Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Well, we had a fun-filled weekend here! Keith's birthday was Wednesday, and we went out to dinner at an Asian fusion restaurant called Peony in Durham. Totally one of those places that is a surprise when you walk in! It's in a little strip mall, but the interior dining area is very nice, and the food was fabulous. Emmy tried her first sushi, but preferred the sesame chicken! Friday was my birthday, and my Mom came to town! She stayed Friday through today, we we had a great visit with her. I kept Emmy home from school Monday & Tuesday, and took those two days off work myself. Friday night, we all went out to Kanki, a Japanese steakhouse for dinner. Very tasty, and always entertaining. Keith, Mom and I went to the Durham Performing Arts Center Saturday evening to see a live broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. My family has been listening to his stories of Lake Wobegon for more than 20 years, and it was so wonderful to get to see his show live, and his creative genius at work on stage. He's all business when the "ON AIR" sign is lit, but when it goes off, he really loosens up and interacts with the crowd. Sunday, we made french toast for breakfast, visited the local park, and had free Mother's Day ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery. I hosted a stamping class on Saturday afternoon, and Mom always likes to join in that when she's in town. My stamping ladies love Mom, and there's always lots of laughing all around. By Monday, Em and I came down with another cold...grrr. I think this is #4 for both of us this spring! It was rainy and cold outside, so it was a good day for napping and resting up. Today, the sun came out, and it was a beautiful mid-60's day here...perfect for another excursion to the local strawberry patch. Em was and old pro by now, and filled up her bucket, albeit with semi-red berries. I've got a batch of freezer jam on the counter setting, and multiple bags of strawberries in the freezer for future smoothies & yogurt pops. Mom and Jim leave in the morning to head back north to Indiana. It's always so good to have parents & grandparents here for a visit. Emmy truly loved having her Grammy stay for several days, and Mom is probably exhausted from keeping up with an energetic 2 year old.