Decorations Are Not Toys....Or Are They?

A recurring conversation with mom:

Mommy, Chasey want the big brown pider (spider).

Oh, Chasey, that spider's not for playing with, it's a Halloween decoration.  

But, I want to pay (play) wif it.  

I understand, Chase, but we don't play with decorations; decorations are for looking at not, not for playing with.  

Ohhrrgg,  but whhhhyyyyy?  

Because if you play with with it, it might break and then we don't have a Halloween spider to decorate with anymore.  

But I wealllly want to pay wif it!  

I know, Chase, but it's not for playing with, it's for looking at- it's just a decoration. 
But whhhyyyy?

I just told you, it's a decoration, not a toy.  

But Chasey want to pay wif it.  

I know, Chase, but it's not for playing with, it's just for looking at.  

But whhhyyyy? 

Remember, it's a decoration, we don't play with decorations.  

But whhhyyy?  

Because they are not made to be played with and can break, then we won't have spider decoration for Halloween.  

But Chasey weallly want to pay wif it.

I know, but....

Yes, this conversation has happened over and over and over since Halloween.  It doesn't end until I lose my patience, tell him, "because I said so" at which point he breaks down crying.  Someday he'll understand that driving mom crazy isn't good for either of us.

Which is why there's dad.  Here's how the conversation goes with dad:

Dad, Chasey weallly want to pay wif the big Halloween pider.  

Okay.

Problem solved.  So, we now have a giant spider placed strategically around our house, depending on Chase's activity.  And don't even think about accidentally stepping on it or knocking it over or you will hear Chase shrill followed by an all-out meltdown about the spider being moved.  I guess it could be worse (right?). 

Life in Two Minute Increments

Having twins has its perks.  But it also has its drawbacks.  Apparently today is I-want-what-you-have day, as it has been filled with a series of tug-of-wars over certain toys.  All. Day. Long.  My solution?  The timer, set for two minutes and mandated sharing.  Why two minutes?  Because that’s about the maximum amount of time I can tolerate the crying and screaming that ensues when the desire to play with a toy overwhelms their senses.  That, and it’s just enough time for a three year old’s attention span to wear off.

And when the timer doesn’t work, time out does.  Which also lasts about two minutes.  And since most of our day seems to be comprised of timers and time outs, it’s being lived in increments of two minutes at a time.  And it keeps me from losing it...I can keep my cool through two minutes much easier than I can get through two hours.  Today is one of those days where trying to teach my kids patience and perspective reminds me to do the same.

Chaos in Motion

Yep, that's us. It's tax season, back to school, soccer season, starting preschool, Cub Scouts season, potty training (round 2), Poway Days celebrations, monthly group meetings, half marathon training, so on and so forth. Life in our house is anything but boring. Unless the power goes out in the ENTIRE SAN DIEGO COUNTY...then life comes to a screeching halt and we are left scrambling for simple things like batteries and light.

When we are running full steam, however, here are some of the things we've been up to.

BACK TO SCHOOL
This year Blake is in third grade and Garrett is in second. So far it's been a bit of a learning curve for all of us, as this marks the very first time Garrett hasn't followed in Blake's footsteps for teachers. Third grade has been a new experience with A HUGE jump in responsibility placed on the student and much higher expectations for his quality of work. Gone are the days of happy faces and stars...now it's all about the numbers. And, for me, it's all about learning to find peace with giving up control and having faith in my child. Ironic how watching my kids go through school reminds me about how much more I have to learn.

My sweet Blake is still willing to give me a "first day of school" smile.

Garrett seems to be adjusting better to second grade than years past. He's taking his work seriously...and taking his fun seriously too...a little too much for his own good. Garrett loves to be the life of the party and will do just about anything to be the funny guy...which often means not thinking things through before he does them. Let's just say he's earned himself a few conversations with adults and benched recesses to remind him about appropriate behavior at school. I shudder to think what college will do to him...Yes, I know, have faith in him!

Garrett, on the other hand, was thoroughly embarrassed of me taking pictures and wouldn't even look up.

KICKIN' BACK
Soccer season is in full swing. This is Garrett's first regular season and Blake's second. Garrett had begged for me to sign him up following the off-season, but once the regular season rolled around he begged me not to make him go. Another opportunity for a lesson in responsibility... And of course now he's loving it! He easily towers over the other first and second graders and isn't afraid to go after the ball. The combination gives him a big advantage. He's not the fastest or most coordinated kid out there, but he plays with all heart and is seeing success because of it. And he makes a pretty good goalie. Hopefully next week I'll remember to take pictures...

Since Blake's birthday is a little later, he's playing with several older kids. This is good for skills building and as long as he's having fun- which he is- it's all good. He still likes to give the ball a big boot when he can and plays the all-important role of "assisting" (he's usually quick to pass the ball). It's not his nature to be aggressive, and that's just fine with me. (One of the perks of being Team Parent is that OTHER people are taking pictures of your child while you are not).

Up next? Blake wants to "take a break from sports" (insert sigh of relief of less shuttling/toddlers napping at 6pm/rush to finish homework and eat dinner by 5pm/playground supervision/stuck at a school with locked bathrooms and toddlers who are potty training). Garrett, on the other hand, is anxious to try out basketball...so we won't be wasting any time with him between sports. I'll keep you posted on this adventure!

FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL
It's the milestone I've been waiting for...the twins' entry into preschool! I knew they would absolutely love it, and they have. Of course, this also required a greater emphasis on potty training, which, with four kids, can be challenging to say the least. Ella is pretty sufficient, but Chase still needs some work. Now that he's been seeing some success with it, though, he's finding more interest in it. I don't think it gets "easier" until they are totally training AND CAN HOLD IT. That will take a least a few more months.

The twins LOVE their teachers (who were also Blake and Garrett's teachers). They have thoroughly enjoyed exploring the classroom and playground, playing with new toys and in novel ways, and circle time with songs and books. They haven't quite embraced the opportunity to make friends, but that will come and it's interesting to note that they don't necessarily play together for most of the day.

The twins hardly looked up when I left. Yep, they were ready...they are officially "preschoolers"!

So, to answer the question I get at least once a day....YES, I am enjoying my new "kid-free" time, but the time I get is anything but free. I find myself cramming six hours of cleaning, errands, and appointments into my 2 hours of kid free time. Just as well...I'm not the kind of person to curl up with a book or spend hours at the coffee shop. It's a schedule I can work with and I no longer cringe at the thought of going to the store for just one thing.

And just in case you're wondering what they learn in preschool, here is Chase to give you a glimpse:


QUALITY TIME WITH GRANDMA
If she can't come to us, we will go to her!

We have been heading east on Friday's after school to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa and get in some good play-and-eat-to-your-heart's-content fun and relaxation. You would think that the twins would be well rested, but...

this is the aftermath of an afternoon with Grandma and Grandpa. A double treat for me- sharing kid time in the afternoon and coming home to have some quiet time.

Of course, if you want to be technical, the twins are also in the process of outgrowing naps. Some days they do just fine without a nap...and others, well, this speaks for itself!

SEA LIFE
The boys were treated with a day at San Diego's Maritime Museum and the Tall Ships Festival with Papa Jim and Nana Sharlene. Nothing like a couple of life-like pirates to keep them in line!

These are the kinds of outings the boys don't get much of these days without the twins in tow, so I am sure this was a welcomed changed of pace!

And, more the twins' speed, we spent a day with Papa and Nana at the Birch Aquarium looking at interesting sea life. This was a first for Chase & Ella and they especially enjoyed the tide pools (or at least thinking about touching some of the slimy sea stars and cucumbers). Chase has a thing for lobsters, which you are more likely to see at the grocery store than the aquarium, but he found a plastic one in the play area that he had a hard time parting with.

Until he found the shark mouth. The novelty was too much to resist and, consequently, there are several families out there who likely have a little Chase in their family picture!

The Summer We Went Dark

The goal was to simplify our lives where we can. So much of life around us feels more unpredictable by the day and the time, zooming by faster than ever. What else can we do but hunker down, focus on what's important and control what we can control to feel more secure? We didn't have to cancel the tv dish, but we decided it was worth the sacrifice with the monthly expense we would save. And I've maintained for a while that as dependent as I am sometimes on the "free babysitter", the tv seems to bring out the worst in the older kids. When they aren't fighting over what to watch, it's probably because they are watching something inappropriate. And the brand marketing in commercials is ridiculous. On a recent short road trip, for example, the kids were singing commercial jingles for Nationwide Insurance and Red Robin instead of nursery rhymes.

We made the decision with the idea that we could always sign back up if we felt the need to. But, really, we didn't have anything to lose. What I didn't expect, however, is how much we would gain.

I explained to the kids that we no longer had tv and braced myself for the backlash. Nothing. Not even a complaint...or whining...or endless questions challenging WHY the decision was made. Instead, the kids found other activities to occupy themselves. And not just that- they have been playing more cooperatively together, which is something I never would have predicted. They fashioned a pirate ship out of the picnic bench, had a treasure hunt, read books, built train tracks, raced matchbox cars and used their imaginations while they played with everything from their squirt guns to their plastic animals. And still no complaints. What's also amazing to me is that the house is SO MUCH QUIETER without the tv blaring in the background. And I can hear myself think...which means I have a lot more patience (which, believe me, is better for everybody). And time. For someone who never watched a lot of tv to begin with, I somehow find myself more productive during the day (and the kids have stepped up their chores- even asking to do extra!) and with more down time at night. I even had a conversation with Brian the other night without the constant distraction of pausing the tv. I can generally say that I feel more engaged with the people around me.

So the few dollars we are saving without the tv have bought something more valuable. More family time. And when it comes to simplifying, isn't spending more quality time with family what it's really all about?

Mommy's Helpers. Or Not.

I can finally say that having twins is getting a little easier. Sometimes. With their increasing age of 2 1/2 comes more opportunities for independence and autonomy. We get to teach our toddlers how to put clothes on...put their dishes in the sink...clean up their toys...brush their teeth...get up into their booster seats...and so on and so forth. There is no doubt that while this takes an initial investment of patience, I am paid back with valuable time and freedom to not have to meet every moment's need. So we want this; we encourage this; we need this.

And then I am quickly reminded that the twins' interest in learning isn't just to know how to be "mommy's helper". They are curious about a lot more than that. And while I've made no effort whatsoever to teach them these things, here are some of the other (they might argue valuable) skills they have managed to teach themselves:

*how to work the water dispenser on the refrigerator (let's just say I don't need to mop quite as often and there is always a towel handy)
*how to turn the outside hose ON (and somehow not understanding how to turn it off?)
*how to assemble- and more importantly- DISassmble sippy cups
*how to unlock and open the back sliding glass door (gaining unlimited access to the back yard when ever they want)
*how to work the volume control on the tv (great for getting mommy's attention when I'm otherwise occupied)
*how to open the inside door to the garage (which gives them access to all their "stored" toys...for which they have no interest in trading out)
*how to undo the child lock for the pantry (at least they lock it back up when they're done)
*that the step stool is portable...making a whole other level of things within reach (and that any box or bucket turned upside down can be used as an adequate substitute)

If I can look past the messes, the frustration and relinquishing some control (quite a challenge for a self-professed Type A), then I can appreciate the wonder and amazement of their little minds in discovering the world around them, and the self confidence they build when they learn a new "skill". Even if that means they are giving themselves mud baths...right after I've given them a real one.

Happy Mother's Day to the Moms of the world...you make the world a better place!

Our Beloved Sequoia

I remember the day we brought her home because it was Cinco de Mayo. We had gone to the humane society to look at puppies to see if we might want to adopt one. They had two puppies that day, but I don't remember anything about the other one, since we were immediately taken with Sequoia. She was a beautiful Shepard mix with a lot of energy. I knew I wanted a large enough dog for protection but one that was also good natured enough to be part of our family. I know now that there couldn't have been a better dog. We took her home that day, and she captured the hearts of everyone.

This is my all-time personal favorite puppy picture of her...it just reminds me of a school portrait.

Even a cat person couldn't resist this face.

Sequoia was a rare combination of fierce protector and loving and tolerant "child". She would scare any stranger away with her ferocious bark, but if she knew you, she might just lick your toes raw. She would often follow us around the house and nudge her wet nose under our hand when she was looking for affection. And when we started having kids, her maternal instincts kicked in. It was common for her to leave her beloved tennis balls in the bassinet or bury her special dog treats in their beds and shoes. She often took it upon herself to "clean" the babies, leaving them with some very interesting hair styles. She tolerated the tail pulling, the ear tugging and the general tortuous play by the kids. She was dressed up, tucked in and ridden once or twice. And despite all that, she always wanted to be close to the kids (sometimes too close) and her family and just be part of the pack. Besides, she made up for it by stealing their food when they weren't looking, knocking down their prized block towers and standing in front of the tv without budging. Still, every night Sequoia would make the rounds once or twice around the house, in and out of each bed room, to make sure everyone was safe and secure.

What ever the kids were doing (like playing "nap time") she was in the middle of it.

Sequoia loved to cuddle up next to you on the couch...or take up the whole thing leaving you no choice but to sit on the floor.

Garrett and Sequoia had a special connection. He would often tuck her in his bed or lay next to her and read to her. He loves all animals, but especially Sequoia.

This is Sequoia and Blake as a baby, but it could have been any one of our children; she loved them all.


It was impossible not to love her. She was graceful, yet strong, protective, yet gentle...she was a very special dog and will be missed tremendously. Which is why I feel overwhelming gratitude that she went quickly, that we did everything we could to ease her pain, and that we had a chance to say our good-byes. Her gift to us will be in our hearts forever and we feel blessed to have had her for a pet. I have a profound sense of both sadness and gratitude- and yet, I wouldn't have changed a thing...not even the boys' first lesson in the cycle of life, the heartbreak of love and faith that will heal. Thanks for being such a wonderful member of our family, Sequoia. May your days in Heaven be filled with endless tennis balls to fetch and an abundance of dog treats to munch on. We love you.

Mom: 0, Twins: 1?

But it's only half time. I'm not worried...or at least not yet.

This is one of those times when previous parenting experience has been put to good use. It's hard to believe that the twins are old enough, but we decided to take the leap from cribs to toddler beds since it was evident that the cribs' days were numbered. Being the conscientious parents that we are, we wanted to make the transition before there was an injury. It was still a tough decision, though, not because I don't want to let go of their "babyness", but because my prior knowledge of this milestone tells me that the bed time routine becomes a major challenge, at least in the beginning. And twice as hard (at least) with twins.

After taking them shopping for their new pillows, I had the brilliant plan to introduce the "big kid" beds for their morning nap first.

Come see your new and improved "big kid" room!

Ella had been begging me so sleep in her "big girl" bed for weeks...

...do you think she likes it?

Chase was a little less sure...

...but eventually warmed up to the idea.

I knew there would be a period of novelty that would have to run its course. And I knew it was a bit of a gamble, since things are much more enticing when you can see them in daylight. But I also knew that had we waited until night time, we would run the risk of being up half the night playing the new "back to bed" game. So, how'd it go? Here's the play-by-play.

~5 minutes: until the twins realized they could stand at the window and look outside
~15 minutes: the time it took the monkeys to start jumping on their beds
~25 minutes: the point at which they opened the bedroom door....the first time (of many)
~30 minutes: the party was really getting started
~45 minutes: they played "light on", "light off" Ella just couldn't help herself
~1 hour: when they decided it would be fun to climb INTO the crib we left in the room (just in case)

~1 hour 5 min: when they decided to trade beds


~1 hr 20 min: ahhhh, quiet play and some silence....maybe a nap?
~1 hr 30 min: no such luck- Ella had things to do when she remembered she could go through the drawers to her heart's content
~1 hr 35 min: don't forget going through the closet
~1 hr 40 min: delirium starts to set in...intermittent laughing, crying as they roll around on the floor (and over each other)
~1 hr 50 min: settling down again...THIS time maybe some sleep?
~2 hrs 5 min: wishful thinking...delirium keeps them awake and busy making animal noises, playing and Chase stands watch opening and closing the door while Ella continues to explore the drawers
~2 hrs 40 min: game over (it's all part of my strategy)

Okay, so they never slept. And, yes, they will be cranky and difficult at times because of it, but I'm looking at the bright side...I didn't lose any sleep! At least not yet. And even better? They will be plenty exhausted for an early bed time tonight.

At least that's what I thought. That was until I discovered that Chase finally gave in shortly after I surrendered and fell fast asleep on the floor.

Twins:1, Mom:0? Maybe we should just call this round a tie... Game on!

A Penny for Your Thoughts, A Nickel For Your Dreams...and A Quarter For Your Complaints!

It happens every year. We get so busy, so caught up in the holiday frenzy, that the time inevitably flies by and before we know it another season has come and gone. One of our resolutions each year is to try to s-l-o-w this down and provide more meaning to the holidays and create more memories as a family. So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving and giving thanks, we have started two new traditions in the Wilcox house this year.

The Thanksgiving Tree
Following a brief family meeting and discussion about how truly lucky and blessed we are, each person wrote down a few of the things for which they are most grateful. I knew I was running the risk of Garrett listing his Legos among his most cherished possessions, but I was quite surprised (and proud) to see that the boys really "got it". Here is what they wrote:

"I am thankful for my family, my friends, my home and food and water." (Blake)
"I am thankful for my crasce (crazy) famy and my coock (kookie) frends too. Thanks God for the things that I have. Thanck you God for my bruthrs and sitstr and my mom and dad." (Garrett)

And I am thankful for my practical child...and my colorful one. And my loving and dedicated husband and father to our children, my sweet and delicious babies, the warmth, security and love that fill my home, and many, many more blessings...and all the wonderful and curious packages in which they come.

The Complaint Jar
And if the Thanksgiving Tree doesn't remind us to appreciate how blessed we are, then maybe just plain giving will. The idea is that for each and every complaint from ANY member of the household- adults included- a deposit of $.25 must be made into the family Complaint Jar. With every deposit comes a gentle reminder that we have little to complain about (ie "some people have to dig their dinner out of the trash, so we are very fortunate to have hot, nutritious food- even if it's not what you wanted for dinner"). As Christmas approaches, the intention is to give the jar to a family who is less fortunate. The boys liked this idea so much that they have even made some voluntary contributions just because! And, yes, I've had to make a few deposits myself. This simple jar is proving to be a very powerful reminder of gratitude and generosity for all of us. And we are really looking forward to finding a family to give our "gift" to!

I was hopeful that the kids would come away from these experiences with a more meaningful definition of Thanksgiving and giving thanks, but I wasn't expecting that the real blessing for me would be to see my kids express genuine gratitude for what's truly important and self-less generosity because they know it's the right thing to do. You can't ask for much more than that as a parent. And now I have another thing for which to be grateful.

Capturing the Moment

Family pictures are kind of a big deal around here. Mainly because we had never attempted to do them before...with ALL six of us. Until now. And while I had my fingers crossed for good weather, restful naps, and stain free clothes, I knew that most of it was out of my hands. At best, we were hoping for one or two good family shots with the majority of us looking at the camera and a few more of the kids to capture their personalities. Anything more than that was icing on the cake...

Good thing our photographer was flexible and pretty quick. And had the foresight to do family pictures at the (dry) park first and foremost. Although I knew sand would be involved with a beach shoot, I was really hoping water would just be the background. Wishful thinking. So...I could have either chased my kids around, yelling at them and demanding they smile...or we could truly capture their personalities and let them be themselves. In the end, water and wet sand was a small price to pay for some fun, great pictures. EVEN IF the kids weren't striking their best Gap Kids pose and smiling at the camera... 'cuz, let's face it, that's just not REAL life.

A special thanks to our photographer, Shawn Kennedy:

The DC Adventure 2010

The opportunity to travel to Washington DC and Virginia recently came about as Brian was asked to stand up for a childhood friend at his wedding. And while the timing wasn't great (it is still fall tax season), we thought it would be a great opportunity to bring the older boys- and Brian- across the country and give them a chance to see some of our country's history first hand.

UP, UP AND AWAY
The adventure started in San Diego, however, since it was the boys' first time on an airplane. Blake was excited, as we expected, but Garrett...not so much. He insists he's afraid of heights (not sure where that comes from), but the good news is that he had plenty of time to get used to flying. It took three separate flights and one plane change to get from San Diego to DC and now he's a traveling pro. And no fighting over the window seat!

(This actually is a picture of our plane that Grandpa took upon our return)

RECALCULATING...
The DC portion of our trip (notice I use the word "trip" and not "vacation" since there is one distinct differentiating factor- kids) started with us picking up our rental car. Brian and the boys were giddy with excitement about driving something "cool". After declining the fully loaded Jeep Commander due to the overpowering stench of smoke mixed with WAY too much pungent air freshener, we settled with a Ford Flex. Something fun and different.

After that slight setback we were on the road. Just not the right road. We had the forethought to bring along a GPS for our trip. It was a great idea, but an even better one would have been to clear all the settings, but it only took us a couple days of getting lost to realize this. We quickly discovered, however, that it was no match for the tangled web of freeways, highways and surface streets that intertwine throughout the DC/Virginia area. Tired and weary from traveling, Brian and I were not exactly humored by the frustration of driving in circles and passing our destination...several times. (One of our first discoveries about DC was that just because you can SEE it doesn't mean it's easy to get to.) The boys, however, were thoroughly entertained by the GPS voice who, very calmly and kindly informed us in her British accent that she was "recalculating" due to a wrong turn...over and over again. It gets old, trust me. From that point on, any moments of being lost or going the wrong way were easily explained by our "recalculating". At least we were creating memories.

PIZZA PARTY
Due to extensive "recalculating", by the time we got to our hotel it was approaching 11pm and we hadn't had dinner. Of course the logical solution- since there was NO way we were getting in the car to drive anywhere- was to order pizza and have an in-room pizza party. It was a perfect way to end a long first day of our DC adventure.

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES
The boys experienced their first taxi ride followed by a train ride on the Metro. It was fun to see the amazement on their faces as we descended into the tunnels and saw the illuminated train tracks. As we boarded the Metro and grabbed a pole, it wasn't long before the boys experienced the learning curve of having to hold on (which doesn't lend itself well to swinging on the poles).

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY...
We knew there was a chance of rain, we even knew there was a low pressure storm. I brought a hooded jacket just in case. We were expecting light showers...not a tropical storm. Needless to say, our first ridiculously expensive souvenir purchases were two (then later a third) overpriced umbrellas. We were armed and ready for our adventure but then....

...as we excitedly made our way to the Smithsonian, we were greeted by a downpour of rain like I've never seen before. DC got the same amount of rain in this particular day that we get ALL SEASON LONG in San Diego. And we were happy to have the umbrellas...but they were no match for the gusts of wind that effortlessly blew them inside out. So we embraced the rain as part of our adventure and made our way to the museum anyway.

SEEING THE SIGHTS
We spent most of our morning at the National Museum of Natural History. We checked out the dinosaur exhibit and spent time a lot of time looking at rocks, minerals, volcanoes and gems. The boys seemed to enjoy it, but I don't think there were able to truly appreciate how spectacular the things they were seeing really were- like the Hope Diamond. I'm pretty sure we spent an equal amount of time shopping in gift stores for souvenirs as we did seeing exhibits (no doubt that Garrett was REALLY hoping ONE of them sold Legos). No such luck.

This one's for Chase, whose favorite dinosaur is a ta-ta-tops (Triceratops).

The volcano simulator was a highlight for my want-to-be geologist.

After making our way through the museum, we headed for the Capitol. Once again in the pouring rain.

Another example of the enormity of the statues.

We had scheduled a tour of the Capitol through our congressman and arrived in plenty of time....at the Capitol (which, after checking our paperwork, we realized was NOT the meeting place for the tour...recalculating). As we made our way across the back of the Capitol I was humored by the line of idling black SUV's and Cadillacs- I thought that was just in the movies!

And it's not everyday that you see men with machine guns standing guard. I've never been through so much security in my life (four times over of emptying kids' pockets, taking off belts and jackets, our new umbrellas, phones, cameras, etc) but it was for our own safety, too. Brian and I found the guided tour of the Capitol pretty interesting...but the boys were quickly growing tired of being told to be quiet, not run and not to touch anything. They hung in there, though, and hopefully came away with a little more knowledge about the beginnings of our different branches of government.

Garrett looking up at the rotunda of the Capitol building...

...and this is what he was looking at. The architecture alone is mind-blowing.

This starburst marks the point from which all of DC is centered. In every imaginable direction.

We braved the rain once again to make our way from the Capitol to the Washington Monument and the Mall. It was during this journey that Garrett pointed out that the top of the monument looks like the face of a gorilla- the two windows being the nostrils and the blinking red lights being the eyes. Once you see it, it's impossible not to; I will never look at it the same again.

One breathtaking moment was standing at the base of the monument and seeing the 360 degree view of some of our country's most historically significant and powerful landmarks: the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument towering above and disappearing in to the sky, and part of the White House. So much history there...

Garrett was most excited to see the Lincoln Memorial (although by this time we walked all day in wet shoes, socks and clothes and the excitement was waning quickly). One of the other things I noticed about DC (in addition to everything being deceptively far away) was that, conversely, everything up close was much larger and more grandiose than I had ever imagined...no coincidence I'm sure due to the powerful historical nature of what you see. It's hard to not be mesmerized by such extraordinary examples of GOOD and POSITIVE. We took a few moments on the stairs to "reflect" on our adventure and what history we could with two tired little boys.

Blake taking it in.

So many kind strangers offered to take family photos of us.

As we exited, we made our way past the Vietnam Wall Memorial. There is something so personal and tangible and so profoundly humbling about seeing the actual names of soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice.

From there, we walked a few extra blocks (unbeknownst to the the boys who were begging to go back to the hotel) to stand at the White House fence and see it with our own eyes.

Unfortunately the boys were too exhausted to appreciate it as evidenced by Garrett's Lego withdrawls and Blake's tired-induced trance where he would wander off and voices calling him back didn't seem to register. The logical solution was to catch a taxi to the Metro but there was one problem...being taxi novices we were hesitant to flag one down because there was NO bike lane, NO emergency lane and NO WHERE for a taxi to pull over to stop- which means we would have to hop in mid-street and mid-traffic...all four of us. I asked the first person we saw- which Brian later informed me was Secret Service- about hailing a cab and it turns out that's how they roll. So we hailed ourselves a taxi back to the Metro and ate dinner at Five Guys (the East coast version of In-N-Out). At dinner I took a few minutes to update my running list of the things we did and saw so that I didn't forget anything and upon seeing my list Garrett remarked, "...you should add 'going to the store to get Lego's' next". Suffice it to say that despite hitting up every gift store we could find, there was not a Lego in sight.

THE DC/VIRGINIA ADVENTURE CONTINUES
On our way out of the city the next morning, we stopped to see Iwo Jima. What struck me most about Iwo Jima is that like most of the statues and monuments in DC, the statue is enormous. You can see that life-size people pale in comparison as the Marines prepare to change out the flag.

It's located in a beautiful park with breathtaking views through the fall trees of the Potomac, the Washington Monument, the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial in the distance.

And as we meandered around the memorial is was impossible not to hear the lone crow cawing over the hum of distant traffic. But it was Garrett who identified it, perched atop the flagpole, and suggested that the bird was saying its Pledge of Allegiance. Leave it to Garrett and his unique perspective of the world to find something so obscure yet so obvious.

THE WONDER OF WASHINGTON
The man, not the city. One of the highlights for me was touring Mt. Vernon- the estate of George Washington.

Garrett gave himself the abbreviated tour in hopes that he could avoid the actual one...

We opted for the National Treasure Tour (based on the movie) which we were hoping would make it a little more relevant to the boys who were becoming less and less interested in sightseeing. Wishful thinking.

Here is the entrance to the basement, which was part of the movie. We did tour the basement, but pictures weren't allowed. Still, it was fascinating to see the architecture from the inside out. Come to find out, however, that there is no "secret tunnel". At least none that we got to tour.

We did, however, see the ice house, which in the movie served as access to the tunnel.

George Washington was a fascinating and brilliant man in his own right and his estate only amplifies that. It's hard to comprehend walking in his footsteps and seeing what he saw. Brian and I walked away with the sense that while life was unquestionably harder in so many ways, it is ironic that in other ways life seemed so simple, free of modern day inundation of technology and information and people were forced to act with intention...and kids depended on their imaginations and home-made toys to occupy their attention. We could learn a lot from history, if not that.

It turns out that George Washington didn't have any kids of his own, but cared for his wife's grandchildren from her first marriage whose own parents succumbed to disease- commonplace in those times.

NEXT STOP: LEESBURGE, VA
After Mt. Vernon, we found our way to and settled in to our next hotel in the suburbs of Virginia as Brian dashed off to attend the rehearsal dinner. The boys and I had dinner in the hotel restaurant...which was an adventure in and of itself. Let's just say fine dining and kids don't go together. Especially tired kids. And a tired mom. It involved a table cloth, water served in goblets and no kids menu. Let's just leave it at that.

B.W. (Before the Wedding)
After recalculating several more times to find a place to eat breakfast the next morning (I was far too exhausted to repeat our fine dining experience), we were off to take care of some groomsman details. Like picking up the tux...in the CORRECT size. Little did we know that this would produce 20 minutes of non-stop, strut-your-best-moves dancing in the 5-way mirrors at Men's Warehouse for the boys. Fortunately, they were nice enough to humor us and the boys had a blast working off two days of constant walking or sitting and being told to settle down. They needed that.

The day got only better for me as Brian and the boys dropped me off for a birthday massage while they shopped the local Wegman's. I've never seen anything like this store..it's a grocery store/food court/coffee shop with a band/farmer's market on steroids- and that was just the first floor! I guess that's what they do in the winter when spending time outside isn't really an option. I have to say, I am quite taken with Virginia...it's just so quaint, with expansive rolling hills and patches of tall, dense trees, surprise springs and streams, and charming architecture. And not one billboard along the highway, not one. You just feel like you can really breathe.

On the way to the wedding, I tried to enjoy the scenic countryside where wineries, farms and fields lined the street...but for the whining and complaining coming from the back seat. After several days of asking nicely, politely reminding and then demanding that they stop, I had to resort to more drastic measures...something that would mean something to them. So I charged a nickel for every complaint and every whine I heard. After surrendering his prized half dollar and new addition to his coin collection, Garrett got the picture. I may have to permanently adopt this new policy (and yes, I did give it back to him the next day).

MAKE THAT TWO- ONE FOR MY FRIEND
The wedding was at a hilltop vineyard at sunset and was absolutely beautiful.

The boys even sat through (most of) it quietly. And despite being disgruntled about having to eat gourmet food, they couldn't wait for the dancing to begin. It didn't take long for them to find the only other little kid at the wedding- a 5yr old girl named Samantha. The three of them vacillated between an intense game of tag and trying to out-dance each other.

Garrett was smitten. Having worked up quite a sweat dancing outside (despite temperatures in the 50's) Garrett asked for some water to quench his thirst. As I went inside to get it he quickly followed me yelling, "make it two- one for my friend!". Then they sat side by side on the step, Garrett offering Samantha a blanket for warmth, and sipped their waters. For about a minute, then back to dancing.

Needless to say, they had a blast. And Garrett claims to have a new girlfriend. I think it might actually be a good thing that they live across the country, since I'm just not ready for that stage yet.

But hopefully one day he'll be as lucky as we are.

ODDS AND ENDS
We had a great time on the trip, despite not finding the time to see everything we had hoped (and spending enough time absorbing and digesting the things we did see). The good news is that we have plenty to see the next time.

And all was not lost on the boys. Garrett came to the conclusion all on his own that George Washington is the only president on two currencies...and that Benjamin Franklin is one of the only people on printed money who never was a president. Pretty perceptive. And Blake recalled a story he learned in school about George Washington and how his love of dogs may have ultimately helped in getting his adversaries to surrender.

AND...BACK TO REALITY
Life didn't skip a beat upon our return home. There was the post-trip unpacking and umpteen loads of laundry, 5am "mama" wake up calls, backpacks to pack for school and the waking up to kid vomit (from a kid who was SO tired that he didn't even wake up when it happened). And consequently more laundry. A HUGE thanks to Renee for being the pseudo-mom to the twins while the rest of us were traveling. It's a big job and she really is the next-best thing to a mom to our kids. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! And, now we've made our own history....since we'll always have DC.