Ada & Quentin

I am happy we made the decision to have me home with the kids. It is difficult -- patience, finances, isolation. All of these things make it difficult, but I have been reminded lately why it is worth it, or more, why I need to be grateful for it.  Just look at these faces.

I see her changing. It is hard when you are with someone everyday to notice the subtle changes, but this week I have noticed them.  She is growing, changing, moving on to the next big phase. 

The best part of it is her needing to feel secure while she moves through this transition. That she comes to me a dozen times a day and asks me for a hug, gives me a kiss or asks that I hold her. You betcha!


He is growing too. The endless eating, the independent play, the way he turns himself inside out when he wakes up first thing in the morning because he is just so stinkin' happy to see his mom, his dad and his sister.

And my favorite part -- the crazy way that the two of them together are developing the sweetest, safest and incredibly special relationship with each other. I know they will bicker, tattle and get on each others' nerves someday, but for now it's the highlight of my day listening to the two of them laugh out loud at each other. Love it.

 

Los Arboles

We went exploring the other night -- well, that sounds too exciting for what we actually did. I needed to get out of the house, and I wanted to see what Irene left in her path, so after some nudging Sam took me on a drive around our neighborhood.  

Down the street from us

These Japanese Maples did not fare well, but are among the few in our neighborhood that are still rooted in the ground.

Did the wind knock this off? A tree branch?

This house has been the talk of the town -- and not for a good reason. Simply heartbreaking.

The roots from the tree in the picture above. This neighborhood is on day 4 of no electricity, and they may not have any until Friday.

Another tree down on the campus of Union Presbyterian Seminary on Brook and Westwood

Whatever kind of tree this is, it did not withstand the strong winds of Irene. This house, located in a very wealthy and swank part of Richmond, had 3 of these trees planted in front. All 3 trees were uprooted and laying in their front yard and on their house.

Ada and I had to take a different route during our walk of the neighborhood Monday -- this tree was blocking our path.

Bryan Park

 I'll say it again.  We were beyond lucky.

Neighborhood clean up

All photos are posted on Facebook - here are a few of my favorites:

Our neighbors Tej and Bob with Sam.  I'm pretty sure they had a blast doing the clean up.

The storm was definitely scary, but exciting as well. None of us slept well Saturday night as we were certain a tree would land on our homes. Unfortunately half a tree landed on this beautiful house below, which the owners recently purchased and of course just poured time, labor and money into a new porch - looks like they have more work to do. 

My favorite story from the hurricane was hearing a friend complain about her "wasted, college neighbors standing naked in the street during the storm." There were a number of drunk-naked-hurricane stories going around Richmond Saturday. Crazy people.

Even the kids pitched in to help with the clean up efforts - they had fun, too.

With half the neighborhood without power, what else could we do but throw an impromptu hurricane block party with about 23 adults and roughly 10 kids, in addition to passers-by who decided to "join us for awhile."

We were clearly roughing it.

This was the 5th hurricane for our neighbor in the white tank

We started the week with a medium-sized earthquake and ended it with wild and crazy hurricane (with winds up to 71mph).  I have had enough excitement to last me for a long, long time. I think we should just stick with the block parties.

Quentin decided to get an ear infection which meant an emergency trip to the Pediatrician and pharmacy the morning of the Hurricane. We got home just in time for the awesome show to begin.

Home, where my music's playing...

It is here.  The post-visiting-home-funk.  

It sneaks up on me every time we return from Oregon.

It usually sets in about 1 day before we leave, actually.

There was no time for that this trip, what with the wedding, and prepping 2 kids for travel, and 4 connecting flights from Eugene to Richmond.  There was work to be done.

So, here it is. A week later. The funk has arrived.

Blech.

Fortunately there is this, 

and this,

to make the funk go away.

Conversations with Ada: Installment 3

Please note cut on her lip for the first day of camp.  Someone wanted to shave like her Daddy.  

Sam, "Ada, what did you do at school today?"

Ada, in the backseat of the car on their way home, "You talk for me, Dad. I'm tired."

Garbage can for Oscar the Grouch

 

Later that day.

Michele, "Ada, how was summer camp today? What did you do?"

Ada, "I can't talk, Mom."

Big Bird

Thankfully we have evidence of what she did this week.  

 Little stinker.

Welcome to the Hood, and 2 other posts

I am way behind on posts, so will apologize now for the 3 separate posts today...just thought I'd get them in before things get a little hectic around here. So - be sure to scroll down and peruse the 2 posts prior to this one, which chronicles our adventures in the kitchen and a trip to Maymont.

Sam and I went on a walk to the local school which has a playground open to the public. It's been an incredible Fall here; warm-ish days, but a super cool and satisfying breeze. The leaves are changing colors, and that combined with super old neighborhoods make living here this time of year just perfect.

The monument above (Richmond is apparently known as the "City of Monuments") is of Abrose Powell Hill, a confederate "lieutenant general" during the Civil War and native Virginian; Sam learned that he is the only person who was actually buried under their monument in the city. A.P. Hill's remains/monument are at the center of a round-about at the major intersection in our neighborhood.

Here are a few photos I took of our neighborhood, the "Rosedale" community to and from our walk to the playground...and it wouldn't be a fitting photo collection without a picture of Ada's awesome hair taken at our destination. It's very difficult to capture the beauty of the neighborhoods here with our little camera, but that just means you have to come and take a look at them yourself! Enjoy!






Our street


Our neighbors


Our house

Our kid and her glorious hair