the essence

Ray worked all day Saturday & Erin's husband, Nathan, had to work too. Erin has been wanting us to go out to a tea room before the baby gets here so Saturday worked out perfectly. I love tea rooms, I grew up going to them with my Mom & grandmother but I don't really get to go anymore. We went to the Empress Tea Room at Victorian Village.

It was a really nice set-up, definitely had the tea room feel as opposed to the places that call themselves tea rooms but are really just cafe's in the back of a bookstore. The food was a mix - some was quite good, some not worth finishing. But it was a lot of fun & very nice - a great treat before the baby. We walked around the little shops, too, but didn't buy anything.

She's interested in the birthing center when it's her time so we drove by there so she could see the place (as my Mom said it looks like I'm going to give birth in North Carolina), went to Linen's n Things, & then of course Starbucks.

It was such a nice day & we sat at my house chatting for awhile. Then, I still had time to take about an hour nap & make dinner before Ray got home! We watched a movie I had checked out from the library & then we both fell asleep on the sofa.

Yesterday I normally would have gotten dressed, gone to church, only to go sit at Starbucks because the perfume would be too strong for me to stay at church. Instead I stayed home! Rachel & Conrad were driving back from her parents that morning & rach had called to see if Conrad could just drop her off at my house since it was on the way to church & close to the Ekstrands where there was a surprise birthday party for Gabe in the afternoon. It was just easier, especially since Ruth doesn't do well in the car & they'd had a long morning drive.

So, she & I got to spend a few quality hours together chatting & eating some oatmeal muffins I made. It was really nice, we hadn't seen each other in a couple of weeks & we hadn't had much one-on-one time in awhile.

The party in the afternoon was packed - I couldn't believe how many people were there! It was a surprise for Gabe's 30th - Jen is due with the baby this Saturday & I was a little surprised she was able to throw together a party so far along. We had Brazillian steak for lunch & an assortment of other things & the cake was from Coldstone Creamery. Oh my goodness, it was delicious!

Ray had to go to work in the afternoon so I stayed all day at the party & caught a ride to church. Today, I'm exhausted. I love how understanding Ray is about it though, telling me to take a nap & asking if he can help me with anything!