Deck of Cards

Over a year had passed, but my parents made their third trip to come see us in DC! In their generosity, this visit fell squarely in the help-our-children-thrive-and-prosper category, my dad blessing us with his deck-making skills. Plus, you know, we had Naomi Jean dedicated. Yeah, not so much a baby dedication at this juncture, but a beautiful dedication nonetheless.

And what determined when these events would occur? The one St. Louis Cardinals baseball series for the season here at Nats Park. We have priorities.

Since moving in a year and a half ago, we have not had steps from our sun room to the backyard. A nice 3 foot drop down to the ground. Yeah, there used to be a deck and steps, but they were not fit for children, as was our sun room, so they were sacrificed in order to access our now strong-enough-to-hold-a-Cadillac, shored up sun room.

So we've taken our trash from the kitchen, down to the basement, through the family room, laundry room, up the walkout steps, into our backyard and to the alley.

Not a whole of action happening in our backyard these past 21 months.

Deciding that we should really do something about this, and the mama girl finally rolling around a plan in her head long enough (oh, yeah, I've posted about this already!), we hired a landscape architect to draw up master plan for our little row house backyard. And the landing/stairs/deck idea I had was good! And now drawn up on paper! And now partially executed with hundreds (okay, I'm being super-conservative with that noun) of dollars of lumber! Wooo!

My grandma also made the trip! We were all so thrilled - we got to celebrate her 85th birthday together! And take her to a stellar Cardinals game (four home Cardinal home runs?! Seats behind the plate?! Ow!) where Teddy Roosevelt accosted her and then posed for a picture. Classic ballpark.

Naomi's dedication on Sunday was just perfect. Our pastor did such an amazing job praying over her - I'm so thankful for the Holy Spirit in him! While he was praying my eyes were open most of the time so that the tears wouldn't spill over.

Now here's the seriously sad part - I forgot to have *any* photos taken! Or video! It's one of those things that I just have to think, keep that one in your heart, Tara, and be content recalling the emotions and the moment since I won't have all the words. And of course I was all fretting about what we all would wear, made decisions, and then didn't even have a photo of the four of us taken! (Gives a mama perspective on her often "pressing" priorities.)

Maybe dedications in a movie theater on a rainy day are prone to that (what, an 8 foot poster for Wolverine - X-Men Origins doesn't scream photo op?).

It's okay. (That was for me.)

Five days and four nights go way too fast, but we are so thankful to have our family here - for them to get to see the progress we've made on the house, to hang with the girls, to see preschool, to make more progress on the house, and just catch a couple days of our life here in DC. Thanks so much, Mom and Dad, for coming out - we love having you here!

Park at the ballpark! Woohoo!

Sadly, the Cards are in town only once a year. Nats game for a date night? Maybe we'd consider it.

We had a crew of us for dinner after Naomi's dedication. Mom & Dad and Grandma got to know our church family friends, the kids got to eat and play - it was a lovely time!

Classic picture-taking Naomi

Great pic of Grandma three days before her 85th!

Dedication day Naomi checking out the backyard progress

Steps! Unfinished, but recognizably and functionally, steps!
The eventual plan puts a low deck right at the bottom of the second landing (rock steps are temporary) that spans the width of the yard and comes out to the tree - perfect size for a grill, table and chairs. Summer grilling, we have our sights on you.

Night tour of the monuments - my mom hadn't some of them since she was 16. She had more appreciation this time around.

View of Washington Monument from Jefferson Memorial - love this shot (from my 5 year-old camera...amazing!)

I had never stood in the Lincoln Memorial and read the speeches (Gettysburg Address and second Inaugural address). Amazing man with bold faith. Reading is required.