Weekending it

This weekend Dan and I attended a wedding in New York. It had been over two years since we had seen the bride and several of the guests from the church we were attending in Brooklyn right at the start of the pandemic. It was nice to catch-up with people and spend the day with Dan. Mandy watched the kids. It was a daytime wedding which was great so we were back home by dinnertime and picked up food for a dinner picnic/swim at the pool. 

On Sunday, we found a playground and a free botanic garden. We were surprised by how beautiful it was and the kids loved exploring. 

Yesterday was a month since my mom's passing. It felt very bittersweet as she would have loved to see those gardens. But, Mandy and I felt her presence with us and she sent many butterflies to remind us she was there. I know this seems weird, but she would have LOVED this funky tree and little shelf collection of broken pots and twigs. I imagine I would have sent her these photos and she would have requested that we take her there on her next visit.

Miss you mom. Thanks for sending us signs that you're here with us.

We took the kids to experience Cold Stone Creamery for the first time after the garden visit. Neither of them wanted anything mixed-in!!! Guess we'll wait awhile before we take them back for overpriced ice cream and stick with cheap Italian ice from Rita's.

Today marks two years since we moved into our house in New Jersey. Isn't that wild?? Two years since these babies made that crazy decision.

We've learned a lot along the way and spent A LOT more money than we thought we would, but, we're settled and it feels like home.