What a weekend!!

As last Friday began I was so excited for the weekend!! The past several weeks had been tiring at best. With the weekend in sight, knowing we could just slow down and be a family, I was excited with what awaited just a few hours away, a very unplanned weekend!

When the phone rang early in the schooling hours a friend's invitation to meet them at the zoo for an afternoon get-together was irresistible. We hadn't had a chance to enjoy our friends lately or check on our "friends" that live at the zoo. The chance to do both brought a quick, "Meet you there at 1:00, but have to be back for violin at 3:30."

Once we were home and wrapped up violin and our school odds and ends we got the call, Daddy was on his way home. "What do you want to do? Let's get out!"Mexican it was- yum!!Then one of our new favorite "hot spots."
(No your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. The bowls are almost as big as Mackenzie:)

After a slow morning waking up we took the chance to smell the "roses" and headed out for brunch and a walk, a really big walk!

Close to the end goal Haleigh and Mackenzie were running low on energy.

Sophie was low on energy too, but we were also low on extra shoulder space.

The treasure at the end of the trail, the park, brought renewed energy. Enough energy to play for a few hours (and have Daddy hike back to get the van.)

After riding back to downtown we hit the toy store and devoured a late lunch.

Many free weekends we head to the mountains for a waterfall hike. That was our initial plan for the day, until Mark thought this plan would give us less driving time and more play time. It was the perfect day soaking up family and the sweet downtown just a short bit from our doorstep.
At the end of the day the girls were wiped out and Mark and I headed out with sweet friends to eat yet again :)
What a great weekend!!
(Many many numbers in the gratitude journal!!)