Pitcher & Piano, AKA A Dinner 8 Months in the Making

I think by now I've mentioned a million or so times how often we head over to Richmond.  The first week we were here we went with Chelsea to show her around, do some shopping, sight see, etc.  As we were walking over the bridge we caught sight of this restaurant (above picture, with the white stone banister), and vowed to go there when she came to visit.  So it was the first place we went.

Chris and I have been here before just the two of us, and the food is good.  But the obvious attraction is the beautiful riverfront view, and on this warm Friday night it was hopping.  Luckily, the kids were entertained easily.  Hannah with Chelsea's ice water and straw, and Jayce with Grandma's phone.  It was perfect.The food was good, but the highlight was after dinner.  A boardwalk, an ice cream van, a wall to be walked on, beautiful trees, a setting sun, etc.  

Good night Richmond river front, we'll see you again soon.

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Trumpeting the Coffee Shop

Mom and Chelsea were here for less than 24 hours before we were at the coffee shop.

South Street Cafe is one of our favorite places around here.  Seriously, whenever we talk about moving to another area we're like, "But what about South Street?"  Seriously.  I actually can't believe that I haven't written about it yet.

It's that perfect blend of a place that you like and your kids like.  It's casual enough that our kids can be (mildly) loud and it won't disrupt everything, but it accommodates kids with a little toy corner with books, toys, and a coffee table that can be slanted to keep the littlest ones confined.  (Which is how I learned to knit when Hannah was a new walker.  Yes, this is that coffee shop, the one that holds my weekly knitting group.  In addition to a perfect mocha and generous slices of carrot cake that I never turn down, they have homemade ice cream and sorbet.  Let me just say, they have homemade salted carmel ice cream.  Which is why we go as a family every single week.

Mom and Chelsea went 3 times in their visit here.  I'll just pretend like that was their fault and not ours.

The weeks before they arrived everything was in bloom and BEAUTIFUL!  I kept hoping that they would hurry up and arrive before the trees all around the neighborhood shed their white and pink blooms in favor of their summer leaves.  Luckily it all worked out.  I'm obsessed with these trees.  

The pink ones lined the main street where I worked in Edinburgh, and when the pedals all fall they make HUGE piles along the sidewalks by the street.  It seriously looks like a very swanky wedding aisle.  At some point when I was walking home I would decide that I didn't care who was around, reach down, grab a handful, and toss it over my head as I walked.  You wouldn't have been able to resist either.  

I was so glad that everything was still in full bloom for their visit.

The coffee shop had a little collection of wrapping paper, and with the 5 year old birthday party coming up, we grabbed a few on our way out that quickly became trumpets, walking sticks, and swords.As they should have.

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