Slumber Party

We just came off of an absolutely joyful week, and let me tell you -- it was about TIME to have some joy around here (I'm sure you've picked up from the last few posts that things haven't necessarily been easy around here). Why was life so great, you ask?

1. We were able to host our first guest in our new place, and you know how we love guests.
2. Because our new place is a studio, hosting meant a 4-night slumber party (and who doesn't like a slumber party?).
3. Saving the best for last... this guest was TROY FROM TAJIKISTAN! Fresh off the plane (though without the furry beard we'd hoped for).

It was such an honor to have Troy in our home during his first few days back Stateside since moving abroad. From running errands to hosting dinner parties, he joined us in our daily lives and we savored every second of it.

Walking around Loyola University (just a block North of our new place) with the Molls:


The only downside to Troy's visit? We're now left missing Jenny & Miles even more!

Charity in Chicago

What a LOVELY past four days it's been! Charity is my best friend from high school--we've been through so much together & have a wealth of amazing memories. We now live beautifully different lives--she married her high school sweetheart and together they have three of the sweetest children you'll ever meet, a big garden & a picaresque home in Maine. I love to live vicariously through Charity.

I'll post a bit more soon, sharing with you some of the Chicago fun we had but until then, I leave you with a photo from our first day of Charity & Mollie posing at Northwestern with the Chicago skyline as backdrop. Wow I love my city.

the 'sweet' part of Bittersweet!

While in Seattle I had many privileges, one of which was staying with Jack & Sherrill (my aunt- & uncle-in-laws) at their beautiful home in Redmond! Drew's cousins were also home--Brian & Courtney (both of whom we're still trying to get out here to Chicago...! hint hint...) and it was great to see them (especially breakfast with Courtney the morning I fly out). Also fabulous was getting time with my sister-in-law, McKinzie. I saw her for far too little time but I loved catching up a bit in person (and getting in a little shopping time!).

My BFF (the gorgeous Maine-ite Charity Johnson, mother of 3 and still a size zero!) & I were both welcomed into Jack & Sherrill's home for the weekend and experienced a wealth of amazing experiences as 'bonuses': 3 of which I'd love to share here. 1) a float plane ride all around the city with Jack, 2) stalking THE BACHELOR, Jason Mesnick! and 3) Cuddling Jaime & Rob's newborn baby, born the night I flew in! Baby Drew & Jason Mesnick will be introduced in subsequent posts.

But for now... the float plane ride! Jack is a pilot and invited us for an incredible ride around the city! Right past the space needle (I was so close I may have been able to spit on it... see photo taken from the plane above), over the UW campus and all around Lake Washington... let me tell you, those Microsoft houses are even more impressive from the air.

Jack leading the plane out for boarding.
A view out to Lake Washington. Ah, nothing like a beautiful day in Western Washington!

With Charity, so excited, in the plane flying high.
Husky stadium & a bit of the U! Go Dawgs.

I would post more photos if my site didn't take eons to load when I insert too many at once... So many gorgeous images--of Bainbridge Island & the green of the Pacific Northwest. Made me long for life there again. Thank you, Jack, for the great experience!