A nice Saturday

After a week of health issues, a trip to the ER and a little cabin fever, Sam and I decided to take the kids on a little jaunt despite the thunder and rain that came to Richmond yesterday. We met a woman for a Craigslist find and then headed North to Fredericksburg, home to several Civil War battles (please tell me where in VA there wasn't a Civil War battle...) and The University of Mary Washington (please tell me where in VA there isn't a University...).

Sam immediately found the historic district in Fredericksburg, and we were lucky enough that the rain eased up, allowing us to peruse the various antique and specialty shops that this quaint part of town had to offer.

We first had to fuel up at the Capital Ale House, thumbing our noses at the newfound impatience that everyone seems to have with seeing children in a restaurant (I feel like everytime I read an article it is about how people don't think children belong in them -- we all have to eat, right?). We had a few high-pitched squeals from Quentin, but the kids were good and even provided us with a bit of entertainment.

We then enjoyed several unique and cozy bookstores,

Windowshopped,

Visited the best toy store in town,

Enjoyed a rootbeer milkshake and vanilla ice cream at Goolicks Pharmacy & Soda Shop, which they claim is the oldest soda shop in the country. Delicious!

And more than one of us enjoyed a cozy little nap. Forget the rain -- there is Oregon blood running through all of us, right?!

We've been busy

Playing in the mud



I successfully resisted the urge not to clean this mess up by reminding myself that every child should play in the mud



Making a "mud castle", because everything HAS to be a castle

Going to Fancy Nancy parties at fancy restaurants with fancy friends



This picture is my favorite and also makes me a bit sad, only because my tender-hearted girl is watching with great care, the bigger and older girls. What must she be thinking?

Working in our garden

Having picnics and playing at the park

"Ada, open your eyes so we can take the picture." Somehow this translates into a bigger smile



Someone got a real haircut and aged by about 6 months

Playing with good friends



Ada and her friend, Charlie who is soon to be a big brother

Sam has been grading, grading, grading, as usual -- but the lure of 80 degree weather has drawn him outside this spring break and he has spent most of the week digging in the dirt. This should be some fine garden we will have.

I have been busy, busy, busy with a new, exciting and fun project. I'll share more later in the coming week. Stay tuned!

We look forward to a weekend filled with more friends, a trip to Maymont to visit the animals and a birthday tea party to celebrate Ada's friend, Nixie Fae, who turns 5 next week. It should be crazy fun. We are sad to miss a birthday party for her Tucson friend, Ellen, who turns 4 tomorrow. These twirling-girlie-girls are growing up a tad too fast.

12 weeks today

Ada is pretending she has a baby in her belly, just like her Mom.

The difference is I that am not pretending.

We are learning that life is full of sweet, sweet surprises. Our next sweet surprise will be here on September 16th, give or take a few days.

Surprise!