We love Costco, how about you?!
Flower Girls are in the House Tonight!
Were you ever a flower girl? I never was, but always wanted to be. So when my friend, Katie, asked Lira and Zana to be flower girls in her Charlottesville wedding, it was ON.
No time to waste… we read flower girl books, watched YouTube videos (yes, really), and talked about the importance of their mission. “Don’t mess up. You have the most important job in the entire wedding…. Yeah, I know you’re not the bride, but throwing those flowers on the ground sets the stage for the entire wedding.” I can’t figure out why, but the night before the wedding, they both decided they didn’t want to be flower girls anymore.
After bribing them with toys that they could only pay with after getting an A+ on their flower girl final exam, they were ready to roll.
Here’s how they got an A+:
- Asking the tough questions. From “Why do we have to throw the flowers on the ground?” to “What’s that thing on your leg? (a garter). Princess Tiana didn’t wear one of those when she got married,” these girls kept the bride on her toes. So Katie, what does one do with that garter belt? I never heard your answer.
- Launching the party rocket. Just before ceremony time, there was an eerie, nervous silence. A bridesmaid thought a song might lighten the mood… but what song? Just then, Zana screamed at the top of her lungs “PARTY ROCKET’S IN THE HOUSE TONIGHT!” And from that moment, it really was. “Everybody just have a good time!” all the bridesmaids sang back. Also, I think LMFAO got their own lyrics wrong. Zana’s version is much better.
- Providing the getaway. During picture time, it’s hard to notice when someone disappears So it’s no surprise that, before we realized she was gone, Zana climbed into the driver seat of the golf cart, and pushed the gas pedal. Shrieks and screams ensued as Dave and I sprinted toward her. Luckily, she only drove a few feet…. And what did she have to say for herself? Not much -just giggles.
- Boogey-ing. “I Katie, take you Colin…” “AAAAACHHHHOOOOO!” You know those sneezes with the snot that hangs down to your waist? The thick, greenish-yellow snot producing sneezes? Zana picked the perfect moment for one of those. Terrified bridesmaids exchanged “do I have to deal with this?” looks, but little Z knew to come on over to my purse full of tissues, get her nose wiped, and get right back up there. (Somehow there wasn’t a picture of any of this in the professional photos. Go figure.)
- And boogie-ing. My favorite part of many weddings (including my own) is when the flower girls dance. It’s usually just a dance or two… but not with my party animals. Lira took several twirls around the dance floor, while Zana found her place on stage. Flashbacks of my college days didn’t let me sleep much that night… but the pictures sure do rule.
Bonus Points:
- To Lira for being the most patient and loving big sister I’ve ever seen.
- Dave, for putting on a pirate hat.
Full disclosure: the real reason I’m writing this post is because the wedding photographer, Jack Looney, took some of my favorite pictures of the girls that I’ve ever seen. I mean really…
Tell me about your flower girl experiences in the comments below!
Good-bye Vacay, Hello Real World… Womp Womp
For all 3 of you who’ve been stalking momindcity.com anxiously waiting for my next post… stop biting your nails, the wait is over. The summer of 2013 has definitely been one to remember. We took our first overseas family vacation! Kosovo, Albania, Germany, and Austria in 4 weeks. Plus, we spent a week at the beach in Delaware before that. How does a working mom get this much time off? My job gives a 5 week sabbatical every 5 years. Crazy, right?!
Here’s a quick recap of why I’ve been off the grid for the past couple of months:
Bethany Beach Highlights included ice cream multiple times a day and the introduction of the “bra-kini,” which you may call a bikini at your house.
Kosovo, the youngest country in Europe This is where I spent every summer of my childhood; it’s home to my extended family, and now the place where Lira and Zana want to move (I felt the same way when I was a kid). The castle in Prizren had a breathtaking view of the city.
We also spent time in the mountains, and on the family farm:
Albania Add the Adriatic Sea to your list of beaches to visit. I won’t forget our wonderful time in Vlora, but I do hope to forget whatever stomach but took us all down; Montazuma’s Enver Hoxha’s Revenge is no joke.
Munich and Salzburg Our trip to Germany and Austria was quick– just 3 days. We explored castles, gardens (flower and beer), enjoyed hearty German food and exhausted ourselves properly for the 9 hour flight home.
Back to the Grind We got back to DC 2 weeks ago. The girls started school last week– 1st grade (gasp!) and pre-school, and Dave immediately went back to work. I decided to do a 10 day in a row Bikram Yoga challenge to cleanse the vacation damage out of my system and shock my body back into reality. Now it’s time to shock my mind. Heading back to work this morning… womp womp
Capitol Hill Moms are Not Dance Moms
We’re taking the summer off from dance. It’s the first time in four years that we won’t have a dance class every Saturday. We have a lot of plans this summer, and dance just doesn’t fit into the equation. I’m not sure what that means for her So You Think You Can Dance future, but we’re risking it.
Lira’s first dance recital was a couple of weeks ago. She’s been waiting for it since she started taking classes at Joy of Motion when she was 2 years old. The recital was everything she hoped and dreamed of—the lights, the costumes, the hair. It was just like an episode of Dance Moms except the kids aren’t wearing half shirts and bootie shorts, Miss Crystal is no Abby Miller, and Capitol Hill moms are definitely not dance moms. In fact, they’re pretty much the opposite. For example…
They don’t know a thing about hair. I may have had to watch a YouTube video (or 3) to learn how to do a proper ballerina bun, but I did it! Not everyone got the bun badge of honor, though. One mom who shall not be named actually took her kid to a barber shop to avoid dealing with the hair nets and donuts (not the Dunkin’ kind).
They don’t dress their kids like Jean Benet-Ramsey. There wasn’t a set of red lips, a trace of body glitter, nor a single half shirt in sight. And based on the snack choices, it didn’t look like anyone had put their kid on the proper dance diet either. (Don’t you people know how many calories are in those granola bars? Sheesh)
They Don’t Show the Proper Dedication. The recital was about 45 minutes from the Hill… and boy were there complaints… and forgotten ballet slippers… and tights… and hair bows. A few kids didn’t even show up to the “mandatory” dress rehearsal and at least 2 showed up in sundresses and sandals.
Abby Miller would be appalled… and so would a lot of people I know from high school who actually are proper dance moms (I’m from Texas, you know). And they’d really be appalled to know the #1 dilemma faced by Capitol Hill moms of girls: dance vs. soccer. They’re at the same time on Saturdays. What’s a Barber Shop Mom to do???
Happy Belated Anniversary MomInDCtiy!
I’m officially “that guy.” The one who forgets our anniversary. Time to bow my head in shame and buy you two dozen roses. Happy belated Anniversary, MomInDCity readers! (It was last weekend– on Mother’s Day, actually)
I’ve learned a lot this year—about myself and about you. For example, MomInDCity readers really like hearing about poop. Two of the three most read posts are potty-related: Potty Training and a Purse Full of Poop and Potty Party on the Front Porch. The third favorite was a picture of me in my exciting thrift store find.
Since you like poop so much, you probably also like farts, so I’ll let you in on the latest dance move that Lira created. It’s called a farté which is basically a plié combined with a fart. It’s the cause of non-stop giggles—mainly from me because Lira puts on such a serious ballet face when she does it.
Oh, and another one for the vocabulary test: dicnic. I first learned this term after picking up sandwiches for an evening visit to Stanton Park. “We’re having a picnic!” Lira exclaimed. “Actually, this is more like a dicnic. You know… a dinner picnic.” Dave and I did our best not to spit out our drinks. We’ve been having dicnics for years and I never knew what to call them. I think dicnics are really going to catch on now that the weather has gotten nicer.
But back to our anniversary, you look beautiful tonight. Seriously, that color really brings out your eyes. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your love and support this year. Thank you for reading, sharing, commenting on and supporting MomInDCity. I promise more of what you love: potty humor, photos of me in cheap clothing and reviews of all the must-sees and must-dos in DC.
XOXO,
MomInDCity