Frankenstorm

We've been holed up here at home the last two days as Hurricane Sandy swept over the East Coast. We made several trips to the store this weekend to stock up on shelf-stable food, and felt pretty prepared going in. We've had several other major storms prepare us for Sandy, so we were set with water, flashlights, and candles. We lost power on Monday around 5 pm, and we were certain it would be at least Wednesday or Thursday before it was back. I was thrilled to wake up suddenly to all the lights in the apartment around 5 am. The only issue we've had was similar to Hurricane Irene-- leaks in the building mean our walls and window frames leak, and this time it reached the carpet. We're hoping it will all be dried out by tomorrow.

To keep ourselves entertained while we were homebound, we made a little video, reporting on the weather. It was actually really nice to have Sam around so much these last two days, and we really enjoyed each other's company. Bria got to watch Star Wars Episode 1 in preparation for Halloween, Sam and Bria made their own Doc McStuffins memory game (this took hours, which was awesome), and we each ate our weight and then some in shelf-stable junk food. 

Mostly, we just feel so lucky to have gotten through unscathed when there are flooded homes, people missing, and still millions without power. We are also feeling grateful to so many friends--near and far-- who checked in on us. We had so many people offer to let us crash with them when our power went out, and we even braved a quick walk to our neighbors' to eat dinner prepared on their gas stove after we all lost power. Forget the news; forget politics: there is love and good in this world.

Action

First video: Bria was rather inspired by her cousins this summer and wanted to take a karate class. I enrolled her in one at our local rec center and purchased her a gi off Amazon. We took a little video a couple days before the first class. She's my favorite little ninja. Unfortunately the class was a total bust. My first clue was when the super cool young 20s instructor told me "all the other classes like to play games, but I think that's a waste of time. I only teach them self-defense." After 45 minutes of practicing a series of about six moves (including three different elbow moves) over and over, just punching/hitting/kicking into a padded wall (seriously, that was it for 45 minutes), I told Bria we didn't have to go back. Obviously she didn't want to. We'll try again next year at a real martial arts studio. But clearly she's already got some pretty impressive moves.

The next video is Bria showing off the curtain I finally made for her room. Nevermind that it took me three years to finally address the cardboard, foil, and leopard print sheet situation that blocked out all the light. Ugh, what an eyesore. Now her room is lovely!

Natitude

It's been a while since I've been able to adopt a local pro sports team. I mean, it's hard enough to get me to be enthusiastic about any sport, really, so I guess my location has nothing to do with it. But I grew up going to Rockies games every spring and summer, and even though I think baseball is b-o-r-i-n-g, it's an all-American event, right? We've gone to at least one Nationals game each summer-- Sam sneaking in several more here and there with his brother. When we moved here, I think the Nats had the worst record in baseball. But, folks, we must be the lucky charms, because since we moved here, they have moved up to having the best record. You're welcome, Nationals. Feel free to cut us a portion of your profits.
We went to the last home game of the regular season last week, and it was particularly fun, since Teddy finally won the presidential race. Bria brought her dear friend Ada, and we cheered on our Nats to a grand victory. Fun fact: Bria's favorite player is Bryce Harper, since his was the only shirt in her size when we went to buy Nats gear at Target before a game earlier in the season. She gets his name confused with National Harbor. And whenever anyone gets up to bat, regardless of their team, she loves to yell at the top of her lungs, "DO IT!!"

So . . . do we think our Nats have a chance at making it to the World Series?
That's a clown question, bro.

Teddy wins!

 

The beloved playground, where we usually spend an inning or two

A game earlier this summer when we watched a sudden rainstorm move in-- torrential downpours had us trapped in the stadium for about an hour, with tornado warnings near our house. The rain delay last several hours, but when the game resumed, the Nats came back for the win!

First Day, Last Year

Bria started preschool last week. I'm in a bit of a panic realizing this is her last year before Kindergarten. I've never been one to cry over or mourn her lost babyhood (though, don't get me wrong, I certainly miss those chubby cheeks!), but Kindergarten just seems so old to me. Ok, time to chill. We've still got this entire year to enjoy. We love her preschool, and I can't wait to see how she learns and grows in her Butterflies class this year.

Let's look a little deeper into the soul of my sweet four and a half year old:

What do you want to be when you grow up? Ballerina
What's your favorite thing about school? Nothing
Do you want to tell me how you feel about school? Sad. Because it's too weird
(Hmm... maybe I shouldn't have asked these questions when we have been cooped up in the house all day with really bad colds. Oh well.)

What's your favorite . . .
TV show: Doc McStuffins
Movie: Sound of Music
Song: Droidfriend
Book: Charlotte's Web
Thing to Do: Go to the beach and the pool
Animal: Baby lambs and baby pigs
Food: Sundaes

Just like Colonial Williamsburg

 Last week my parents came to Virginia so we could go down to Williamsburg with them for the week. It was a fun and relaxing week, and the perfect way to end our summer vacation! (Plus, Sam came down for the first five days, which we loved!) We stayed at a great place that had a huge pool and they had a whole schedule of activities each day including movies, crafts, and airbrush tattoos. There was a great game room featuring giant playing cards for Go Fish, air hockey, ping pong, and a Wii with Mario Kart. We even had our own movie nights in our room, sharing Fantastic Mr. Fox with my parents.

 Of course we also did the touristy Williamsburg things like Jamestown Settlement, Yorktown Victory Center, and Colonial Williamsburg. We spent almost six hours at Colonial Williamsburg on a hot, muggy day. (We later learned that Williamsburg is the most humid place in Virginia, since it is so close to the water and is covered in swampy marshes.) My mom was in her element-- she's a total history buff-- and Bria was such a good sport tagging along all day. Of course this was made easier by her doting grandmother buying her little gifts, including a colonial bonnet. She got a couple piggy back rides from Papa, and we took plenty of breaks resting in the shade while my mom explored.

 Jamestown was a pretty cool place, where I learned the true story of Pocahontas (thanks for nothin', Disney). And we also toured replicas of the ships that brought the first colonists. Plenty of details about what it would be like to sail for five months across the Atlantic made me feel faint and then thank my lucky stars to have been born in the modern age. Also, I'm certain I would not have been tempted by an adventurous spirit to explore the New World. 

The last day we stopped at Yorktown Victory center on our way out-- the spot where the Revolutionary War ended. There was plenty to see at the replica farm. I was kind of in love with the display of homeopathic remedies (just below). It was a gorgeous setting, and Bria was mostly super patient, at least at the beginning, after what had been a long week of colonization. (And this was the first time we attempted a public outing sans stroller! She's officially grown up! Either that or I babied her way too long.)

After our last historical foray, we loaded up and set out for the three hour drive home. Bria slept mostly ok during the week, but the last night was a total bust, so she slept over half the car ride home slumped on my shoulder. Sweet thing.

Once we arrived home, we said our goodbyes, and my parents headed to a hotel for a good night's sleep before their flight early the next morning. Bria is definitely missing all the attention she got from her loving grandparents. Thanks for a great trip, Mom and Dad!

Westward Travel Part Three: La Fin!

Of course a family reunion has to include family pictures. One night we took a Cafe Rio picnic to Canyon Rim Park to see the McTree (that would be the McPhie tree). My parents started dating when they were juniors in high school, and they decided to plant a tree together before my dad left on his mission. The tree has been there for 39 years now, and it is fully grown! It's a beautiful tree. My dad told us the story of planting the tree, then we took some family pictures (which I just realized my brother took on his phone, so I don't have!).

 

 Later in the week we realized the pictures at the McTree were only of the kids and grandkids, so we took some more pictures in my parents backyard. (And this is where Sam's absence was so obvious, since he's the only one missing! I'm hoping we can at least photoshop his head in floating above us, possibly gazing down at us lovingly.) The whole family, the grandkids, the kids, the four grandchildren born in 2008. My how the original cast has grown!

Westward Travel Part Two

 Our other big outing was going to the botanic gardens one day. I wasn't sure how entertaining this would be for all the kids, but it turned out perfectly, with a little maze and some splash features. Bria was rather fond of her Uncle Scott, which is a wonderful development considering the first time they met (when she was 7 months old), she screamed in terror. My mom was in heaven the whole week with each of her eleven grandchildren around her. We got a great picture of her at the gardens with all the kids, only missing Drew, who was sick with a fever at home.

Other fun activities throughout the week were more mellow. In the mornings Bria helped Papa water the flowers (actually, she would water them at any available chance). My parents set up a giant teepee in the backyard. It was originally meant to be used for the grandkids to camp out, but that didn't turn out very well. It did, however, make an excellent play place during the day, functioning as a castle tower, a house, a cave, a spaceship, etc. My mom also had lots of fun activities for the kids like craft projects, a service project, and her playroom full of all the toys we played with when we were little.

I also loved spending one-on-one time with each of my siblings. My brother was also staying at my parents' house, and my sister Whitney was so generous to share her car with me for the week. She, Bria, and I had great times driving around SLC hitting up my favorite places (Blue Plate Diner and Caputo's). And the last day I was there, my Utah-dwelling sister Lindsay and I went to In N Out for lunch. It was so sad to separate Bria from Hunter, Abby, and Chloe after lunch, and I almost cried saying goodbye to Lindsay (right after Bria took a super flattering photo of us).
The longer I live out here, the farther Virginia seems from the West. I love to email, call, and skype with my siblings, but sometimes it just feels way too far.