The Washingtonian

This past weekend was an eye opener for me! We went to the Calvert County Fair (I say that with a southern drawl, go ahead say it).  It was a huge event with beauty contests, Calvert Idol, best hen, best cow, games, rides, tigers, bear carvings....I could go on and on.  Maggie took a beautiful picture of 2 cows just resting.  They look like the are in love.  Check it out to your right. Maggie performed with her gymnastics group. She loved it!  They did a great job!  So, after the performance we ventured off to see what the hype is all about!  This fair has been around for over 100 years. It was quite impressive as far as the livestock goes.  I was not so impressed with the $$$ racket it became as soon as we walked in the gate.  There was a $5 cover charge and then the rides were $4 and $5 each, for each kid!  Anyway, it was a fun experience.  I'll post a pic of Maggie in her leo (as she refers to them now). We also worked the f...

Well, I haven't blogged all summer long! We have been on hyper mode. In the 8 weeks of summer we hosted 6 different families and went on 2 trips. You do the math...pretty much nonstop!The girls also took a trip to New Orleans by themselves. That's a story for another day! The flight attendant calling me AFTER their scheduled departure time was not what I was expecting! Anyway, we were able to see LOTS of old friends!  Yeah, one might say we were kind of busy. I really do enjoy company, good thing! The girls do, too! We have plenty of room and now with the pool we have constant entertainment. We have beaches close by, so looking for shark's teeth on the beach has been a new fun hobby of ours. AND of course there's the Museum of Natural History! My kids have been in it a few (dozen) times. It's one of the best Smithsonians in DC so I really encourage everyone to go while they are here. Well, Maggie has had enough of the big elephant! I understand. Some of our compan...

Summer is just around the corner. This was our first really hot weekend. I was pleasantly surprised by how long our spring weather lasted. It was nice having the chilly mornings and nights. The girls were lucky enough to swim at a friend's house today for a Memorial Day cook out. We have had a busy weekend between yard work and parties. Back to reality tomorrow, but just for a couple more weeks anyway. School gets out mid-June here and let's back in mid- August. We have been hosting 2 bunnies for the weekend. Milkshake and Hopper are their names (see picture).  I think naming them has brought on more attachment which will make letting them go harder. They drink water out of a barbie suitcase. We told the girls that they can keep them for a few days but they will have to be let go back to the wild. I think we may have to get a dog sooner than planned. They are animal lovers. Our fence is almost finished. Skipper would have really loved our yard. We miss him. Thanks to all...

Oh my! We have been super busy around here.  Julia was in her school production of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  It was awesome! Of course I think that!  She could have stood up there picking her nose (like some kids did) and I would have not been more proud!  Honestly, I was just so happy that she was a part of something bigger than herself.  She got to see what it was like to work with a group...a large group.  Her part in the play was being a member of the stage crew.  Last week, someone, the director or someone decided they needed 4 impromptu robots.  Julia was selected, or volunteered, to be one!  This whole experience has been so great for her.  I could see in her the sense of pride she felt about the play.  She took her job seriously.  As part of the stage crew, she had to dress like an oompa loompa.  See pics.  I've seen the movie (both old and new) several times, but it wasn't until I watc...

Top of the morning to you! Last night before bed Julia almost tried to convince herself that leprechauns are not real.  Maggie convinced her otherwise.  Julia, so very innocent at heart, wrote the leprechaun last night and asked for a signature.  This morning Maggie mentions that Lucy the Leprechaun sort of writes like mom, but it couldn't be mom, she was sleeping when they went to bed and was still sleeping when they woke up.  Wink, wink.  Lucy came and made a huge mess in our living room. To be honest, the laundry was already on the sofa...just needed to be thrown on the floor.  Tip over a few things, move a little furniture and voila, a short green person came in the night and you were none the wiser. Wishing you all much luck today!

So, work is going well. I love the hours. Another positive about having a job is that it keeps me out of the stores. I have been going straight home after work to eat (because really how do you eat anything with a class of 3 year olds?). The kids are a little challenging but it's just going to take some time for them to understand my expectations. I have to do some lesson planning this weekend, which will be fine. We have a pretty slow weekend. Dave will be out most of it doing St. Patty's Day promotions. People, drink your beer! It feels like spring and it's a major drinking holiday! Lift your red solo cup! In the past I have always made some type of mess in the house and said that the leprechaun did it! I'm not sure if the kids are going to buy it this year now that they are getting older. I'll try and see. I hope so. I'm really not ready to give up the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy! Julia is 10. At what age do they figure it out? I'd love to freeze time r...

Well, that can be taken a couple of different ways but, you know what I mean. I got a job teaching 3 year olds at a daycare near here. It's from 9-1, 5 days a week. I wasn't really looking, I just stumbled upon it. Sometimes that's the best way. On paper it sounds perfect. We will see how it goes! I'm optimistic about it. I love working with kids and making a difference in their lives. This gives me time to run errands after work before I pick up the kids from school. The girls started lacrosse. Also known as LAX. Yeah, it took me a minute too. We are new to this sport. They love it. We practice 2 times a week and have games on Saturdays. They are on the same team, so that helps. Dave has been up at the school helping to build the set for the play that the drama club is performing. Julia is part of the set crew and also plays an oompa loompa. They are performing Willy Wonka if you couldn't figure it out ;) This was the prettiest day that I've experienced her...

We waited all week to tell the girls about Skipper.  They had tests in school, so we thought it would be in their best interest to wait (also our best interest since we did not want to tell them).  We decided that we would tell them Friday.  When they got home from school they had friends over.  Dave came home from work later, so it was time.  I just didn't want to do it.  How long could we go on saying that he was in the hospital getting fluids?  Apparantely a long time because they did not even ask about him towards the end of the week.  Come to find out, they thought it was a possibility that he had died so they did not ask because that would confirm the unthinkable.  Of course, it goes without saying that it was quite difficult.  The hard part is that we could not protect them from this.  It happened and there was really nothing we could do about it.  That is how death works.  This might sound weird to some o...

I'm so sad to report that Skipper has gone to doggie heaven. He was in such a state of pain and unawareness that it was time to let him go. Keeping him alive would have been for us and not him. We knew what the right decision was, but it still was very hard to do. I don't think he would have been happy going in circles for the rest of his life. His neurological symptoms were not improving, but getting worse. He was such a beautiful dog. I don't think he would have been happy not being able to chase birds! Lots of things are going through our minds right now. If this, if that. How do we tell the girls? What can we do to make this easier on them? What was he feeling? If dogs could talk! Despite our ordeal with Skipper we still managed to have a lovely time with our visitors. Dave's brother and family flew in for an extended weekend! We did a little sight seeing, a home DIY project, shopped, laughed a lot and even cried some! Oh, we also saw a few snowflakes. It is so ...

The last several days have been pretty rough.  Skipper, our family dog has been sick.  We are not sure what is going on with him.  It could be a couple of different things.  He has been under the care of our Vet since Monday at noon.  He is showing neurological symptoms.  He is only 3 years old.  I have never held back about my feelings for the dog.  I have not been his biggest fan.  David really wanted this particular dog for a very long time.  I was quiting work a few years ago and had the time to care for him, so I gave in and said "yes".  He works hard for our family so I figured it was only fair.  Of course, the girls fell in LOVE with him. He really was the cutest puppy ever.  I just knew that traveling would become very difficult and expensive. And it has.  Boarding him is not cheap.  He needed eye surgery a few weeks after we got him..fun!  The moves have been extremely hard on him as well.  And...

I'd say we are all settled in. Every box is unpacked and everything is finding a place. I'm not making any promises about how long it's going to say in that place! I'm known around here for putting things "away" and that just so happens to be the last time it was seen. I get in trouble especially if it's an itouch or something of that nature. Those things are so small. The house is coming along. Dave has painted almost every weekend since the move. He actually let me roll a portion of a room last weekend. Did I mention this was going to be hidden behind a piece of furniture? He can't fool me. Ha! The paint on the walls is helping the house feel more like a home. Still plenty more to do. We are trying to get all of the inside chores done before spring...we have plenty to do in the yard as well! Plenty! We have had many visitors already and are expecting more next week! We have seen DC from the rooftop of a bus. That was fun! We also visited Arlington...