Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

Today we journeyed out to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens (http://www.friendsofkenilworthgardens.org/explore).
It was a bit of an excursion to get there, due to construction giving our GPS a hard time and having to make a few detours in the ghetto of south DC.

Once we arrived, we made painful choice of taking the "scenic trail" down to the Anacostia River. We second guessed ourselves and should've realized a noon walk with a 3 year old wasn't the best idea. It wasn't exactly scenic, I was corralling Ceiba to the center of the trail as there was poison ivy EVERYWHERE and poor Chris had to play pack mule for 2/3 of the hike after Ceiba's shoes rubbed the side of her foot. But we made lemonade by singing songs while we hunted for snakes, enjoying nature and finding a dead click beetle who Ceiba carried around for 3 hours.

Chris and Ceiba played in the bookstore/museum for about 1/2 hour, while I got the luxury of taking a photo op walk through the ponds alone. There were lotus, lilies, turtles, fish, frogs and crabby Canada geese. When I returned to the trailhead, anticipating them in the car with a/c and a movie, I instead found them playing in the water and the seat of Ceiba's pants covered in goose poop. But what a HAPPY kid!

We grabbed lunch, skipped a nap and stopped at our favorite park to play in the creek on our way home.

Had to take a pic of my henna work from yesterday. Got creative while Ceiba napped by painting my right foot and left hand. Then last night, Chris painted a lotus on my back, and I continued the design on my hand up my wrist and arm. Think I'm hooked! The middle eastern waistress at lunch asked where I got it done and complemented when I said that I drew it. Hope that's a good sign!

 Got home and headed to the pool for 2 hours. Ceiba is now SWIMMING INDEPENDENTLY around the pool in her lifevest!! Hooray- our necks were getting tired! We barely got her out of the pool tonight.
Dinner and to bed - what a FULL and happy day!

Photo Catch-Up

Posting to catch-up for family on what's been going on:

GRADUATION: It was a rainy day, but a great day! So proud of our guy for the long road to get here!

GRANDMA & GRANDPA'S VISIT IN MAY: We had a nice week exploring DC (instead of on the beach in FL... darnit for the vacation, but not the post). Went to museums, out to eat and lots of parks.

Mt. Vernon- George & Martha Washington's home & estate

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum

Beach Shack & Ceiba showing Gpa the alligators

SWIMMING: we have been swimming almost every day!

 

 

MEMORIAL DAY PICNIC: Papa had to do a detail (ALL day and several more days), so Ceiba and I went to a picnic uptown. It was VERY hot, but she enjoyed the rides and playing.

 

FRIENDS: Ceiba's best buddy "A". They were in bed at Ikea a few weeks ago and now holding hands

at the mall... Papa is getting nervous. We are enjoying time with

his family until they leave for Africa next month.

Falls Church Farmer's Market / Bosch Mixer

For weeks, we have driven under a banner in town for the Falls Church Farmer's Market. And for as many weeks, I've said I'd get up on a Saturday to go. Well, finally yesterday we did!

Alas, no photos... bad me, sorry. We've been to many farmer's markets, and I must give credit to Madison WI for being the winner, though Portland, Soulard and Atlanta fare well too. Our old hometown also had Land of Goshen market all summer where we were regulars. Falls Church's market was small, but nice. It still takes a while to get used to the crazy prices out here, but fresh is fresh and buying local is good for everyone :) Our purchases included bing cherries, blueberries, squash, radishes and some spectacular honey.

Now just hoping our new Bosch mixer arrives this week to share in the baking festivities!!! I was planning on purchasing a new mixer when we arrived in Miami, but since we aren't going, went ahead and ordered from here last week. Some baker DS friends really pumped me up on the Bosch vs the KitchenAid, so I did my homework and even watched the videos online. Also bought the blender and food processor attachments, extra beaters, cookie paddles and a stainless bowl. Ouch to the purse, but excited for their arrival!! It's also 10 lbs lighter than the KitchenAid... and let's face it, every pound counts in this lifestyle. Let's just hope the pound savings on the appliances does not create pound additions to the derriere!

Cancun Envy

Our niece graduated from high school over the weekend. Hard to believe she's that old, especially since I can remember the day they wheeled her out of the delivery room with her round little pumpkin head in a sockboggen.
All 9 lbs, 1 ounce of her little chubbiness! Congrats kiddo!!, we're proud of you always!

To celebrate, a bunch of moms and daughters are heading to Cancun tomorrow for a week of fun on the beach! Wish you gals a WONDERFUL trip! Take lots of pics and do me proud with bartering for goodies!

To my brother-in-law, RELAX. Mexico isn't all scary. And Chris's got your back watching for news updates, which we do not expect to hear :)

We'll see you in IL in July to celebrate in the grad party festivities and hear all about your fun trip. XO

(below pics from our FUN 2006 trip)

 

Bear love

We were sitting at the table for lunch today. Chris was taking the whole tostida chips from his bowl and placing them into mine, while keeping the broken chips. I asked what he was doing.

Explanation:
                    "It's like when one bear brings another bear a salmon."

He smiled at me, and I exploded with the feeling of love.... and ABSOLUTE laughter for several minutes.

Yes, we were married when we were 10

What, we don't look old enough to be married 15 years? Gosh, thanks :)
Yah, you know... we were um 10 when we got married. I'd post a picture to prove it, but they're in storage.
So you'll just have to take our word for it.

When we were first married, I used to look at older couples and love the way they were so comfortable together. It didn't matter if they were in bathing suits that weren't flattering... in tank tops with arm "wings"... with wrinkles... spider veins... ear hair... and all. You could just look at them and see confidence, experience and contentment. Genuine happiness and real love.  They had been in the spotlight years before and were happy to be out of it, even happier for their children or someone they love to now be in the light. They sit back and enjoy memories, their loved ones and just life in general. They grow old together and don't even realize life is moving so fast, because the ride is so good.

Hopefully newlyweds will look at us down the road- with our arm wings, purple veins and ear hair- and think that real love is present.

I simply wouldn't want to imagine not having you beside me all the way...  Happy 15th Anniversary :)

FSI unaccompanied

I've been wanting to get over to FSI (Foreign Service Institute) since Chris got panelled for Dhaka. He is busy at work and would be hard to get off to escort me, so he forwarded me an email on the OBC (Overseas Briefing Center). The OBC has a nice area to research overseas posts and get good general info on moving, finances, taxes, legal, etc.  So I emailed them on Monday, got on the visitors list for today, packed up (a lunch, some snacks, toys, movie, and kiddo) and off we went.

Smooth as silk :) We got there easily, good parking, name on the list, through the metal detectors, our own "VISITOR" badge and then freedom to research on our own time. Ceiba was terrific, with the minor moment of playing "come get me" in the grass! Even managed to stop at the medical office to arrange the plethora of vaccinations we'll be needing prior to departure. Scheduled our 3 visits for rabies rounds and have plans for the rest. Not exactly a "wow, what fun!" thought, but nice to make progress and be prepared.

Four months to go and hoping to do what we can early to avoid being overwhelmed closer to departure.