where, oh where, did my weekend go?

I really don't like Mondays. It means 5 more days before another weekend. This past one was outstanding. Not because we did anything out of the ordinary.. but because there was nothing on the schedule. Those are my favorite kind. A few of the weekend highlights were:

• My husband bringing me flowers on Friday after work. This rarely happens.. not because Aaron is a cold-hearted snake, but because I hate the "expected" flowers and I will scold him for buying them on my birthday or a holiday. It's way better getting them for no reason at all!
• Eating late-night ice cream with our boys. Zack kept requesting more BUMPY ROAD.
• An early Saturday morning date at IHOP. No kids. Just me and my man (and delish blueberry pancakes + stuffed french toast.)
• Going grocery shopping as a family.. I know this doesn't sound exciting, but when the checker offers your kids stickers to keep them entertained, it actually becomes quite hysterical. Before we knew it, Luke's ENTIRE face was covered with big, florescent orange stickers that said, "Thanks for shopping at Smith's" Ben had to hold his hand out to the car so Luke wouldn't bump into anything.. Have you ever taped down your eyelashes with big stickers? According to Luke, it FLIPPIN hurts when you rip them off.
• Eating lunch at Sonic with a big bounce house for the kids. Another perfect meal because #1) the boys weren't around and #2) I didn't have to cook.
• Luke begging to drink a swig of Dad's "Dr. Phil" because he was sweaty from the bounce house. Of course, after the third time he said it, he realized it was actually called Dr. Pepper.
• Sitting on a bench outside of TJ Maxx with the fam... and challenging one another to an ice-spitting contest. When it's Sonic pebble ice, those suckers can go faaaarrr.. Just watch out for pedestrians.
• Playing glow-in-the-dark-hide-and-seek In order to play correctly, each person needs a Star Trek lasor shooter that comes inside the current boxes of Frosted Mini Wheat cereal. Must be played after bedtime.
• Sleeping in on Sunday morning until 10 am. I totally dig church @ 1pm.. it gives you enough time to make blueberry pancakes that taste almost as good as IHOP's.
  
• Seeing my husband cook Sunday dinner wearing my apron. Oh how I love him.
• Hearing my boys talk about how much they LOVE the new series we're reading: Fablehaven. Ben thinks "reading a good book is exactly like watching TV in your head... except that it takes WAY longer find out what happens and sometimes it makes you fall asleep... and the characters in your head never look as cool as they do on TV." sounds about right.
  
• making a double batch of chocolate chip cookies and eating dough until Zack got a "headache in his tummy."
  
• getting a note like this under your pillow late Sunday night:

And now it's Monday. Lucky for me (and my kids) we have visitors coming in just a few hours... two of my sisters, SIX of my nieces and nephews AND A PUPPY! They will be here until Thursday.. so asta la vista, baby!