Evan and the kids learn Va history!

Today's post is guest captioned by Evan! For 3 days at the end of spring break, March 2018, Evan took the kids on a tour of Williamsburg/Jamestown/Yorktown. He sent me all of the photos that he took during those days, and I picked out my favorites, and then asked him to narrate what we're seeing, as I wasn't actually there so I don't know! So, with no further ado...Evan and the kids' fun history trip!

First up - fun in Jamestown.

We do love the history movies at these attractions!

Jamestown! Site of the first English elected assembly in North America. Yes, I'm a government dork.

John Smith, who discovered New Hampshire. Also had something to do with Jamestown.

Jamestown's old main street is perfect for running

Natalie and Henry were the second people to hold this pottery in hundreds of years. Excavated from a live archaeology dig by the staff archaeologist in this pic. 

Day 2 - more Jamestown!

Replica Powhatan village at "Jamestown Settlement"

I think this is the Mary Constant replica, one of the three ships that brought the first settlers to Jamestown.

West or East, Henry?

Next up: Williamsburg and Yorktown!

Williamsburg Duck Donuts, because donuts.

Listening to a traditional toast to General George Washington.

Henry in the Continental Army

She's quite excited.

Natalie and Henry map out military strategy.

They would've fit on the beds of the time.

At William and Mary!

Natalie asked and found out you can major in both dance and teaching. Dance Teacher dreams are possible at William and Mary!

A rampart at the Yorktown battlefield.

Yorktown memorial

Gov. Nelson's house at Yorktown

The battery stormed by Alexander Hamilton at the battle of Yorktown!

Finally, on the way home, Evan and the kids stopped by Berkeley Plantation, where we got married, to show it to them.

Natalie and Henry at the spot where their mom and dad were married.

Five shows in October: 4 & 5 in DC

We've come to the final two shows I got to see in October! Ok, technically the second one was on November 1, but for the sake of this post (and saying 5 in October), I'm counting it as taking place then.

The 4th show of the month was The Book of Mormon. I renewed my Kennedy Center subscription for this year with Kathy, Beth, and Rachel, and of course this show was not included. However, we had the option to buy BoM tickets with our subscription, and as it's one that I always wanted to see I got tickets for Evan and I to go.

The show was on a Friday night, so we headed into DC as early as we could in order to avoid traffic. We parked at the KC, and then walked down along the river to eat dinner at Farmers Fishers & Bakers (so good!). We clean up pretty nicely, I think!

 

When we left the restaurant to walk back, I snapped a photo of this very cool, very tall sculpture. I have no idea what it was supposed to be, or who made it, but I love the shape and colors!

 Inside the KC there are always art exhibits, and this time were these beautiful Japanese fans all along the ceiling. Also very pretty!

 We met up with Kathy and Eric (who also had tickets to the show that night), and wandered along the outside balcony of the KC to cool off before the show (it was rather warm inside). I love DC at night!

And then, just a few days later, it was time for my final show of the month - Mean Girls at the National Theater! It was just starting its pre-Broadway run (I think we saw the second show), so we 4 ladies got tickets along with our friend Will (and Eric came too). I'd never seen a show before it makes its Broadway debut - it was almost 3 hours long, and EVERYONE got a song, so there will definitely be some cutting before it heads to Broadway. There wasn't even a song list in the playbill, as they were still working out what would be included/excluded. Pretty neat! But it was faithful to the movie, quite hilarious, and had some really great big musical numbers in it. I loved the staging, and I highly recommend seeing it!

Beach 2017: Family photos

In my penultimate beach 2017 post, I thought I'd pull together my favorite photos of the 4 of us from the beach. These don't really need much description - just my favorites! Let's start with photos taken with my waterproof camera - these first 4 were selfies. I've gotten pretty good at taking them with the waterproof camera!

 Beta was great about taking photos of everyone on the beach. She didn't go in the water too much, so she got photos of all of us while we were in the water. Here are some fun ones hat I didn't know she took!

A posed shot of us on the 4th of July.

 A family photo in the ocean.

 And one of Henry flying!

 Finally, Kathy used my camera to take this family picture in the pool (after I took them of all the other families). Yay beach vacation!

Daddy-Daughter dance at FDES

What could be a more perfect time to post about this event than on Father's Day?

At the end of May, our elementary school held a father-daughter dance. It was on a Friday night, after Natalie had her ballet repertoire class, so she changed into her nice dress, Evan got all dressed up, and they headed over to the school!

 Evan sent me pictures throughout the event; Natalie was very excited to see so many of her friends there with their dads.

 There were a bunch of girls from the third grade all dancing together (while the dads stood around somewhat awkwardly, of course - dances don't change even when boys get older, right?). But how cute are these girls?!

The two of them were very excited to spend this evening together. Since typically on Friday nights, Evan takes Henry to his piano class, it was even more fun for them - and for me to be able to spend the time with Henry that evening.

Happy Father's Day!!

2016 wrap up

So much for my goal of getting to December 2016 events before 2017 started. New year, new goal of blogging more. I think I can make it happen!

2016 was a helluva year for everyone, in so many ways. We had our share of ups and downs, just like everyone else. Most months were quite busy (I don't think we know how to not be busy!). The summer was lovely with multiple trips, including the OBX and Disney; I traveled a bunch (enough to make Diamond status with Hilton, finally!). Evan had a tough fall, both work and politically, but we have pushed through it and are focusing on the bigger and better things we know will happen for him, and for us, in 2017. We have a lot of good things to look forward to in 2017, and even with some worries over money (so far, so good!), I am optimistic.

Even with starting 2017 by falling down my stairs and injuring my back, I am optimistic.

Our kids are happy and healthy, and had a pretty damn good end of 2016 (those posts are coming!).

I've been to two shows at the Kennedy Center this fall with my best ladies, and we have 6 more shows coming in 2017 (with the next one, Wicked, this Saturday- and my mom is joining me!).

There are many events coming up this spring that will keep us busy as a family, but will be lots of fun.

We are planning a beach trip with our friends again for summer 2017 - the house is booked!

I've got a lot to focus on at work - many goals to achieve there, and lots of travel to make that happen.

Evan has new opportunities coming his way, for which we are hopeful (keep those good vibes coming!).

And above all, my family and friends are happy and healthy. That's what really matters; spending time with those we love most is something we both put at the top of our list.

I don't really make New Year's resolutions, as we all know how unlikely it is that we will keep those. But I am going to try one thing: every week, making a note of something that made me/us happy, to pull out at the end of the year as a reminder of the good in the year, when sometimes only negative comes to the fore.

(and, I'll be doing my best to post at least 10 times a month, so as to not fall behind as I badly as I did in 2016!)

Happy 2017, everyone!

Halloween 2016

In what is apparently our new family holiday tradition, we once again used my van as a float in the Leesburg Halloween Parade. Last year it was to promote Macbeth for Treasurer; this year it was to promote Macbeth for Leesburg - Evan's run for Leesburg Town Council. Unfortunately, he did not win, but he gave it his all and I couldn't be prouder.

This year was historic for us, in that for the first time since she was almost 3, Natalie did NOT wear a princess costume! After I found Henry's Kylo Ren costume, Natalie requested a Rey costume so that they could match. I'm all about her repping a non-princess costume, and of a pretty kick-ass lady too. 

I loved Henry's costume! We found it at Costco; it was the last one in his size, and missing the mask. So, the manager sold it to me for 30% off...and then I found the mask online for less than the discount - score! He loves dressing up in it.

Here's the candidate with his kiddos!

And the candidate being "stabbed" by his kiddo.

For the third year in a row I wore my Anna costume. It continues to be a hit with the little kids at the parade, and it's just fun to wear.

We once again had a large group of kids walking with our group. They did a great job handing out candy, even if they were a bit slow, causing a HUGE gap to grow between the van and the car in front of us during the parade. We did quite a bit of running down King Street in Leesburg to catch up!

Finally, Natalie with her two good friends from dance. Such cute ladies!