Girls Trip to Baltimore

Carolyn's team played in a Showcase in Maryland so we took a girls' trip up for the weekend.

We ate dinner at the Aberdeen diner.

 We found a tiger head at the Walmart! And how about this adorable shirt that my friend Liz made me!

 Geaux Tigers! Beat the gumps!

 It was chilly, but a gorgeous day! And the team played great.

 We drove over to the bay to watch the sunset.

 (okay, we really were looking for ice cream, but the sunset was a nice bonus.)

 and the light was almost as pretty as my girl.

 We met some Georgia friends for breakfast on Sunday

 and then headed back to Baltimore and play tourist. We found Edgar Allen Poe's house...

 It is NOT in a good neighborhood, just sayin'.

 Then we walked around the Inner Harbor

 and found a cute little independent bookstore.

 But our REAL destination was Annapolis for another visit to Chick and Ruth's! (It was JUST as good as we remembered!)

 Annapolis is such a cute place to walk around! 

The state capital building

 and the harbor

 Our rental car is Carolyn's dream car. Keep dreamin', kiddo.

We had a great time. I just wish my tigers could've had a better showing against Alabama.

Annapolis

We took a detour to Annapolis on our way to Richmond to avoid rush hour traffic in DC.

Based on Lacey's recommendation, we ate dinner at Chick and Ruth's.

 It was AWESOME!

 Carolyn said it was the best crab cake she'd ever had. And it was definitely the best reuben I've EVER EATEN. Typing this makes me want to go back!

 We made a quick stop at the Naval Academy, 

 but everything was closed, so we just walked around the grounds.

Girls Road Trip!

Carolyn and I headed up to Delaware for the National Lacrosse Classic. It was a long trip, but we had fun along the way. So excited to find her name on a keychain at a gas station in Virginia!

 Stopped for lunch at the Pink Cadillac Dinner (also in Virginia).

 I did not enjoy driving over the Bay Bridge, lol.

We finally made it to Delaware. Pizza for dinner and celebrated National Ice Cream Day with gelato.

Summer Classic

Carolyn and team played their first tournament this weekend in Maryland.

 She went solo. I missed seeing her play but she was excited to go by herself.

 The team played great and made it all the way to the championship game (and lost by 1).

Atlanta Storm 2021 Elite

 Now they are headed to team camp in Pennsylvania.

US Lacrosse National Convention

I was lucky enough to get to attend National Convention this year!

 And while I was there, I accepted an award for the organization I help lead.  The Gold Stick award was only awarded to 18 programs in the nation.

 I sat in on some of the Major League Lacrosse draft

 and attended tons of demonstrations, clinics and classroom sessions for coaches, officials and administrators.

I also watched an exhibition game of wheelchair lacrosse.

 Although lacrosse is commonly credited to the Native Americans in the Northeastern part of the United States, the Cherokee in Georgia played a version of the game as well.  These are Cherokee sticks.

 Ate a great dinner with great friends in Little Italy.

 Our hotel overlooked the Inner Harbor

 and was right across the street from Camden Yards where we caught the train.

It was a fantastic weekend full of LACROSSE!  I learned so much and I can't wait to go back again next year.

Comfort Food

The weather finally cooled off here and it feels like November, if not January.  Cold weather means recipes for warm tummies!  And isn't homemade mac 'n' cheese the ultimate comfort food?  This is my friend Mrs. Wanda's recipe.  She made it for us the last time we were in Maryland and I made it for dinner tonight.  Umm umm, GOOD.

For a printable recipe, click here.  I also tried a new recipe tonight to go with it- Pork Loin with Creamy Mustard Sauce.  It was four thumbs up!  (Coleman wasn't crazy about it... I'm taking his temperature; he must be sick!)

Hero Worship

Last year, when we went to Maryland, I figured this out. 

 Going back this year just cemented that feeling.  I tried to talk Blake and/or Brandon into coming home with us.  They just laughed at me.  Blake finally told me that school starts too early here.  I'm sure that's all it is.  Hey Blake-if you move to Georgia you can already get your learner's permit!  I could buy you a car?  Or at least let you drive Mr. Jim's car?  Please?  PLEASE?

Her feet didn't touch the ground the entire time we were there.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggedy Jog!

We're home!  We had so much fun-it's almost too exhausting to blog about.

We hung out with them:

 We did a lot of this:

A little of this:

And a whole lot of this:

And we even saw quite a few of these:

And I want to go back.