The Play Date and the Party

Last week I met up with a friend and had a really nice morning. She’s another stay-at-home mom, and we met at a church we visited. She lives in Capitol Hill, and we get together every couple weeks (see my earlier post, The Parking Spot). We were going to go to story time at the library she normally goes to, so I drove there to meet her. But when I got there, it was closed for Emancipation Day. (Lots of holidays around here, it seems.) 

I called her and she told me where I could drive to meet her, and then we could park and get coffee and take the kids to a playground. I am still so clueless when it comes to the layout of this city. I was thinking I would have to get back on the highway to get back to Capitol Hill from the library. But it was only about a five-minute drive on city streets to where I met her at Lincoln Park, a beautiful(!) park on the Hill. I found her parked, and then I followed her to near Eastern Market, where the coffee shop is--a shop owned by her friend. It’s called Peregrine. I found a spot behind Eastern Market where I didn’t have to parallel. Yay! And surprise, parking was free because of the holiday, yay again! It was a pretty morning and I walked around the block to meet her at Peregrine.

My vanilla latte (courtesy of my friend!) was delicious. We sat outside and she nursed her baby and we drank our coffee and our two toddlers played around a little. Then we walked to a park with a cute playground for younger kids (sometimes known as “Turtle Park” because of a large stone turtle the kids climb on), and the two of them played for a while. My friend was pointing out how the different groups of nannies gathered together there during the day. SAHMs aren’t too common here. Then she invited us over to their house for lunch.

We were able to walk there as well. I love walking through those Capitol Hill streets, especially now, in spring. Everything is blooming and gorgeous, and the weather that day was just perfect. We walked and chatted till we got to her place. (And I didn’t have to worry about my meter because of the holiday!)

My friend offered me falafel for lunch. She asked me if I liked falafel, and I was a little embarrassed to admit that I didn’t exactly know what it was (though I had heard of it). (If you’re in the dark on falafel like me and curious: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/falafel.) We had it on pita bread and it was good. Judah ate it up too. I think it was around one o’clock when we headed home. I don’t know why it was just such a nice day for me, seeing new places and hanging out in such a lovely part of town, and enjoying the company and conversation as well. ...

Gracie’s birthday party was last weekend, though her birthday was back on April 11. That was when my parents were here, so I wanted us to focus on them during that time instead of hosting a party for friends. We decided to do it the 20th instead. Gracie hasn’t made a lot of friends here yet, but we invited three girls we’d met through churches we’d visited and two girls from her class at school. All but one came to the party, and one girl brought along a cousin, so with Gracie and Tabitha that made seven, and that was plenty!

Gracie wanted a Barbie party, and I had the idea to ask a stylist friend to come do makeup for all the girls. I was a little worried it might turn out to go a little long with the makeovers, so I wanted to have plenty of things for the girls to do. I came up with a craft table (frame decorating), a Barbie hair station, and a Barbie play area. It worked out pretty well. My friend fixed up Gracie first, not only her makeup but her hair and nails. Then the other girls took turns. They were quite the beauties--before and after! I hate that I neglected to get a photo of them all together, but here are a few pics I got.

Before the madness

Getting Barbie-dolled up

My birthday beauty ...

And her sister

"Happy Birthday dear Gracie!"

Time for presents: every one included a Barbie!

No makeup for Judah, just shades

Waiting for nails to dry, with Mama

The party was fun, and we’re grateful for the friends God has blessed us with who came and celebrated with us. I’m also thankful for my Capitol Hill play-date and coffee buddy. God has been gracious in providing all kinds of friends for us here in DC: neighbors, coworkers, and friends from our church and other churches we’ve connected with, all with interesting stories, many of whom share our faith and have been loving and supportive to us as individuals and as a family. More on our new friends to come in later posts.