Summer 2014: Fireworks, swimming, fun!

Well, summer sure has been flying by...but we've had a lot of fun. Our background music has, as anyone with young children--especially girls--knows: "Let it go, let it go" from Frozen...Julia likes to belt it out wherever we 'go' ... complete with the hinky voice 'kink' in a line or two...

On the Fourth of July weekend, we were fortunate enough to see not one, but two sets of fireworks. The first was in St. Mary's County, MD--at the River Concert Series, a wonderful Friday night affair every July. It's right out of a Norman Rockwell painting--families surround a bandshell while the Chesapeake Orchestra plays everything from Schubert to Duke Ellington.

On July 6, we headed to Vera's Beach Club. It's a staple in the area--a huge 'beach club' on the water, serving mostly fried food...but with gorgeous views. Named after the original owner, Vera.

I met her when she was 99, with her hair down to her waist, moving from table to table to greet everyone...ethereal...She's no longer alive, but her friend keeps the place in its original format...

Here are some pics, more to come!

 

 Graham, flexing his muscles

 A 'museum' in the playroom, featuring painted clay tchotchkes, er, treasures

 Toothless!

 "It's not a whale, mom, it's an orca!"

 Julia, with her sweet little croacker, I think she named her Lucy. From Chesapeake's Bounty--we didn't go fishing

 More "toothless"

 Me, after having gutted my first rockfish--or, fish, ever!--taking the head off and wishing I'd also taken my wedding ring off. The background voices were "ewwww, that is so disgusting" to "cool"

 Fireworks for sale--Solomon's Island, MD.

 Solomon's Island fireworks, July 5, 2014

 Our dear friend Joe, an engineer, and Graham compare notes on G's Lego motor

 Future Engineer, adjusting the umbrella

 Blowing on her food to cool it down...at Vera's.

 Terence, looking content

 oops

 Julia, cuddled up at Vera's Beach Club, sunset

 Graham, standing next to his design for July 4. (I have another to post of an even cooler design--made from clay--to come.)

 Whoa! Look at how tippy this is!

 July 4, St. Mary's County, MD

 Fireworks behind the band shell, Cheasapeake Orchestra.

 Julia, grabbing a bite to eat at the concert.

 Mom, is she real? What Is This?

"Let it go, let it go....." belting it out at the pool.

We'll take Manhattan

Our trip to New York combined joy with sadness, or the more somber things in life. The weekend started with a memorial service, and ended with a visit to Ground Zero.

 

The memorial service at the National Arts Club was for our dear friend, Carolyn French, who had been a literary agent. Carolyn meant a lot to us--but especially to Terence--and she was also an inspiring human being. She made her mark when she was in her 70s -- long after many people 'retire' their interests -- when a play named 'Wit' was mailed to her by Margaret Edson. Carolyn recognized the brilliance of the play. Edson--who became both a client and friend of Carolyn's--went on to win the Pulitzer prize. May you rest in peace, Carolyn.

 

Visiting Ground Zero, on a wicked cold day, was moving. The security we had to go through to enter Ground Zero was tougher than what we've experienced at any airport nationally, or internationally. Graham and Julia thought we were getting on a plane. I don't think the children liked Ground Zero much--they sensed that something was 'off' about the area--Graham knew that the World Trade Center buildings had 'fallen down' ("Probably due to bad construction mom") -- but at one point they realized that people had died when the buildings fell.

So, of course, the children started playing tag. They were quickly joined by another little boy. And then, of course, a police officer stopped them ;) It's definitely not a place to run around.

The 'hole' where the water continuously feeds is haunting...like Hell. I didn't like being there much, it was a lot to take in. Terence and I had been in NYC the weekend after 9-11, and we'd seen what the area looked like right after the attacks. It's still hard to believe--and it's chilling to see all of the names of the people who died there.

Not the best picture of the family, but fitting--it was cold, it was Ground Zero

 Bottomless Pit at Ground Zero

 The new building

A flower -- something to break the metal sheets of names and names of the dead.

Happy 6th Birthday, My American Girl, Julia!

It's been a long time since this blog has been updated--thank you, Terence, for the reminder ...

Graham and Julia turned 6 on April 3...but in March, we started the celebration with a trip to NYC. It was unreal to me that it was Graham and Julia's first trip to the city--we stayed at the National Arts Club, on Gramercy Park, adjacent to our old apartment which we sold only 4 years ago. It was quite poignant to be there, to get the key to the park and have the children run around (more blog posts on that later).

 

But for Julia, and for me, a highlight was visiting the American Girl store, and eating a birthday celebration lunch (ahem--at 9:30 in the morning, the place is so booked up!). The service, view, and actually, even the food, were all good.

Julia was beside herself, so excited to be in a large building devoted to 'Her' American Girl!

Here are some photos--it was so lovely to be alone with my little one (more on Graham, upcoming).

 

 Julia poses with a cardboard cut out of a ballerina.

 "Christina" (Julia's doll), Julia and Kitty dine at the American Girl Cafe

 Birthday treats for my sweet.

 Julia, pretending to hold a flute

 Hmmm...somehow, we forgot to buy this ;) ...it's downright amazing how much money one could be coerced into spending at such a "doll" store! Lucky for me, Julia is not an Adamant Shopper!

 Pedicure on our first  night there

zzzzz Taking the Acela up to NYC from DC.

Christmas morning, 2013

We had a wonderful, joyful Christmas. Gramma Grace, Lise, our French au pair, and her friend spent Christmas Eve and Christmas day with us...

I was up at 6 to help Santa place gifts under the tree (he always makes such a mess, Santa and his elves!)...Terence helped bring the enormous doll house in from the garage. For once, Julia had not 'discovered' her gift before Christmas...she is a tough one to surprise, she figures things out!

Here are photos of my sleepy heads...opening presents...

On Christmas Eve, I could not get Graham to fall asleep...so I told him that Santa would not come until we were sleeping...Terence took some bells and rang them outside.

I wish I had a photo of Graham's face! He looked surprised, then squeezed his eyes shut and said to me "Mommy, we better go to sleep. I heard Santa!"

sweet.

 Still dreaming of Santa

 The tree and the gifts

 Julia works her sleepy self down the stairs

 Looks like Santa drank the milk and ate a little of the cookie we left out. The children's notes to Santa are on the table.

 Julia's doll house (thank you, Mothers of the Hill forum! I found this, already assembled, with all of the furniture...and it was even delivered to me, since it didn't fit into my car...)
Terence and I now have a strict "No Assembly" gift rule...2 Christmas's ago, Terence was up at 5 a.m., assembling a battery-operated fire truck for Graham...the fire truck THEN sat in the kitchen for a year, as I was a bit concerned that Graham wouldn't know how to 'drive' it.
Terence also put together a pink kitchen for Julia that year...and a baby sitter put together a 'fire station' for Graham.
We vowed to never again have to assemble things...thus the MOTH forum and Craigslist, where I like to buy things 'used' AKA preassembled!

 Julia's American Girl doll.

 Graham and his new crane. He took the box, opened it, turned to the French girls and said "This cost $100 dollars!" So funny.

 Cookies from our kind neighbors, Carol and Carolyn. Thank you!!

 Hello...Kitty? Enormous Hello Kitty gift

 My boys...xoxox

Julia carrying her American Girl doll...

Merry Christmas 2013

We went to the Elipse, in front of the White House, to go to Santa's workshop...the elf looked out the window at the children and said "Where have you been all day? We've been waiting for you!" -- exactly what I was telling the children to get them to 'move along' all day...amazing, less than a week until Christmas, the weather, 60 degrees, and No Lines to see Santa! Then again, who knew Santa had a workshop on the Elipse? I surely didn't, nor did many of my friends with children...

Better yet: Trains under the Christmas Tree! And trees representing all of the states plus the territories...all in all, a great night...

 

 "where have you been? We've been waiting all day for you!"

 Elf

 Christmas Tree -- White House

 There were numerous trains and 'stations' surrounding the enormous Christmas tree...

Yes, it's the White House...

Lesson: The meaning of Eccentric

 

Today, in Georgetown, Julia and I saw a woman riding an old  bicycle. No big deal--except that she wore a mink coat and wore a silk scarf over her head. No helmet, of course.
Naturally, I pulled over and took a photo.

Jules: Why did you take a photo of that woman?

Me: Because she was riding a bicycle while she was wearing a mink coat, and I thought it was eccentric.

J: What’s eccentric?
Me: Something out of the ordinary, not something you do every day. For example, if a person  walks a cat.

J: I walk Kitty.

Me: Well, or if someone has a Parrot on their shoulder. That’s eccentric, it’s not normal.

J: Yes it is, Pirates have parrots on their shoulders all the time!

 

I looked in the rearview mirror, and Julia had a straight face, she was not kidding and was a sweet as ever.

=

 

Typical annoying Georgetown eccentric.

And...hmmm. What is this? 5 year old, wearing her brother's inventive hat..

Graham, modeling his hat, made of construction paper/poster paper...there's a secret opening under the red square...

Thanksgiving 2013

Thanksgiving was so nice...Thank you, Wagshal's, for cooking...well, I take that back: everything needed to be warmed up ... which translates into dirty pans...and hand wash china...etc.

But it was heavenly, the food...the company..the children! Oh, how they entertained themselves so we could chat and eat and enjoy...since Graham and Julia aren't huge 'meat eaters' (Um, except those cheeseburgers they love to scarf down every other month or so...need I tell them it's from a cow? Julia claims she won't eat anything from a pig...I guess my non meat eating has rubbed off on them.)

 

I digress...after T-day, we drove to the Eastern Shore (what a mind numbing drive that is! Egads...flat, flat, boring...then the amazing ocean!)...

Just chilled, saw Gramma Dot...and got some book store time as well as some beach time...

 

 Julia, after her bath, sans shoes...

 "Come buy something in our store!" Graham and Julia kept themselves entertained by creating a store in the kitchen while Terence, our friend Caitsby and I enjoyed our Thanksgiving meal ... Graham then shut the store down, and had an 'advice' office...for 5 cents (thank you, Lucy from Peanuts!)...I told him my problem was "oh, I am dropping everything! I sometimes forget things!" and Graham looked ever so serious as he told me his diagnosis:
"I think you need to see a doctor."
ba-da-boom.
When I told him I'd paid him 5 cents, he became quite serious and took out a piece of paper...and proceeded to write me a prescription.
Priceless.

 Graham, most likely thinking of his next invention or building he'll create

 At Bethany Beach, Thanksgiving weekend.

Sand castles