the Jaime's!!!

I had some friends in high school (El Paso, TX) who's family had a lot of kids...when I first met them, they were around #7 or #8....they eventually made it to twelve.

The three oldest were my age and some of us have managed to stay in touch through the years and over multiple moves both of our families have made.

We did everything together for about 3 years...

This weekend, the oldest (MARIA! who we also got to live in Ohio with a few years ago!) the mom (hi Cathy!) and the two youngest (Sonya and Eli...who'd I'd never even met but were freakishly just like their brother and sister at those ages when we were younger so it was like a flash back seeing them!)

were all in DC on a road trip!

and wala! I live in the DC area!

We spend Saturday night and most of the day Sunday with this precious family from my past....

I love them, they are a part of my history and connecting with parts of my history isn't always easy because of the distances I usually have to travel to see it.

Memories flooded back, happy times came to mind...it was a blast!

Thanks Jaime's, for sharing your vacation with the Panter girls, we loved every minute of it!

(Jake was being awesome working as a camp counselor at TAPS....a day camp thing for kids who've lost a close family member... usually a dad....to the war efforts.  He had an amazing weekend and we are so proud of him!)

Pictures are in order!

Plaka Grill was first on the list....it's my fav' casual Greek restaurant here so far:

 and then, who knew!? we have a Red Mango yogurt bar here, so that was second on the list!

 there was some fierce spoon hanging competition going on!

 Sunday we met them at the Postal Museum near Union Station...um...neat little tucked away museum, loved it!

Union Station:

 do you see that guy in the background?

I should do a whole blog post of pictures like this...I have TONS....people do not look on our family without that look on their face lately.  It's fun.  My life may be crazy but just seeing the girls brings joy to people's faces - it's always fun to get home and discover I've captured another onlooker smiling away.

 Nora had successfully run fast enough to the bird to be the one to make him fly away, she was so proud she actually floated back to me...it's our favorite down town activity...besides the grass and rocks.

 Potbelly's in Union Station for lunch...it's also one of our favorite spots!

 1.5 mile walk to the Eastern Market...because I'm a complete moron and forgot we could just metro...oops.

We took the bus back so I think I'm a little redeemed....Maria? Am I forgiven!?

 when it's 95 degrees out and you've walked over 1.5 miles..you stop for smoothies...like this:

 and when there's a teenage boy scout pulling the wagon, you load it up with as many little girls as you can:

 don't worry, he got a turn too:

 what is it about the bus that is SO fun for kids!?

 me and my buddy Maria!

who put those veins and wrinkles on my eyes!? you're in deep doo doo, whoever you are!

 our crew (minus Cathy and me) for the last few days:

it was an unexpected (I failed to sit down and make plans until the last minute with Maria!) but fabulous Memorial Day Weekend....it was neat to just be downtown on such a weekend!

(us and all the THOUSANDS of motorcyclist!?)

tonight...Jake and I are going out to celebrate our 12TH ANNIVERSARY!

It's technically not until June 4th but this is as close as we could get to go out for the date night!