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Mayhem: violent or damaging disorder; chaos.
Synonyms: chaos, disorder, confusion, havoc, bedlam, pandemonium, madness, madhouse, all hell broken loose
I wonder when and how "Mayhem" was coined. But it's just perfect.
Somehow May and its chaos has come and gone.
Andrew finished First Tee and played 4 holes quite well with his side-kick, who's not bad himself for no lessons.
Celebrating new jobs (and definitely not a 45th birthday at Pro re Nata Brewery)
May 4th was one for the record books---had to turn down many things, but what we enjoyed with the grandparents was pretty special.
Not Andrew's most technical or rewarding piece but a fine performance none the less.
Next up, Margaret's Chance to Dance Recital at Charlottesville High School.
She was beaming through the entire "One Day".
The grand finale with all classes:
I trip to Ivy Nursery to fill the back deck potters and then time for a Mint Julep and the most controversial Kentucky Derby on record.
A cute surprise in Greystone's 100th Anniversary Sparks addition.
Uncle and Shirley were visiting this May 3rd birthday four years ago, but where are they?!?
AWANA Awards Night
Always chaotic, but rewarding....literally and figuratively.
ALL of the K-2 SPARKS
Margaret's Truth In Training Girls' Group
Andrew's Truth In Training Boys' Group---and, he received the Clubber of the Year Leadership Award. Well deserved recognition of his efforts this year.
Our guest chef at Uncle Maddio's Fundraising Night!
Filling the "Blessing Box" at church for our neighbors.
She nailed Crazy Hair Day for ABC Countdown.
Lacie was one of the great ones and will truly be missed by all. Emily was an incredible mother and devoted friend to this sweet girl and cared for her so very deeply this last, difficult 9 months.
Another incredible watercolor done by my dear friend's sister. #CamdenKate
The perfect commemoration.
Our tree photo finally metal mounted and hung!
Fridays after 5:00 with the Lewis'.
Only took 9 years, to the week, to fill this space!
Painted this at a fun church event. You will indeed, forever by my always.
Thankful for photos (and UVA bball players) because I barely remember these sweet little ones.
At the river in the Meadow across from our house.
Little Man in awe of "Bubble Down" day a few years back.
25 S. Pennsylvania St. Wow. Has been renovated, has an addition, and has doubled in price. No wonder our landlord wouldn't sell.
What a championship tourney for these kids! They were down 4-1 in their semi-game and battled back for OT....not ideal in 90-degree heat. Andrew was beside himself to have scored the winning goal. After being piled on at mid-field, he ran over to me, "That was a dream come true---to score the winning goal in overtime!". His elation was pure joy.
Andrew had dozens of strong face-offs this season, which amounts to a mini-wrestling match.
Coach Kelly's bum foot/ankle---super frustrating for this collegiate athlete and mother of three.
Like father, like son. I've never seen Matthew more focused, quiet and serious than when he's "helping Daddy coach". He soaks in every moment as if he realizes that it seriously is helping his own game.
The second game about did us all in. The Championship started 10 minutes after they finished their first OT game, in 90-degree heat. We faced a St. Anne's with about 40, fresh players. A double-header for us, we had three subs because all of our soccer players were away. Down 4-1 again, we feared these hard working boys were going to collapse. But once again, they battled back to force OT. Apparently one wasn't enough, so they played their hearts out through a second OT. Several close shots just barely missed the goal, and one of theirs happened to sneak by....a first time goaly for us, at that.
Several of the STAB parents commented to Michael and Hunter afterward how impressed they were with our guys....their effort, their stamina, their will. These guys were beat to a pulp, exhausted, with hardly any subs. Their coaches even said, "Your boys out-played ours. They should have one. We were just the lucky ones with a goal that sneaked in." A championship would have been awfully nice for these boys that played almost 3 games worth of quarter, but these acknowledgements were a pretty nice way to lose.
Poor thing passed out watching Yale-Penn----first nap he's taken in about 5 years!
At our rental house in Cville, winter/spring 2010. What a cutie!
Still cannot believe that the Cors' are moving to Houston in a matter of weeks.
Still cannot believe that they are leaving the the world's BEST backyard.
A simply unbelievable kid-Heaven.
Thankful for a last Hen Happy Hour here.
Little Miss...gonna be causing us problems some day!
Celebrating 14 years at Barboursville's esteemed Palladio Restaurant on an absolutely stunning evening. What a culinary delight! Thanks to Patty (wine-maker Luca's wife) for steering us in the best direction on the menu.
Kathy came in from Sedona for a last retreat before Mere moves to Houston. Mom and Dad graciously offered their house again, so we did what we do and stayed put for 24 hours. No idea what we even talked about it, but it was non-stop, lovely and perfect.
We were SO happy to be together!
While Mommy was away, Dad hiked Humpback Rock with the kids.
Matthew's first on his own two feet....maybe Margaret, too.
Band Selection night at the middle school was actually a lot of fun! Andrew got to try every single instrument...kind of wish I'd been able to, too.
T-minus 6 years...
Life's pretty sweet when s'mores in the backyard are all it takes.
Field Day! Rewind 5 years to Matthew's first attempt at tug-of-war.
And then fast forward---look at this kid's effort!
And as soon as Field Day was over, we were off to DC for our annual Virginia Hospital Center Gala, a.k.a. "valet-at-a-DC-hotel-who-will-damage-our-car-claim-no-responsibility-costing-us-$1,000 deductible-and-10-days-without-a-car" event. Third go-round, we were smart enough to leave the car in the employee-parking garage at the hospital and Uber into the city. Saved us $150 valet parking and a lot of stress!
Drinks at the beautiful Trump International Hotel, we asked Jamie for a picture---more of the beautiful hotel and less of us---and you can't see any of the stunning features, but oh, well.
Off to the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, we found ourselves in a beautiful event center but with no phone space for pics of the venue! BUT, the photo booth was going strong...
And finally, the rooftop of the W hotel over looking the White House. Beautiful evening. Lovely people. But bottle service? Almost always a bad idea.
And so we worked it off in the morning with a run on the mall.
We enjoyed the National Museum of American History and saw a wonderful film on the National Parks. An amazing sound track to the film and "are you kidding me??" scene after scene.
A little rest, and then we began "planning" for Spain with a drink in Dupont Circle. Beautiful evening for sidewalk service.
Dinner at "our" Dupont Circle French Bistro and then a comedy show at our "Underground Comedy" hook-up and we were set.....muscles, escargot, steak frites, chateauneuf du pape and tired laughing cheeks.......lovely evening and delightful to know we still thoroughly enjoy each other's company and have endless conversation when uninterrupted and not constantly planning meals and driving:-)
