Elaina's 10 Year Old Trip with Aunt Kat

It's been a hard day so I think I'm going to try to de-stress by posting about our trip to Virginia.
We've got some funny vacation combos going on with our family this year. Claire and Eily get to go on the cruise this coming March, so Elaina got to go with me to visit Jason in Richmond, Virginia.

My cousin, Kathryn, came to me last summer with an idea that I thought was fabulous and fun-sounding. She wanted for me and her to take a trip with each girl as they turned 10. We kept trying to make it happen after Elaina turned 10 and it only took nine months to be successful. :)

Elaina and I left the house very early Monday morning and made it to Memphis in record time. If you are wanting to travel from FS to Memphis and meet no construction on the road, do it in the early morning.  Since "Aunt Kat" happens live in Memphis and we had a couple of hours to spare before we needed to be at the airport (and because she got the call that her car had officially died earlier in the day), we picked her up and all three of us got mani/pedis so we would look amazing during our vacation. :) Elaina found it hilarious that she got stuck with the man worker. Kathryn took us to the airport since she was going to use the Suburban until it was time for her flight the following morning. We got there a little early so we stopped for lunch- BBQ of course! It was the Memphis airport, after all.

Waiting for our flight to see Jason

We finally arrived in Baltimore and then stood in line for about on hour to get our rental car. The man said that they had run out of the kind of car that we paid for so would we mind driving a SUV for the same price? Of course not. So when we walked outside, we died laughing because it was a huge Dodge RAM truck. Oh well, we are from Arkansas, after all.

We drove the hour to the house where we would be staying with Jason. The house itself was fabulous. It was a historical house and we stayed in the servants' quarters in the lower level of the house. We got up early Tuesday morning and drove to DC to collect Kathryn from the Regan airport. I have traveled enough in the past two years to have learned this one things about myself- FOOD is the most important thing to me when exploring a new location. I never care about shops or about what all there is to do, I just want to know- WHERE ARE THE AMAZING RESTURANTS? So of course I had put in some research and knew that the first stop must be 2Amys. It did not disappoint. (Well, Elaina wasn't a big fan.)

They had amazing pizza, amazing appetizers, and the most world-changing wild-flower honey sorbet. 

Pizze d.o.c. means that these pizza had been recognized as official Italian pizza from the Italian government. 

Elaina's drink of the trip was Ginger Ale. She said this bottle was the best of the trip. :)

Risotto balls and delicious deviled eggs

Pizza for everyone!!

We waddled out of 2Amys and made our way (much longer way than we anticipated) to the Metro station. It was a very rainy day and we got a little wet here and there.

They had these funny picture things all along the street. 

Elaina worked on her Metro skills the whole day. I would try to explain to her where we were going and see if she could keep up with where and when we needed to get off the train.

Heading down to the Metro!

Our first stop was the Natural Museum of American History. This is one of my very favorite places to visit in DC. There are always really interesting things to see.

Lincoln's hat he was wearing when he was shot. 

Kathryn and I have a mutual love for food and how to prepare it, so we both get a little "fan-girlish" when we see Julia Child's kitchen.

The kitchen is her literal kitchen. They moved everything to the museum and kept everything in it's exact place. You can walk around and look at it from every angle. I could have spent a couple of hours looking at everything but Elaina was ready to move on to another exhibit. 

I loved looking at the books on her bookshelf. I may copy every single thing. 

We finally left the museum and headed for the Mall. It was really looking very stormy at this point but we didn't let that deter us. I had bought a flimsy umbrella from a guy on the street but Kathryn held her ground and wasn't tempted. She later regretted that. :)

Elaina and Kathryn in front of the Lincoln Memorial

It started raining really hard while we were at the Lincoln Memorial but we saw a taxi sitting by the curb and decided to make a run for it. Well... he wouldn't take us because we were too wet. And believe me, we were completely soaked by that time. My umbrella had decided to invert itself and be of no use and poor Elaina and Kathryn were just drenched.

At this point, we really couldn't get any wetter so we decided to walk back to the Metro station and go home.

George!!

The next morning, we went to a nearby coffee shop for breakfast. We bought every type of macaroon they served and a few other delicious pastries. We may have gained a few pounds during this trip. :) Seriously though, the grapefruit macaroon was heavenly.

Our location on the schedule for Wednesday was Colonial Williamsburg. This was by far the highlight of the trip for Elaina. She was desperate to completely envelope herself in the time and place so we decided her birthday gift should be a period dress and hat. She bummed hard that they didn't sell genuine leather hand-made shoes. Haha

They do actually make them there but they are just for the people who work there. Elaina has also decided that she wants to work there one summer. I have to say I agree it would be an amazing experience. I would try to get a job in the shop that made the rugs and cloth. (Plus, their shop had air-conditioning. )

Learning to make a notebook with paper and thread. 

We spent as much time as we could at Colonial Williamsburg. It was so much fun. I hadn't been there since I was a teenager so it was fun to come back and watch my daughter have all the feelings I had the first time I went. It will for sure be a place that I come back and bring all the girls.

We went home again and visited a little with Mr. John, the man who owned the house where were were staying. His wife had left so we didn't get to meet her but she did write Elaina an email that I will attach at the end of this post. Mr. John is from England and his wife is from France. It was fun to listen to him talk and take notice of his impeccable manners. 

The next morning we drove to George Washington's house, Mount Vernon. Now in hind sight, We should have gone there the day before. Once Elaina had been to Colonial Williamsburg, nothing else could compare. She liked Mt. Vernon but she kept mentioning that she would love to just go back and spend the rest of the day at CW. :) She did, however, wear her costume in case there were some other people in their costumes.

That evening, we went with Jason to an artists' dinner down the street at another old, historical house. This one even had the only kitchen in the basement. The poor women helping host the event went up and down the starts about 50 times. And they weren't exactly spring chickens! The granddaughter of the woman hosting the event was also there and she and Elaina struck up a quick friendship. Her name is Colette and they plan on being pen-pals.  

We didn't linger long at the dinner. We were tired and Jason was completely exhausted. We came home and played some cards and watched a cooking show. The next day was Friday and Kathryn and I headed back to the airport. We got in extremely late so I stay the night and left early the next morning. I was very, very happy to see this sign. 

Jason and Elaina didn't leave until the following 

Monday. The spent the weekend picnicking with Mr. John and doing several Plein-Air painting sessions together. The did have an awful time getting home. They ended up having to stay the night in the airport and then catching a different flight home. At least Elaina had this memory to carry her through the ordeal. :)

The email from Mr. John after we were back home:

Jason,

I believe you are about to land safely so hopefully this will reach you just in time!

Thank you so much for the absolutely wonderful painting - I showed it to Benedicte via Facetime as soon as I returned home and then I took a photo and sent it to her as well. I must say her initial intake of breath was sufficient, it really is beautiful and one we will treasure for all the  time we have left  on this planet - be in here in Richmond or back in England. It will hold a very special place in our home and bring back memories for me which I will always remember. 

Now - I do wish Elaina had her own personal e-mail address so I could communicate directly to her how much pleasure her drawing gave Benedicte and me today. We both thought it was SO SO SPECIAL - and we loved the real message you wrote to us. So Elaina - thank you so very very much.

In particular will always remember you and our talks together -Paris, tailwinds, currencies ( 2000 lira  = $X), the Boston Tea Party, Donuts (thank you Daddy!) how I met Benedicte (and thus discovered how your parents met) the picnic (and your multiplication tables - 9X9 !) English crumpets ( so-so) and marmite (awful !) ice-cream ( my apologies Mummy !) and I loved to see how you looked at Daddy - that was, in the best American way I know,   - "real neat". So - thank you so much for our picture - it's so very special. 

What I did forget to do was give you Collett's address so here it is. Do hope you can find the time to write to her. ( You could always suggest to Mummy that it could be an English lesson !) 

     Colette 

     *removed for privacy*

So - Jason and Elaina - thank you so much for staying with us - it was a real pleasure to get to know you both !

John and Benedicte ( from London)

I told her all about our adventure together  

p/s Just as you are both landing it has start to pour down with rain in Richmond - so you see we are not happy to have lost you both and the sky is angry !  

    

And this was the email from his wife, who we never met in person but was still a gracious host.

Jason and Elaina,

I certainly couldn't have put it better than John. 

I really was so happy to see both painting and drawing. It is one of my favorite view of Richmond, we often go to the park for a walk and look both to the river and the town. 

Thank you so much for your wonderful gifts, with their own personal and special message, I will treasure them very much. I am just sorry I was not in Richmond for the event as I enjoyed it so much in the past. 

I know John enjoyed having you to stay and I see that Elaina experienced Richmond to the full.

Hope to see you again next year.

With all my thanks

Benedicte

---

Elaina turns 8!

Once again, computer crashed therefore small amount of photos therefore short video of basically the same photos. But regardless of all that, Elaina turned eight today! I took cupcakes to her class this afternoon and watched her blush as they all sang happy birthday. It seems like she had a great day.

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Ha!

Part of Elaina's school today was to read the poem, Symon's Lesson of Wisdom for all Manner of Children.

I read the lines, "And, child, cast no stones over men's house,
Nor cast no stones at no glass windows;"

And Elaina interrupted saying, "Ernest T. Bass, you haven't heard the last!"

(If you don't get this, try watching this episode of The Andy Griffith Show.

The Mountain Wedding

Elaina got to spend last Friday with Daddy at his studio. It's pretty much the ultimate privilege.

*snort*

A while back...
on a Sunday morning...
while we were singing hymns at church...
particularly Wayfaring Stranger...
even more particularly during the I'm going there part...
Elaina leaned over to me and whispered...

"Where is this guy going?"

On that same Sunday morning...
while we were still singing hymns at church....
particularly Rock of Ages...
even more particularly during the let me hide myself in Thee part...
Elaina leaned over and whispered...

"That's a very bossy ending.

 

Nature Center

We went to the Nature Center on Elaina's birthday to make the day a little more than ordinary.

It was a beautiful day and we made the most of it. We saw a white mouse, a very large and scary black snake that looked like it wanted to eat Elaina and there was an armadillo hanging out right in the middle of our pathway during our hike. Then all the girls played and splashed in the water and Nora even sat right down, clothing and all. Elaina said it was the best day she's ever had. Success.

Happy 7th Birthday, Elaina!

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We had a party and went to a mexican restaurant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today, Elaina said to me, "I'm going to venture about the house while the timer is going."

Venture. Venture.

I love it.

Sharing is important

We went to two parades Saturday and racked up quite a lot of candy. Sunday afternoon, Elaina was chowing down on a piece of gum and she came into the computer room at Mom's where Rachel and I were visiting.
Elaina: "Um, excuse me Aunt Rachel, um, can Lukey have a piece of gum?"
Rachel: " Well, no. I don't think that would be a good idea. But thanks for asking."
Elaina: "Well, um, excuse me, but, um, can Eli have a piece of gum then?"
Rachel: "Well, No. I don't need to let him have one if I don't let Lukey have one."

Elaina stood there a minute, sighed dejectedly, took the wad of gum out of her mouth and said, "Well then who can I give this to?"

This is the new generation.

Aunt Abi mailed the girls really cool chime birdhouses that you paint and assemble. We were talking about how neat they were and I told the girls we needed to call her to thank her.

Elaina heaved a big sigh and said,  "I don't like being on the phone. Can't we just text her?"




In case you were wondering, the answer was no.

She's growing up! Oh wait, never mind.

Yesterday, I had to run some errands and take Claire for her 5 year check-up so Jason stayed home with Elaina and Eily. He was trying to get a lot of painting done but the girls were very restless and needy so he decided to take them on a walk to burn off some energy. They walked around the block and down to the cemetery and on the way back they passed a large drainage ditch. There is usually a tricking of water that runs through the ditch and maybe a piece or two of trash. As they were walking by, Eily said in very slow and dramatically mysterious voice, "Ooohh, There's probably a shark in there." Elaina, very exasperatingly responded, "Eily, there is not a shark in there."

Jason smiled to himself as he realized that Elaina had reached the age that logic prevails over gullible-ness. (Is that a word?) She had reached a level of maturity new to the children of our family.

Then Elaina said, " But there probably is a crocodile."

Elaina, 6 years old

2010
2009

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Eeyore's in the house

Elaina, my generally happy, content, easy-going child has been rather hum-drum and emotional these past few weeks.

Tonight, as we were getting in the car to come back from church, I snapped two little twigs off a tree and gave them to Eily. As we were driving, Eily said, "Tonight my dreams came true. I wished for these two sticks to take home and I have them!" Claire then piped up and said, "Well I wished that after we slept at Dan and Caitlin's house that we would go to Lillie's Gram's house and look where we are! My wish came true!!"  Then Eeyore, Elaina mumbled, "Well my wish didn't come true." I asked her, "What was your wish?" She replied, "I don't know. But it didn't come true."

We have been gone for a week and I will post some pictures from that trip soon. In the meantime, I'll show you what happened this evening...

This was one of those things that was really funny but now that I'm trying to type it out as a story it's sounding a little boring and not at all funny. But it really was. Really!

Elaina hates to get in trouble and there are times when she says something a little rude to one of the other girls, we get on to her for it and she says, "Well, I was just joking." Yesterday, while driving home from Fort Smtih, Jason was trying to explain the difference between a joke and a lie to Elaina.  First, he gave her an example of a lie and then he started to give an example of a joke.

J- "Elaina, why did the chicken cross the road?"
E- "Where? What chicken? I didn't see the chicken! Girls, did you see the chicken? Daddy just saw a chicken going across the road!!"

Woosh! Right over her head.

Nora Quotes

Eily, holding Nora this morning,
"I love you baby. You're just so....babyish."


Elaina, watching Nora eat at 3am,
"Once I put my eyes on her I just can't get them to turn away. She's so cute and little and, well, (laughing a little) fat."

This warms my heart so much.

I have waited a long time to walk into a room and see this. My heart became so excited. A love of reading is priceless. And besides that, I HAVE A CHILD THAT CAN READ. Unbelievable.

Ok. And I have to admit that I'm a little excited that Amelia Bedelia has once again entered my life.

Elaina failed her eye screening test yesterday and therefore has an eye appointment next week. She is soooooooo excited.

I start my 5th month this week. It's hard to believe.

A funny:
We were in TJMaxx this afternoon and as we were walking out, Elaina looked up at a *ahem* larger woman, smiled her sweetest smile and said, " I'm so happy that you have a baby in your tummy!" I just looked straight ahead, tried not to laugh and kept ushering the girls out the door.