Exercise Class

Dreaming of Exercise Class?

Some children have imaginary friends. Madeline has exercise class. Here's what we know about it: Madeline rides a pink pony to exercise class, and it is held in a purple gingerbread house. Aunt Melissa and Uncle Greg are the teachers (though Santa Claus teaches the occasional class). Madeline has lost a tooth there. All of Madeline's friends attend exercise class, and the mommies from Abra (who I attend an actual Bootcamp with) and the Princesses frequently drop in. There are lots of trampolines there, and presents for everyone. Madeline has promised to take us to exercise class some day soon. We can't wait.

Christmas Cookies

This year we made all the traditional  and beloved shapes of the season: snowflakes, stars, X-Wing Fighters and Millennium Falcons from Star Wars, and a bunch of Easter Bunnies.

Laundry Day

You have no idea how dirty a pair of pants can get until you have a 5-year-old boy. Donald saw this picture and said, "that's not even the worst of them."

The Snowman

We awoke to the faintest dusting of snow this morning. The ground was barely white. But Patrick was determined to make a snowman. So after breakfast he pulled on his boots and raced outside. Within minutes he was at the back door, proudly displaying a pretty respectable snowball. Then, a few minutes later, he  succeeded in making the world's smallest snowman.

Like A Weed

It happens with heartbreaking frequency; Patrick pulls on a pair of pants and he's grown so much they've transformed into capris.

Awkward Family Christmas Photos Take 2

Yet again I have been thwarted in my quest for a charming Santa photo. Patrick managed to squeak out a few shy requests to Santa and even spoke for his sister and her ardently desired princess phone and Baby Butterscotch during our visit yesterday. Madeline spoke not a word, but did manage a wave to Santa as Donald was escorting her out of Santa's workshop.

Tree Trimming

 We found a tree right around the corner this year, and were able to cart it home in the ever-faithful  red wagon.

Letters to Santa

At Mancini's the other morning I helped the kids write letters to Santa Claus. You have to tell him if you’ve been good or bad, I told Madeline. She considered her options for a moment and then matter-of-factly started dictating:  “Dear Santa, I’ve been good and bad this year…” 

Luray Caverns

It was too cold and rainy to hike on our recent trip down to Roanoke and so we decided for a different kind of adventure—underground! Luray Caverns is the biggest underground cave system on the East Coast and it's absolutely stunning. We walked for a mile and a half through an unworldly landscape of stalactites and stalagmites. It was surprisingly warm in the caves and nothing can live that far down, so it's all just amazing rock formations and a pool of water so absolutely still that it looks like a mirror. The kids particularly enjoyed tossing coins into the 'wishing well' and the formation nicknamed 'Snoopy'. The guide  even turned off the lights for a few moments and we got to experience the total darkness of a cave.

Toy Story

On a recent trip to Roanoke Patrick discovered that his cousin Aidan had delivered a treasure trove of outgrown toys including two amazing Transformers and a Star Wars computer toy.  Patrick was literally speechless as he played on the laundry room floor with this unexpected bounty and has spent many blissful hours since putting the Transformers into countless battle configurations. In the picture here he's watching a Transformers cartoon and acting out the scenes with his 'guys'. He's in toy heaven. Thank you Aidan!

Glamor Girl

She still doesn't love barrettes, but Madeline has recently taken to coloring her toes (and sometimes feet) with purple marker. She's also developed a serious Chapstick fixation, and like any self-respecting lady of fashion likes to carry two choices with her at all times.

Turkeys

We had a quiet Thanksgiving this year and really enjoyed our days off. We went to the zoo, which was nearly deserted on Wednesday, baked pies, made a turkey dinner at home, took a hike at Huntley Meadows on Friday, made gumbo, took a pajama walk, and worked on continuing to move into the house, which 13 months later is still a work-in-progress. We had lots of lazy time, and Madeline got to stay in her princess PJs for two days straight.

Babies on Board

Madeline's new baby stroller can hold what appears to be 10 baby dolls and their accoutrements. She resembles a pint-size bag lady. She is also loving these new princess pj's.

I See Christmas!

Madeline and Patrick love spying Christmas decor and shouting 'I see CHRISTMAS!'. They were thrilled to find a blow-up Santa in the CVS window in Old Town. Patrick asked "can you see my name on his list Mommy?"

Princess Shoes

Madeline and Ella G love their princess shoes. The other night they donned purple and pink heels and marched around the house, telling us they were going to 'work'. Madeline's pink princess umbrella completed the look.

Birthday Girl

Madeline's birthday had all the elements of a rollicking three-year-old soiree: Elmo Cake, a long-distance visit from Gran T, Cousin Colton and Aunt Whitney, special guest star baby Thomas, and a real live pony, Chip. When we told Madeline about the pony she considered her good fortune for a minute before asking "can the pony be pink?" I'm sure Chip was grateful to have remained pony-colored throughout the party.

Spooktacular Halloween Fun

Climb Every Mountain

Patrick wowed us at the Maury Fall Festival by scampering up the climbing tower and pressing the buzzer! Our teeny tiny mountain climber refused to be left at sea level, so we helped her into a harness and she ascended a few feet before mountain rescue (aka Daddy) stepped in.