Our Virginia Trip

The kids and I drove up to Betsey's house in Lynchburg, VA last Monday to begin our big adventure. The adventure we had planned was exciting all by itself: drive 9 hours from our house in TN to the Caballero house in VA on Monday, go to Colonial Williamsburg on Wednesday, stay in a cabin at Fort Story, VA on Thursday and explore lighthouses and the Atlantic coast, visit Jamestown on Friday, and drive back to TN on Sunday.

The drive from Tennessee to Virginia on Monday was beautiful and uneventful. We spent Tuesday relaxing and finishing up last minute errands for our trip to east Virginia. Tuesday afternoon, it started to rain. It rained all night.

Wednesday we drove to Colonial Williamsburg, ignoring the facts that the rain was not letting up, and that the closer we got to Williamsburg, the windier it got. We bundled up in our coats and umbrellas, and went exploring. We practically had the place to ourselves. :)

We explored the gardens of the Governor's Palace,

and the kids had a blast running around through the maze.

By the time we reached the blacksmith's shop, Isaak was soaked to the waist from splashing in puddles, and the girls and Betsey's boys were only slightly more dry.

The blacksmith's fire was nice and warm, and when we reluctantly left it, we caught a shuttle bus to the parking lot and went back to our van to change into dry clothes and head to the cabin at Ft. Story.

Experiencing our first Nor'easter was NOT in the plan, but it happened anyway. Thursday was nasty. If you like storms though, like I do, it was beautiful. We ventured out once to go get food, and since we had come to see the Atlantic, we stopped to see the Atlantic.

We didn't get out of the van.

We also didn't go explore any lighthouses or beaches. Instead, we stayed in the cabin and stayed dry and warm. The kids played, watched a movie, and colored all day.

Early Friday morning, after the winds and rain had died down, we left Ft. Story and went to Jamestown. Once again, we had the place practically to ourselves, but unlike our trip to Colonial Williamsburg, there was no wind, and only a few sprinkles now and then.

Saturday was spent unwinding and running errands again, and Sunday morning found us making the 9.25 hour trip home to TN.

Looking back, the entire trip was insane! Would I do it again? Yes, but give me a week or so to recover first. :)

Isaak the "Pilate"

Isaak doing his best impression of a "pilate".

Unfortunately, pilot and pirate sound much alike,

especially coming from the mouth of a two-year-old.

Fortunately, the "sword" stuck in his sweatpants is a dead giveaway.

Halloween Candy

Last night our Halloween plans got cancelled when Macey started running a fever. The kids weren't so much upset about the not dressing up part, as they were disappointed about the not hanging out at our neighbors' house to help pass out candy...oh, and the getting candy part!

Instead, when it started getting dark, I put a movie on for the kids, and a special delivery was made at our back door...big bags of candy for each of us, and warm brownies. We ate our brownies while we watched the movie, and saved the bags of candy to sort through in the morning.

This morning, Jaela concentrated intently on the book she held in one hand as she took care of the bathroom garbage with the other. I asked her if she didn't think it would be easier and faster to set her book down for a minute. "Not really", she answered, "it's just taking me longer because I'm reading upside down!" (Again, I don't know anyone who would do something like that. Nope. No one.)

Anya stood in the hallway watching her, but obviously thinking about something else...something that was waiting for them downstairs. "Mom," she asked, "when we get downstairs for breakfast, can we please have a piece of garbage?"

Well, if you put it like that...sure you can! :)

"Why?"

Yes, Isaak is two, and his favorite question is, of course, "Why?". Most of the time, we have endlessly fascinating conversations that consist of him asking me "Why?", and me answering.

Which is usually followed by more of the same.

I have a rule, though, that he may not ask me "Why?" when I tell him to do (or not to do) something, because that becomes the forerunner for talking back. Instead, we practice saying, "OK, Mom" or "Yes, Mom". (Occasionally, after I have given him instructions, the "Why?" is a genuine question, and after he has given me the proper response, I will explain why.)

This morning, we had gone through the pattern three or four times already. I told him not to do something, he responded "Why?", and we went back to the beginning and talked through the appropriate responses. Finally, as he was completely absorbed with attempting to sharpen a colored pencil with his fingernails (slivers under the fingernails, anyone?) I told him to go put it away before he got hurt. He automatically responded, "Why?", and we started over.

"Let's try that again, Isaak. Go put the colored pencil where it belongs before you get hurt." I prompted him, "What do you say?"

Still intently inspecting the end of the pencil, he answered, "Thank you!".

At least something is sinking in!

Little Alarm Clock...Version 3

Earlier this week, just after Isaak woke up, I heard over the monitor:

I awake? Yeah! I awake!

Then I heard him run to his door, through the hallway, and into his sisters' room, shouting:

I awake! I awake! I awake!

And then we were all awake.

(And slightly less cheerful about it.)

Fall Treats

This evening the kids and I celebrated our first really cool Fall day with nice warm mugs of spiced apple cider that had been warming on the stove all afternoon.

And we all have to agree with Isaak, who finished his with a sigh and announced:

"Dat was good apple spider duice!"

The Blame Game

Me: Isaak, get your finger out of your mouth.

Isaak: Why dat unabbepable?

Me: Because your fingers are dirty, that's why it's unacceptable!

A minute later:

Me: Isaak, why were you chewing on your finger, anyway? Do your teeth hurt? (He's working on his 2-year molars.)

Isaak: No, teef not hurt. Daddy tell me to put my tinger in my mouf!

Me: No, he didn't.

Isaak: Mommy tell me to?

Me: No.

Isaak: (grinning) Mr. Nobody tell me to!

Probably! That Mr. Nobody gets blamed for a lot of things around here. :)