Weekend Update...

This weekend was so incredibly busy - on Friday it didn't seem that we had that much planned, but by Sunday night we were beat.

Friday was date night - friends graciously agreed to watch the boys (thanks Marc and Jenn!) so the hubs and I could go to a movie (Harry Potter), which was a much needed opportunity.

Saturday I took the boys to hang with friends while Michael had some "alone time" (not a euphemism for anything - he organized the spice cabinet...that's not code either! get your minds out of the gutter!). Anyhow - after naps we picked up dinner and headed to El Segundo for the local Rotary Club's annual Movie in the Park. Honestly, I didn't have high hopes for the evening...I was positive that parking would be a disaster, that the boys would lose it before the film started and that I'd be cursing myself for dragging us all out.

I could not have been more wrong!

Parking was fine (and free!), the tickets to get in were super cheap and we found a great spot right near our friends. Jack hung with his friends in the bounce house and took a train ride while I played with Benny on the blanket we had spread on the grass. He had a blast - loves being outside and seeing new things. He clapped and crawled around, made friends with some neighbors and posed for pictures.

Once the movie started (Kung Fu Panda) everyone settled in - Jack and his friend Calvin ran back and forth between our blanket and Calvin's wagon, giggling and being goobers. Finally Jack got tired of the movie and asked to go play on the structure, so Michael took him over there while I hung out with Ben (who took a 30 minute cat nap and then watched the rest of the movie with me).

The whole evening was really great - I love doing community activities...makes us feel like we live in a small town, even though we totally don't.

Sunday was equally full - we cleaned out the garage for a bit then headed up to the South Coast Botanic Garden for a kids concert in the meadow. Jack got to run around with his friends and then they all settled in for the show, which he really got into.

Or not - he watched the whole thing and occasionally whispered along with the songs, but mostly he just ate his Doritos.

Surprisingly, we were able to bring wine to the event, which made the whole thing much more entertaining for the adults too. I think they finally had to kick us all out an hour after the concert had ended. Oops.

As I said, we were all beat by last night. This a.m. the boys slept in super late - I had to drag them both out of bed (unheard of) at 7:30 in order to get to work on time.

All in all it was a really wonderful weekend - great activities, great friends and some tired kiddoes at the end of it all. Plus any lingering guilt I have from my recent weekend away is now totally gone!

Miss Maddie

I only met Maddie once - several months ago at a movie with my friend Nanette, who is close to Heather. We only chatted for a few moments - the film was about to start and I was juggling my infant who was hoping to eat before the lights went down. I was excited to meet them though - I had visited Heather's blog several times and was inspired by Maddie's story.

As Heather came in to the theater, she plopped Maddie down in Nanette's lap and snatched Nanette's new baby Em up for a kiss and snuggle. Maddie was so tiny - probably smaller than Ben was at the time (about 10 weeks) - and she was so cute! Those big eyes - that grin...she just hung out, looking around, taking it all in and charming the pants off anyone that caught her eye.

That day stuck with me, and, as I learned of Maddie's illness last week, followed Heather's tweets and then, learned of her passing the next day, I was devastated - distracted for the rest of the day, which I spent glued to the blogs and Twitter, trying to find out what had happened...looking for any sort of update. I've followed the updates and posts from Heather's wonderful friends, and from Heather and Mike themselves - as I read more and more, and my eyes fill with tears each time, I realize why this silly blogging is so important. It keeps people connected, creates an outlet and provides support in ways that I don't think anyone really expected. I think that the support and love for Heather, Mike and Maddie demonstrates just how much good there is in this world, and it is heartwarming and inspiring.

To Heather and Mike - my heart goes out to you both in the loss of your precious Maddie. I can't imagine what you are going through - but know that I'm thinking of you every day, that you are in my prayers and that we all miss Maddie, your little angel.