Botanical Garden Train Trip

There was so much to see on Friday when our playgroup went to see the train exhibit at the Botanical Garden!
There were fairy villages, lady bug trains and fantasy choo-choos...Christmas trees and wreaths all created a fairy tale setting for Graham and Julia.
And hey, how is this possible? How is it that our playgroup director and all of the friends of Graham and Julia were ALSO at this fantasy place?
How about that?
We took a bus to the Supreme Court, then a 'golf cart' from the Capitol "Hill" down to the garden.
On our way back Graham and Julia ran on the Library of Congress lawn, then sat on the steps at the Folger Shakespeare Library (photo above).
They never seemed to run out of steam.
Ahhhhh. The joy of 20 month olds!!!!

snaps...enjoy

Thanksgiving Weekend

Gardner, Julia, Emerson & Graham

We had a lovely 'gourmet' Thanksgiving with our friend Karen and her 4 sons...and Hannibal, of course, the gentle 'big' woof-woof...the meal was gourmet in the sense that not only did each side dish deserve a 'food architectural digest' type photo, but was incredibly delicious.

Gone were the traditional mashed potatoes and overcooked green beans, replaced by yummy veggie dishes that everyone--Graham and Julia included--devoured...the fig and cheese salad with walnut 'brittle' and a port reduction sauce was delicious. We were indeed grateful for our friend Karen and her family for including us at their Thanksgiving table!

Graham stood on the boys' skate boards (uh-oh), Julia adored the attention from so many boys (!), and both children made themselves very much at home. It was wonderful and happy. Thank you, Karen and family!

Here are some photos...enjoy. I know we did!

Life at the Beach, November 2009, Delaware

Julia rocks out at Levine School of Music

Julia and Graham love their harp-playing teacher, Miss Monica, during their Music and Movement classes each week at Levine. Miss Monica likes to open the children up to various music...from 50s "Rock around the Clock" to 60s Motown.

That's great, because here at home Graham and Julia usually sway to opera ("Toreador" from the opera "Carmen" is a Favorite) or your basic Brahms for night time sleeping.

Good night!

Fire Station Field Trip

With fire hats on their heads, Graham and Julia and their Intown comrades visited a fire station. The trucks were big, the Firemen were big (from a 19 month-old's eyes!), and everything was, well, maybe just too 'big' for little Julia and Graham...

Here are some shots from the day. I don't think, at least today, that either baby will become a fireman or woman...it was a bit much for them!

BUT, Graham loves his firetrucks, and watching as Engine station #7 on Capitol Hill regularly drives by with its siren on...he has taken to making sounds like the sirens...go figure!
Enjoy...

Happy Halloween!

As always, we got many many trick or treaters on the Hill (easily 1,500, if not more)...we had many helpers this year, a party with food etc...
And...Graham and Julia .. Graham was a monkey and Julia, a 'spring fairy' (whatever, she got to wear wings and sparkly pink shoes!)...
We all had a lovely time...here are some shots...

If the shoe fits (or doesn't) ...

Ah, breaking into daddy's closet was such fun recently...Graham (first shot) got to try on his father's shoes...
And Julia found her grandmother's necklace and wanted to know if it matched her shoes (ahem) as well...

Graham shakes the maracas

October Beach Days on the Eastern Shore

We visited "Nana" on the Eastern Shore a couple of weeks ago.

The weather was lovely...hot. Graham and Julia had a chance to don their beach clothes again, play in the sand and chase seagulls.

Hay ride and apple picking photos

Here are Graham, Julia, and Mariden on the "hay ride" ... as well as a few other images.
Enjoy!

Apple picking and hay rides and pumpkins!

Today was a very busy day. Graham and Julia went apple picking, then went on a hayride that took them down a 'spooky' country road filled with Halloween decorations and many scarecrows!

Alas, Graham and Julia were more focused on the wheels of the John Deere tractor pulling the 'hay ride' ...

They were thrilled when they got to sit in the actual tractor, with Mariden holding them up! Graham was sure he could steer it if we would just cut him loose.

Graham played Hercules by picking up two pumpkins at the same time...ah, youth!

June 2009 River Series Concerts

Graham and Julia took in the River Series Orchestra in St. Mary's County, Maryland this summer. Late to post the photos, but the two enjoyed the music, the water, and being held -- and chased after -- by lots of friends. Here are a few snaps from this past summer's series.

Our dear friend, Jeff Silberschlag, conducts the River Series each summer and brings in musicians worldwide. Graham was fascinated with the large poster taken of Jeff. See for yourselves.