The Best Weekend

I couldn't have asked or dreamed of a better weekend this past weekend.

THURSDAY
My mother flew in on Thursday between work and clogging. I picked her up at the airport and we went straight to clogging. She got to greet the clogging friends she'd made on the Ireland trip. And she patiently watched us practice.

Once we made it home, she started unpacking and we spent well into the night showing off wedding purchase and sharing wedding ideas. There was work that I'd done on the favors, jewelry for the bridesmaids and myself, and the invitations my mom hadn't seen in person yet. She'd brought some candle holders we might use, the ring bearer's pillow, my veil she'd worked on, and more.

Mom also brought a stack of pictures with her of me from 3 months through college graduation. (I have most of the pictures through college and since.) She'd also found a couple of pictures from her wedding of my parents and my parents and their parents. Hopefully, we'll take the time to put some of these pictures in a display for the reception. Of course, still need to get similar pictures of JM's mom.

FRIDAY
Friday morning, I took off work. We visited the church. It was very good to take a look at the space together and begin picturing how things can be arranged and decorated!

After the church, we dropped by the florists so I could make final flower decisions and sign the contract. YEAH! One more thing done!

We had lunch at Deli South. A friend took me to the place a few weeks ago and I liked it. They make it fun by naming all their sandwiches after "heros of the south."

I spent the afternoon working...or something to that affect. I took care of a few items, attended the PHC staff meeting, and held the library staff meeting. Meanwhile, my mom took the W&OD trail into town. She stopped a number of different places, but her big purchase was a jacket for herself--$1.00 at the Blue Ridge Hospice Thrift Shop.

For the evening, we headed home to work on some cleaning/packing. Mom made the goal for the evening to get my bookcase in the living room cleaned-off so that it could be used for holding shower gifts.

As we were headed home, I was talking with JM. In the course of the conversation, I asked him what he was doing for the evening. He said he was getting himself something to eat and making a stop by Borders. I light-heartedly suggested that if it was books he was interested in handling, he could come help us pack up books. He said he'd see about bringing an extra pair of hands later....little did I know.

Sometime a bit before 10:00, we'd gotten the bookcase pretty well cleared and I was getting tired, so we stopped for a cup of tea. We were leisurly chatting and enjoying a second cup of tea (10:30 by this time), when a car drove in. I really hadn't expected JM to show up that late, figuring he'd gotten into a book at Borders or his own project at home. But then, there wasn't anyone else I was expecting at all. About that point, I noticed Mom was watching me pretty intently. I was puzzled when I heard two car doors close. I was very suspicious when JM was talking to someone outside the door. I knew something was up when JM walked in with a dufflebag under his arm. And I was completely surprised when my sister D followed him in the door!!! :)

It was a very fun evening, catching up with my sister! And getting to spend it with my mom and Jesse!

SATURDAY
We had a very leisurely morning, then made the long trek across the lawn to Megan's for the bridal shower at 11:00.

The bridal shower went VERY well. I had SO many friends, SO many great gifts, and enjoyed visiting with everyone (or trying to)! All the wishes, suggestions, and pieces of advice were fun to receive. Even got a lead or two on housing possibilities. Oh yes, I can't forget the food! Thanks, Mark!!

D and friends at the shower even carried all the gifts back to my house, so I didn't have to do a thing at the end of the shower, except pose for a few more pictures and head home.

D and Mom got the gifts loaded onto the bookcase (and around it!). I spent a bit of time talking with JM. Us girls decided a nap sounded good and JM made plans to come over a bit later to check out all the gifts.

According to my mom, JM showed up about an hour later, but all I remember was being too tired to get up then. D & Mom showed all the presents to Jesse and by the time they were enjoying some tea, I managed to get up and join the conversation.

SUNDAY
We made it to church in the morning, and enjoyed an afternoon of being together. D had to catch her flight out of Baltimore that evening, so I found a substitute for myself at Awana and we all made the trip out to the airport. It was such a short time together and so unexpected, but very fun and worthwhile!!

MONDAY
Mom and I had another day together! I stopped at work for the morning and got a few things done.

For the afternoon, we headed back over to Leesburg and spent some time shopping for wedding stuff, such as plates, cups, etc for the reception and rehearsal dinner. We ended up making stops at Ben Franklin, Party City, Michaels, and the Hanes Outlet.

For supper, we met up with JM at Panera Bread. Following supper, we went to check out a house that I'd gotten a lead on at the bridal shower. It was a VERY nice house--great space, excellent location, and mostly new (2001).

TUESDAY
My shower had developed a problem over the weekend--it wouldn't switch the water from the faucet to the shower head. I'd called my landlord on Monday. Tuesday AM, there was a contractor there to take a look at it and make an estimate.

As soon as he left (around 8:30), Mom & I headed for the airport for her to catch her flight, then I went on to the endodontist.