My parents rock.

Have I told you I have the best parents in the world? I do. They are the best. They came to visit this weekend for a belated birthday celebration. I had the best weekend.

Mom and Dad got here Friday; I came home from work and they were already here, made themselves at home and such. The first thing I was instructed to do was open my presents. My God, between Mom and my sister, there will be nothing left on the registry (just kidding, but seriously, they buy way more than necessary!) Baby D got some very cute outfits, as well as a beautiful blankie. Mom got the Boppy, an accessory that, I am told, no mom should be without. I showed them the things we got at the outlets last week, and my mom just could not stop smiling. She is loving this whole journey.

Dinner was my favorite - pierogi. MMMMM. My mom buys them for me so I can make them myself, but they never taste as good as when she prepares them. My grandmother used to make them in her kitchen... I remember sitting with a medium-sized glass and cutting out the pastry rounds that she would put the potato filling in. Pierogi, for me, is comfort food - like mac n' cheese or chili.

Saturday, Mom and Dad helped me scrub the bottom half of the house. Mom and I took an hour and a half to do the fridge. We found some pink nastiness that must have spilled months ago - I'm sorry she had to deal with that. It was sticky, and it was stubborn. She eventually got it all up, brave woman. While we were doing that, Dad was installing blinds in the baby's room. After that, Mom mopped the floors and the stairs. Dad detailed the rooms with the vacuum - I swear, he finds places to vacuum that I wouldn't even think about, like the underneath vent of the fridge (that was gross). I was able to clean the bathrooms, dust, and do windows. For the first time in what feels like an eternity, my house is a safe haven. It is for all of this that my parents rock.

We finished at 2, because that was when the UConn basketball game came on, and they just can't miss their basketball.

We had dinner at Bacchus. By the way, Bacchus makes their own lemonade with sour mix, and it was delicious!! Not that many of you will have a non-alcoholic beverage at the beer capital of New Paltz, but it was tasty....

Sunday we went to church together before they left. When my dad gave me a kiss during the sign of peace, he said it was for "both of you". Aw. My mom is sending him back to do more housework during my April vacation; we have to install some closet bars and shelves, move some furniture in the office, and put up a chair rail in the kitchen. I always get so sad when they leave, especially when Gian isn't home yet and I'm all alone with the dogs. The house just feels emptier. I made another favorite comfort food of mine, green rice casserole, for dinner.... it may not be the healthiest of meals, but it makes me feel warm inside after a weekend with my family.

Love you, Mom and Dad!