Day hike

I'm on my way out the door to Austin, TX, but I realized if I don't post something here a WHOLE MONTH will have gone by with no update. As much as Ali would like, we can't just assume it's still St. Patrick's Day!

We had a fun weekend, and cousin Lyssa stopped by on her way to and back from the Lake. The kids kept looking for her in the mornings, after she'd gone. Especially Sadie, who is much more comfortable with Lyssa than she is with most people.

On Sunday we went for a hike at this funny little preserve that you've probably driven by a hundred times and never even known about. Unless you live someplace else, that is. It's called the Winkler Botanic Preserve and it's a beautiful little pocket of woods and streams and waterfalls, tucked right back up against I-395, with the entrance hidden behind a bunch of garden apartment buildings. They have a big 1930's log-cabin style lodge and a full ropes course. They must do retreats, but there was strangely no official website that I could find.

Here are some pictures:

Getting Ready for St. Patrick's Day!

This Saturday was the Alexandria St. Patrick's Day parade and it sure was a beautiful day for a parade. I think last year it was about 35 degrees and we camped out in the Chipotle on King St. But this year, we had front row seats and got all decked out from Ali's secret stash of green beads and tattoos and other paraphernalia. Our favorite part, as always, was the Shriners in their little go-karts. Every year I go home and think, "I have GOT to join that club," but I'm pretty sure no one under 65 is allowed in.

Click here for more pictures.

And on Sunday Jake had his official first "playdate" with a friend from school. Ali took him over and I stayed home with Sadie. Before we went outside, she insisted on making some movies. Here's one:

Snow Day videos

We recently remembered that videos are easy to take and fun to watch, so here are a couple from today:





We had a great time in the snow, shoveling, making snow angels, making a snowman, and sledding. Sadie only wanted to stay out for about 10 minutes at a time, but you can't blame her since with all the clothes we had on her she couldn't get back up on her own when she slipped in the snow. But Jake insisted on staying out and playing with "my kids" until his cheeks were beet red and the snow had found its way into every tiny opening in his polyester armor.

I was supposed to take the train up to New York City this afternoon for work, but those sissies in NY and Boston called to cancel! And they say DC shuts down at the first sign of a snowflake. Personally, I think OPM is scared to shut down the Federal government after the new Prez chided his daughters' school for closing the last time we had a little dusting. I predict no free vacation days due to snow for the next 4-8 years. Oh well, small price to pay.

Snow Day

Who's ready for snow!!!

Winking

Here's an inside look at our daily winking practice. By the time the 2024 Olympics come around, we hope to have at least one entrant in the Speed Winking competition. Or, maybe the Synchronized Winking event. I think we'd take a Silver. Everyone knows the Gold Winking medal is owned by the Finns.

Funny Mornings After Ryan Leaves for Work

Yes, Jake is singing "Dirty Old Town" (for all you Irish music lovers out there) and yes, he is wearing Sadie's pink tights as a "scarf". His neck was cold. Well, that is what he told me anyway.

The funniest part of this sequence was at the end when I asked Sadie what she thought of Jake's singing, (unfortunately, it was cutoff) she replied, "Dirty Old Town". Hmm..okay, yes, good answer, Sadie.

Fun weekend

While Ali toiled away working on her schoolwork, Grandpa and I took the kids down to Family Engineering Day at the National Building Museum this past Saturday. It was PACKED! They had all kinds of fun stuff, like guys climbing ropes, drag racers, fighting robots, bridge building and milk carton-balloon race car building.

Here they are in front of the drag racer (that's Sadie practicing her "smile"):
Saturday night we met the Bowers for pizza and ping pong. Here is Jake working his charms on Lily:Once again, the weekend consisted of only two days. Boo. Can't wait for the long weekend down at the lake!