How to train your dragon

C with her friend. We met them at the theatre and watched this

awesome movie on C's birthday!

An American Girl Birthday

Ready to welcome the double digits... she's 10!!! We celebrated a few days early while GrannyJo, Aunt Clara and Aunt Joni were here to share in the fun.

She wanted Kaya and got several accessories to go with her!

Here she is trying not to blow her top while blowing out the candles... hee hee hee. Happy Day Baby Girl!!!

Hitting the highlights of DC

We started out here at the WW II Memorial. We really enjoyed walking this and understanding all the design and its symbolism. However we were dissappointed in one of the quotes ... "Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - The United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan...As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense...With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God."
President F.D. Roosevelt - 8th December 1941
Can you believe "so help us God" was completely left off? Our country is in a sad state of affairs.

But the beauty around didn't dampen our spirits and we moved on to see the Lincoln Memorial, looked back at the Washington Monument and the capital (which we had been next too when we went to the Botanical Gardens the day before), we walked the Vietnam Memorial and then took a driving tour of the Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial (because we couldn't find parking) and the Mall. It was Aunt Clara's first time and Mom's second, the first being about 50 yrs ago. It was a nice change for me to tour with adults, and then ones who had not been there before it was really fun to see their amazement and awe of our Capital. It really is a beautiful place.

Here is a glimpse of the Cherry blossoms to come... we were one week ahead of peak.

We've been busy again

This one went very fast with only 500 pieces, none extra and no edge pieces in the middle.
It is of a little quaint village in Germany close to Garmisch just before your each Austria named Mittenwald. There were some really nice hikes we took there. Being I was busy with company and birthdays (and it went so fast) I did not put one piece in this puzzle! Well done guys!

United States Botanical Gardens

Here we are in front of the capital, next to the Botanical Gardens.
You can see the day was wonderful, sunny but a little windy, which made it cool so we were glad to get into the greenhouses where we spent nearly three hours just looking at beautiful flowers.

at the entrance to the Orchid exhibit

Clara got to go on a field trip with her namesake Clara.

One of the beautiful flowers

Sweet sisters

...and me and my beautiful baby girl.

We had a really special day the four of us. We are all very softspoken, gentle spirits. We move at a good pace and take it all in. And that is what we did. No distractions, just a relaxing, quiet time together.

Happy Birthday Natasha

We had a nice Russian dish, Poroskis, to celebrate and she made her favorite Olivye salad ( a version of potato salad) which we all loved (even some of us who don't like potato salad). We added some jello and strawberries a few extra family members (GranniJo, Aunt Clara and Aunt Joni) and a few friends (Bianca from Germany, and Arena from Ukraine) and we had a party. Oh and cupcakes of course! Happy Birthday!

Here are Aunt Clara and Aunt Joni finishing the puzzle of the week.
Natasha gave us this one shortly after she came.
We started it but then got busy unpacking and getting ready for
school etc so we had to put it away for awhile.

It is the Bolshoi Theatre, Большой театр, in Moscow and
is one of the oldest ballet theatres in the world.

So these were the main players.

And here were the other problems on top of the time in the fall... do you see these edge pieces?? guess what, they are not... there were about 12 of these pieces in the middle of the puzzle... once we figured it out we were OK... but figuring that out took some time. As well as the entire top blue row was put together then reput together carefully as pieces looked like they went together when in fact they didn't. Anyway, overall it was a very fun and beautiful puzzle.

Mt Vernon

We had a gorgeous weather and decided to go investigate Mt Vernon.

We had so much fun and learned some as well.

George was 6' 2 1/2 " and Martha 4' 11"

(similar to Abraham Lincoln 6' 4" and Mary Todd about 5' 2")

These are called Ha Ha walls. Perhaps because if you were not paying attention you could fall off them. George designed them to "fence" the animals with out having a fence. The view from the house was an unobstructed horizon because of this design.

We ran into Martha. She said J looked like a young George as he had red hair in his young years.


It was lambing season and in this pasture there were 11 little lambs along with their mommies. They were soooo cute!

This was the house from the front.

The back had a full porch and the house is set right on the potomac.

We learned so much more and only saw about 1/3 of what was there. The education center was really well done... so we will be going back for more!!!

Basketball

Reuben #53, had an awesome team and basketball season this year! He learned sooo much. I just loved watching them play! So sad the season is done... (on to Tball for J I guess)

15 and counting!

We always sing happy birthday in as many launguages as we know which for the most part includes Enlgish, German, Spanish and Russian. But today R's friend from school who is from Romania was with us and he added to our birthday celebration. Fun!! Happy Birthday Seth!

The Glacier

J's class did a little "Readers Theatre" this morning about the water cycle. He was a glacier! Very cute!

C's Viola debut

Here is C and her good friend getting ready for the beginning strings concert!

C signed up for strings and they started lessons once a week late fall. With the snow and everything they have missed alot but have made progress overall!!! We got to see the class play for the first time last night. We are very proud of her.

He's a teenager!!!

He turned 13 today!

Isn't he cool!!

Joey had fun squirting whip cream in all the kids mouths.

Reuben loves food in general... but strawberries, cake and whip cream are a favorite.
He had more than his share!

We had our small celebreation tonight and have a trip to

the Spy Museum planned for next weekend.

Happy Birthday kiddo...