Dear Robert, on your 9th birthday you told me

...that last night as you went to sleep you were thinking about the day you go to college. And how you would miss reading Harry Potter with me and miss playing catch with your dad, because you would be away from us. And that you cried while thinking about it.

thank you for sharing with me.

I love you,
mom

Gordon Ramsay in the ATL!!

o

Gordon Ramsey Taping in Atlanta: MyFoxATLANTA.com

In order to see one of our favorite TV chefs in person, Rob, CC and I spent a few hours yesterday at Michon's in College Park to watch Gordon Ramsay host a wing eating contest taped for his show Kitchen Nightmares. Pause the above news clip at second number 20 to see CC in the middle of the crowd watching the (in her words) "chicken eating race."

CC waited very patiently twirling her dress for over one hour before we could go into the restaurant.
The line of celebrity seekers- note the movie star looking man in the sunglasses and navy shirt. I got his number!
Daddy CC bonding before the big moment.
I ended up having a lovely chat with this bad boy chef as he connected with his fans.
From my Facebook page-

OK. Here we go. After a wing eating contest at Michon's, Gordon Ramsey started working the crowd. He plopped down next to me at a table and asked my name. I introduced him to CC who was NOT interested in him. I assured him that she isn't allowed to watch his shows. But that we do. :) We were eating wings and I commented that they were a little messy, but good and that I didn't want to end up looking like Jeremy, who had a messy face from the eating contest, and he said "Oh dahling, you don't look a thing like Jeremy- you are far too glamorous!!" I asked him how old his kids were and what their names were. In short, we chatted. He made a huge point of waving at "Princess CC." After he left I caught up to him and requested a photo op. He obliged. In the picture I was commenting that I hoped I didn't have wings in my teeth. He checked and assured me that I was fine. :)

Despite numerous warnings from the TV crew NOT to photograph anything during our time inside the restaurant, Chef Ramsay graced me with this photo. Ahh. . . nothing like a yummy celebrity chef to make a girl feel young again. . . . .
Come to think of it- this is the second famous chef media moment in CC's three year old life. Back in 2008 this photo ran in the AJC-Helping cheer on Richard Blais in the audience at Home is 4-month-old Cecilia Burlington, sporting a Blais-like shark-fin hairstyle.

Where will she be spotted next?

Impressions of a day on the Cape

Entrance to the cottage where we visited the Johns family.

The pond at their cottage where the kids swam.

Relaxing inside.
Thanks to Chet, Emily and Maddy for sharing your paradise with us.

Dear Cape Cod, you had me at hello

We had the pleasure of starting our vacation in Osterville, Cape Cod, Massachusetts with JP, Megan and Joseph at the lovely home of the Pless family. I LOVED our time there. They have bikes a plenty, a beautiful kitchen, magnificent yard and excellent location- about 1/2 mile from the beach. :) The only thing that wasn't perfect this week was that Esther was not with us. She spent a week with her auntie Steph, uncle Larry and cousin Laurence. I missed her, but am really happy for her to have independent time with her extended family. Thank you Stephie and Larry!
She requested that we take a pic of the Cape Cod Potato Chip lighthouse. And we did. (See above). We also toured the iconic Cape Cod Potato Chip factory. Click to visit it yourself. :)
My favorite spot in Osterville was Armstrong-Kelley Park, a 10 minute walk from our house. It is a public park that has been privately funded by the citizens of the town. So, it's unlike any park I have ever seen.
You could build fairy houses,
visit a fairy house,hike a little,
and quench your thirst for verse along this special path, lined with poems.
I found this one by Robert Frost. I love the idea of a boy
"too far from town to learn baseball
whose only play was what he found himself,"

CC wanders along in the Garden of Verses.
At the end of the path is a pristine wooden train that draws children like magnets. It was built in memory of a little boy who died too young. What an amazing way to remember a child.

Let the school begin!

Having made their lunches, packed their backpacks and laid out their uniforms, Robert and Esther awoke early this morning full of excitement for Day 1.
As you will see below, we had plenty of time before school for the taking of photos. :)

Esther had the following words to share with you about this year. There are thoughtful pauses, but I assure you, the entire video is worth a view. . . .

A bouquet for Dustin and Anna

found the above bouquet on my new addiction site, Craftgawker. Made my own.

The bouquet recipient, Anna Kimmell, took this way to cool for school shot of the bouquet. xo

Getting there 2011

We did it again. The Burlingtons traversed
Georgia
South Carolina
North Carolina
Virginia
Pennsylvania
Maryland
Delaware
New Jersey
New York
Connecticut
Rhode Island
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
and
Maine. And back.

At the Inner Harbor in Baltimore.
Really cool bike racks Baltimore!
On the morning of Rob's birthday we dined at Lucky's in Wilmington, DE. GREAT breakfast diner food, mid-century design, and wikki stix for the kids! Wikki stix- brilliant. But who liked them more, me or the kids.
My breakfast with wikki stix creation in the background.
Happy and full.
Did I mention the wikki stix?

We then drove to North Kingstown, Rhode Island where we stopped for a birthday party at Jen's house. AND for a 6 cousin reunion on the front lawn. There are 6 mini-Burlingtons now. What!!!???
Check out Rebecca's luscious hair.
Boy cousin to boy cousin.
Teamwork!
Esther with the newest cousin, Joseph Novello Burlington, a.k.a. juicy sweet yummy baby that we all got to squeeze on vacation.