What a Weekend (in so many respects)

It was a first in our household this weekend.  I missed a tournament with Kendall's team, as they traveled to WInston Salem while I had planned months ago to be in Virginia attending a scrapbook/girls weekend.  Keith was going to join Kendall and the team before realizing he had plans to attend the FSU v NC State game in Raleigh.  We ended up making arrangements for Kendall to go with a friend and her mom to Winston Salem so he could still attend the FSU game.  He ended up with an extra ticket so he could take Justin with him.  They were so excited to see #3 Florida State, until.....

they LOST the game :(((   I am secretly so happy I was away so Keith could mope and cheer up all before I saw him in person.  The texts were painful enough to hear.  I feel so bad that they had to endure those nasty NC State fans with a loss.

But, meanwhile, I was having the best time ever!  My dear friend, Alana, who has ties to Kingsport just like me (our moms went to school together!), made plans to attend this weekend of scrapbooking back in March when she was at an event in the same town we visited this weekend.  We enjoy each other so much, but never seem to be able to spend time together.  She is a full time nursing student, training for a marathon, and likes to get away ALL THE TIME.  She is never home on weekends.  So...we left Friday morning after getting the kids to school.  We took a scenic yet direct back roads drive to Staunton, Virginia which, like much of Virginia, is a historic little town.  It was mountainous and beautiful.  We arrived at the gorgeous Stonewall Jackson Hotel, where there was a ballroom set up with tables for all one hundred and eleven of us to spread out with all of our supplies.  Upon checking in at the ballroom, we received a gift (recipe book scrapbook) and our name cards with table assignments.  We took our gear and set up and then went back for our luggage and checked in to our tiny yet very clean room.  We immediately and excitedly went back to the scrapbooking hall to get started.  It was almost five pm by then as the drive was 4 hours from home and we stopped for lunch at the cracker barrel :)  We worked until 9:30pm and then headed down the block to a really quaint farm to table restaurant with delicious food.  We each had a glass of red wine and shared an appetizer of parsnip risotto (so yummy).  We were starving, but definitely over ordered.  I got a diver scallop entree, she a steak dish.  The portions were so big, I ate two and a half scallops and none of the accompaniments.  The wine (a blend called malbec- I had never had before) was beyond enjoyable.  We went back to the hotel where I was motivated to rock out on my work until 2am (when the room shut down) and Alana chose to hit the sack.  The music was playing low in the back ground and was an amazing blend of a pop- old and new.  Not many were working super late.  I was one of 15 late-nighters.  I got so much done having not come prepared.  I packed supplies and photos (currently working on 2009) but some will come with photos already cropped; Alana planned events to how many pages were needed per event with stickers for each.  I would've moved faster had I done that, but, I will know for next time, because I AM going next time- and can't wait!  We had hostesses (2) who put this event on.  They were from northern Virginia and were always available for questions, and they brought lots of equipment with them.  I was introduced to the cricut (and love it), border makers, sticker makers.  SO FUN!  I wore out at 1:10, went to the room, showered and got ready for bed.  Alana and I were up and getting ready by 7:30, and walked to a coffee shop nearby.  We brought bananas and granola bars for breakfast to save time, so once we had our coffee, we sat back down to work and ate while working.  Our table mates were two girls that Alana sat with last time.  They were definitely there for the girls time more than scrapping time.  They began drinking (heavily) at 5pm sharp both days.  There was a massage therapist there offering massages, so Alana and I both scheduled one for that day.  Mine was at 12:30 and hers at 5.  It was wonderful!  The gal who did mine had very good hands.  It was nice to get a break from working at a table and get pampered.  We continued to work and had planned to break for dinner at 7 and dine with our table companions.  We ate at another farm to table place that was another small establishment with a great atmosphere.  Unfortunately, our dining companions were drunk and one was loud and outspoken.  Dinner couldn't end quick enough for me.  I had a headache by the time we were able to escape (but I did have a delicious beet salad and pasta primavera, along with another glass of malbec!)... The obnoxious ones (as we now refer to them), continued the drunken fest at the bar, while Alana and I worked toward our goal of closing the scrap room down!  Meanwhile, Keith was texting me the doom and gloom news of the Noles horror in Raleigh.  Throughout our night of work, there was a dessert and coffee bar provided as well as prize drawings- which I didn't win.  :(
We made it until 12:45 and then I got cross-eyed.  We didn't quite make it til 2, but we had fun trying!
We got up late this morning, packed up, said our goodbyes; avoiding "the drunks", and took on the four hour drive home.  We found dunkin donuts just before the highway and got coffee and bagels and chatted all the way home.  I am counting down the days til March 1 when we do it again!  Such a great weekend.

Meanwhile, Kendall departed for Winston Salem at 6:30 Saturday morning with Georgia and her mom.  They played two games Saturday, one loss, one win.  They hung out with the team and then had dinner as a team before an early night due to an 8am game today.  It was cool and rainy and the game was delayed 30 minutes.  Once they got started, Kendall was on fire, scoring three times in a 4-0 win.  This wasn't enough to put them in the championship game since they were beat on Saturday morning.  Kendall was okay with this, given the miserable weather.  She got home first, followed by the boys arriving home from church, and then me at 3.  We had a laid back afternoon (Keith and I napped).  With grocery shopping day being tomorrow, I was sparse on food.  I pulled together a quick pasta with a very quick marinara I always have the ingredients to make (fresh garlic, crushed tomatoes, herbs) and garlic bread.  Simple enough.  Kids are in bed and I am planning to unpack my scrap supplies and get my space ready to do some work tomorrow after a trip to the supermarkets  :)  I think I am on a roll again!!