An Annual Holiday Tea

Every year for the last eight years, my Mom, BFF, and I have celebrated with an annual holiday tea.  I've known my friend and her family since we were both 12 years old, and our friendship has spanned years living in separate places during HS and college, coming back to live close by after college, and now again living hundreds of miles away from one another. 

She's a friend I'm so grateful to have in my life.

We're both committed to this holiday tea every year, and will travel to make it happen!  This year, she came back to DC since it's still hard for me to solo travel overnight when I'm breastfeeding Liam. 

Here are a few pictures from our day.  We went down to Pinkadilly Tea House in Frederick, VA (which is such a cute little town I had never explored before!)  The tea house is so pink, girly, and ridiculous, it made me daydream about having a little girl to bring down there. 

A Visit to the Pumpkin Patch

Holidays and festivals with babies and kids seem so much more exciting this year.  I've always loved the holiday season, but in years past it's seemed frantic and I never made it a priority to go to the little neighborhood or community celebrations in our neck of the woods.  This year with a baby, it's different.

Last weekend my Mom and I took Liam to Ticonderoga Farms - a true gem that I'm grateful to have discovered.  Unlike many of the other (hyped up) pumpkin farms and fall festivals around here, Ticonderoga seems to be a little known secret with many hidden treasures.  The farm owners kept much of the natural landscape of the place, and the whole outdoor space was well thought out and intentional.  We'll definitely be back next year, and shh...don't tell anyone else about this place.  It wasn't crowded, and it needs to stay that way! 

Vacation Moments

We went out of town for a wedding and short 4-day vacation to St. Simons Island, GA.  It was Liam's first flight, and despite us feeling like we brought our entire house with us, everything went relatively well!  Here are a few of my favorite shots from the weekend.

I'm also becoming aware of why I like photography so much - looking back at our photos reminds me of everything that I have to be grateful for.  I love capturing the small moments in our day to day life, and being present to the simple beauty that surrounds us.  

We spent much of the weekend at this lovely home, Villa de Suenos, for the wedding rehearsal dinner, ceremony/reception, and Sunday brunch. 

Friday night's Rehearsal Dinner featured a crab and shrimp boil - Amazing!

Liam took his first dips into the pool this weekend, and despite trying to drink the pool water, all went very well!

And first dips into the ocean!

Weekend Moments and Mothers Day Firsts

This weekend was active!  Yoga on Saturday morning blended in to night time challenges with Liam coming down with a cold and waking every 20 (!!!!) minutes.  However, it was my first Mothers Day on Sunday, and a really wonderful day.  I was so happy to share the day with my Mom.  We took a picnic out to the Virginia wineries - a tradition I hope we continue!  

Unforgettable date night on Saturday!

Sunday picnic that we relocated inside the winery to escape the wind

 Naps on the go...

...give us more time to taste wine!