Cinco de Crazy

I'm not sure what I was thinking today...

But first, let me just say that I LOVE holidays, even the small ones. Maybe it's being with kids for so long and using holidays as an excuse to be creative, decorate or for educational purposes. Or maybe because I used to live in the greatest City in the world and everything is magnified and celebrated to the max. Oh, I do love traditions, too, and hate that I'm missing Cinco de Mayo margaritas with my friend Tammy.

Ok, so yesterday the boys and I made a homemade pinata out of a balloon and newspaper. We also made a banner that said: "Happy Cinco de Mayo 2010", and it was written in little kid handwriting, which is so cute to me. But I wanted all this Mexican mayhem to be educational, too. Cinco de Mayo is when Mexico won the Battle of Puebla in 1862. I decided that we should have teams. Boys vs. girls. So, I made the executive decision yesterday that Mar and I were the French (classy, sophisticated French ladies... you know) and the boys could be Mexican. Well! Wil-man would have none of that and insisted that they were French. We went back and forth for a while, but finally I gave in like the gracious nanny that I am. Mar & I would be the Mexicans. {But then, I realized that we win! Yay!}

So we reenacted the war today. Medium used: water balloons. Girls vs. boys. I was the Mexican Commander General, Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin. Mar was the President Benito Juarez. Wil-man was the French General Charles de Lorencez and P was Napoleon III. I had the kids tell me all the facts before the war began and then I brought out the basket full of water balloons (filled up by yours truly). We were all ready when it dawned on me:

It's essentially me against 2 pre-teen boys in a water balloon fight.

What was I thinking?! Needless to say, I got pelted and so did Mar and we spent most of the time running around screaming like little girls. I guess all is fair in (love and) war but next time I'll think through that. We had fun, though! Kids really do make life so exciting.

Meet Toby!

Al & B got a new puppy! Toby is his name and he is just adorable!!

Hello, Saturday

Lots to say....

First, I'd like to wish a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Liz Spangler! This is us celebrating her birthday two years ago at some Italian restaurant in Hells Kitchen (I think).

And since it's also the Kentucky Derby today, I'll go ahead and throw this one up as well from our Derby party in the City.















Hope you had a fun birthday, Liz!

I also have completely WONDERFUL news to share with you! That Ginna girl has been entertaining the idea, for quite some time now, of moving back to the South. Her boyfriend Jeffiepoohfefferson (translation: Jefferson) lives in Raleigh and after two years of long distance, I think they're more than ready to live in the same town. Ginnawin had 4 interviews last week in Raleigh and although she's waiting to hear back from a couple of the companies, she's decided to pack her bags and move! Wahoo!!

We've already decided that there should be a highway directly from Charlotte to Raleigh (why isn't there?!?) and we are to name it the GINARRIE. :)

Ok, so today is also the three year anniversary of when my dearest Grandmother Memo passed away. One of her favorite flowers were peonies, so I try to buy them on the 1st of May. I looked everywhere in Charlotte, but there are none to be found. I was out and about this morning when I noticed I had a Twitter update. Guess what my sweetest friend LeeAnne sent me:

With this note:

"Also some amazing peonies in bloom at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens - this is for you, @cccnyc"

How kind and thoughtful! Thanks, LA!

Also, exactly one year ago I was rolling into Oak Ridge. I had just left NYC and drove home to fight cancer for the summer. I had a strange feeling the other day after I told someone I'd never met that my Mom had cancer. Sometimes it seems like a distant memory. But we're so glad it is just that: a memory, and it's not as consuming.

Today has just been the best day. I slept in, had bagels with my roommates, wrote some letters, went for a run, visited the farmers market, made a strawberry tart for no special occasion, and hung out with the girls at home. It feels like this is the first lazy Saturday I've had in a long while and I'm loving it.

Hope you have a wonderful Saturday!

**Update: it is now Sunday... I didn't get a chance to post this yesterday, oops. But it continued to be a very relaxing weekend after a visit with my Aunt Diane and Uncle Michael. And then tonight I played Settlers of Catan with friends and won! Beginners luck, maybe... but probably not. ;) I'm just so thankful for a relaxing weekend in Charlotte and a chance to catch up on rest.

Weekend Update

What an awesome weekend! It started out with a Goo Goo Dolls concert!! They're my FAVORITE band ever and I don't even care if you think I'm still living in 1995.

It was my birthday present from Gin & Lu.

I would totally marry Johnny Rzeznik.

The crowd was kinda lame-o. But Gin, Lu & I rocked out.

I sang every word.

And had the best night ever! Seriously, it was amazing to see them live.

The next day we went to Hayden's play. (He's my cousin's son.)

Followed by a dinner at Betts' house with all extended family.

We also celebrated my godson's 9th birthday!

And here's a picture of Betsey with her ancient camera that requires FILM! :)

Happy Birthday Brooks!

Happy Ear Day

I had such a wonderful day with the kids. Although we did have a rough start to the afternoon with the boys hitting and fighting and then an unwillingness to venture to Lowes to get stuff to celebrate Earth Day... but I eventually won. ;)

You should've seen them, they ran through the garden center and wanted every plant they had. Margot and I went inside to find birdseed and when we did, oh! guess what we saw: a mouse. I screamed and quickly grabbed Mar, put her up on a lawn chair and then jumped on one myself. A man saw us and laughed, then gave us an update when the coast was clear. Please. I don't mess with mice, even if it means embarrassing myself at Lowes.

I knew we had to get basil, petunias and geraniums but the boys were set on getting a fruit tree. Ok, so I let them pick out the smallest tree and they were thrilled! We came home and were up to our elbows in potting soil and flowers, and there might've been a wet, smelly dog running around, too. Everyone had a task to do and while P&W were digging the hole for the peach tree, and Mar was planting the petunias, I wrote on the driveway in chalk: "Happy Earth Day".

Wilson got out the hose to water the tree and then he calls me over to show me that he erased the 'th' with water, so the driveway now read: "Happy Ear Day" and of course I found that hilarious and applauded his creativity.

My favorite part of the day was when I was leaving, Wilson said sincerely, "I had a really great day with you, Carrie. Happy Ear Day." {and my heart melted}

Girls just wanna have fun

We had a bachelorette weekend for Michelle and it was a blast! Everyone came into town Friday night for a concert. On Saturday we had breakfast and then later we went to Freedom Park, which is right around the corner from me! It's my new Central Park.

I love picnics.

Hamilton Lake girls

Al found these cute cups:

This is the 3rd time in a month that I've seen Al. So much better than 3 times/year!

After the park we went home to rest and get ready for Cabo Fish Taco in NoDa. Yum. I love fish tacos and this was the perfect place for dinner.

It's the BRIDE!

Me & my roomie MK

The whole crew:

After dinner we went back to my house for games and fun.

I can't wait until June!

Keep calm and Carrie on

I'm not going to lie, I was in bed with the lights out at 10pm tonight. After a fun and sleepless weekend, I was exhausted. And then I got the best surprise last night when Kathy called to see if she could stay in Charlotte because she was on her way to the Furniture Market in High Point, NC. Of course she could! I quickly made cranberry scones because she loves cranberries and we talked until the wee hours of the morning. So that's why I'm a granny going to sleep super early tonight.

Before sleep, I usually run through a list of "day debriefings", one of them including why brothers hit/punch/beat up/try to hurt each other. Ahhh, I don't get it! Boys are soooo different than girls. I certainly never hit or kicked Ginna & Lucy (that I recall), so this is all new to me. Help!

After processing that, I realized I hadn't blogged today, and I promised the blog world a post every day this week, so I'll just add the following and call it a night:

I saw this poster today for the new S&TC2 movie coming out and love how they incorporate the main character, Carrie Bradshaw, into the advertising. Check it:

That's all. Carrie on.