Weekend at the Wilsons

So here we all are. Well, most of us. That's Jess' adorable friend Hadar on the left, then we have Jess, Kyra, Pixie Mama, Mama Mara who is anonymous, thus the mask, yours truly, Tanya, Jenn and Janeil. That mask was a riot and I'm thinking about making one of my own, just to wear around town.
Author John Elder Robison arrived and I found him to be very sweet. He even brought us presents! Hats, T-shirts, and beautiful photos of things like trains and gears and boats and flowers which he took himself. He is an amazing photographer.

"John do you do hugs?" I asked.

"Sure," he said, adding a "Woof!" for good measure.

He had to practically kneel in the picture below to get down to my level. I do feel proud he cracked a smile for this shot. Goosing him always gets a smile out of Todd, so I thought, "Why not?"

Kidding! There was no goosing involved.

Kyra could not be more darling. Seriously. Every kid should be home schooled by Kyra(sounds like Vera, with a K, just in case you've always wondered). She nurtured my heart the whole time we were together. Here she is nurturing Drama Mama's heart at the restaurant.
Here she is with Jess.
Here are the Staglianos. Cute couple, no?

Here are Hadar and Petra. Petra missed the group shot. She'd been at a water park all day with her boys, so she got to Jess' a few minutes late, still managing to look fabulous. She was so warm and sweet! So was Hadar. Hadar's little boy is Kendall's friend from school. Did I mention I just can't get enough of Kyra?

Because I can't.

Here I am with Pixie Mama. I drove six hours, stopped in upstate NY, and picked her up and we rode five more hours to Boston together, and then back again to NY the next day. Getting her to talk was like pulling teeth.

The woman has four kids under the age of 7, two with special needs and the other two are very little, and her husband travels for work and she works full time in solitary confinement and so...she has a lot to say! And she kept apologizing for talking too much. But seriously, we had a lot of fun and I didn't think she was talking too much at all. Promise, okay Pixie?

And here is Jess's daughter Darby. With her new Littlest Pet Shop, which she named....Riley.

She is so beautiful. Almost ethereal. Just precious. And Kendall. I can't believe I didn't get a shot of her. She is the sweetest little soul.

When I was going to leave, I went to tell her good bye,

"Kendall, I have to go now, but I wanted to tell you thank you for letting me stay at your house."

"Yeah," she said sweetly not looking up from the picture she was coloring.

"I think you are a wonderful little girl and I really, really like you."

"Yeah," she said, almost a flutter. A sweet sigh. The tone was, I know what you mean.

"I'm so glad I got to meet you."

"Yeah," she said again. I know. It's good you got to meet me. And it was. It was so good. I love, love, LOVE her girls.

Who wants to see a picture of Jess's husband?

Jess and Matt were the most gracious hosts(I'm not kidding there was chocolate on my pillow). They have a beautiful home and from the second we walked in the door we were made to feel welcome. Their warmth for each other is palpable, and it is a family based on love. So great to be around all that good ju-ju!

Thank you so much Jess for the wonderful, wonderful weekend and thank you to all who took part.

Love.

Love.

Love.

P.S. Kyra's post on the weekend did what I wanted to do but lacked the fortitude to do, telling you what each of the bloggers above is up to. I am excited to follow everyone's progress and to have met so many wonderful women.