Finley gets her groove back.

When I throw together a blog post, I usually upload the pictures using the wireless at home and then squeeze in a few minutes on a lunch break to pen my undoubtedly-less-clever-than-I-had-hoped thoughts. Sometimes this process leads to a little perspective-shifting. Today, for example, I had intended to note that it was incredibly hard to get back into a normal routine after a terrific week of Walters Family Chaos. Also that we were experiencing some post-vacation blues, and missing the fam (especially the Bustamantes, who suddenly seem really far away even though they are technically closer than they were in Hawaii.)

Then I looked at the pictures I'd uploaded and realized that at least one of us had had a terrific week.

That would be the tiny and spoiled attention hog, who does not seem all that sad to have Ana & Ata and Mom & Dad all to herself again.

Finley's week included date night at Fat Pete's in Cleveland Park (we're branching out), where she devoured three kinds of meat and thrilled her carnivore Dad (and health nut Mom) by turning down mac & cheese in favor of smoked turkey.

She also graduated to big-girl baths, turning every evening into a drenched-bathroom swimming adventure.

Finley got to spend Friday night with Ana & Ata while Seth and I enjoyed a rare and wonderful Finley-free double date night. Michelle had been in charge of tickets, and gotten us awesome floor seats to see the Avett Brothers and the Zac Brown Band at Nats Park. We laughed and sang and danced and drank beer like people whose evenings didn't generally revolve around diaper rash remedies and keeping baby food off the ceiling. There was a small communications SNAFU that resulted in my retiring for the night to my own bed with a dead phone while Seth wound up at my parents' house- causing an unplanned slumber party at 2am- but it eventually resolved itself and Mom & Dad are still speaking to us. So the evening was a success by most measures.

The late night did not do much for Seth's throwing performance the next day (scheduling fail on my part), but Finley still had fun cheering for her Dad.

And celebrated by helping herself to the coconut shrimp appetizer at lunch after the meet.

Sunday she got to go swimming and to the fair, which was blazing hot but a great time. Although despite the princess' best efforts, we did not purchase a John Deere.

Two favorites this week:

Finley, all worn out from birdwatching. I love that you can see Mom & Dad, with binocs up, in the background.

And checking out the livestock barns at the fair. Finley's still a little small for farm animals, but got a kick out of the pigs snarling at one another. Naturally.