Mini Mac’n’Cheeses, Slides and Bonnets

We are having a lovely family weekend thus far – and it’s only 2/3rd of the way through! Bramble Berry is closed for Memorial Day. Chris and I are delighted to have an extra full day with our baby boy but we recognize that it’s just not another day off. It’s a day of reflection, remembrance and gratitude. We plan to start tomorrow by telling him about the importance of Memorial Day, starting his education about our Armed Forces and the sacrifices they and their families make. If you do nothing else this weekend, please read this article. It moved me to tears (in a good way).

We hosted a wine tasting party Friday night and learned a lot about Washington State wines. Our expert guests (Masquerade Wines) actually made the Gold Medal 2012 Cabernet Sauvingon for Washington State so they had a lot of great information to impart based on real-deal experience.

Before we filled our house with people, my Mastermind Group (or at least most of them!) got together for paddleboarding. It was such a great workout and absolutely a soul-enhancing time. My smart business owner girlfriends inspire me.

Paddleboarding is all about the core – and I am SORE today! My legs hurt. My abs are wondering what hit them and my shoulders are protesting.

We went to the park yesterday and Jamisen absolutely hated his sun bonnet (or is it a manly cap? Isn’t it all semantics?). He did LOVE the slide. He kept climbing up the slide (it’s a small, slightly tilted piece of molded fiberglass) to his Daddy. Chris would turn him around and send him the 2 feet back to me. There was a lot of smiles, giggling and grunting. Jamisen loved it! And he took the LONGEST afternoon nap. All the climbing, walking (with Mommy’s help!) and crawling tuckered our little boy out.

Proving the fun doesn’t stop, we brought Mr. Jamisen to an afternoon party where I made salmon (fresh) en papillote and adult macaroni and cheese (cambozola cheese plus farmhouse cheddar). It makes it entirely Martha in little individual serving dishes.

We’re planning on walking the baby into Fairhaven today for Ski to Sea (this insane multi-leg race that starts out skiing and ends with kayaking in the Bay. He is going to be in his element with all the people (our baby is a people person!). Hopefully he’ll sit still enough for a few photos.

Happy Weekend – I hope you’re having a joyful weekend with your family and friends.