Thank you Virginia

Thank you Virginia for giving me the chance to wait in line at your DMV for

OVER 2 1/2 HOURS!!! WITH all three of my babies!!!

Luce, Chars and Henry were DREAMS while we waited.

While we waited, we

had our breakfast, toast, bananas, strawberries and cheerios,

went potty (thank you kind ladies who sat with Chars)

read the books I had brought,

played "eye spy"

rocked Henry to sleep

went potty, again (thank you other kind lady who sat with Chars)

made sure we left our fingerprints on the windows.

made double sure drinking fountains were working VERY well,

woke Henry up, (thank you Luce)

danced in the open space,

played hide and seek with our umbrella stoller

wondered why the security guard would not let the kids roam in the lobby (GIVE ME A BREAK!!!! YOU TRY KEEPING 3 BABIES AT BAY !!! They were not touching, playing or even looking at anything that may have been any concern to him )

Oh, and finally, while we waited, we did get our new license plate!!!

I was just about in tears when, truly over 2 1/2 hours later, we walked out the doors.

After thanking thanking and THANKING the kids for being so great,

I asked Luce to pick ANYTHING she wanted for a treat.

She picked, as she jumped up and down,

A SUCKER!!!

Easy.

We sat, in the shade, sucked our suckers, thanked Virginia, finally, that we had SURVIVED!

LOVE Love LLLLOOOOOVVVEEEEE these kids.

I am so blessed!!!!

Tears of Joy

The National Cathedral. Why is it that some amazing artists took such great care to

construct those unbelievable stain-glass windows? No picture ever does them justice.

Simply Beautiful inside.

I cannot think of the last time I cried simply because something was beautiful.

We fount ourselves at the front of the Cathedral, where we came to a quartet

practicing Mendelssohn, Wedding March. It resonated up to the beautiful beamed ceiling,

and floated back down to our ears.

It was so beautiful, I cried. The children, Jeff and even Henry were all silent, and motionless.

It was more powerful then I can explain.

This little sculpture sits on an island, on the Potomac,

just near the Lincoln Memorial (well, sort of).

Roosevelt Island.

It had great potential to be amazing, but the waterless fountains and dry river channels

led our thoughts to hoping this would be grander.

No worries, we still REALLY enjoyed our Friday night picnic, bugless,

and enjoyed the space to just RUN.

I never did read if this was a "to scale" replica.

Ah, the good old days.

Yes, these beauties (the chairs) were FREE, just near my FAVORITE

(well, one of them) places to shop. Its a dive of a food market, but sells produce at a fraction of the regular cost. Its called "Grand Mart" and I'm planning on taking ya'll on a virtual tour

one of these next days.

Love the prices, love the unusual products, love the location.

Are you kidding? This pumpkin is so stinkin unbelievable.

Look at those thighs. (oh, Henry's, not Jeffs)

Auntie Tessa came to town!!!

We've had a great time with Auntie Tess while she's been staying with us for the week.

She came to the Building Museum with us, and was great entertainment for the kiddos.

Its been SO fun for Luce to have family in town. (she's my cousin)

Tess has hung around with us, and put site seeing on the back burner,

which gives us all time to be with her, and helped us feel more like family, not a hotel.

Charlies chubby toes. Funny that i never told him not to wear my shoes, he just always

goes for Jeffs shoes, and Luce always goes for mine.

May cause drowsiness

Just to fill you in....

Our Friday night habits have turned into picnics at the park.

This park, Hayes, is probably our fav.

With a great splash park, even in hot weather (which we've had our share!!!) its nice and cool.

Anticipating the water turning back on. No, its not loud, just her reaction to most things.

We CAN do it all. Picnic, park, and exercise! Still got it!

Charlie hear there was "BayWatch" tryouts, so he's strutting his best.

The kids parade, which we did our fare share of spectating.

Looks like 3's the max.

We let Luce stay up to watch some fireworks with our neighbors.

She has NEVER stayed up this late (nearly 10pm) and after 3 days of catching up,

I'm not sure we'll do it again.

Enjoying our time at the Smithsonian, while we waited for the parade to begin.

We did watch the parade, got GREAT seats in the shade, heard some great bands,

loved the blow up balloons, and we'll think about doing it next year.

Wasn't there some rule about running with sparklers?

Lucy like them, and chars, we didn't let get close.

We took the family swimming at this great little pool.

We had a great time, and decided this has GOT to be a

new tradition for the weekend of the 4th.

Henry is such a cuddler!

He does this a few times a day, which I can't get enough of.