Three Years

Three years ago today, I married my best friend. Each day brings greater understanding and renewed love. I thank God every day for my husband, my soul mate, and the daddy to our little bean. I love you baby!

Summer Catch-Up

A busy, travel-filled summer left little time for me to think about blogging. Enjoy some photos of our summer fun!

Party Planners are We

Whether its a small birthday party, backyard BBQ, or a full blown, extended-family Thanksgiving dinner, we Masons were born to plan. It is in our blood. We have all been given the gift of hospitality, and we LOVE to use it. In fact, we find just about any excuse to host parties of any size in our homes. Combine that with each of our creative talents, and you have an over-the-top celebration.
I can remember planning parties and neighborhood socials back to when I was younger than 10 years old. For one of my sister's birthdays, I threw a Disney's Aladdin themed party. I made a Jasmine cake and even dressed up as the Genie. At any and all block parties, I was always organizing a circus, a play (which I wrote and directed, of course), a talent show (who could forget my bff Nicole and I lip-synching to the entire Tiffany album), and a beauty pageant where we crowned Miss Ohio.
Now that I am all grown up, not much has changed. I still host themed parties. I drive my husband crazy when I have to have coordinating flowers to go with our table settings at a BBQ for friends. And I am always thinking of the next big party I can host.
This past May was no different, when my mom, sister Sarah, Aunt Alice, and I all got together to plan the bridal shower of the year. My fabulous cousin Abby (the most girly and fun-loving bride-to-be I know) was the last of the first cousins to get married. So of course we were going to give her the most fun shower ever...at least the most fun to plan. And it was! I will let the pictures doing the talking.

Baltimore Aquarium

Saturday afternoon I traveled to Baltimore to meet up with my dear friend Jamie for some good 'ol girl talk and general catching up. We enjoyed lunch at Hard Rock, a visit to the Baltimore Aquarium, and a stroll along the inner harbor. Good times with some good silliness. Thanks Jamie!

Best Birthday Weekend Ever!

I could not think of a better way to celebrate the last year in my 20's. (Although Keris has lovingly reminded me that I am already working on my 30th year.) Typically I am not one to plan lots of things for my own birthday. I love to celebrate others' special days, but I have just never made a big deal out of my own. But I must say after this weekend of events, I am already looking forward to the big 3-0. Friday, my actual birthday was just as I had planned. An afternoon at a dance workshop learning Beyonce's "Single Ladies" choreography. And then a nice dinner out at the Italian restaurant across the street, where I had the best chocolate mousse ever. Saturday and Sunday proved to be just as good with our impromptu trips to the dog park and Sweet Sue's Bakery in North Beach on Saturday. And our first excursion down the Patuxent on our boat on Sunday. From now on, I think all birthdays should fall on a weekend.

The Magoo's 1st Birthday - A Family Affair

Paul, Nicole, and little Jackson White are not related by blood, but they are family in any other sense of the word. The Whites are just a few of our friends that we refer to as our Jax family. Brought together initially as classmates at the Naval Academy, this group has grown with each new marriage and birth of a child. At one point we were lucky enough to have almost everyone stationed in Jacksonville, Florida, but we have since been spread out over several states, soon to be over three different countries.
On Saturday, April 18th, the few of us scattered in the DC/Maryland area gathered to celebrate Jackson's 1st Birthday. It was a beautiful day because of both the weather and the people we shared it with. And it was a special day like all first birthdays are, but even more so because of the trials and triumphs this family has been through over the past year. (You can read up on their journey here.) This party was a celebration of life and of family. We were truly blessed to spend so much time with Paul and Nicole, each of their own families, Amy and Steve, Molly, and everyone else who was there. We are so thankful to have part of our Jax Family so close.

Tiki Bar Opening

If there was one thing we heard more than anything else when people found out we were new to Southern Maryland, it was that we had to go to the Tiki Bar Opening. You would never know it at first glance, but this little shack on Solomon's Island is the hottest thing to happen all year down here. (I am not kidding when I say its rural here.) The Opening of the Tiki Bar signals the start of the "season" for Solomons. That season includes everything from boating to fishing to summer tourism. On Friday, April 17, 2009, this otherwise sleepy town located at the point where the Patuxent River flows into the Chesapeake Bay was magically transformed into a tropical paradise. Thanks to hot temperatures and plenty of sun, the 30th annual opening of Tiki Bar did not disappoint.
Keris and I were joined by Amy and Steve, some very dear friends of ours from DC. We had an amazing time enjoying the good weather, the tasty drinks, and just good 'ol people watching over the sea of Southern Maryland locals. With the sounds of a live steel drum band and sand dumped everywhere on the streets, I really felt like we had just transported to a beach in the Bahamas. It was a little of slice of paradise. And its right here in our backyard...at least for the next four months. Until you are able to join us for a visit, enjoy the pictures!