This past weekend was filled with mostly fun…and very little work! It’s about time! And…my husband cleaned and cleaned and cleaned our house while I was away with the girls! That was so nice!

Friday night I attended my monthly book club meeting. We read The Last Lecture. I thought it was a very inspirational (true) story. Sad, but it makes people think about what they would do if they found out they had a terminal illness. How would we spend our last days? Why do we not live every day that way? Every day is a gift.

I had a great time at the book club. I was invited to join this club last summer, so I have not known these women very long, but I am starting to get to know them better, and I am really starting to enjoy this one night a month of girl talk, wine, laughter, and fun. Just in recent times, I have really desired “girl time”…a break from my regular, busy life. Every mom…and wife…needs some time away. It’s so hard to meet nice, good, “normal” people who have kids my kids’ ages where we have things in common! I have been very lucky to meet such great people in the past year! All of my really good friends live far away from me!

Saturday morning, I took Addie J. to her dance class. Actually, I spent the whole day with her. It was so nice! And long overdue! I feel that I have spent so much time with Reilly in the evenings…reading and doing school work with her…and I know I have spent a great deal of time these past (almost) six months with Jolie. I have been feeling badly for not spending as much time with Addie. I am the one who takes her to gymnastics each week, but I have been wanting more time with just her.

After dance, we went shopping, and then we went to her first “friend” birthday party. Her friend Angelina had a winter-themed birthday party. This is one of Addie’s friends from gymnastics. We had such a great time! I met many moms who were right around my age and had kids the same ages as mine. Three of us have baby girls! It was great to talk with some new moms while the kids participated in activities. There was a birthday party event coordinator there. That is an idea for Addie’s upcoming birthday party… My friend found this lady through Holland Christian Schools. I may have to hire this person, too! I need all the help I can get!

We did not get home Saturday night until around 7:00 p.m. Then, on Sunday afternoon, I took all 3 girls out and about for about 8 hours. We went out to eat, we went to the mall, and we went downtown GR. I am getting prepared for many photo opportunities!

It was Jolie’s very first time riding in a stroller, now that she can pretty much sit up. I have never even pushed her in a stroller while she was in her car seat. I have always just carried her around in her car seat, but she is too big for that now! Jolie LOVED her long stroller ride! She was one happy little girl! She wants to be held constantly, but she was totally content to just be pushed all over the mall.

We shopped a little bit, the two big girls rode the carousel…the first time ever without me…and I got a haircut. While we were gone, Dave cleaned the house and grocery shopped! I did not ask him to clean. I have learned that Dave does so much more when I do NOT ask him to do anything! It was SO NICE to come home to such a clean house after being gone so much this weekend. Usually, I am the one who cleans each weekend. This was a huge break for me! And it was a break for him, too…peace and quiet without any girls in the house! I was so thankful…

The weather was beautiful all weekend! It was a great weekend to go all over and have some fun! I am looking forward to many more fun times now that the weather is getting nicer!