weekending

even though i'm not working right now, i still look forward to the weekends.

i know it's much to do with the fact that my family is home.

i've had no trouble filling my days, but i have had a little guilt.

it feels indulgent to be spending so much time reading and writing and cooking and decorating.

but it also feels like a gift.

it's funny how i was still exhausted come friday night, which i guess makes sense since i've been getting up early and staying up late and filling all the moments in between.

we got take-out from our new favorite chinese restaurant.

it was mike's first experience and he was a big fan of the egg rolls and the level of spice.

i literally ate dinner and then crashed on the couch after finishing the last two stories in All These Wonders for book club.

the benefit of an extra early bedtime was getting up with the sun saturday morning.

i had time for a walk before book club.

first body and then mind.

it was our second meeting and i thought just as meaningful as the first.

everyone liked the book i selected and picked different stories that deeply resonated with them.

i'm afraid i picked the next book as well.

it will be one of my new year's resolutions to quiet my inner english major and be less bossy at book club.

jess took lily out for an evening of shopping and dinner.

mike and i went to a badger party with old friends and met some new friends.

unfortunately the team lost, but i count connecting with friends a win.

teddy spent the weekend working out, eating out, and hanging out with friends.

i really didn't feel like going to church sunday morning, and although i was up, i was too lazy to make it to our normal 9 o' clock mass.

i got lily to sunday school and then headed over to the public market for some caffeine.

i treated myself to what is known as a my buddy.

it's a delicious almond/vanilla cappuccino.

the market was festive and slammed.

before i left the house, i peaked in on ted to let him know that i expected to see him at 11:30 mass.

i didn't have high hopes because i knew he went back to sleep in his cozy cave.

lily and i agreed it was a balcony day and lo and behold teddy snuck in beside us before the presentation hymn was over.

it was a beautiful first mass of advent.

i so enjoyed the choir and especially their rendition of o come o come emmanuel.

it's my seasonal favorite.

ted declined my offer to buy lunch.

he had places to go and people to see.

lily was game so she and i went out and had ok food, but a fine time.

later in the afternoon we went to the mall to do a little christmas shopping.

we were home in time to help with sunday dinner.

mike prepared his first brisket and it was delicious.

it was a good and full weekend from beginning...

to end...