Alison's Bridal Luncheon, 4.30.17, Washington, DC

Are you sick of the love fest that is Alison and Michael Koenigs yet? Me neither! In April, a few gathered in the Foxhall neighborhood to celebrate the bride at a ladies luncheon. I brought the flowers from Baltimore and the coral peonies were simply ravishing. The co-hostess admitted she was nervous about handing the flower reins over to me, but I insisted. I trust Ellen Frost with my most important board meetings. I knew she would knock it out of the park for our most wonderful bride. Do look up Local Color Flowers if you are ever in Baltimore. 

None of us could shut up about the flowers. They were so pretty.

Susanna was such a gracious hostess and the adorable creature had to jump on a plane in the middle of the party to go to another friends birthday party in Jamaica. Way to multi-task.

I Snapped this shot of these two bickering about ball gowns for the Met Gala. Ha! I kid you not. They are simply too glamorous for words. Fran is Susanna's oldest daughter's godmother. 

Claire A. Pattison Rea catered the event and I've been dreaming of the Thai Peanut Hummus ever since. 

Loved having my Marge at this fun celebration too. We got to have another slumber party with Stinger back in the early spring.

Mike came at the end to say hello. He and Eric helped load cars with the prizes at the end.

It was so wonderful meeting Michael's family before the big wedding weekend. I love these pre-events to get to know new friends. 

Hadley had just had her beautiful little doll baby Millie a few weeks prior. Alison is HER godmother, and the angel was baptized just this past weekend at Christ Church.

I'm mean really, how precious are these two?

The perfect hostess gift has been a great vehicle for peanut M&M's at Stony Run. That's next on the blog friends. How we went from Stone Hill to Stony Run. Thanks for reading and find Stone Hill Farm again. 

Have you ever had a wedding weekend hang-over? Not the cocktail flu kind. But the heartache of leaving all the people you love after the wedding weekend is over? That hit me like a ton of bricks on Monday. By Tuesday I couldn't stop talking about Christ Church and what wonderful memories I had "growing up" there. I had meetings with two priests that same day, kid you not! It inspired me to really get back in touch with what is important to me at St. David's Roland Park. I look forward to seeing what this church can do with the power of the Holy Spirit. Join us to come and see if you are ever in town.

Anna Frances: third verse, same as the first

We had the nicest weekend in Washington, DC. Saturday night we said goodbye to the rectory under Stuart and Fran's (she's behind Marge in this photo!) care, for a kid blow out party. Alison and Stu threw a fun party and I played my first game of Beer Pong. I kind of wanted to break into the auditorium and break dance. Sunday, we lucked out and hit two birds with one stone for Stinger's little sister's baptism. Anna Frances was a pro! She smiled the whole time.

Marge's bestie from childhood is Frannie's godmother and it was so fun seeing her little girls in their southern  bows and lace. I loved getting to know Elizabeth when we were bridesmaids in Mary Margaret and Scott's wedding. Follow her fantastic shop on Instagram here. She has the best taste. We giggled how "close" we feel that we get to spy on each other on Insta. It's weird, but I love it.

The big girls taught Hastings how to be Marilyn Monroe. How cute is her facial expression? I swear I'm so in love with this kid.

I loved being here for one of Stuart's last baptisms at Christ Church. I cried of course, while Anna Frances just looked in awe at the candle and tried to touch Stuarts face. It was absolutely perfect. Psalm 139 is such a good reminder of how we were knit in our mother's womb by God. That He cares about the tiniest details in our lives. Don't ever forget that little child of God. You are precious and marked as Christ's own in baptism forever.

Godparents and parents with Stuart and little Frannie.

Elizabeth and Chris' family with the Plums. Godsisters. I took a million other photos but will let them use the best one for a Christmas card, perhaps.

I love the baptism window at Christ Church. I also love that we have made it to each and documented all of the girls baptism's here and here on this blog. As Marge said, "Same song, third verse."

Couldn't you just eat Fru Fru and Woodie up with forks? They were the sweetest girls too. This is the place where you take photos to show how much you've grown if you grow up at CCGT. I just love it the most. 

The buffet was simple and perfect. I brought Kinderhook Cheese Stamps for Marge's Daddy. They are a Baltimore staple but are now being sold in Dupont Circle. I see the Kinderhook babes at Union Graze often.

I found the neatest gift for Marge and the girl babies when I was in Seaside at the Central Square Records. See the little bag hanging on the radiator? It is has an image of Alice in Wonderland and the entire book is printed on the front and back, the words making up the image. They had lithographs prints as well as the bags with Moby Dick, The Jungle Book and more. Such a fun idea for art in a kids room. I also adored the women who manage that shop. Follow their feed here.

The details of her table were so beautiful and I'm obsessed with her china pattern. It was a much smaller gathering this year. Having three littles under three is stress enough I'm sure. So keeping it simple worked beautifully. It was so nice to get to talk to Scotty's dad and hug on his sweet Momma Kim too as always.

Two of my favorite girls in the whole wide world. Oh how I love this picture. Stinger looks so much like her daddy.

I gave her a fresh box of crayons as any fairy godmother should. Is there anything more simple and delightful? The weather was glorious so the kids hung out outside.

Already coloring in the lines at three years old. She's a genius I tell you.

There were precious crosses to decorate as well. I wrote "Stinger" on one side and Hastings said, "You know, that's not really my name." Haha! The honesty of a child.

After three of these baptisms we finally got a great shot together too.

It was great seeing Lynda as always. We shared Destin stories. Their families were just at Rosemary Beach two weeks before our trip! Next time I'm hoping we can all be down there at the same time.

Hernal loved the wrapping paper from the big girls.

Granddaddy George

Elizabeth's gift, which I need.

Woodie

Stinger being so, so patient waiting for her cake. "Playing" the tablecloth.

At different occasions on Sunday, Marge told me how good of a friend I am to her and how happy she was that we were there. Scott said the same thing to me and Eric. Isn't that what friendship is all about? To be loved, supported and reminded of how much we are loved. At that moment I felt their words as a reflection of God's love in my own heart. May sound cheesy or obvious but I was overjoyed by their words. How blessed and lucky we are to have such beloved friends. 

We love y'all with our whole hearts, truly. Praying you feel as loved as we did this past Sunday.

P.S. Uncle Charlie was with us, but I didn't bombard him with photos this time.