After a week of snow

You may have heard that last week the DC area got the biggest dump of snow in one go in about 78 years. Or was it 125 years? I don't know, it was a LOT.  About 27 inches in H'ville. And YES. I KNOW. We could have handled this better, according to Minnesota and lots of other places that deal with snow on a regular basis.

But let me say that we have a highly dense population (lots of cars park on the street), sidewalks, little snow infrastructure. I think we did OK. We just don't have the plows or the place to put the snow. When there is only 3 feet between the street and the sidewalk (TOPS. Many places it is zero feet) and there are cars parked on the streets everywhere (because that is where you park!) we did OK. Yes, I would have liked the kids to have gotten back to school on Wednesday. But, really, we did ok. My office was closed through Tuesday, open Wednesday, back to a delayed opening on Thursday, because I guess the early commute on Wednesday was a bear. Normal on Friday. And kids back in school ... please god ... Monday.

So, that all aside, we had different kids over on different days when I telecommuted, and other parents went to work. One of the days S9 and Q9 made cupcakes with the goal of donating them to the children's hospital. I told the I was NOT driving to the children's hospital to donate them, but S9's mom could if she wanted to. She declined. I'm guessing there was no parking, anyway, just piles of snow. So I suggested the fire department, the police department, and DPW.

We hit all those places. Most of the firefighters were out, but the guy who answered the door said thank you, accepted the cupcakes and come back later so you can look at the firetrucks if you want (sweet!), the police station was busy, but they accepted the treats. But in the end, we were too late in the day, and DPW was closed. Oh well, you guys who have been working the hardest missed out on some lovely cupcakes. Next time.

Martin Luther King Day trip to Massachusetts

This was a quickie trip. Very quickie. I think Q and I were at K and T's house for under 48 hours. We got there around lunchtime Saturday, and left after breakfast on Monday to take T to work.

So, I asked both girls if they wanted to go with me to see K, T, and J10. Q9 said yes, and that was that. C11 said, no, then changed to yes, then switched back to no. Then when she heard we'd be watching a football game while there ... she realized she'd made the right decision.

So. Q9 and I drove up Saturday morning. It was cold, but no traffic. We got there, they had lunch -- including a roasted chicken! which C11 has identified as my favorite food -- for us. Then we went bowling.

This was Q9's first time Candlepin bowling. We all were pretty bad! But fun fun fun!

And later we watched the Patriots beat some other team. Not sure who they were now, I've forgotten, but they had white pants on which we all agreed was a fashion faux pas for the team.

Sunday we decided to go to the Connecticut Science Museum. This was a GREAT museum. But don't go see the 3-D robots movie. It was ... dull enough to allow me to have a 20 minute nap.

But lots of it was great. We did THIS stuff:

Use air to move a beach ball into a basket

Hit a dummy's head with a mallet (the dummy was wearing those helmets that J10 and Q9 are wearing!). This is J10's favorite thing at the museum.

Moved objects with our mind (my favorite thing!)

Went in a hurricane tunnel. The wind went up to 80 MPH:

Played in rubber pellets. Q9 even stuck her head in. Pellets stuck in her hair. Ew.

And ate frozen yogurt:

All good.

More X-mas in Williamsburg

So, besides going on waterslides and in lazy rivers and on crazy surfing adventures at Great Wolf Lodge, we went to Williamsburg to visit, eat, and go on a ghost tour. Some pictures:

Christmas Eve at Trellis. The food was great, and everybody was happy:

and

During the Ghost Tour. Um, getting more tired and less happy but managing:

Checking out what would happen if we made it all the way on Santa's naughty list:

C11 and the full moon in Williamburg on Christmas Eve

We were kind of dressed down, but Christmas brunch in Williamsburg. Delicious!!!! We met some nice people next to us who took our photo. This was the best one. She warned us she cut C46's head off a few time ... she really did.

One last photo, even though it is at Great Wolf Lodge. C11 was trying her hardest to be cranky at breakfast, but you can see a little smile in there as she gets a giant hug from her wonderful dad.