Remembering the Johnson Men at Arlington National Cemetary: Ed, Paul and George

I took Graham and Julia to Arlington National Cemetary as we observed Veteran's Day...and we visited Uncle Ed's grave. It actually made Julia sad, she didn't really like the idea that we were stepping on graves--a good observation, because Arlington graves are so close-packed together, unfortunately for what that represents, that it is impossible to avoid 'stepping on a grave'...

I recorded some of their musings, here are comments made about the 'people sleeping' under the ground:

What do they do at night?
What if the have to go to the bathroom?—J

Maybe they have a funny Cat in the Hat machines down there (to help them go to the bathroom)—G

What if they were hurt? -- J

What do they wear? -- G

Are there heads under the stones? -- J (thus, Head Stones)
I'm sad about your Uncle Ed -- J

Alas, the recording ends with me saying ‘no no no  no no’...I think that was either when Graham tried to climb onto a tombstone, or Julia walked up with a rose that someone had left on a grave. I had her return it to the gravesite. It was all in all a rather moving moment…but I don’t think Julia liked it

Graham, after figuring that he couldn't climb the tombstones, pull them down, or kick them, brightened up and said: "I know! I'll roll down the hill!"

There are photos of him below doing just that.

Later, at night in the bathtub, Graham said: "Mommy, how do I spell my middle name?"

J-O-H-N-S-O-N

I guess something 'stuck' from the trip to Arlington!

 

 Look close, you can see Graham's legs at the 2:00 point!

 Julia, who must do everything her brother does, joins in...

 Rolling, rolling, rolling...

 Hey! Look at these great sticks!

 Can I take one home with me?

Gotta love boys...Graham always finds something to do!



Mount Vernon

This was a fun pre-Halloween trip with Graham and Julia. We took a hay ride, saw the farm, walked down to the water, roasted apple slices, saw how people lived 'way back then' ...
This trip triggered many, many questions: Did they have electricity? Toilets? How did they travel? Did they have cars? What was George Washington like? Why were his teeth made from wood?

Graham wore his astronaut costume, and was saluted to and waved at everywhere...he took it all in stride, and waved back to most people...Graham, surprisingly, wore the entire gear--backpack, helmet--the majority of the time, I never had to carry anything for him. I love the touch of wearing the fireman's boots (the astronaut 'boots' -- flimsy clunky things -- arrived by mail the next day)..
Julia wore a ballerina outfit, she wasn't up for the mermaid just yet "I'm saving it for Halloween!"
Julia said her favorite part of the trip was 'seeing how people lived way back then'...

Here are some pictures...

How 'they' dressed 'way back then'

Stately workhorses pulled us on the hayride

Watching the bulls on the farm

Sweet things...

Wiped out astronaut and ballerina

My legs don't have any more power in them, mom...can we go home?

Halloween, Mermaid and Astronaut

Halloween was so much fun...Graham tired out after visiting a 'haunted house' here in Georgetown, so he came home to hand out candy with Terence. Julia and I trick or treated for many many blocks...I had to carry her at one point--she was just so 'high' about trick or treating...it was so fun to watch her try to hike up her mermaid tail to climb the steep steps of the old homes (why didn't people sit at the bottom of the steps so the wee ones were safer?)...

 

It was surprising that Georgetown has such an active trick or treating community. Nothing like Capitol Hill's truly festive and community-oriented feel--but the flow felt easier to handle here in Georgetown, we did not get 'slammed' for a period and then have it drop off...the trick or treaters were pretty consistent...

I'll post more photos later, I just feel the need to update! We've been up to soooo much lately...I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week, then Christmas!! Then...egads.

Singing at Washington International School.

 Julia, my little Mermaid

Rocket Man Graham!

Memory Lane

Memory Lane

Porto Ercole, tractors and cupcakes

So much fun for children--and adults--at the Marginis. Antonio rode with Julia on the back of the tractor as our friend went on a mission to move a rock. It doesn's sound like much, you say? Ha! Take 3 four year olds and adults who like to play with toys like tractors, add an enormous rock in the way in the olive grove...and, voila, instant entertainment.

Pietro, Antonio and Maggie's adorable, sweet-tempered 4 year old, took the work very seriously, waking up each morning with the statement "I have work to do. I must go and ride the tractor to move the rock." Graham could not agree more!

Julia? Along for the ride with her boys! Plus, she got to play with her 'dream bakery' with Maggie, Antonio's wife, later in the day. Julia had patiently waited the entire trip to get her hands on her bakery. Thank you, Maggie! Who has intuitive skills re: crafts...a class I definitely didn't take growing up...the cupcake is a result of Julia + Maggie's hard work.

I got to take the picture ;)

Costa Concordia

 The last 9 days of our trip were spent in Porto Ercole, Argentario ... and, as the Costa Concordia sunk just on the other side of the island...well, we all took the ferry to the island of Giglio to see the wreck for ourselves.
It was sad. It was amazing to see how close to 'land' this former luxury cruise ship had landed...and to see that people who were on the 'wrong side' of the ship must've gotten stuck in their cabins as the ship tilted over on its side.
The ship is in the harbor--yes, that close to land...It was a long, hot, kind of exhausting day for the children...not a lot to see on Giglio. But, as ever, the food was fresh (Seafood) and I managed to do a bit of shopping (purses, bathing cover ups, as usual).
Enjoy!

Sardinia, 2012

Annual month in Italy.

This year, Perugia, Sardinia, and, as ever, Porto Ercole with our Italian family, The Marginis..Bliss