Day 4-Civil War!

We are in Richmond, VA! Not only is Richmond home to the 'Museum of the Confederacy', but lover of all things Confederate! And does this love go deep. We learned so much about the Civil War. Actually, it just made me want to learn more! We also visited the White House of the Confederacy which was the home of President Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy. Amazing. Simply amazing.

"The legal system can force open doors and sometimes even knock down walls, but it cannot build bridges. That job belongs to you and me. " -Justice Thurgood Marshall

::Love this::
Visited the Virginia State Capitol Building in Richmond. My girls are such good sports! :)
Washington Statue behind State Capitol. Absolutely HUGE...and lovely to behold.
I'm still so amazed at how deep the Confederate loyalty runs. It is such a part of the people in the South. It is their history. It is their story. It is their legacy. It is woven into their very being. I was also amazed that many issues that sparked the Civil War are still alive today. But that is still their history, their story, and their legacy. Let us...yes, us... learn from history.

Day 3~All work and no play

Okay...maybe enough work and a LOT of play. But this is just to prove that we do our schooling....at the local Library.... in a corner....hooked up to the wireless....still learning by books, but mostly learning by touching and seeing and tasting and experiencing.

And we will always have to make time for playing in the rain with umbrellas,

and eating Mary Angela's pizza and pasta. Buonisimo!

Like we could walk by and not go in. As I said, we are here to learn by taste and touch.......

Gotta love VA!

Washington D.C. ~ the next day

"Non-Smoking Room, Please." It could've been that easy. But we didn't know. We also didn't know that the entire 3rd Floor was for smokers. We must have looked kind of rough after our journey to the hotel that they thought we'd fit in just fine on the 3rd floor. We got out into the fresh D.C. air and headed toward the Capitol. Found this great brick wall. Never knew that "Coca-Cola... Relieves Fatigue."

On the steps of the Capitol Building. Look how small Katie and Ally are!


The trees are GORGEOUS! As was the inside of The Library of Congress. Stunning. I think I like it here! :)

The Adventure Begins

This is the message that Ally found in her fortune cookie while at the Houston Airport. Little did we know how true it would be. Late night at night, 4 tourists walking down a dark road somewhere in Washington D.C. pulling their luggage behind them. Man, were we ever a sight!

But if we got mugged, at least the Fire Station was close by. I think that that was a little bit comforting. A little bit.

My "not so little" Katie

How can this be? How can this be that I held her for the first time in my arms 11 years ago? Where did the time go, and why is it moving so quickly? I can't slow down the time, but I can hold on today...this day...and love her for the amazing child that she is. Happy Birthday, Katie.

Traditional "Birthday Donut Breakfast"....2 long johns = 11!
American Girl Store, L.A.
Hawaiian Pizza for lunch at the Farmer's Market.
Ice Cream at Bennetts.
Sweet Birthday Fun at the Grove.

Pork & Beans

I have turned my back on my roots. As my family is from Oklahoma, eating meat is very important. So when I decided to become a vegetarian, it didn't sit too well with my parents. They're mostly concerned with my health, but I believe part of it comes from an unspoken allegiance to the pig. A couple of years ago I found the most awesome footed pig bowl on sundance catalog, but when I finally decided to put down the money, it was gone. A couple of years later (unbeknownst to me) Scott tracked down a similar pig and had it sent to me for our anniversary (yes...he's a romantic!) As a tribute to my heritage, and in honoring my family, I made pork & beans...in a round about way...

A Time For Everything

"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:" Eccl.3:1

And now is the time for....rollerblading. I've been holding on to my old rollerblades for nearly 10 years now because they cost way too much money to just be given away! But Scott brought them out of the depths of the garage and let Katie try them on. She did, and that was about all it took to begin a new love affair. And I think that the rollerblades feel the same towards her. But my question is how did those sweet little feet that I would hold in my hand grow so quickly as to fit into my shoes? Hmmm. A sweet reminder that I long to be a good example in how I walk, as someone is following in my footsteps...I mean...rollersteps.