First day of advent

it was the first day of advent and we needed a craft. Since I was pulling out the pine cones to put somewhere in the house I gave Q5 one to paint. Then C7 thought it was a great idea, so she got in on it, too. C7 looks so serious, but she was enjoying herself.

I like the way they turned out.

Outside the museums

In between Natural History, Air & Space, and the Botanic Gardens we had to walk in the fresh fresh air. And play, of course. And eat ice cream.

Running after birds. Classic.




How great is this photo? C7 just put her arm around J6 and we got a great picture.






We were waiting a bit after the carousel ride and the kids needed something to do. I suggested cartwheel. When they finished with those, they picked up trash, hopped, did races, whatever I said.





After Air & Space we had Popsicles. Q5 wanted the rainbow pop, but the first place we went didn't have it, so she got a strawberry shortcake one. J6 chose a snow cone. When I heard that I yelled "DON'T GET the SNOW CONE!!" thinking of the last time we bought a snow cone from a truck. They bought it anyway, and J6 ate about half of it. C7 got a Crunch bar.





Since everybody was very embarrassed about my outburst (yes, I yelled twice not to get the snow cone) we moved on. Q5 shed tears a bit about the rainbow pop, but moved forward. K41 and I went to get ice cream from another truck. And -- they had the rainbow pop! So I bought that and a Creamsicle. Q was thrilled to get the rainbow pop, gave her strawberry shortcake to C7 and C7 gave her Crunch to C42.





In the end, the rainbow pop wasn't what Q5 had hoped, but she didn't complain.

The ice cream pops perked everybody up and there was a little crazy running.





We then moved on, and before getting into the Botanic Gardens we walked through the garden a bit, and met this guy:





Dang, I loved him, and we tried and tried to get a photo for our Christmas/New Year's card, but the late afternoon sun was much too bright for the girls' eyes.





And finally, we got a couple of cute ones with the Capitol in the background. I like these. They are acting goofy, very C7.





Not quite done, I like this one, too.

Inside the museums with friends

We had fun.

We visited the Botanic Garden train exhibit. It was GREAT. I think we've not done it before, this year was amazing with all these small little houses and castles and things made from plant materials. Here is Q next to one of the little houses, a rather awkward photo of C7, Q5 and me, and my stand in husband, and then a cute little photo of C7 and Q5 in front of the tree.





You know that C7 is obsessed with Pearl Harbor lately, so at Air & Space she and C42 visited the WWII exhibit, and she got her photo taken in front of a Japanese fighter. Nice.





Also at Air & Space the girls took part in a paper airplane contest. They did not win, but both made paper airplanes. Q5's flew. C7s did not.





And Q5 in front of a lander.

Thanksgiving day

Turkey
Cranberry sauce
Ham
Squash pie
Mashed potatoes
Gravy
Snap peas
Salad
Squash soup
Candied Yams
Potato rolls
Bread
Asparagus
Cheese & olive & cracker plate
Crudites with hummus
Mixed nuts and pumpkin seeds
Stuffing/Dressing
Buttermilk pie
Pumpkin pie
Pecan pie
Apple crisp
Whipped cream
Coffee
Beer, wine, cider, perry
10 adults, 9 children, 1 dog.

Boston this weekend

We have friends over this weekend for Thanksgiving. Not least of all Boston Harbor, a cute adorable mini Schnauzer who doesn't shed. Yeah, that was important.

Wiggly tooth

While C7 has been bemoaning the fact that she is on a loose tooth hiatus, Q5 has been pretending that she's had a loose tooth for about a year.

Well, I'm pleased to announce the arrival of her first real loose tooth!

Swimming lessons are over for the season

Q5 passed into Beginners III, she did everything listed on the sheet except the breaststroke, but I don't recall them learning the breast stroke. Or maybe I just wasn't able to see.












Just to let you know, Q5 complained 6 out of the 8 weeks about going to swim lessons. But she has a great time whenever she goes, because she makes friends and chats the whole time. Like this.






C7 did not pass Advanced Beginners, but she was pleased that Q5 passed into Beginners III. Now they are just one class apart and MAYBE they'll get to be in the same class in the future.

C7 did pass the elementary backstroke and the dive, and I think she does a good back crawl, but apparently not good enough. I guess the fact that she has no pool awareness and almost drowns a child is reason enough to not pass her in the back crawl. See:






But the elementary backstroke and dive apparently are past advanced beginners, so that is good.








Swim lessons are over for the season, they resume January 7. Can't wait!