A Day in DC

We spent a day at the National Book Festival on the Washington DC Mall.  (not that kind of mall).  You know where the museums and capital building are?  There were some great places to play and read for the kids. 

Jonathan in the PBS Tent

Dorathea and I ran through the Tent of States getting suveniers from each state's library.  

We relaxed and read between going to the Art Museum and the States Tent

We said Hello to Buddy;

Then we listened to a storytime and won a free stuffed pony.

 Then we went by the sculpture garden and had a picnic lunch.

On to the botanical gardens!

In front of the Botanical Gardens they had booths teaching kids where their food comes from.  They asked Dorathea what part of a plant is broccoli.  "The Bloom" she said.  "Wow" they said "Your the first one to get that right all day".  I don't think most of the kids who came to that booth had a farm in their backyard.  Our kids love to ask the farmers there questions, and the farmers are kind to stop what they are doing and talk with them.  

The Botanical Gardens are sooooo relaxing.  There is nothing like breathing in a roomful of orchids.

Jonathan was fast asleep by this time.  

We love Washington DC..What a great, and free, field trip!

- Allison

Friday @ Schoolhouse Fabrics

We had a lovely day a few Fridays ago with Shalene and Abagail. We beboped over to Schoolhouse Fabrics (an old school building with three floors of fabric) after exploring their adorable cabin.  I felt like a kid with this fun loving crew. Yay getting to go out and play with Abagail and Shalene!

Crowding around a gilded mirror at Schoolhouse Fabrics

All Around Our House

Here are a few sights from our home. Imagine the sounds as you look at the pictures.  Occasional rooster crows, cows mooing, dog barking, farmers talking to each other, and children pretending. 

I am having trouble getting a good photo of my beautiful home.  The battery from my good camera is still lost from the move.  While I am trying to find it, here are some photos of us in the new house yard.

Dinner on the back deck is lovely.  

Fairy path

and fairy making her own house by the back garden.

It's wonderful out here.  Come visit soon.  Its getting colder now so you can sit by the fire in the woodstove  while we visit :)

A Day at the National Zoo

We've been studying animals for science this year, so as treat we all went on a field trip to the National Zoo (with Grandmama!).

The seal exhibit was our favorite.  

Although Jonathan had just gotten stung by a bee.  Brave boy recovered quickly,

 Dorathea was intent on sketching the animals :)

  A lovely play fountain.  It turned into a little river of flowing water.

 Jonathan jumping off the rock after the flood.

 Silly boy.

 We didn't see the real pandas but Dorathea took a liking to the statues.

 Grandmama and Ted with Jonathan sketching in the background.

 My boy being a monkey to get ready for the Hall of Apes.

 And here is an ape,

 Orangutans seem so kind.

 A baby gorilla almost the same exact age as Jonathan.

We saw everything there was to see and  had an exhausting and wonderful time.  Thanks for coming with us Grandmama!

A day at the Taubman and Downtown Roanoke

We have decided to start taking a day off on Saturdays.  It's been a busy summer and Ted felt like we needed some time to just be.  So here is us being Keys on Saturday.  We went To Roanoke.  First stop La De Da;  Someone helped me try on dresses while someone else played with toys under the racks;

Dorathea picked out this outfit complete with flower herself.  When anyone complemented her she twirled and said, "We dress up to come to the city.  I'm from the country of Blacksburg!"

After some shopping on to the  fountain and some lunch

They each toted around their favorite stuffed animals, Prissy and Pepper;

This is our first big outing without a stroller, but we had no problems holding hands.

See poor loved, and abused Prissy 

Then onto the Taubman Museum which has a new wonderful Children's area.  Admission is free on Saturdays so we watched a puppet show, Dorathea created and built to her heart's content.

Then onto the exhibits, this one freaked Dorathea out, 

 Pondering which is her favorite

 A Norman Rockwell

 Mommies favorite

 With giant lunchbox

 Her furry friends

 At another shop

 Beautiful Mosaic.  

It was a breath of fresh air just piddling around all day.  Can't wait till next Saturday!