting me babysit the kids. When your free babysitter is thanking you, you can rest assured that things are pretty damn good in your life, especially when you come home at 10:30 and your kids are wide awake and having the time of their lives. 

My plan was to wake up early and clean the house on Saturday morning before our friends showed up from out of town. But then my sisters and their menfolk all piled into my living room, and I quickly decided that keeping a pot of coffee going and blending up smoothies was far more important than laundry and a clean kitchen sink. I take a certain amount of pride in being a good hostess: I would like to believe that I am able to do all the hostessy things without getting too stressed out. But this weekend I was reminded that sometimes you don't need to be a hostess at all. Sometimes you just need to hang out with your friends and order pizza. It's okay that you didn't run to the store beforehand: make a beer run with your "guest" in tow if you have to, and maybe stop thinking of them as guests anyway.

We walked to the icy, frozen beach. Arlo and Felix were as adorable as ever, imitating one another and appearing to have heartfelt conversations. Meanwhile their fathers pretty much did the same, although their activities were a little more destructive in nature. We warmed up at home, and I showed Carrie how to use a makeshift loom. Within a few hours, she had already far exceeded my weaving abilities and figured out way more complicated techniques. It was the mellowest variety of hanging out, and it was nothing short of perfect.

Sunday left of plenty of time to do get some chores done around the house, though there is still a lot to be done. This nesting instinct is pretty intense. I don't think we have ever "prepared" so much for a baby. This new one is shaking things up.

Happy Monday. Stay warm and dry. 

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