Museum Friday

This whale scared Soren a bit and reminded me of those thrilling but frightening times on a kayak in Alaska with Humpback whales swimming very closely!

Asher proudly stands next to an assortment of skeletons while Soren nervously tried not to cry.

Busy bees!

Soren holding a caterpillar.

Asher's turn!

Soren eagerly climbed up this column and asked for a photo. I was happy to oblige.

Asher takes a rest.

Last Friday I wanted to do something semi-adventurous with the kids and Soren suggested the Natural History Museum so off we went! As we were driving into the city the weather was so lovely I asked if the kids wanted to go go the arboretum instead but they excitedly told me NO. Okay then. 

We strolled through the sculpture garden before heading to the museum and while I loved the whimsical sculptures the boys kept asking when we were going to the museum because apparently they were worried that I had changed my mind. 

Once at the museum we looked for octopus then went on a hunt for skeletons. We found SO many bones. Soren was not feeling it. Asher was thrilled to see a forensics exhibit complete with skeletons and mummies but Soren was terrified. I was in such a difficult position because Asher was eager to see the exhibit while Soren was vehemently opposed. I tried to talk Soren into seeing just a little bit of it but he was truly scared. We took a few steps into the exhibit and he just lost it. He cried and cried and clung to my legs. Soon Asher was crying because we had to turn around. If only there were two of me! I told Asher I would take him on a date to see that exhibit and even though I thought that was a great idea he was not consoled. 

The bug zoo distracted everyone enough that tears were dried and new thrills were experienced by holding curious looking bugs. I'm glad we went--the mall NEVER gets old and it makes me happy to take my children to such a special place.

It's not lost on me that my boys will soon be five and in a year they'll start school. This is our last year with complete freedom to play and explore as we want. My goal is to treasure this time fully.

Summer Fun

Cheese!

Rain drinkers! Soren in his favorite and much too tiny shirt!

Summer is made fun with water: swimming, sprinklers, water balloons, water tables, fountains, pools, waterparks, and rain. I love that all three kids enjoy the water table and I love to see them play in the rain--even try to drink the rain.

Maeve's Playdate

Maeve is old enough to have her own playdates and the cuteness surrounding said playdates is out of this world. I wanted to document the joy that goes into her life and the excitement surrounding time with her sweet friend Millie.

Dressed and ready to walk!

I love one on one time with my children and this tender time with Maeve is one I hope to never forget.

She got a head of me, easily.

Hurry up!

Pausing to play along the way.

About half way to Millie's house we could see her in the door waiting for us and it was such an adorable welcoming.

An explosion of joy!

Maeve's gracious host.

These two were dancing they were so happy to see each other. I love them.

On my way home I ran into these three and I was overcome with happiness to see them. In my mind, my kids are always at home, even when I am at work so to run into them on the street kind of rocked my world.

Soren giving me one last look.

There you have it. My baby and her bestie and my boys and their life without me.

Here are a few gems from Maeve's FIRST EVER playdate with Millie:

Water table fest!

 

After a good water table soaking they played in their bloomers. An explosion of cuteness.

Nicole's Shower

I was shocked to learn earlier this year that my friend at work was having twins! She came to the hospital shortly after Asher and Soren were born and she got to see them covered in wires and tubes. I'm grateful she was there to visit them because I was stuck in my hospital bed sick and unable to even see or hold my baby babes. I'm thrilled for Nicole and her husband Christian to soon have twin girls. They will be loving and wonderful parents.

I was responsible for decorations at Nicole's work baby shower. I wanted it to be simple but thoughful. I spent hours making a tassle banner, which after it was up sure didn't look like much. I also made color coordinated onesies, which were my favorite piece of decoration. Coral and yellow were my inspiration colors. I used yellow and white baker's twine to wrap doilies around mason jars to use as little vases for each table. I also used doilies for the sign. The other little detail I want to mention is the washi tape covered clips I used to hang the onesies. Everything was really cute and really simple. I hope Nicole felt loved! I actually had to miss the shower because I wanted to be with Jamie when he heard the results of his MRI from the doctor. At least someone in the world  was having a good time while we heard such bruising news.

Stribling in August

Stopping by Stribling Orchard on our way home from Winchester, VA just made sense. I had hoped peaches were still ripe for picking but due to our freakishly warm winter, peaches had matured earlier than usual and were all gone! Not a problem though because there were plenty of apples to pick--including HONEYCRISP. Hello. 

There were hardly any other people at Stribling so we had free reign of the orchard. I drove into the orchard and parked on a shady slope to let the kids root around. Happily, they were eager to pick apples and run through the grassy spaces between trees. They only complained about the heat, which again, was not that terrible. After taking a break in the shade, Soren perked up and really, really wanted to pick apples with one of the long armed apple pickers but I had forgotten to  grab one from the main building. Hopefully we'll go again soon so his apple picking dreams can be realized.

My days at Stribling go way back--at least seven years. It's a happy place full of sweet memories. Jamie and I took my sister there on a gorgeous October day and five years ago I took my mom and Chon with my baby boy twins. It's just one of those places nestled in the mountains that is brimming with remembrances of good times. I wish Jamie had been with us--he would have loved the charming weather and stunning scenery. I think he was happy to have access to the few bushles we brought home.

Fall is my favorite season--cliche as that may be--so I am grateful for the summery moments that remind me of the cool, colorful times to come, like picking apples on a perfect August day.

Saturday in the Country

On Saturday I wanted to give Jamie a quiet day to rest. Although he had been home all week in bed, I knew it wasn't necessarily quiet or peaceful because well, we live with small children. Many of my neighbors were going to the pool, which sounded lovely but I absolutely did not have the energy to take three kids to the pool without help. While I didn't have the verve to swim solo with three kids, I did have the desire for a country adventure. I decided to take the kids to the Shenandoah Valley Museum in Winchester, VA. I was in the mood for a little road trip and a new discovery.

Funny story: Asher asked me if the museum would have any bones and I  foolishly said no. When I saw these bones I knew Asher would be excited. See that button? Asher pushed it and suddenly it was Civil War sound effects in our face and Soren thought he was being ambushed. Little man screamed in terror.

Soren found a brochure for Dinosaur Land and Asher found a brochure for Endless Caverns (read: bats).

This family cemetery was Asher's favorite part of the garden.

When I turned and saw this, the view made me gasp. The columns, the fountain, the green, and the farm in the background were stunning.

Asher's current interest has evolved to skeletons so he insists on wearing his skeleton pj's not just to bed but during the day. His favorite is to combine the skeleton shirt with red shorts, since red is still his favorite color.

I loved the patterns and shapes found throughout the garden. It's fascinating how some designs remain popular for centuries.

Soren asked me to read EVERY single word on the brochure.

One of my favorite little corners of the garden.

One of my favorite kids in my favorite corner of the garden.

I was so amused by the ivy on this statue!

Yay! Open space and running kids!

Geese in a row.

The China garden (as A&S referred to it).

Towards the end of our visi the boys were complaining tirelessly about how HOT they were and I was talking tirelessly about how much I LOVED the cooler weather.

The kids were great on the drive and I savored the chance to quietly soak in the gorgeous scenery while my children napped. I thought a lot about Jamie, his back and our uncertain future and the weight of it all pinched my chest a bit but the luscious green summer and the open road calmed my heart.

The museum was interesting but the dark lighting frightened Soren and to be honest--I was more interested in the garden than the museum so I didn't mind rushing through the exhibits. We did have  an incident that sent Soren running and screaming. There was a civil war exhibit (see skull photo above) complete with a chaotic battle scene mural and bones. Asher pushed a button on the skull box and suddenly we heard guns firing and men screaming and bless little man Soren's heart--he must have thought he was getting attacked because I watched as his face twisted in horror and he ran away as fast he could run. He was confused and frightened. Poor guy. I grabbed him and we quickly left. A few days after this experience, Soren asked, "Why didn't you guys run away?" Asher said, "We didn't think it was scary." I love how they are so different.

The garden was gorgeous and hardly populated. We had the place to ourselves and everything was going wonderfully until Asher and Soren started to get hot. When my kids get hot--they shut down, drag their feet and whine, whine, whine. I thought the weather was exquisite! I suggested that the boys take off their shirts and that definitely added a little zest to their glacial step. I was so happy in that lovely garden that at one point I threw my bag down and left my stunned children while I ran as hard as I could through an open field. I wanted my lungs and my heart to fully appreciate the beauty surrounding me. If I had been a gymnast I could have done a few front hand springs. Certainly I was a foreigner to my hot children who could hardly move.

I reluctantly headed back to the car with my kids. In no hurry to get home, we stopped by Sonic for Happy Hour drinks. Yes. We also had plans for apple picking on the way home. I'm pleased that we took this little adventure together. I loved it.