Labor Day Week

HAPPY LABOR DAY WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My labor day was so much fun, and so nice to not have to go into work! I was cat sitting a friends cat over the weekend and Monday was my last day, but as I was driving to her house there was an International Market. So I just had to stop and check it out! The market had rides, a live band, and raffles tickets but the coolest part for me was walking around and seeing all the food from different countries that they were serving.  

When I had put on a facebook status that I was moving to VA one of our family friends on Guam from 7 years ago had said that she lived in the same area. We had tried to get together when I first moved up here but with everything being so new I was really overwhelmed and it just did not work out. She texted me about a week ago and invited me to come and join her family for their Labor Day! That day, after feeding the cat, I had some time to kill before going to meet up with them so I went to Washington's old mill where they had tours and everything. It was super cool to see how they had to do things back then, and the buildings were so beautiful inside and out.

After I had fun in the mill it was time to meet up with the Roundys for some pool fun. I did not get any pictures of the pool and thats because I may or may not have gotten super distracted taking and catching up with Nate and Aubrey. It was so encouraging to catch back up and see how grown their kids have gotten. After the pool we went back to their house to grill out and talk some more. The boys and I got to play some soccer while we waited as Nate grilled burgers, hot dogs, and Guam chicken! Dinner tasted so good and they were a huge help with just getting to know this area more. They also invited me to "family night Fridays" where they just order pizza and watch a movie. I told they I would take them up on it and babysit for them for a date night whenever they want to :) Seems like a perfect trade to me!

On Friday my sister Hope was moving from Boston to North Carolina and wanted to stop in here for the night...I was so excited it all work out! I went shopping during my lunch break and got some yummy food and we just ate and talked and talked and talked! She also works for Bright Horizons and it was so much fun to talk about work stuff. We talked about our favorite kids and also about all the drama that comes with working with a bunch of woman. I am so very proud of her and very excited to see what the Lord has for her as she is starting this new chapter of her life too!

I had a work related training/meeting on diversity this Saturday that I had to go to. It was being held at a different center and they were telling everyone to take the Metro train because parking was so expensive so I took the Metro for the first time. I thought I would like it because I did not have to drive, but after riding it I would rather just drive. It was hard because it is so unpredictable time wise and I was scared I would get on the wrong train or something. I think that if there was not a time I had to be somewhere by it would have been less stressful. I know that if I go to DC for the day to just check it out or something that's the way to go because parking and traffic is insane.    

This was the cute little town the center was in..so beautiful even though it was a rainy day! The side walks were my favorite, I tend to really love the way brick looks!

Because I was riding the Metro I wanted to make sure I left a little room in case something happened. I was there 30 min before it started so I go to go to a Panera that was right by the center and get a cinnamon chip bagel. I use to work at Panera and those were my favorite bagels, but then you add some honey walnut spread and you have got some serious happiness in your mouth :)

We built this wheel as an activity at the training with the inner circle being things about yourself that you can't change and then the outer circle being things that we could change. This training was so cool and not only will help me in my job but also just in my life. There were many things that opened my eyes about diversity and just because I do not struggle with putting collars on different races it is still something that people struggle with. It broke my heart to hear the stores that some of the ladies shared and it is very sad to me that we judge people so quickly. 

After a long and rainy Saturday I was walking to the door to my apartment and I saw this little guy! He was just chilling on my path and looked like a pile of fall leaves until I saw him moving.

Sunday the weather felt like fall and I could not wait to get home from lunch and go on a nice walk. I walked to a place that had some benches and just sat to journal and cleared my head to get ready for a new week. On my way back I saw this on the sidewalk, it must have been from the rain yesterday and the leaf must have blown away just before I got there! I LOVE fall so much, but I do get a little sad during fall because I know winter in just around the corner.  

Barbra (my friend from church) gave me these at church today! She is so sweet and I really have grown to love and respect her! She has meant so much to me and taken me under her wing in so many ways. We were both job hunting together and I am SOOOO excited for her because she starts her job tomorrow and I know she is going to rock it! Could not be happier for her, and she was so sweet to think of me when she saw these bows....I LOVE THEM! 

I am excited for this week because I miss my kiddos over the weekends! I can't wait to see them, but I am tired so I am hoping that I can get some hard sleep so I can start my week off on the right foot! Have a wonderful week everyone!!

With a pinch of love,

Lil'Chef