a hot & happy memorial day

Memorial Day breakfast with at local church congregation. Tribute to our veterans then and now. Time at the park with good friends (and 95-degree weather!). Afternoon naps with the air conditioner blasting. Dinner of black bean burgers, sweet potato fries, seasoned cucumbers and buttermilk onion rings. All topped off with root beer floats.

Feeling so grateful today for the nation in which we live and the men, women and their families who have sacrificed so much to preserve the freedoms we take for granted every day.

May God continue to bless America and all those working to protect her.

graduation day

On Sunday, May 15, Shane graduated from law school.

After four long years of year-round school (he worked full time by day and went to class at night, which meant he always had summer classes too), this day was definitely greeted with a sigh of relief by both of us (and probably Christian too). Shane's sister, Nancy, joined us to celebrate.

Despite Shane's insistence that the ceremony was no big deal, that any idiot can graduate from law school after getting in, and that passing the bar is the event to be celebrated, I couldn't help but tear up when I spotted him in the crowd and waved to him with Christian in my arms.

Don't let this cute little guy fool you. Christian didn't sit for one second of the diploma ceremony. We even left the building for a bit during the keynote speaker's address to get him a milkshake (I was hoping something cold might slow him down). But it was all worth it when I was able to hand him off to Shane and they picked up his diploma together.

Law school has been our entire married life. That's all we know how to do together. Guess we'll have to get some new hobbies. ;)

These pictures completely crack me up. Christian is sitting on a hippo (wish you could see it better) and he's making what he believes to be hippo sounds (and faces, supposedly).

weekend getaway

With Christian's Aunt Nancy in town for graduation, Shane and I were able to escape for a quick weekend getaway. It was short but so nice to "check out" of the craziness that is life in D.C. for a bit. The hotel we stayed at was so well hidden we felt like we were almost in an alternate universe. It was fabulous. So peaceful and calm -- and still so colonial Virginia. :)

Of course, we can't thank Nancy enough to watching Christian for us. It was such a comfort to know that he was in such good hands.

my first shabby apple dress

Got a birthday package in the mail last week from my sweet mother. Guess what was inside?

A dress from Shabby Apple. I've always wanted to order one but have never gotten up the guts (I hate having to return thing through the mail).

Don't those stripes just make you happy? And there's a bonus: pockets in the skirt!
I haven't got a picture yet of me in it but let's just imagine it'll look just as cute as it goes on the girl above, shall we?

Thanks, Mom!

(BONUS: A note came with the dress that reads, "By buying this dress, you're helping change the lives of women around the world. Shabby Apple is sharing a percentage of its profits with Unitus, an organization working to bring life-changing micro-loans to the world's working poor." Then it gives the name and details of a woman benefiting from the micro-loans.)