Reflections Awards

This year, Alex entered the PTA's Reflections Contest at his school.  He had taken a really colorful picture of the leaves on our big tree out front, by laying on the driveway and looking up.  I suggested he enter it and he won third place!  There was a cute little reception at the school one evening in May to celebrate all of the entries.  How fun!  I see many more Reflections entries in his future.

Brunch

Seriously, how tired do they look?  Such a fantastic tired though!  I'm not quite certain that anyone brushed Abby's hair that morning either.  I woke Alex up at 9:30 to walk downstairs to the lovely brunch that was served at the hotel Sunday morning.  Abby, of course, was up with the sun.  Alex had spent the whole hour plus ride back to the hotel the night prior, testing Patti on Star Wars trivia.  She humored him so sweetly.  He was wide awake after the wedding.  After arriving home that afternoon, the kids watched TV and relaxed all day.  So. much. fun.

Ross/Goldstein Wedding!

The kids looked adorable if I do say so myself.

 Totally should've taken a photo of the four of us!

 Ringbearer with the rings in a birds nest.

We were relieved to hold the ceremony outside on this pseudo-rainy day.  Rain on your wedding day is good luck!

 Perfect!

The beautiful bride and groom ready to take their vows.

The rain after dinner didn't slow the kids down any.  They were happy to dance along to the bluegrass band playing behind them.

Jackie had purchased these scarves to warm people in the cave (basement of the winery), but we all wound up using them both indoors and outdoors as the night progressed.

After two late nights, this little lady crashed hard next to Grandpa on the bus back to D.C.! 

Jackie and Scott's wedding couldn't have been more beautiful.  Jackie looked gorgeous and we are so happy to have Scott as a member of our family.  We had so much fun with all of the family in town and the kids were real troopers about it all!  Alex must have told his whole class about it because other moms from school were asking about "the wedding". 



Bride/Flower Girl Prep

The morning of the wedding was rainy and very humid.  We just knew it would clear up in time for the ceremony (and it did).  Jackie stayed the night with us in Virginia, while everyone else stayed in "town".  This was very much a beautifully executed "Town and Country" wedding.  Sue, Jackie's friend and hairstylist, met us here and we rolled out the winery around lunchtime.  She styled Jackie's hair while Abby and I set up the tables outdoors and prepped the bar areas.  While Abby was getting her hair done, Jackie helped make the final adjustments before guests arrived.  Then we all scurried back up to the loft to get dressed.  Abby loved being Jackie's shadow and followed her around all day!

Rehearsal Dinner

We enjoyed a beautiful night out with family and friends at Jackie and Scott's rehearsal dinner.  Rosemary's Thyme Bistro in D.C. was most accommodating and having both the indoor and outdoor space was key.  The kids loved being able to play out on the patio after dinner with silly putty (gotta love the Dollar Store) and we all loved having both families together.  Dinner was delicious and the kids were on excellent behavior, phew!

Setting Up for the Wedding

On the Friday before Jackie and Scott's wedding, we spent the day at the winery doing prep work.  Whether it was hanging pictures, setting up tables and chairs, organizing table seating cards, or assembling favors, we were all willing to lend a hand.  Abby was an especially hard worker!  Jackie gave her several tasks and she was always quick to complete them.  Once we finished decorating, we zipped home to pick up Alex from school and get ready for the rehearsal dinner.

Pentagon Tour

Before finishing his position at the Pentagon, our good friend Sam offered to give us a tour of the Pentagon building.  The Pentagon is essentially its own little city, employing up to 44,000 people and having several of its own zip codes.  Each branch of service is represented here along with plenty of civilian contractors and Department of Defense employees.  

We Metro'd there and back, and the ride home was quite crowded.  When people leave the Pentagon for the day, it is a mass exodus down the escalators to the train/bus stops!  There was quite a bit of security to get into the building...as there should be.

The hallways are almost museum-like in that there are displays of the various missions that the US has been involved with.  There are displays focused on our allies, tributes to those who have given their lives in the line of duty, and explanations of the various branches of service.  They also have a really sweet food court, barber shop, nail salon, shoe store, best buy, post office, and other small shops.  

It is an immense building and it felt like we walked miles inside there!  Abby used a water fountain on every floor and at each corner.  At one point a General stopped us in the hallway and gave Alex and Abby each an Air Force Memorial pin--they loved that!  Abby kept referring to it as her "medal".  There is also a memorial wing set up for the victims of the 9/11 attack, complete with photo quilt squares and a chapel.  I didn't realize the area hit on 9/11 had been under construction.  Had it been fully occupied, hundreds more could have lost their lives in that tragedy.

 Such a treat for us to get to see this incredible building.