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My weekend was very full. It started on Thursday, when I went on an excursion to find many indian spices. With much luck and a few phone calls to Oggie, I found the Indian Spice store! I bought my goodies, and planned to make a homemade, from scratch curry the next day. Once home, the kids and I proceeded to craft 20-30 small Bangladesh flags for decorations. We were going to a Bangladesh party at friends Friday night, thus my attempt at cooking.

Friday, with the kids at school, I attempted my first curry. To my surprise, the bowl with the small marble bowl with the rounded thingy to grind spices is not very effective. I opened the cardamon pods to get the seeds out, then added cumin, fennel, coriander seeds and toasted them. Then I crushed them, and crushed them, and grinded and grinded.... it took forever and much muscle strength. I got it done and 2 hours later I had a fine powder! Sad, isn't it? I had bought curry powder just in case I didn't do it right, but I was determined. I made the curry, it actually wasn't bad, but needed a little more salt. There will be NO need time to correct this issue.

Saturday, the family and friends went to a national park. Great Falls. It was a lovely park where the kids could explore and pretend they were soldiers, pioneer people, George Washington, Pocahontas or whatever J, R's friend helped them imagine for that moment. Great day.

Saturday night was O's birthday dinner. Even though the reservation was for 19, the restaurant thought 12 chair equaled that. I am sure we all overwhelmed the restaurant, but it turned out well. The kids ate and went home with Daddy, while I stayed and enjoyed some adult time. After dinner, O wanted to go dancing, and planned to meet up with some people downtown DC. Off we went. HAVANA VILLAGE. Nice little Cuban club with salsa dancing and mojitos, neither of which I have experienced. Mojitos are yummy and salsa is very nice to watch. I on the other hand am not nice to watch Salsa dancing. Some Cuban man dragged me out there and I am not sure he understood, when I explained I was Canadian and couldn't dance. He was patient and taught me the steps, over and over and over again. Everytime I thought I got the hang of it, I either stepped on someone's toes and lost all rhythm or Cuban man changed up the steps and confused me. Turn this way, turn that way, back, forward, to the side, now left and then right. 'Oh look at the time! It's time for me to turn into a pumpkin and go. Thanks, Bye.'

Sunday was spent at the pool, trying to recover from Saturday. Husband had arranged to go hiking with a group, so I had the day to myself. This meant much time was spent at the pool with the kids. It was the last day of the season for the pool and the kids had fun. All and all it was a relaxing day. UNTIL...

We get back up to the apt, to find the dog has chewed up three pairs of shoes! I don't know if you all remember from an early post, but I didn't receive my shoe in my UAB, so I don't have many shoes! GD dog! I was very angry and upset, so I did what every good dog owner does, and takes the dog to run at the dog park. Did he run? NO, he sniffed, and peed and more sniffing and more peeing. GD dog! Read up on chewing that evening,.... separation anxiety. Really? We were gone for an hour, to the pool downstairs. I guess he just couldn't cope. PAXIL anyone? Poor puppy will not be left out of his crate anymore. Crate always when we aren't home, even if we are just going to be gone for 20 mins.

Today, B and I met another Mama and her three year old at a park. They are leaving in 2 weeks for Bangladesh. It was nice to meet up and play and I will be excited to see them again in Dhaka. Familiar faces will be a godsend when we arrive I am sure.

Tomorrow I am looking forward to taking the kids to school and staying home. Feet up, read a book, and not leave the apartment. I did have grocery shopping to do, but I decided to give this online service a try. They will deliver it tomorrow morning. NICE for me. I even added bubble bath to the order so I can have a hot bath when no one is home tomorrow.