January Birthday Trip

Well, I am finally getting around to back-blogging the beginning of the year.  It was fun to go through the pictures and try to remember just why I had taken them!  For this entry, I go back to January - the weekend of Byron's 40th birthday party.  Byron's birthday fell on a Saturday and I really wanted to throw a huge surprise party - complete with black balloons, coffin with things he lost from his youth (i.e., his hair, size 32 pants, etc.).  However, as it got closer, Byron (who knew what I was working on, if not the actual details) begged me to just take him out of town on a get away.  We haven't gone on a couples trip for years and years and years.  So, I started researching and found that most places were completely outside my budget.  Either we had the money to get there, possibly for a decent hotel, then we couldn't do anything.  Also, being January, most of the outdoor adventures were not looking to be too fun - us not being the snow bunny types and all.  Finally, I found one of those last-minute trip deals ... to Washington D.C.  I love D.C., Byron hadn't been there since going with his family to pick up his older brother from his mission and was also interested in to going.  To make it certain, I had just read Dan Brown's Lost Symbol and was dying to go back and compare the landmarks from the book.  So, I booked the trip.  The hotel + airfare + incidentals when we got there (food, transportation, etc.) all came in under $500!
Getting ready for the trip, I realized that we didn't have the right kind of cold-weather apparel (we were expecting daytime temps in the 30s).  Our good friends the Bushlings came to the rescue (they ARE the snow bunny type and actually go snowboarding, etc.).  Here is Byron all bundled and ready to go ... with a coat that would make him hard to lose in a crowd!

The real joke was that by the time we got there, two days later, the temps were actually in the high 50s and we ended up carrying our coats and just wearing sweatshirts.  We didn't want to take any luggage because we were going to be hoofing it, so we stuffed everything we would need into two backpacks ... ouch!  Included with the necessities of life, we took Byron's textbook and notebook (homework assignments due the day we got back) - which were not fun to carry, but made the interminable wait at the airport go a bit faster.  Here is proof that Byron does actually study (in case you might have been led to believe that he does not):

Once the pesky assignment was done (or as much as could be slogged through), we decided to get a picture.  We didn't want to bother anyone, so we tried the self-portrait thing.  This is the best of the lot:

We got to DC about 6am and took the transit bus to the downtown area.  We had to wait until noon to check into the hotel, but many of the museums were already open.  We walked around the mall, listening to the Lost Symbol on my i-pod (Byron started it on the airplane).  We started in the Smithsonian Castle which, for some reason, I had never been into.  We decided that if we had lots of money that we didn't know what to do with we would build one too (ha ha).  Seriously, it is a beautiful building and I am glad to have taken the time to see it.

We spent the day following the book to various sites and looking in at museums between tours that I had arranged by writing to my Senator's office.  We got a tour of the capitol building and the libary of congress. 

The capitol building tour was amazing.  We got to go through the tunnels under the street and into various rooms.  Our tour guide wasn't very knowledgable (she was a brand new intern), but we managed to glean lots of  information which made it fun for me.

Additionally, listening to the book made it even more fun as well searched for the artwork and mason symbols that were inevitably there (although perhaps not for the reason they exist in the book). 

We opted to skip the library tour and spent lots of time poking about it on our own.  I loved the murals that were absolutely everywhere.  We even found one of Byron (this one was at least modestly dressed). 

I especially liked the sayings above the doors into various rooms.  My favorite was "They are never alone that are accompanied with noble thoughts"

When we checked into the hotel room (2 blocks from the White House) we discovered just how great a deal we had gotten.  This room was beyond fabulous - the decor was lovely and the bed was so incredibly comfortable with down comforters and real down pillows (lots and lots of pillows).  We used a Subway gift card left over from Christmas for dinner and went to the buffet for breakfast the next morning.  I have seen many hotel buffets ... this was a gourmet buffet complete with a manned omlet station, waffle station, fruits and breads with international names, etc.  We made a very very very good breakfast and headed out to sightsee some more.  This building was Byron's favorite (I think it might have been part of the IRS)

This was mine ... part of an old hotel, but we couldn't decide what it was now. 

We wanted to tour the White House, but you have to register for that tour at least 30 days in advance, so we couldn't.  However, just accross the street, a new museum dedicated to the history of the White House was open.  We spent hours there!  It was full of details of the running of the house and its history - not just the presidential families that have stayed there.  It has become one of my favorite places to visit!

We also headed to the American History museum where a concert was being held to ramp up to the Martin Luther King memorial services to be held on Monday (we couldnt get anywhere near the Lincoln Memorial).  American History has always been one of my favorite museums and this time was no exception.  I dragged Byron over all three floors of it (he was still listening to the book).  I had never remembere seeing the greek statue of George Washington, which is mentioned in the book, and it was fun finding it here. 

We also spent considerable time at the Natural History museum which had some fascinating exhibits that were in keeping with the radiology and imaging class that Byron was taking.  We wrapped up the day with the Holocaust museum. 

By this time we were very tired and more than ready to stop walking.  My backpack felt like it had rocks in it.  We took a bus back to the airport (Byron fell in love with the little shuttles that take you from terminal to terminal - he decided they were his new dream car).  We made it back to the west coast, found our car right where we had left it and drove home.  Ultimately, we had a great time, but decided that we are getting too old for that kind of no-sleep adventure.  Happy 40th birthday Byron!  Happy Birthday to me too ... and Happy anniversary, all in one!

No training wheels for Josh!

It has been so neat to live in a place where there are sidewalks - and a quiet place where the kids can ride bikes and play.  Since the evenings have been so mild, we have been out every evening either at the park or riding bikes.  We got Josh a bigger bike and a little one for Ginny.  Ben took over the little bike that cousin Spencer outgrew several years ago.  Luckily, the kids are still small enough that bikes are very inexpensive ...

Anyway, by this point, little Ginny has gotten the hang of pedaling and has begun to try steering.  She turned so sharply that she managed to tip over twice tonight ... that is an accomplishment give the stabilizing effect of the training wheels.  Ben coasted very slowly into a car several days ago and thereafter refused to even look at his bike.  I finally bribed him back on the bike and after a day or two was careening all over the place again.  He steers well and is trying to match Robert and Josh for speed - a difficult task give that his wheels are several inches smaller than the other bikes.

Tonight, Josh told Daddy that he wanted the training wheels taken off.  Byron took them off, fully expecting to have to put them back on after a very little while.  Surprisingly, Joshua took to the bike with a determination I have not seen in him before.  He fell many times - and even got a nice little scrape once.  Every time, he got right back up to try again.  I pulled Daddy off after a little while (he would keep going to hold Josh up) and not 10 minutes later, Josh was off on his own!  To be sure, he is fairly wobbly and tends to put his feet down rather than use his brake, but he starts and rides all on his own!  I really wish I had my camera with me - Joshua's smile was so big and so beautiful!

Ben now wants his training wheels removed ...

T-ball ... and Mr. Mom

I have soooo many events to "back-blog!"  I will get there ... someday.  I just couldn't let tonight pass without jotting down our incredibly unusual evening.

Today was Joshua's very first T-ball practice ever.  I can't believe I forgot to bring the camera! It was the funniest hour I have spent in a very long time.  Joshua has never ever ever ever played any sport and he was so excited!  We were given two gloves and a batting helmet from a friend who children have outgrown them - they are practically new!  Ben and Josh had a great time with them when they first arrived - not a whole lot of catching happening though and they were soon put away.  At any rate, I was glad to see that Josh wasn't the only kid who had never seen a baseball before.

The coach (a very brave man) started them out by pairing them up to play catch with eachother.  That was hilarious!  The few who were able to throw to their partner generally threw with a bit too much force.  Joshua was generally a foot or two to the left or right and he would hold his glove up to his shoulder and reach out his ungloved hand to catch the ball (I should mention that he has a tendency to put his glove on his right hand too).  Next, the coach lined them all in a line and threw to each of them in turn - having the child throw the ball back when he (or she) got it.  First the coach had to get the kids to spread out because they all stood shoulder-to-shoulder.  When he got them strung out a bit, he threw to the first kid in line and, like magic, the entire line closed up again.  When it was Joshua's turn, he again kept trying to catch the ball with his hand rather than the glove.  The coach was throwing them grounders and he kept telling the kids to "get their gloves down" to trap the ball.  Excited to follow a direction he finally understood, Joshua immediately stripped off his glove and dropped it at his feet.  He finally got the idea and caught two of the balls.  The next exercise was for the kids to catch a ball at second base and immediately throw it to first where another kid stood "ready" to catch it.  There are a couple of kids with some very good arms and I made a mental note to park farther away from the field next time ... just in case.  When it was Joshua's turn, he forgot about his glove again.  Also, the coach wanted him to stand ready and told him to crouch down - which Joshua did with his feet close together and his arms folded.  The coach told Joshua to spread his feet apart - which he did finally and then put his hands on his knees.  I just shook my head, it was sooooo funny!  Joshua finally got the stance and then the coach threw the ball and it was not on target.  Joshua just looked at it for a moment before deciding to chase it down.  Then he ran almost all the way to the first base player before he threw it over her head.  I had trouble staying on the bench - I was laughing so hard.  The coach told him it was a good try and Joshua went to the back of the line with biggest smile!  When he was next up he seemed to retain a little bit of the instruction and by the third and fourth rotation he was getting the ball to first ... still not really using the glove though.  The last exercise involved the bat.  The coach spread the kids out all over the field and selected them, one at a time, to hit the ball from the tee to the team who were to then catch it and throw it to first.  There were many kids who couldn't hit the ball, but Joshua was not one of them.  He hit it every time - catching mostly the top of it so as to make it a driving grounder.  Still, not bad for his first time.  I guess all that hitting his brother and sister has paid off - who knew?!?  When he was in the field, he got the idea to run to the ball almost immediately - they all did.  As soon as the ball left the tee, the whole field would zero in on the ball - generally resulting in a kind of pile up.  Josh thought this was great fun and, since he is pretty quick, he would often get to the ball second and just tackle the poor kid who got there first.  One dad called out that we weren't there to play football - which just confused the kids.I asked how long the practices generally go for, and was told that they were supposed to practice for 90 minutes, but generally based the time upon the kids' ability to actively listen to the coach.  I was amazed - I was tired after 15 mintues.  Remind me never to coach little league!

That brings me to Mr. Mom.  Poor Byron!  He had a very tiring day that, thankfully got done early and he offered to stay at home with the other kids while I took Josh to practice.  I told him he would probably have a more restful time at the practice than getting climbed on at home, but he wasn't feeling very well (fighting off a cold) and decided that he would rather not be outside or having to socialize.  What a horrible decision!  I had only been at the practice for about 30 minutes when he called to say that Ben had thrown up.  Byron does NOT do puke - at least not willingly, but then who does?  He was irritated because I had picked up some little Peeps for the kids this afternoon (they are dirt cheap) and that was certainly what they were bringing up if not what was making them sick.  I felt bad for him (and rather glad that I wasn't home) and figured that Ben had a bit of a hair-trigger gag reflex and must have coughed or something - it happens.  10 minutes later, another phone call saying that Ginny had also thrown up and how did the carpet cleaner work?  10 minutes later they had both thrown up again and when was I getting home?  By the third phone call, my friend wondered what he expected me to do?  I felt so bad!  Honestly I did.  I mean, sure I was glad I wasn't home, but I knew what a horrible time it must have been for both kids and Daddy.  When I got home, the carpet was clean and everyone was sitting down watching TV.  Ben and Ginny were holding bowls as if their life depended on it.  I imagine that when they started puking, Byron must have scared them silly with his shout of surprise.  However, I must say it was effective because they threw up many more times and each time - they were right into the bowl.  Poor things!  There weren't running a fever and they weren't overly listless, certainly they were talkative.  So, hopefully, they will make it through the night without puking - although Ben has filled his bowl already - and then I can spend tomorrow rehydrating them.  Fun!  Byron tells me HE is taking Josh to practice next time!