tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16069325551787248692024-03-19T05:09:39.518-07:00mojo-mommaMollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13616859020005320017noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606932555178724869.post-91562112825146912372012-07-19T16:13:00.002-07:002012-07-19T16:32:46.615-07:00Beach Baby, Beach Baby, There on the Sand...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We had a super fun week last week starting with my birthday! I love having a July birthday...summer is my favorite. I take a lot of pride in the fact that I have never ever once had to work/go to school on my birthday...is that super cheesy or what?! I didn't want any presents from Darrin and Lulu, my only request was that we go to the Atlantic coast for a weekend and do nothing. Oh and a cake, of course I needed a cake and Darrin came through with top honors on that one! Such a cute little cake perfect for our little family of 3 (although in my current state you might as well count me as 2 because I'm pretty sure I ate half the cake myself).</div>
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I managed to blow out every candle but one. Lulu was a bit worried that we didn't have candles for the cake, but I found some buried deep in our spice cabinet. The box was missing a few so the cake was actually 2 candles short...no problem I'm fine with pretending I'm 2 years younger. Lulu is definitely her mother's daughter and goes for the frosting immediately....mmmm.</div>
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On Friday we hit the road for Chincoteague Island on the eastern coast of Virginia. Lulu managed to fall asleep just after we picked Darrin up from work but was awake again before we even got out of D.C. Traffic was notoriously bad and I believe we spent the better part of an hour getting out of the city. And I thought we'd get a break leaving at two in the afternoon...no such luck. I didn't pack much to keep Lulu entertained in the car, thinking she'd sleep a good bit. Luckily, I had some stickers to keep her occupied for a while. "Hey guys, I can't see you." </div>
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After about 2 hours she started getting really restless so we found a K-mart just off an exit and bought a little magic coloring book with marker and some Dora stickers. I really should have known something was up as quiet as she was being but I was suffering from pregnancy compounded motion sickness and didn't think much of the silence in the back seat. She is quite the body artist...Darrin thought she looked like a little hippy princess...if only!</div>
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Finally we made it to the little island. It only took us 5 hours to get there with all the stops we made and traffic. Lulu had to make a beeline for the hotel pool where she promptly puked from being overly excited. She bounced right back and we traveled over to Assateaque Island and enjoyed the beach until dark. </div>
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Saturday morning we got around and planned to ride our bikes into the beach. Of course it rained. Of course it did! What was I thinking with wanting to ride to the beach and stay for the day?! We rode to the beach alright and then rode back to the hotel sopping wet. As soon as we were back, it promptly quit raining. Of course! Jeesh can't a girl catch a break?! We drove back out to the beach and enjoyed a long afternoon playing in the waves. It was quite lovely since the sun wasn't beating down on us. The air and water were both warm and that's all we cared. I have been known to sit on the beach under a blanket. It really doesn't get much better than that!</div>
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In the evening on Saturday we went for dinner and intended to just take a drive around the island hoping maybe, just maybe we might catch a glimpse of the wild ponies. When we got to the beach, Lulu insisted that we get out for a walk...we really were not dressed for a night at the beach. Darrin and I both had jeans on and Lulu was wearing a maxi dress. But what the heck, you can't just sit in the car when there's a beach and ocean to be had. We got a great family picture too!</div>
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Lulu runs straight to the water...she really wanted no part of the family snapshot. I tried to tie her dress up so she wouldn't be soaked. </div>
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Eventually I just gave up on trying to keep her dress tied up! She's like the little Coppertone girl minus that cute little black dog. This first picture is precious beyond words to me. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">We left for home on Sunday. We went back to the beach one last time for blue skies and tons of sun. It was hard to get Lulu and Darrin out of the waves to head home. I'm not sure why we didn't take any pictures then except that we were lost in the moment. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"> Lulu had to feed the horses at the hotel one last time before we could leave. </span></div>
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<br />Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13616859020005320017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606932555178724869.post-52564463578628804762012-07-05T20:23:00.003-07:002012-07-05T20:24:02.190-07:00Out with the OLDIn my last post, I sort of promised myself that I would try to keep up with this whole blog thing. My intention was to do a little everyday so that I wouldn't be overwhelmed. So much for that. I'm not sure if you heard, but Armageddon hit D.C. over the weekend. We went without power for 3 days and I was sure on the third day the zombie apocalypse was imminent. It goes without saying that I was wrong again. We got our power back on Monday around midnight. I hear there are still people without power. Boy do I feel bad for them b/c it was hot at the beginning of the week, but today was like Hades-land. I'm not kidding you, it's a multiple shower sort of day. It makes ABQ look cold. So today for this little blog here I'm posting a bunch pictures of the past from March, April, and May. And a couple pictures of Lulu's days in near-Armageddon. Then I'm done with the past and I'm on to only the present. My slate is clean.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJAJT6r3uQ2Rhys7XFQgVN8GjY4tmasDC-Ly8Syk0gF734PG-gT1V19uSJptbTlmAIppxeD2thNGk4Wd2E9M8rVBS8X_dkpY3daVrgNcbGobdsaHVXC8mtdBLmjkC6y2V1ELDAhYxPgY/s1600/IMG_5981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJAJT6r3uQ2Rhys7XFQgVN8GjY4tmasDC-Ly8Syk0gF734PG-gT1V19uSJptbTlmAIppxeD2thNGk4Wd2E9M8rVBS8X_dkpY3daVrgNcbGobdsaHVXC8mtdBLmjkC6y2V1ELDAhYxPgY/s320/IMG_5981.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu's first ever snowman...who knows when she'll get another chance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXJEvPL9i8C4tlmEbq1MfUAPXrolfdM55P3FnCQGOSgU4SY2B1NuF3P4RE8O_1Oty2Eq30coBkTfUNLDjElZP3u4siEQ_8ffMa_7zxVVUg3c9iEJWvLn4SMq05Bv8hnAq6voHwoc0DJw/s1600/IMG_6284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXJEvPL9i8C4tlmEbq1MfUAPXrolfdM55P3FnCQGOSgU4SY2B1NuF3P4RE8O_1Oty2Eq30coBkTfUNLDjElZP3u4siEQ_8ffMa_7zxVVUg3c9iEJWvLn4SMq05Bv8hnAq6voHwoc0DJw/s320/IMG_6284.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting a puppet at the Puppet Co. at Glen Echo Park. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDSSZjozVC6EPdgZYSRglj39U5xsBsea7vKXdJq_CZjSKozWT2PeZR_wQnQZyC0wAJdFOgQPfr_FMCyRNyuKiEBW3NzY-gHdS6RoTbxbB9rbmmrBxUKxB3CTl_roGrBmQu0KQPv4KxVk/s1600/IMG_6296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDSSZjozVC6EPdgZYSRglj39U5xsBsea7vKXdJq_CZjSKozWT2PeZR_wQnQZyC0wAJdFOgQPfr_FMCyRNyuKiEBW3NzY-gHdS6RoTbxbB9rbmmrBxUKxB3CTl_roGrBmQu0KQPv4KxVk/s320/IMG_6296.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No better way to fall asleep than with a good book.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoPUKGu8JQPxgRLUN-HT6m-kThuTIjVY670OmXC0_9oLFtaKijG8ECS5q-jIcrUoddjeWq4I-8CPUWF7LH9sjKslB2l6b8q7xTcrp3K5EnRfrV2NR8xsGRdnnKaZ3gXfd4ioXTbCMXRU/s1600/IMG_6298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoPUKGu8JQPxgRLUN-HT6m-kThuTIjVY670OmXC0_9oLFtaKijG8ECS5q-jIcrUoddjeWq4I-8CPUWF7LH9sjKslB2l6b8q7xTcrp3K5EnRfrV2NR8xsGRdnnKaZ3gXfd4ioXTbCMXRU/s320/IMG_6298.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tipping a street musician in Adams Morgan. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLYaZcKz8EkkAaPk_-wjzpg0hzLXusj9wCl9duRF2Up0nKFvCG5_BESsplGuJ-V0bjX3Ge3jNcR4y3li91PpszDYtHy7Up_2XQ7CDZOrTcQdrzOXrRyIhzUmZy10sUQpgVbpa7e71-1s/s1600/IMG_6308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLYaZcKz8EkkAaPk_-wjzpg0hzLXusj9wCl9duRF2Up0nKFvCG5_BESsplGuJ-V0bjX3Ge3jNcR4y3li91PpszDYtHy7Up_2XQ7CDZOrTcQdrzOXrRyIhzUmZy10sUQpgVbpa7e71-1s/s320/IMG_6308.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is from our road trip to MI. Lulu is a mermaid...can't you tell?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY9M6tFj64VMAbvVXUzFzVjccZXOiuHUQDfw2Fb0MGAtvsokXmVwn95b0PeFZOGFfIgmBk6ZTIIUuvbqnywKx4hZWee8DNEEJj137_SycrQgQp0vbKOIyrfgY8h5wn4rR7LoxNcaKaPQ/s1600/IMG_6329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY9M6tFj64VMAbvVXUzFzVjccZXOiuHUQDfw2Fb0MGAtvsokXmVwn95b0PeFZOGFfIgmBk6ZTIIUuvbqnywKx4hZWee8DNEEJj137_SycrQgQp0vbKOIyrfgY8h5wn4rR7LoxNcaKaPQ/s320/IMG_6329.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing at Aunt Susie's with Mihren...supervised by GG.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq20pmlu81liyfE8N7u4YAuK5y7S6V1BEjzV9PoDIuca8KOqZ1Rt4LcoWBowdYkRJq-61BXSZLaxhUD2rIov6SmPqlXP4fO0lVbJe64YU_m7Vque6XwyJnapjAKcDUQ1QGb0enreu7CI/s1600/IMG_6335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq20pmlu81liyfE8N7u4YAuK5y7S6V1BEjzV9PoDIuca8KOqZ1Rt4LcoWBowdYkRJq-61BXSZLaxhUD2rIov6SmPqlXP4fO0lVbJe64YU_m7Vque6XwyJnapjAKcDUQ1QGb0enreu7CI/s320/IMG_6335.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom's side of the family. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LVA09UDtAdKvuWmwhVGifTca72nTY0wO12i4qV66wD6-Vk-BFnCD_E1W7mH7_ppgsiK9bm6D9WmLObA99jXx0mdqt9JHHdJOeFTu6Z4PQ2etyY8OvKZmDthJa9XO7sI4xBiNTkRhupw/s1600/IMG_6340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LVA09UDtAdKvuWmwhVGifTca72nTY0wO12i4qV66wD6-Vk-BFnCD_E1W7mH7_ppgsiK9bm6D9WmLObA99jXx0mdqt9JHHdJOeFTu6Z4PQ2etyY8OvKZmDthJa9XO7sI4xBiNTkRhupw/s320/IMG_6340.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is there anything cuter than babies taking a bath?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-lqW73-fNJjV8tUvWNicH5qz3AE9hFtd2udCqjdRx0CbCGs93a3jVfVR8-HhNSLi63dmuCbaNXLVCvbnhkoMH1e99IWxk8TV10LarTNbOEhQ5UvljuW-dg_vmGMQTOb3L0mPZAkGNvc/s1600/IMG_6354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-lqW73-fNJjV8tUvWNicH5qz3AE9hFtd2udCqjdRx0CbCGs93a3jVfVR8-HhNSLi63dmuCbaNXLVCvbnhkoMH1e99IWxk8TV10LarTNbOEhQ5UvljuW-dg_vmGMQTOb3L0mPZAkGNvc/s320/IMG_6354.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu really loves Mihren...maybe a little too much.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybeEF_Gna4wC6dpLq2pR0g0JxWLUxCUIdA6ud4s0mmg9gMVrpPsFZPPY0GhEYVr3GC7oeO-KsBRIdrMgKlJOhSdwKfwwd5VVzE1BCV1GIiYSmCDyrBNaLLKuxzO5AA4VaDtorfLU7AtM/s1600/IMG_6363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybeEF_Gna4wC6dpLq2pR0g0JxWLUxCUIdA6ud4s0mmg9gMVrpPsFZPPY0GhEYVr3GC7oeO-KsBRIdrMgKlJOhSdwKfwwd5VVzE1BCV1GIiYSmCDyrBNaLLKuxzO5AA4VaDtorfLU7AtM/s320/IMG_6363.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giddy up cowgirls. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaP4ZvbCA7DkXaj6rC5UXIyHloffLAwb2iN4ldI7TTYHl85-gg98QfnQ8JPDGJqFVFZdsw8ufu18VjbnSgO08BktGOy4ZZPovqmE9wvfHLvbX9-ID-T6-3MnEJkVzn2XyXqLDDnpbykA4/s1600/IMG_6371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaP4ZvbCA7DkXaj6rC5UXIyHloffLAwb2iN4ldI7TTYHl85-gg98QfnQ8JPDGJqFVFZdsw8ufu18VjbnSgO08BktGOy4ZZPovqmE9wvfHLvbX9-ID-T6-3MnEJkVzn2XyXqLDDnpbykA4/s320/IMG_6371.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding the birds with her Papa.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-wQIMRfs0yf4TfWyCTgjaizxOLwPTho3G4FeTbshG4xp_x3NTEfNwzS7fn3pTySKErOB-uhMiHou91X6TmtjyoIZZIDieLRgbcSZTgKmLJnJjVdOi6CXpJQQcrP-bKKwv_oK23D0DgE/s1600/IMG_6379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-wQIMRfs0yf4TfWyCTgjaizxOLwPTho3G4FeTbshG4xp_x3NTEfNwzS7fn3pTySKErOB-uhMiHou91X6TmtjyoIZZIDieLRgbcSZTgKmLJnJjVdOi6CXpJQQcrP-bKKwv_oK23D0DgE/s320/IMG_6379.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little tiny girls at the Lincoln Memorial. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1YgctlNlZ1tkyCJVYcXYtG9DTn9t4SE03agl7PsAkaKvgPxoc_dil6mJ3LX-5RzDCsPKzu63_tjR3bm98WXct66uEq1FFIH14RJiq-2EaC0ox9xqtAXiZLbrnMF7yKn0xfW_D-wmg3o/s1600/IMG_6410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1YgctlNlZ1tkyCJVYcXYtG9DTn9t4SE03agl7PsAkaKvgPxoc_dil6mJ3LX-5RzDCsPKzu63_tjR3bm98WXct66uEq1FFIH14RJiq-2EaC0ox9xqtAXiZLbrnMF7yKn0xfW_D-wmg3o/s320/IMG_6410.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decorating eggs....let's just say our eggs won no prizes, but fun was had in the making.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtJl3zramPq9czcLgvMDOxubYND91yNyqWXld0TAMcMZPrXfUqBPyiMyOy35RQYwKliLlHhbX8FIg-QDhSTx-ck-JCUKO9M1VwVKptqW0AaYuCUmcI1JjH1CWzxbVAIlFOhu9pDIGmCo/s1600/IMG_6429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtJl3zramPq9czcLgvMDOxubYND91yNyqWXld0TAMcMZPrXfUqBPyiMyOy35RQYwKliLlHhbX8FIg-QDhSTx-ck-JCUKO9M1VwVKptqW0AaYuCUmcI1JjH1CWzxbVAIlFOhu9pDIGmCo/s320/IMG_6429.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another great way to fall asleep.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgdPZtgDaM9bywTWNdSfQkkygDcs6G2UpX4PR_rg3cpUiIbJwDIkI_pQ10p2rRnErwq9WnSTlrYIxSRuRVX6ipieIY6v27dNUbq-27-NZzlYOw8xEbHSZtvEjLWjui3uw7832EGgJ_L8/s1600/IMG_6454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgdPZtgDaM9bywTWNdSfQkkygDcs6G2UpX4PR_rg3cpUiIbJwDIkI_pQ10p2rRnErwq9WnSTlrYIxSRuRVX6ipieIY6v27dNUbq-27-NZzlYOw8xEbHSZtvEjLWjui3uw7832EGgJ_L8/s320/IMG_6454.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kelly Crew comes for a visit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1AryQNNqLU2C7kRvvyWqYgLO6_kXm6CJrElzcU5Jiq8NQP4jcWpYLt1KbtAljeWZRkqfN1oKWVVa4plPttHUsf8p28zHpCXHQfpMOs-wMdMb-uVrOYsRrn-dXQ3yB7VnQP54AqfNhtw/s1600/IMG_6456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1AryQNNqLU2C7kRvvyWqYgLO6_kXm6CJrElzcU5Jiq8NQP4jcWpYLt1KbtAljeWZRkqfN1oKWVVa4plPttHUsf8p28zHpCXHQfpMOs-wMdMb-uVrOYsRrn-dXQ3yB7VnQP54AqfNhtw/s320/IMG_6456.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu, Rosie, and Penny at the White House.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazHRo1_RimupGSc-L3YOESsNo_njX_QqtJK8teUzx2VsYYX85YpzOOv_hOuppe88JYD5dxjEy29IBc80yyZOlQCXgA964Bqb5YR2_DN4zImGGSpm038UsgOEhrjavtp3saKXkeEKgSyI/s1600/IMG_6471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazHRo1_RimupGSc-L3YOESsNo_njX_QqtJK8teUzx2VsYYX85YpzOOv_hOuppe88JYD5dxjEy29IBc80yyZOlQCXgA964Bqb5YR2_DN4zImGGSpm038UsgOEhrjavtp3saKXkeEKgSyI/s320/IMG_6471.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mount Vernon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibl9-y9JTEfXayZ6RjM75dlmOMT6jxn9VHB0ctxwEnElQOYGAZhsGeBowhPq1Fw8bZbgHSTj-3YdHHKfqtrEKyQQmyvXNXWJrUSuhYKkzBwm7YT1jgQVkvB9Pu60ZJWkejJRRbF1IIMLc/s1600/IMG_6483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibl9-y9JTEfXayZ6RjM75dlmOMT6jxn9VHB0ctxwEnElQOYGAZhsGeBowhPq1Fw8bZbgHSTj-3YdHHKfqtrEKyQQmyvXNXWJrUSuhYKkzBwm7YT1jgQVkvB9Pu60ZJWkejJRRbF1IIMLc/s320/IMG_6483.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu and I hanging out on G. Washington's front porch.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEy6sPwV12NJAkMFrst2Vs8eg1Sb8I8NOIkxQ8YNbm1AegoliylHKidu3QA-t6gEWNOV0moPLGfKdnRqaBEdlDs1rR0mlkCDqzHzmmbNxgKjnXzWvuf07zoAn8jLMbc3lX3ysQTnAtLxo/s1600/IMG_6489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEy6sPwV12NJAkMFrst2Vs8eg1Sb8I8NOIkxQ8YNbm1AegoliylHKidu3QA-t6gEWNOV0moPLGfKdnRqaBEdlDs1rR0mlkCDqzHzmmbNxgKjnXzWvuf07zoAn8jLMbc3lX3ysQTnAtLxo/s320/IMG_6489.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best part of Mt. Vernon? Free range goats of course.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTq6BwV1ZrPXmGO97Gt4fCAsxzBJAEHiiWEAJSMuZSCJiVr8hIW0nYyITNerv4xhPvB5UkIi6ywGBvPv7iY7GrdQ_uRX42GvsecImoBt0si9JBoCMMiwPNMuWsSOB59jUvMgUDuXVZFxM/s1600/IMG_6556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTq6BwV1ZrPXmGO97Gt4fCAsxzBJAEHiiWEAJSMuZSCJiVr8hIW0nYyITNerv4xhPvB5UkIi6ywGBvPv7iY7GrdQ_uRX42GvsecImoBt0si9JBoCMMiwPNMuWsSOB59jUvMgUDuXVZFxM/s320/IMG_6556.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Air and Space Museum...best kids' room ever.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGPe68Ggrw5k5UKqv6JYU30Atf9wmv1IHSeEK0-13tBzlsO-0-JUw-xbZaGJkE5bHltM5gxmn6vhVrQ_GEhOpMQBj-AsGZzY5yq8OJDB5VNpJRHqnMY665AbbezMu2eBPILSkVkDDH10/s1600/IMG_6574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGPe68Ggrw5k5UKqv6JYU30Atf9wmv1IHSeEK0-13tBzlsO-0-JUw-xbZaGJkE5bHltM5gxmn6vhVrQ_GEhOpMQBj-AsGZzY5yq8OJDB5VNpJRHqnMY665AbbezMu2eBPILSkVkDDH10/s320/IMG_6574.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu's first day of nursery school at FSI. She only went for 8 weeks but it was a great experience. I loved the center. Lulu loved her teachers and classmates.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmC3NuRlbN1sQN12xMId9gPxOMJqOHxDfxGChR4Dy_Obgbg9WuyhutrLdAIwGT1BKVcMhSe7T-CitwgTsBLoeFgcTX_7LMJCroYPrqAnWEjY_FtyQdtvxa3YKZrHKAX_Kky7eLGIuze94/s1600/IMG_6577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmC3NuRlbN1sQN12xMId9gPxOMJqOHxDfxGChR4Dy_Obgbg9WuyhutrLdAIwGT1BKVcMhSe7T-CitwgTsBLoeFgcTX_7LMJCroYPrqAnWEjY_FtyQdtvxa3YKZrHKAX_Kky7eLGIuze94/s320/IMG_6577.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Great Falls.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYT7enAGUQdlCjLHXXAcDyaORhIvXTlfGF0QxuAnTo6eXVdiyKzlIATV5WGFcNVoPeD_VHbctkaWDgavtcP7m4bNcMrIWJo4Om1Utl0yJV2C-H-t1EgHNYv9y6tMjbljhL4VehVGXd4I/s1600/IMG_6626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYT7enAGUQdlCjLHXXAcDyaORhIvXTlfGF0QxuAnTo6eXVdiyKzlIATV5WGFcNVoPeD_VHbctkaWDgavtcP7m4bNcMrIWJo4Om1Utl0yJV2C-H-t1EgHNYv9y6tMjbljhL4VehVGXd4I/s320/IMG_6626.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu helps cut watermelon. On average, I have been eating a watermelon every other day. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMPrRGxLk1HFQi9fkodme-uUVRr9r0JEJDgL-VWb6U_QvqSPM6_ZujPXptgEGkY8xwVfPiVWjG1lTgNZPj2KWjcsEH7584svKvezDNBYcgbsYrCjOQz7Ut14FPBaNiwXTU9L71NBm2AU/s1600/IMG_6740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMPrRGxLk1HFQi9fkodme-uUVRr9r0JEJDgL-VWb6U_QvqSPM6_ZujPXptgEGkY8xwVfPiVWjG1lTgNZPj2KWjcsEH7584svKvezDNBYcgbsYrCjOQz7Ut14FPBaNiwXTU9L71NBm2AU/s320/IMG_6740.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how we spent our days without power. Ghetto pool on the balcony.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdxqfAVwuB3gYUXc3AtH2Nqgrb0aGSFN-KQZFvoSPXjahJp7UWqIbGKlfC-RTYWDtjnRY0rLtAhlIz-gDHvVLWXqPoBnaFzSwpdR0X1ywkL73J23-YVtQX_cbpU2vJNfMWgAQzlHa-sQ/s1600/IMG_6749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdxqfAVwuB3gYUXc3AtH2Nqgrb0aGSFN-KQZFvoSPXjahJp7UWqIbGKlfC-RTYWDtjnRY0rLtAhlIz-gDHvVLWXqPoBnaFzSwpdR0X1ywkL73J23-YVtQX_cbpU2vJNfMWgAQzlHa-sQ/s320/IMG_6749.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sprayground is another way to spend powerless days...Lulu rockin' her full on redneck look.</td></tr>
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<br />Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13616859020005320017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606932555178724869.post-13328280378356698472012-06-28T11:06:00.002-07:002012-06-28T11:55:37.721-07:00Holy Moly...I haven't blogged in 6 MONTHS!When we moved to D.C. and I became a full-time stay at home mother, I really thought I'd do better at keeping up on our lives and documenting events. As my mom always said, "Well, that's where thought got ya!" So true...so true...sigh. Where do I even start? I'm going to try really hard here to do a little everyday. I will start with old events/pictures and end with newer stuff. <br />
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Most important life event: we are expecting a baby boy in November!! How great is that?! We are over the moon and Lulu is pretty excited about it too. Just today she announced to our friends Shin and Solveig, "I'm a big sister!" She melts my heart! <br />
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Other than that, life is pretty mundane these days, which is good. I like mundane, I prefer mundane. We had a little hiccup with our leave date and will be staying here in D.C. suburbia until September instead of August as originally planned. I've recently finished a two month Portuguese class in which I learned A LOT, and especially that I have A LOT more to learn. I am hoping to be able to take an online course to fill the gap from now until we leave. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5KgkvIUqqBs71kMrLaAkyeD0fyEmK3V9EddW-2mk5lTvJ2HO29IrSFOjgC1OXAFIJV6iBeuyVWdTnDlOVgvy6W9170FB6EBQQzH1wXqyBVhD4hRO3TBl_xttYN58b_lFN64wv5CI-Ec/s1600/IMG_6085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5KgkvIUqqBs71kMrLaAkyeD0fyEmK3V9EddW-2mk5lTvJ2HO29IrSFOjgC1OXAFIJV6iBeuyVWdTnDlOVgvy6W9170FB6EBQQzH1wXqyBVhD4hRO3TBl_xttYN58b_lFN64wv5CI-Ec/s320/IMG_6085.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out some art at the National Gallery. This first set of pictures are from February.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8Ee_JfRN-tBjqRgQm0p8aguaYtBtlhfYXePLC8rRGRc4FuBlLzd2i-y2lDsmnRtJx7beFlY_liWLsaZK2IICEpGk9G6Igvt59ujfYsdgXgIzATVgl8PvK8j8aPwpV1znpbWUZxXbYcg/s1600/IMG_6130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8Ee_JfRN-tBjqRgQm0p8aguaYtBtlhfYXePLC8rRGRc4FuBlLzd2i-y2lDsmnRtJx7beFlY_liWLsaZK2IICEpGk9G6Igvt59ujfYsdgXgIzATVgl8PvK8j8aPwpV1znpbWUZxXbYcg/s320/IMG_6130.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally some art she can touch and we love the big K in the background.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7gU4QcD6nvlci9wiQbnBNBxLfgT8G4GFmciTL8BGShsiht-mht_CoaJX3yZu0UwELTWAQIElMZUTo3o2jGznNxI75jJslHgvvgBdBrVfYuSksudAnE5Hwdd2tYe39t_sqFz-xhSrHOM/s1600/IMG_6153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7gU4QcD6nvlci9wiQbnBNBxLfgT8G4GFmciTL8BGShsiht-mht_CoaJX3yZu0UwELTWAQIElMZUTo3o2jGznNxI75jJslHgvvgBdBrVfYuSksudAnE5Hwdd2tYe39t_sqFz-xhSrHOM/s320/IMG_6153.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the cafe Jammin' Java in Vienna...Lulu loves her first 'rock' concert - Rocknoceros. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SFyDXnK1SeXQN_BQk9rZ1fy6QajkzW6bTr2C1TB5Wnj-UaT7aAwqNdBfWpOuwCWHAEK4PlGCYhOL2HFju9C0L7_UcbdwXkeahWfq7f3vXyyxGW_tFszD13C7u80ePWQm1FrlUDttmjw/s1600/IMG_6188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SFyDXnK1SeXQN_BQk9rZ1fy6QajkzW6bTr2C1TB5Wnj-UaT7aAwqNdBfWpOuwCWHAEK4PlGCYhOL2HFju9C0L7_UcbdwXkeahWfq7f3vXyyxGW_tFszD13C7u80ePWQm1FrlUDttmjw/s320/IMG_6188.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We miss New Mexican food... the grub is good but the chile is not hot enough. Boohoo.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitybHuwvVCut6cwxULvd5y-EE-nGkJAd7cqunsH65tnHXCDL0CzjVReVxUzHeWbUaZX1jrvgnO8y8PZVRvw2o-ZFfvAHUf8Y2uUkUI8pG14rJBGdanyLksJnA8TndEzOMNFRArD9yR26s/s1600/IMG_6193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitybHuwvVCut6cwxULvd5y-EE-nGkJAd7cqunsH65tnHXCDL0CzjVReVxUzHeWbUaZX1jrvgnO8y8PZVRvw2o-ZFfvAHUf8Y2uUkUI8pG14rJBGdanyLksJnA8TndEzOMNFRArD9yR26s/s320/IMG_6193.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu loves New Mexican food as well...she likes the mild chile.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHff0vuPSVOZHgCvpagjOWoW_Xtui6cCBnBw1XDRiARAIdj8nUBOAZmYXNA0LrlXmdU33fzelORIzSJ6bvvOZ9NsV26D5xcCUI5Y8rIbbXhP0NNyb7nLna0WSAMqqXx2oLSwfOZKF4Hvc/s1600/IMG_6200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHff0vuPSVOZHgCvpagjOWoW_Xtui6cCBnBw1XDRiARAIdj8nUBOAZmYXNA0LrlXmdU33fzelORIzSJ6bvvOZ9NsV26D5xcCUI5Y8rIbbXhP0NNyb7nLna0WSAMqqXx2oLSwfOZKF4Hvc/s320/IMG_6200.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At 'The Building Museum.'</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1cYILwXnDtkgo1UdS1LF2HuJ-_SrdvAbsrEyTv_3p3Bj5K7hV2LK9ep82c9crlJqkZyb8Ym5r0Tt45b-p648MKecytLeoXSezSrZbzyZMJhxy3QUHPJp1XtJ0qD1mXlKZQe7KZqTCzo/s1600/IMG_6203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1cYILwXnDtkgo1UdS1LF2HuJ-_SrdvAbsrEyTv_3p3Bj5K7hV2LK9ep82c9crlJqkZyb8Ym5r0Tt45b-p648MKecytLeoXSezSrZbzyZMJhxy3QUHPJp1XtJ0qD1mXlKZQe7KZqTCzo/s320/IMG_6203.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwebOzSrDFLl5X6OzZtmDizGRRxN9seB0EKnGCJerlCt93vIVbEDMRvCTUZNm2u2RA7V6QwdPle09p39qkYQk_0vxwmQ0aP3KlWjI1lPvzKweLLZA8AMFeQylekgNh2il_jC6NXo0Yasc/s1600/IMG_6208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwebOzSrDFLl5X6OzZtmDizGRRxN9seB0EKnGCJerlCt93vIVbEDMRvCTUZNm2u2RA7V6QwdPle09p39qkYQk_0vxwmQ0aP3KlWjI1lPvzKweLLZA8AMFeQylekgNh2il_jC6NXo0Yasc/s320/IMG_6208.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Lego exhibit at The Building Museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitR-NVdjeHOw-U53h-0g0Sp7shXXQxrJMq3MOp4qZABwXiIO2PZKMseXKR7pXwJP6dmz_BAvzpL6DEk9EUgHYMd48IgKGDiEiMS6Iose8W6oBMI49Rsnubgop8Y_uIHazqZbl5Umnz9d4/s1600/IMG_6220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitR-NVdjeHOw-U53h-0g0Sp7shXXQxrJMq3MOp4qZABwXiIO2PZKMseXKR7pXwJP6dmz_BAvzpL6DEk9EUgHYMd48IgKGDiEiMS6Iose8W6oBMI49Rsnubgop8Y_uIHazqZbl5Umnz9d4/s320/IMG_6220.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lego room.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-ywHDVT2Nwt_hLK4c4kQ8fa3-PfMV2ovurLz4LPfMy88SlA8VC9bbP91XFPvnY84j8OXTzkLzsPrOxNn65OrQiNc45P6N3dcsSnu4Hy4fKXosHR0fXWio2JkRxrWEtAeLpAdL5VN3SA/s1600/IMG_6269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-ywHDVT2Nwt_hLK4c4kQ8fa3-PfMV2ovurLz4LPfMy88SlA8VC9bbP91XFPvnY84j8OXTzkLzsPrOxNn65OrQiNc45P6N3dcsSnu4Hy4fKXosHR0fXWio2JkRxrWEtAeLpAdL5VN3SA/s320/IMG_6269.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids room at The Building Museum.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPhiIGAsX3u5AesPByl_S72hDe5EeBkE_5tS3Y3c_HwnXw13IWrQY1JEN9x5Xxy-sJ8SPcibVZ1y44wiKiO759wHSJcIh2RRWpwO-emyP_FQCG3PgXzBzh0WEU4OYnhEs1uid5TOI-lE/s1600/IMG_6632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPhiIGAsX3u5AesPByl_S72hDe5EeBkE_5tS3Y3c_HwnXw13IWrQY1JEN9x5Xxy-sJ8SPcibVZ1y44wiKiO759wHSJcIh2RRWpwO-emyP_FQCG3PgXzBzh0WEU4OYnhEs1uid5TOI-lE/s320/IMG_6632.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now June pics. Here is Lulu with her cousin Owen and of course Mr. Lincoln (oh and Duck too...lulu has gotten in the habit of taking something with her everywhere we go).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdb76iUt2lUytDbFcWKRidQEOqpBLnUf4ewwiC3MCKrhoMtsotwqwtu36X6_3s7UGriOQqQd8CU2Q5o3nAnkgBeLeX3lDr5uFsXdIpuQiYXcWS_XevT0WY90OKNEzBscDlDNxIg6CvFFc/s1600/IMG_6634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdb76iUt2lUytDbFcWKRidQEOqpBLnUf4ewwiC3MCKrhoMtsotwqwtu36X6_3s7UGriOQqQd8CU2Q5o3nAnkgBeLeX3lDr5uFsXdIpuQiYXcWS_XevT0WY90OKNEzBscDlDNxIg6CvFFc/s320/IMG_6634.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Lincoln Memorial with some of Darrin's family.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASAPj4m_YDdp5uBBOijDYxqY9gj0zG9RI4P8kRnMimdC232_3WQtlGOdmq3BLgbfnd14l3MqrfYVYaWc753umblodO_CGIX2-7mWZ3aAkCTfyRVKYZVoJiXaHMNkmxTGJjldO_UXWTho/s1600/IMG_6638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASAPj4m_YDdp5uBBOijDYxqY9gj0zG9RI4P8kRnMimdC232_3WQtlGOdmq3BLgbfnd14l3MqrfYVYaWc753umblodO_CGIX2-7mWZ3aAkCTfyRVKYZVoJiXaHMNkmxTGJjldO_UXWTho/s320/IMG_6638.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">D.C. at night is my favorite. This is from the WWII monument...which is my favorite monument.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMMP54oLJG28EU5G5yFuSyfKjVGJgiIAMT3kS9s22HxrsbiwPquYoyEpqqwwTXrAgc_jjfloe_kzY279QE83WbbGkzrKGQjkWE_3HxuZ5tY3GpjFWmtIgQRiq_cX9AZGqmsSs6nly4oE/s1600/IMG_6642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMMP54oLJG28EU5G5yFuSyfKjVGJgiIAMT3kS9s22HxrsbiwPquYoyEpqqwwTXrAgc_jjfloe_kzY279QE83WbbGkzrKGQjkWE_3HxuZ5tY3GpjFWmtIgQRiq_cX9AZGqmsSs6nly4oE/s320/IMG_6642.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lu at the WWII monument.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBw6PtA_Fzo-oakvbVDwBkbbEipyk3rnFXkF7XWpzIApDnxQhY5zmB3xWa_3QwNXfBWymTIoakwfvcm1m0LelcYUYNK8j0c0rg08pO3hvCLHt5D-0wje8G4KDgmSOJb57nQkE5sZfdA1w/s1600/IMG_6676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBw6PtA_Fzo-oakvbVDwBkbbEipyk3rnFXkF7XWpzIApDnxQhY5zmB3xWa_3QwNXfBWymTIoakwfvcm1m0LelcYUYNK8j0c0rg08pO3hvCLHt5D-0wje8G4KDgmSOJb57nQkE5sZfdA1w/s320/IMG_6676.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu is 2 1/2 now and her character is enormous these days.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaWl6uZd5ZKcYnk4-1KAFJsZDrRoaloYUpRiLYFLV4qtFyLp1UBoZRodof1E-F5p26D6lATFcah0eBgPXBho0g3oPoGFCR8XlPdmrnBKCrBBG_MgJ06Yh0uVFI-YWeNSZLRdnEP0luA4/s1600/IMG_6684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaWl6uZd5ZKcYnk4-1KAFJsZDrRoaloYUpRiLYFLV4qtFyLp1UBoZRodof1E-F5p26D6lATFcah0eBgPXBho0g3oPoGFCR8XlPdmrnBKCrBBG_MgJ06Yh0uVFI-YWeNSZLRdnEP0luA4/s320/IMG_6684.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A balloon from the local Farmer's Market.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlmc2JBpaFVjvbreRTuvJ82YpiDVetNQom4uV_CI5-7ZNsioZcGPHVPcfuUGhXxve4qpeEf2m9zvambfaFDXVfkEDSWeGdIh7z1Z5VGvzSaJCbTF300kGKIQNLii19J3wE5qXFVx6rcY/s1600/IMG_6696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlmc2JBpaFVjvbreRTuvJ82YpiDVetNQom4uV_CI5-7ZNsioZcGPHVPcfuUGhXxve4qpeEf2m9zvambfaFDXVfkEDSWeGdIh7z1Z5VGvzSaJCbTF300kGKIQNLii19J3wE5qXFVx6rcY/s320/IMG_6696.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hirshhorn Museum -blue room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxaNNi406LCST4sSabu3LWogAgjx0lDL7mzNtsa5aeoRgUsI-pzSr8IPpW1rX8Ir4_vr1NM-Q_VMWzSJ4hKyprlS2-EG6oepHdqRwu8-K9jMDqfcOHx77UMVjBs8y6RARbytYQKJwe8w/s1600/IMG_6700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxaNNi406LCST4sSabu3LWogAgjx0lDL7mzNtsa5aeoRgUsI-pzSr8IPpW1rX8Ir4_vr1NM-Q_VMWzSJ4hKyprlS2-EG6oepHdqRwu8-K9jMDqfcOHx77UMVjBs8y6RARbytYQKJwe8w/s320/IMG_6700.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhDsXjrhufQpm-H7st4IsiVzXly4HD0nm7M3iShKiEixeo1C9Vd5RBeEpRdfFEqnaXeuH_Yib-_NuSADboyL6ht7scA2Sdss2ZrT3vo0EHylyJZSBuJDK6KSHHWtRYMFwp8mF8gyCE3w/s1600/IMG_6703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhDsXjrhufQpm-H7st4IsiVzXly4HD0nm7M3iShKiEixeo1C9Vd5RBeEpRdfFEqnaXeuH_Yib-_NuSADboyL6ht7scA2Sdss2ZrT3vo0EHylyJZSBuJDK6KSHHWtRYMFwp8mF8gyCE3w/s320/IMG_6703.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZNMlTqmz9998J8QeFJH85GKug6vKu35K6GSyymdBpspA7cFMGXDu4vOxByRNFiIY4CQHhNIQdSUqI4icwyMrvWZ5HQBPEjb0pwHQJgABhERStqpFdsfZfHD4S-e0NaVISO-x2CVo5QU/s1600/IMG_6716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZNMlTqmz9998J8QeFJH85GKug6vKu35K6GSyymdBpspA7cFMGXDu4vOxByRNFiIY4CQHhNIQdSUqI4icwyMrvWZ5HQBPEjb0pwHQJgABhERStqpFdsfZfHD4S-e0NaVISO-x2CVo5QU/s320/IMG_6716.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hirshhorn Museum is really great!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKl1ZbzLQie6iTK9lm-_s33gr1pvC1YyYWfymn6FqMQFLaGTA692mXaDGcYV_Uwe0My49YKDWQCZRaMTRUn0MmCRu2F5CywtL7UoG186C4rs1RVeRaKmAvD-IzLnEdd8AkQYDyrSlRtoU/s1600/IMG_6727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKl1ZbzLQie6iTK9lm-_s33gr1pvC1YyYWfymn6FqMQFLaGTA692mXaDGcYV_Uwe0My49YKDWQCZRaMTRUn0MmCRu2F5CywtL7UoG186C4rs1RVeRaKmAvD-IzLnEdd8AkQYDyrSlRtoU/s320/IMG_6727.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where are you going Lulu? Sao Paulo. Duh...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju76N2riWU3qPRZUhTyrk4Ox2wz7rpeXNLwg5jQAPx92hxQWUnJjlOkTH6L99YpJRSHYqKrCikP_QKw4U_6qWN8PNLDkWPKbc_QSDlj4spd6IAypUr0rPfp4KzztW76gaAsiHiwOizD1s/s1600/IMG_6733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju76N2riWU3qPRZUhTyrk4Ox2wz7rpeXNLwg5jQAPx92hxQWUnJjlOkTH6L99YpJRSHYqKrCikP_QKw4U_6qWN8PNLDkWPKbc_QSDlj4spd6IAypUr0rPfp4KzztW76gaAsiHiwOizD1s/s320/IMG_6733.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu wanted me to take her picture this morning. When I showed her she told me it wasn't her. The girl in the picture has 'crazy hair'. </td></tr>
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We don't have much planned for the summer. Hoping for a quick trip home to Michigan at the end of July and I'm going to plan at least a weekend trip to the Atlantic before the summer is over. Other than that we will spend a lot of time at the pool - Lulu loves the water - and just hanging out being our summer-selves.Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13616859020005320017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606932555178724869.post-70801613673770621092012-01-29T19:33:00.000-08:002012-01-29T19:43:02.625-08:00We Get Out of Falls Church for the DayHealthwise, 2012 has not been so good to us. Not that we have chronic illnesses or anything, thank-goodness, just we've been hit with back to back viruses. We had the cough and congestion crud, then the stomach flu, back to cough and congestion. Lulu and I never get sick and here we are all sick and stuff. My all-knowing sister, Meredith, made a good point about being in a new environment and in closer quarters than we're used to (soviet style apartment life) so maybe we are a little more susceptible to new germs. I don't like it one bit. I had all these plans to go into the city every weekend and really enjoy our time here, but so far this year we've been kinda cooped up. Poor Lulu even missed 3 class sessions of her little toddler programs. This weekend we finally made it out to the Smithsonian. Lulu really likes to ride the metro and she does a great job letting us be geeky and look at all the museum stuff.<br />
<div>Other things we've gotten to do between illnesses is host a few dinners, celebrate Chinese New Year, discover a couple new great parks (there are more great parks around here than anywhere i've ever known), and hit up the local thrift stores. Especially goodwill - i am seriously thinking i should be a full time shopper for used children's clothes i find the best stuff these days. I've been out looking for nice clothes for Lulu for Brazil. Darrin discovered that kids clothes there are 3x more expensive so I'm working an inventory. <br />
Anytime I preshop for Lulu I always think that the clothes are so big she'll never fit into them. But I know better. She grows and grows. Child development never ceases to amaze me. Lulu is making all these huge leaps in cognition, language, and motor skills. When you watch these things happen to your own child, all that teachery knowledge and second hand experience of watching other children grow becomes obsolete. In case you're interested, but you're probably not since this is our kid but whatevs, I'm still going to talk about it (ha!) - new things that Lulu is up to these days:</div><div><ul><li>Rides her balance bike...youtube balance bikes if you're unfamiliar...best invention ever and has seriously improved Lulu's desire to do physical activities. She tends to prefer literacy activities, make believe, and fine motor things like paint and playdough. But lots of practice on the balance bike seems to have made her more confident and agile in many gross motor activities. She has better balance - go figure.</li>
<li>Draws circles, zigzags, and straight lines when asked to.</li>
<li>Names basic shapes. </li>
<li>Knows some letters - C, O, D, and others depending on day (so random). And pretends to read everything. </li>
<li>Asks questions about things - "how it works?"</li>
<li>Is bossy and controlling - "that bad manners." "that's mine." Pushing and hitting (cringe). Throws fits to get her way. Knows about time-out and does not want to have one.</li>
<li>Is diaper free all day long and rarely has accidents. Old fashioned training pants are the cutest things ever!</li>
<li>Shows compassion - worries over other kids crying and wants to know that their parents will take care of them. </li>
<li>Continues to be our little love. Obviously.</li>
</ul><div>Enough already, right?! Here's the picture montage of our day at the Museum of American History.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFujaFXwc4giNbQvvGbVx4SlGciLZgYv8C1Z0238tlgsoqfyu0mrFg4zD642Z3y19yEMcXjNUxRE9TWQ0FuCTanqZM1oX2kKni3ZV5jhZuwkcQWG6MuizB4B80K5SEMBBmn_qdyBt4j_8/s1600/IMG_6005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFujaFXwc4giNbQvvGbVx4SlGciLZgYv8C1Z0238tlgsoqfyu0mrFg4zD642Z3y19yEMcXjNUxRE9TWQ0FuCTanqZM1oX2kKni3ZV5jhZuwkcQWG6MuizB4B80K5SEMBBmn_qdyBt4j_8/s320/IMG_6005.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the "mecho chain."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGu6lALMT0dF-IIEyvV6CN_ZI0Aq4WGKRfjeH_-Hg_YniiXT5_LOlQeWNAzdL9y8rIzFRXnPQMrYI-iuwSnvbCVvyyShmQrpgjwVjoUF9yQ84D5sK-KxL6CkqG1DcGKYwI5LCVGpcZ40/s1600/IMG_6006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGu6lALMT0dF-IIEyvV6CN_ZI0Aq4WGKRfjeH_-Hg_YniiXT5_LOlQeWNAzdL9y8rIzFRXnPQMrYI-iuwSnvbCVvyyShmQrpgjwVjoUF9yQ84D5sK-KxL6CkqG1DcGKYwI5LCVGpcZ40/s320/IMG_6006.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our metro line from East Falls Church to the Smithsonian no transfers. How lucky is that?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4XP4jkmpvI28VXG9uDyByEQM7wtO1xVDg24LwHbrVKzGQPa68KyIFLnmYyFWauP2kV484OeFiE2YAM33CMHCV6B_GEKin93Qsou9i9FjdeY9xSkpsmzv-lt_Vvp0DUu-dsXi-vOnFT0/s1600/IMG_6009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4XP4jkmpvI28VXG9uDyByEQM7wtO1xVDg24LwHbrVKzGQPa68KyIFLnmYyFWauP2kV484OeFiE2YAM33CMHCV6B_GEKin93Qsou9i9FjdeY9xSkpsmzv-lt_Vvp0DUu-dsXi-vOnFT0/s320/IMG_6009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East Falls Church is the first (or last depending on what way you're going) stop above ground. The next stop (Ballston ) is underground.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkrEee95x1c8J1gmeMcPdHw-D0lqSR6S520ZO7rH-GVuikMwfwxYsTpbKRtfVR4gLTHfOB0p59wqTJwuE2fj18OcqmH1F_yM5NZ9rAcQqUdqQ8rQZqiuoi8utGpd8dokds8X31VQH8bo/s1600/IMG_6011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkrEee95x1c8J1gmeMcPdHw-D0lqSR6S520ZO7rH-GVuikMwfwxYsTpbKRtfVR4gLTHfOB0p59wqTJwuE2fj18OcqmH1F_yM5NZ9rAcQqUdqQ8rQZqiuoi8utGpd8dokds8X31VQH8bo/s320/IMG_6011.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing ball waiting for the train.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6L7dsjhcvtM9UD6D0LnMfqmzxgk5-i6cxzn6sJ2piisv57kvD__xp9ItmV4gkj7Do9hXlK0Bg9_5zgJFVNy6owjjrqoqiQYdCQWvoHLoJ0Z_oegKV2VujPXjgQuAr-xUdmCHXNnXUWp8/s1600/IMG_6025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6L7dsjhcvtM9UD6D0LnMfqmzxgk5-i6cxzn6sJ2piisv57kvD__xp9ItmV4gkj7Do9hXlK0Bg9_5zgJFVNy6owjjrqoqiQYdCQWvoHLoJ0Z_oegKV2VujPXjgQuAr-xUdmCHXNnXUWp8/s320/IMG_6025.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was kind of a long wait at the station today. We had time to kill.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYJ45rLNPN76reeStP-Lj7QDHkIsLzfQp_rLP9DmzHbaRCkRyeNyjYfadwG3IJ8brYFONFWye_wvpG8UV9aE7MbailBWl6j5heGsTktlTOTUw5vZajE02xnhxPuS35qlIVgbfk6sb5mk/s1600/IMG_6027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYJ45rLNPN76reeStP-Lj7QDHkIsLzfQp_rLP9DmzHbaRCkRyeNyjYfadwG3IJ8brYFONFWye_wvpG8UV9aE7MbailBWl6j5heGsTktlTOTUw5vZajE02xnhxPuS35qlIVgbfk6sb5mk/s320/IMG_6027.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu insists on her own seat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YJkZi3iBezBsDTR25KpuLv1_euFxpw-nDfP5AOmskuGUslsGE3KVj7yZjrdR3BM4zoagfmbMeYcJGF48GWDPpzU7WPPMHQUEumH-USUJR9UUjOgbbF-iDCSZM3DyF7fUkdLiPQwU-dY/s1600/IMG_6030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YJkZi3iBezBsDTR25KpuLv1_euFxpw-nDfP5AOmskuGUslsGE3KVj7yZjrdR3BM4zoagfmbMeYcJGF48GWDPpzU7WPPMHQUEumH-USUJR9UUjOgbbF-iDCSZM3DyF7fUkdLiPQwU-dY/s320/IMG_6030.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The D.C. Metro is complex.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgys6K4Lhtv67Ue5WF612WfMusD57wVlfD2rZI5pjOWM5aNjLYcoMjFVptGz_QyX_VwXns5Od8vUVblEra4TbIHm9TkcpBFwfiD-5Ac0QL5eHT-rVpTuDHYaN_mYmCt1qr_h32wNx9WQQs/s1600/IMG_6031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgys6K4Lhtv67Ue5WF612WfMusD57wVlfD2rZI5pjOWM5aNjLYcoMjFVptGz_QyX_VwXns5Od8vUVblEra4TbIHm9TkcpBFwfiD-5Ac0QL5eHT-rVpTuDHYaN_mYmCt1qr_h32wNx9WQQs/s320/IMG_6031.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Smithsonian stop.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qFqs_yBYsATeDnw0A6voebBtLmiBtxUCKe5E2CxEfWFcHpyMaIv8Zf5v-dLIxOFq7fs61oT9jj1e2uYwwVzir0J32ik6a29wvkI4Kzl86dAX0iUgmLmFK5psz-Z5tGTYxTPiYKtCQbc/s1600/IMG_6035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qFqs_yBYsATeDnw0A6voebBtLmiBtxUCKe5E2CxEfWFcHpyMaIv8Zf5v-dLIxOFq7fs61oT9jj1e2uYwwVzir0J32ik6a29wvkI4Kzl86dAX0iUgmLmFK5psz-Z5tGTYxTPiYKtCQbc/s320/IMG_6035.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some days when I'm driving in Virginia I can see the Washington Monument. It makes me remember where I live now.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdnOqhRClIs3cIcNfZEgZ8xz9rczeSMVt9vjlEmclp83jFIeAbzUViwnmEnF4uRRmFM374KgcnRWVwswxrM5X3VsomxZsugDTTzVoGmG1KghXrOb6SUnw9vOXzqfwC88Wa0Rt7rdp318/s1600/IMG_6039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdnOqhRClIs3cIcNfZEgZ8xz9rczeSMVt9vjlEmclp83jFIeAbzUViwnmEnF4uRRmFM374KgcnRWVwswxrM5X3VsomxZsugDTTzVoGmG1KghXrOb6SUnw9vOXzqfwC88Wa0Rt7rdp318/s320/IMG_6039.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the cheesiness of this picture. I was like "I'm gonna pose for an action shot." And this is what we got!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nHCgtfrPPHhGKAq0xn9Rxn4eeDkCJElHur0HSpc2aAdciPqfCH7LC958coeE-3wR3JL9urjbzHOfZIqgwlxCn_FUhCyOudcT53EbrSd0h9OX00qKPVJqp-DoV1StKTQ40AVbPnpMw6M/s1600/IMG_6043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nHCgtfrPPHhGKAq0xn9Rxn4eeDkCJElHur0HSpc2aAdciPqfCH7LC958coeE-3wR3JL9urjbzHOfZIqgwlxCn_FUhCyOudcT53EbrSd0h9OX00qKPVJqp-DoV1StKTQ40AVbPnpMw6M/s320/IMG_6043.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out the garden. Wow.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BGTsFyN6hlteoqkNydGEQ_H5Hr2j42hupyK8Q8qQZXOoqQsoUWzacSWzDc8WDK_8pPQvW0mywnjb862Df3nT1T-Fn5T7yUERlUq3myMUQSbQ6SJ8Q89hAxdcwqO3idhYxKVQqsd2K30/s1600/IMG_6046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BGTsFyN6hlteoqkNydGEQ_H5Hr2j42hupyK8Q8qQZXOoqQsoUWzacSWzDc8WDK_8pPQvW0mywnjb862Df3nT1T-Fn5T7yUERlUq3myMUQSbQ6SJ8Q89hAxdcwqO3idhYxKVQqsd2K30/s320/IMG_6046.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved these WWII propaganda posters.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRmlGRPunvBZDrRIv51R51JYxeHmKPkEu7_LclXXvrG4VvwZU0l3nwVgfdDQtni4TYdBwqnNju2c_ZFCK07zEMOn8xZ3XDLY18_Qx9ORGYzLUATTodfd5LwibvqXGWQB3RB3FdnyUL30/s1600/IMG_6049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRmlGRPunvBZDrRIv51R51JYxeHmKPkEu7_LclXXvrG4VvwZU0l3nwVgfdDQtni4TYdBwqnNju2c_ZFCK07zEMOn8xZ3XDLY18_Qx9ORGYzLUATTodfd5LwibvqXGWQB3RB3FdnyUL30/s320/IMG_6049.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbY6Fq0KM5gvi16qihdWzGdOknRJ0bCKzwygDEjX_cFSLWrQwNepa5xZdKHvVPqSv6XsR3sDMlBtQeXq_3dFL970Ks1zkEgW8nZLcZvXZ3YKwHYvCdf3Eue-MYdnw4mxrVMfHlRJLzjg/s1600/IMG_6054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbY6Fq0KM5gvi16qihdWzGdOknRJ0bCKzwygDEjX_cFSLWrQwNepa5xZdKHvVPqSv6XsR3sDMlBtQeXq_3dFL970Ks1zkEgW8nZLcZvXZ3YKwHYvCdf3Eue-MYdnw4mxrVMfHlRJLzjg/s320/IMG_6054.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Advertisements for WWII VA loans. So CLICHE!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEZqCRXdNpbghZWptY84dWmXGpNIpS6VYbDhlF2lwYSaNbm3L-w8F1I7KB3muoOPHbj7OB_UkKSN61Ud8IHgWp04JsuAm36Ju3aFPlfZy5syJ79Y-aLhP53hgjzS0RpnBlb4LJSDwfzc/s1600/IMG_6055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEZqCRXdNpbghZWptY84dWmXGpNIpS6VYbDhlF2lwYSaNbm3L-w8F1I7KB3muoOPHbj7OB_UkKSN61Ud8IHgWp04JsuAm36Ju3aFPlfZy5syJ79Y-aLhP53hgjzS0RpnBlb4LJSDwfzc/s320/IMG_6055.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6S28vDoqVZltNNu66ZBYQ2pc42dWrg2v5IVRC2UQCPn8Oxsc1MGYDskZOj0NivkRZeBMYSQScKKHFwWDuNHutv9DM_2UDmbn6kRfh12nCjKC2ls6XIKf0F5VOpYiRZP-L9TlRzml2x9g/s1600/IMG_6056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6S28vDoqVZltNNu66ZBYQ2pc42dWrg2v5IVRC2UQCPn8Oxsc1MGYDskZOj0NivkRZeBMYSQScKKHFwWDuNHutv9DM_2UDmbn6kRfh12nCjKC2ls6XIKf0F5VOpYiRZP-L9TlRzml2x9g/s320/IMG_6056.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGq2Te9jA5NZc_h1W_Q8rJAIP9IlleAXUd3O2q5jzVDm6mBq17UN3rZv3diGHYNDz7MXATSCkWaYdUEGZ1SGyM3nXK4PUI47MO-37_gIvHvOmeNwmAooryHoemFU3rDu9j8lrIfVHoEwY/s1600/IMG_6060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGq2Te9jA5NZc_h1W_Q8rJAIP9IlleAXUd3O2q5jzVDm6mBq17UN3rZv3diGHYNDz7MXATSCkWaYdUEGZ1SGyM3nXK4PUI47MO-37_gIvHvOmeNwmAooryHoemFU3rDu9j8lrIfVHoEwY/s320/IMG_6060.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXB6IqPYc8RUqSX4kkCGoghlrxjKJb0Jejco6CfAMWYUaGoyF51EE7btJmZKP2ozKDckgBlvCLrWrC5bnvWlNIwnec5HV4C3aRG9cpR6P6tdv8WF90O7f1TyWZY-UhpjykOklBlLRzcXs/s1600/IMG_6065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXB6IqPYc8RUqSX4kkCGoghlrxjKJb0Jejco6CfAMWYUaGoyF51EE7btJmZKP2ozKDckgBlvCLrWrC5bnvWlNIwnec5HV4C3aRG9cpR6P6tdv8WF90O7f1TyWZY-UhpjykOklBlLRzcXs/s320/IMG_6065.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jewish boys taking a break. This I also loved.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDSoRUXvolahpI7vCge0hPzu3EWMmy4duaE3rRR2z3zSp2kLLRna6e-eRTZcdv11MfyLOzaCLQAGehuffeuKhKiRfkvR37NvocPy9RNKHKndbaaMIb9TSCENWfuwafawvwHt3MgGB8DaU/s1600/IMG_6066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDSoRUXvolahpI7vCge0hPzu3EWMmy4duaE3rRR2z3zSp2kLLRna6e-eRTZcdv11MfyLOzaCLQAGehuffeuKhKiRfkvR37NvocPy9RNKHKndbaaMIb9TSCENWfuwafawvwHt3MgGB8DaU/s320/IMG_6066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDUGtUZ1zC01SeYEygyUWlRc2qqspaWgMnR8O8_YuG_bmZWwdsJMOfGLvpNBr9q0HAxXAcr55CucVp1cG2Tbd99CHbNm1pQiEsPkJtQQBKTFijDlNHYBNdJBVmmnrPJdifRajdH1kR0s/s1600/IMG_6069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDUGtUZ1zC01SeYEygyUWlRc2qqspaWgMnR8O8_YuG_bmZWwdsJMOfGLvpNBr9q0HAxXAcr55CucVp1cG2Tbd99CHbNm1pQiEsPkJtQQBKTFijDlNHYBNdJBVmmnrPJdifRajdH1kR0s/s320/IMG_6069.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim Henson's early puppets. The pop-culture exhibit was disappointing, but they are currently redoing it. I love pop-culture.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicytMS3N3FP0bNwG1txUC-GsuPZGDAn05ccX8kbsdTNMpv2kHqfg3rW415OmGqMwtlGhLqXJo4_iYse7K8NOoa9bd0njnNitR8mMNCoJchIVpjvCCQ9RFBAwEdB4JtEq-e27H10_whd_o/s1600/IMG_6071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicytMS3N3FP0bNwG1txUC-GsuPZGDAn05ccX8kbsdTNMpv2kHqfg3rW415OmGqMwtlGhLqXJo4_iYse7K8NOoa9bd0njnNitR8mMNCoJchIVpjvCCQ9RFBAwEdB4JtEq-e27H10_whd_o/s320/IMG_6071.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fabulous metal flag.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKgCxOzt1JUsxp-f0rwTg7oKVm93nbyIH7JDT7ewoSwlaoNBoAoZJik7LST2WEZmL9WznuasQpnBpweK7oOrFBqZwBPXGWh2jz2R9qPcvt_70UCu_P0CbcfYyR_Xzcz7_6WbdZ89b_do/s1600/IMG_6074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKgCxOzt1JUsxp-f0rwTg7oKVm93nbyIH7JDT7ewoSwlaoNBoAoZJik7LST2WEZmL9WznuasQpnBpweK7oOrFBqZwBPXGWh2jz2R9qPcvt_70UCu_P0CbcfYyR_Xzcz7_6WbdZ89b_do/s320/IMG_6074.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This actor was portraying a civil rights era training session for non-violent demonstration. Timeless. He was amazing.<br />
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</div></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13616859020005320017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606932555178724869.post-7305611208798897262012-01-18T11:20:00.000-08:002012-01-18T11:20:26.554-08:00From ABQ to D.C./Va in thirteen parts. This being the second post of three.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqcw3u7sj-x7O2HP_9kOwSxSOWu8osJORGFjFVaXpVxrtb6dZkqGMjtq4P5jYoGoMq1tL3rA1Pf4vmDkEeijAXPjF4yuHvD5KLgHdQHd6Xz9TIw-xtspIiWXZ_i3fP5544Kiz6rK-HUE/s1600/IMG_5603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqcw3u7sj-x7O2HP_9kOwSxSOWu8osJORGFjFVaXpVxrtb6dZkqGMjtq4P5jYoGoMq1tL3rA1Pf4vmDkEeijAXPjF4yuHvD5KLgHdQHd6Xz9TIw-xtspIiWXZ_i3fP5544Kiz6rK-HUE/s200/IMG_5603.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween in a Hotel</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>7.</b></span> Now we get to the actual relocating part. We left from ABQ on November 1. On Halloween we stayed in a hotel b.c. we had nothing left in our house. I was super bummed that Lulu didn't get to dress up and go trick-or-treating, but she had fun swimming in the pool at our hotel instead. Lulu and I flew to Michigan. She learned to climb out of her pack and play there and spent every night crowding me out of bed. Oh well...it's always worth it to reconnect with our family and that is all we did. Lulu was great on all the plane trips and she sat in her own seat for the first time which made a huge difference on my sanity. I lugged her car seat through the airport but it was worth it to have her contained, comfortable, and asleep for much of the flights. Oh yes, and we left our beloved dog, Pippa, with Darrin's mom and dad. She's an old dog and we didn't think apartment living and world traveling would be right for her....BOOHOO, WAAAA. I love that dog!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnuHm4tJ2ZAeL3KEK-t3NI4Ie6cEJnDzuhyphenhyphenU-k2VBeEzZ9JoRV7nmLpZkAsHuy4zFg-yxVy-ePUouKB21NV7IrN4X2QGmEuplHzYTbM-QnOStKYI5KSAfSHhqBqP-ASnPCMUxaLMeg4M/s1600/IMG_5621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnuHm4tJ2ZAeL3KEK-t3NI4Ie6cEJnDzuhyphenhyphenU-k2VBeEzZ9JoRV7nmLpZkAsHuy4zFg-yxVy-ePUouKB21NV7IrN4X2QGmEuplHzYTbM-QnOStKYI5KSAfSHhqBqP-ASnPCMUxaLMeg4M/s200/IMG_5621.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu loves baby Mihren.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnvkJrp3qeVg3iaBtpn0a4TLeRKu-YyOIgj-JTmr9y-kl1BQBk1AiZtBVvesbgL9f6PMjJ7TL7BDbdwbbwYKlzEjPOvhSJRfaI0qgO6Ih4CDke2q2H0UjiyrYvy-AwCYtloyGSmOy4zw/s1600/IMG_5607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnvkJrp3qeVg3iaBtpn0a4TLeRKu-YyOIgj-JTmr9y-kl1BQBk1AiZtBVvesbgL9f6PMjJ7TL7BDbdwbbwYKlzEjPOvhSJRfaI0qgO6Ih4CDke2q2H0UjiyrYvy-AwCYtloyGSmOy4zw/s200/IMG_5607.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dream come true...<br />
Lulu behaves on the plane.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">8</span></b>. We joined Darrin in Falls Church, VA. Falls Church is about 10 minutes from D.C. just west of Arlington. It seems like any suburb with plenty to do. It's pretty diverse and not too exciting, but it seems fine. One thing I am seriously disappointed in is the quality of community children's programs it offers more on that later. We live in furnished short term apartments which seems to house mostly foreign service people and others somehow associated with the foreign service. It has a shuttle that takes Darrin to the Foreign Service Institute everyday (and brings him home too, of course). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>9</b></span>. Lulu learned to climb out of her crib in the apartment. We've had a one bedroom apartment b/c they had a waiting list for two bedrooms and Lulu had a crib in the bedroom. Second night here she let herself out. We said goodbye to the crib and put the mattress on the floor for her. <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">10</span></b>. We've been getting around and keeping ourselves BUSY! We've gone into D.C. a few times on the metro which is easy and convenient to use. We've gone to some fabulous farmer's market where I am happy to find humanely raised meat products and other fine food. I've been Christmas shopping and finding my way around Falls Church. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gz3E3cVBuKOt8iXeLuD0sYDkmtqvjHX4zaG_UM_Cy3lVISVR1VT3LNS9OGykjm9iPjCTIQNsSd2hHGP4XrNtG0uuBZuG3bpQFJX9s0CofFL05w9CrXXV4kjPOxCdpPVoqeXJ79o7hxc/s1600/IMG_5662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gz3E3cVBuKOt8iXeLuD0sYDkmtqvjHX4zaG_UM_Cy3lVISVR1VT3LNS9OGykjm9iPjCTIQNsSd2hHGP4XrNtG0uuBZuG3bpQFJX9s0CofFL05w9CrXXV4kjPOxCdpPVoqeXJ79o7hxc/s320/IMG_5662.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu and her new friend Solveig</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As I said earlier, I've been looking for quality children's programs for Lulu and this has been my biggest complaint so far. I think part of it has to do with my teacher's eye. We have a little activity center at the apt. complex here and there are programs for toddlers three mornings a week. Two of them are called Kiddy Korner. Basically, the activity director of the complex sets out bins of toys and the kids have a free for all. This drives me nuts! It is utter CHAOS. The toys are disorganized and you have to search through the buckets to find pieces. There are so many toys that kids are tripping over them constantly. I am appalled that this is even an acceptable activity. Do the other mothers find it appropriate? I wish I were brave enough to complain or even make a suggestion to organize the toys and designate parts of the room for different activities (blocks, dolls, puzzles, etc.) On a positive note I did meet another mom whose husband is in Darrin's class. She has a daughter just two months older than Lulu and we have gotten together several times. The other activity here at the complex is a 'music' group. Here the activity director puts in a Raffi cd and has a sing along while all the other mothers sit around and talk. I cannot stand this!!! No wonder kids come to school and talk while their teachers are talking. GRRR! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So I started looking outside the complex for activities. I started with the library since we loved going to the main library in ABQ for the music class and story hours each week. Falls Church has a beautiful library housed in a lovely old brick building and an open children's room with big bright windows and amphitheater like seating. When I first arrived, I thought 'this is going to be great!' I was wrong. The librarian read seven books and did three 30 second finger plays. This class was specifically for 18 - 36 months. After the second book most of the kids were acting up, but the librarian didn't seem to mind and just went on reading only to take a break after the third to do some fingerplays. At that point, I was thinking it might be o.k. but as I said she only did three and then went back to reading. Honestly, I was bored. Lulu was a champ and held up pretty well, but jeesh, come on. Again wishing I could be brave enough to make a comment to someone. Of course, we had a good time checking out books after and the library has a great selection of wooden puzzles to play with. I haven't been back for another story hour, but I'm hoping that there is another librarian who conducts some of the other ones.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Next I went to the county rec center which advertised music and gym classes. The music class was first and in the teacher's defense it was better than the other activities we'd been to, but not much. The teacher was a little on the crazy side. I ended up asking for a refund on the gymnastics class because it was taught by the same teacher. We went to the second class today and it was better. Maybe I'm just too critical. I'm not giving up though and I have a few other classes to try that start in January at the Arlington Rec Center. Keeping my fingers crossed! I am also going to start taking Lulu to the Smithsonian once a week. I hear the Natural History Museum is a hit with the toddlers. </span><br />
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</span>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13616859020005320017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606932555178724869.post-31924690899381254212012-01-06T12:39:00.000-08:002012-01-06T12:50:24.700-08:00Lulu turns 2...aka ChristmasDecember 22nd is Lulu's birthday. It fell on the solstice this year which I absolutely love. The winter solstice is my favorite. While it marks the shortest day of the year, it also means a return of light, a promise that winter will not hang on forever and that we will begin again to have longer days. Christmas fare at our house - a bright tree, shining metallic ornaments, strings of lights and shimmery garland, and plants that bloom in winter - symbolizes this desire to have more light, to remind the sun to keep shining again through the new year. Her name, AnaLucia, means grace and light, a name chosen so carefully more than two years ago. Of course she has graced us with her own little shining light. Her birthday provides us a special moment to be grateful for the changing of seasons, to be graced again with the return of the sunlight, to remember things that are bright and new even as the world seems dark and old. <br />
Here are some pictures from our brightest of holidays. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making our tree Merry and Bright.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmm...cookie dough.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decorating Sugar Cookies for Santa</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Party Girls.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made cupcakes...not pretty but delish if i do say so myself.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXiUHqhw0OVlKUGrRToI94svIpc6RnA4ufto2jwgtbGzpgFPb-kphCFu1dk_NwkebbvzfvC8OZ7TmBYgcquj_p9uzB0RPakqGtnPY-z5o9XNY6Na-7TmPcPaVpGdbvuuwnrU_dXuwJ0Q/s1600/IMG_5812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXiUHqhw0OVlKUGrRToI94svIpc6RnA4ufto2jwgtbGzpgFPb-kphCFu1dk_NwkebbvzfvC8OZ7TmBYgcquj_p9uzB0RPakqGtnPY-z5o9XNY6Na-7TmPcPaVpGdbvuuwnrU_dXuwJ0Q/s320/IMG_5812.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Lulu's 'Smile' face. We visited the Natural History Museum on her birthday.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darrin took her on her first carousel ride - on the mall in d.c.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleeping on the Metro on the ride home from Smithsonian.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa visited Oakwood on a fire truck. Little bit scary for Lulu.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've started a tradition of taking Lulu's picture each Christmas in her stocking. It's hard to believe this was her third Christmas! Look how she's grown!</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYAQNNRsjccRxhgSDBrwqowgnuPMqFdBhFBeO54grXBzKoesCHG8NGD9r_3Rn2NRhi0ldkC1W466g7NQXr5bAYxKgm0qC-qO6bwDyoLtFximvmQX79-zxElwXIPfhhWqa5M2HjMg1nGU/s1600/IMG_5910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYAQNNRsjccRxhgSDBrwqowgnuPMqFdBhFBeO54grXBzKoesCHG8NGD9r_3Rn2NRhi0ldkC1W466g7NQXr5bAYxKgm0qC-qO6bwDyoLtFximvmQX79-zxElwXIPfhhWqa5M2HjMg1nGU/s320/IMG_5910.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13616859020005320017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606932555178724869.post-32715743697531197682011-12-27T12:31:00.000-08:002011-12-27T12:34:55.022-08:00Flag Day and Swearing In<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qau5FcCjGGo/TvooftQMjpI/AAAAAAAACGA/EEGtXOuKCII/s1600/IMG_5710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qau5FcCjGGo/TvooftQMjpI/AAAAAAAACGA/EEGtXOuKCII/s320/IMG_5710.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darrin in good spirits at the start of flag day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My life goes by in the blink of an eye. Does that happen to you too? Jeesh. Now then. On December 9th we attended a very special event called Flag Day at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI). Lulu and I met Darrin there since he had a tour of the CIA that morning (but since the CIA doesn't exist I'm not sure what he was really doing. He did bring home some presents from the gift shop though.) Flag Day is the ceremony where the new hires get to find out where their first post will be. In November, Darrin received the bid list of open posts and submitted his preferences to his career adviser. There were 52 open posts and he had to rank each of them as high, medium, or low. He ranked all the posts in Latin America as high and medium and all the posts in Asia and Africa as low. I was a bit of a wreck up to the day of the ceremony. I was waking up almost every night thinking about Ciudad Juarez. That was a very real possibility for us. I was sort of sure that we were going there. I mean I was waking up thinking about what I would do if we got posted there. I had an apartment in Albuquerque in my plans. Darrin was one of the last names called. I had the list printed out with me and kept checking off the posts as they were called. Juarez was still on the list when they called him but phew we got Sao Paulo, Brazil instead. HOLY COW! We are going to Brazil. Sao Paulo is the biggest city in the southern hemisphere. It is 21 million people! Talk about culture shock! We are super excited and feel like we got one of the best posts available. Woot!</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just received the Brazil flag.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our friends with their China flag. They are going to Shanghai. Shin is Malaysian and won't need language training. Lucky!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Family. Lulu held that flag tight for the rest of the day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another friend going to China. Ariel's family is going to Beijing. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu is ready for Brazil. She thought we were leaving right away.</td></tr>
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<div>The next week, on December 16, Darrin had his swearing in ceremony which means he is officially a foreign service officer. This ceremony was at Main State which is State Department headquarters in D.C. - where Ms. Clinton herself has a very fancy office - I actually got to see it. It was all very official and nowhere near as fun as Flag Day where everyone was whooping it up. Darrin's parents came for the swearing in and thank god they did because Grammie is a god-send for Lulu and knows just how to keep her occupied...with candy. We took the metro in and a taxi back and I impressed everyone with my taxi hailing skills, just like in Laverne and Shirley. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even double fisting the licorice, Lulu wants no part of the swearing in ceremony.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cdCnt8KkO88/Tvoqe7N-iTI/AAAAAAAACHE/JUZHiCKH3GA/s1600/IMG_5752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cdCnt8KkO88/Tvoqe7N-iTI/AAAAAAAACHE/JUZHiCKH3GA/s320/IMG_5752.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">164th A-100 Class. 52 members taking their oath to office. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tCgaJnqW2-Q/Tvoqg7gEFrI/AAAAAAAACHM/GQbswCZSssY/s1600/IMG_5755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tCgaJnqW2-Q/Tvoqg7gEFrI/AAAAAAAACHM/GQbswCZSssY/s320/IMG_5755.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do I see a future diplomat?</td></tr>
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</div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13616859020005320017noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606932555178724869.post-85350302913913904002011-12-08T12:10:00.000-08:002012-01-18T11:19:33.875-08:00From ABQ to D.C./Va. in thirteen parts. This being the final post.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIhKjW2zlh28PzFwdGlNChCfxAUKCxLlv-c_v0t87DzeolLJTzAsCXdN3MGjdMMlY3sIuJE7_bGdwUIDWLaDh1UGHPe1KJhDLPmBII5n-HYmdNqs4Cb2bA2eE4SyAR17gSkYwmsryP8M/s1600/IMG_5689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIhKjW2zlh28PzFwdGlNChCfxAUKCxLlv-c_v0t87DzeolLJTzAsCXdN3MGjdMMlY3sIuJE7_bGdwUIDWLaDh1UGHPe1KJhDLPmBII5n-HYmdNqs4Cb2bA2eE4SyAR17gSkYwmsryP8M/s200/IMG_5689.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">11.</span></b> We went to see Santa! (aka. We spent a day with some other families from Darrin's class). We drove over to Reston to see Santa come in on a pontoon boat. Lulu was excited about Santa and even sat next to him. O.k. she clung to me the whole time, but she didn't scream so I count that as a success! There was a little corral with animals and Lulu love love loved the baby bunnies. After the Santa event we went to one of Darrin's colleagues house and ate chili and watched the all the kids play. It was really a nice beautiful day. Everyone was very friendly and excited to be part of this new adventure. That evening we went and got some little trees at Michael's and came back and decorated for Christmas. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2AG-HaFZ6ltJ2vbKe9jx9w3vqKzacTtemuyZqoqJEX9FlLD5v2pZzt2j-8GGtBYZ7y3RS1IBSb5dwUpH2pQaA6gs98YUEeL25ZT-sVbif67CN8k5Pab4xD_lm9TMg1i1XvnRQdctAU8/s1600/IMG_5683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2AG-HaFZ6ltJ2vbKe9jx9w3vqKzacTtemuyZqoqJEX9FlLD5v2pZzt2j-8GGtBYZ7y3RS1IBSb5dwUpH2pQaA6gs98YUEeL25ZT-sVbif67CN8k5Pab4xD_lm9TMg1i1XvnRQdctAU8/s320/IMG_5683.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>12.</b></span> We moved. Again. Remember before I said we were on a waiting list for a two bedroom apartment. Well we got it. Yay! (mostly). So we got all our Christmas stuff up over the weekend and on Monday I got a call from Darrin at work asking me if I'd forgotten something. No, I hadn't. Well he had gotten a call from some lady in the leasing department saying that she'd called and talked to me two weeks ago and scheduled our move for the weekend (the weekend where we'd just put up all our Christmas junk). You would think that I would remember that phone call! Yeah, I never talked to that lady which makes me wonder who exactly did she talk to?? So we started packing up all our stuff on Monday and hauling it over from 1st floor building D to 3rd floor building B. We moved one load on Monday night and then on Tuesday I moved two loads on my own. Then Tuesday night we moved a bunch more. Of course it rained the whole time and over the weekend when we could have moved it was sunny and warm. We got most of it done but as I write this it is Wednesday and I have about two more carloads to move but it's pouring down rain all day again today and I am just going to go ahead and wait for Darrin to come home to do it together. I am just glad to be in the two bedroom. It has a lot more room - more than just a bedroom. It has an extra walk in closet, full bathroom, and extra kitchen and living room space. Now I just have to transition Lulu into her own room again and a real bed. <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">13</span></b>. Looking forward. This Friday (two days from today) is Flag Day. We will be finding out where Darrin's first post will be. It will be a big festive day and I am really looking forward to it. Of course, I am a bit nervous to that we will not get a post that we want, but that's life and we'll make do. It's only for two years. After that, next Friday, Darrin will have his swearing-in ceremony and then he will be done with his initial training. His parents are coming and staying until Lulu's second birthday which we are really looking forward to as they are are first visitors and it's just such a special time of year especially with Darrin's job and all. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">That's it, nothing more...phew...I will really be trying to update this blog thing more often. Talk about information OVERLOAD. </span><br />
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</span>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13616859020005320017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606932555178724869.post-33407230354261920722011-12-06T14:13:00.000-08:002011-12-10T14:40:15.815-08:00From ABQ to D.C./Va. in thirteen parts. This being the first post of three.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Oh wow how things have progressed. I have had no time to sit down and try to record what's happened in our lives since October. It has been fast and furious that's for sure. I'm gonna break it down here in a series of steps and add some pictures that I've taken if they pertain.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1.</span></b> We put our house on the market and it SOLD to the very first person who looked at it. How great is that?! Made us feel pretty good about ourselves as home owners. We lost a little because of the market but whatevs. It was worth it to have the peace of mind and not have to worry about it anymore.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwu7TRLtn9prSlwDtBIpCgu42nxJHlZw3-4NjM0h2PD8tQIYb3MVqiu5Kj7su65ZnINTHxeTYr5XbLh5ukPV6LlOfMrgO4fkzP-_7PNeJFgqQ9-dAbD5Q6Md44b8Kmbz5tS6F_H0iRkY/s1600/IMG_5560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwu7TRLtn9prSlwDtBIpCgu42nxJHlZw3-4NjM0h2PD8tQIYb3MVqiu5Kj7su65ZnINTHxeTYr5XbLh5ukPV6LlOfMrgO4fkzP-_7PNeJFgqQ9-dAbD5Q6Md44b8Kmbz5tS6F_H0iRkY/s200/IMG_5560.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unassisted Baggage - 590lbs o' fun.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2. </span></b>We packed up all our schiznit in to two separate loads. One was unassisted baggage (UAB) - this up to but not over 600lbs of living stuff we'd need in our new apartment which is furnished. We packed up 590lbs. The second load was everything else in our house (household effects) which is currently being stored somewhere north of D.C. and which is not easily accessible (basically we can't get to it until we're ready to leave for our first post). It was a little difficult to decide what we would need and what we wouldn't. We definitely could have used some more kitchen items, hangers for clothes, and we could have done without our own towels and maybe our bikes b/c Falls Church is not uber bike friendly and it's cold and rainy here. But other than that we did pretty good on packing. I guess packing is the wrong way to put it since we really didn't 'pack' anything. What a relief it was to have someone else do that for us! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTsfD89kIXXApVUoEd1q6Ydiar9rI6JLcgwUZmHPUL27tFaJ2nLhnBaazXstXZtNZDUpOCVeWZI9q_TZSfJ91paS-InYwsXYW84yL2fFfwOy7qAJWQ91S_7PMbuDC-vd3ROf3e27RJkg/s1600/IMG_5564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTsfD89kIXXApVUoEd1q6Ydiar9rI6JLcgwUZmHPUL27tFaJ2nLhnBaazXstXZtNZDUpOCVeWZI9q_TZSfJ91paS-InYwsXYW84yL2fFfwOy7qAJWQ91S_7PMbuDC-vd3ROf3e27RJkg/s200/IMG_5564.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When someone else packs your stuff it ends up in nice pretty boxes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3.</span></b> I resigned from my job. Sob...it was really hard to say goodbye to all my colleagues! I was also truly loving my part-time job sharing first grade classroom this year. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4.</span></b> I said goodbye to my friends and to Albuquerque. Sob...I made some really GREAT friends in Albuquerque. I'm also going to miss the climate there. I am not used to all the clouds and rain we've been getting here in Falls Church.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5.</span></b> We said good-bye to Lulu's babysitter, Frances. If I'd known how great having Lulu in daycare part-time was going to be for her I would have done it a year ago. What a blessing Frances was to our family! She truly made a difference in Lulu's little life in just 3 months (and ours too).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTf6qFtO0OPCH9nPmzUAX9V7RNfr1NHUXZcYzfdMSovo6vuctR1TOq7_5o_wcEH_Zk-Y0cfZcZ2lZZ87SDPbnmqOSn2HIPFu5tFn5lFHec4WiTzVaDf1aNcWaCGfwvNutXEHXzHJ-to0/s1600/IMG_5363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTf6qFtO0OPCH9nPmzUAX9V7RNfr1NHUXZcYzfdMSovo6vuctR1TOq7_5o_wcEH_Zk-Y0cfZcZ2lZZ87SDPbnmqOSn2HIPFu5tFn5lFHec4WiTzVaDf1aNcWaCGfwvNutXEHXzHJ-to0/s200/IMG_5363.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu helping out at garage sale. <br />
"What you're selling this?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">6.</span></b> We had a garage sale and sold a ton o stuff on craig's list. Including my car which we sold on the day before we moved. Crazy how things work out! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13616859020005320017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606932555178724869.post-80224885269542549572011-10-14T20:19:00.000-07:002011-12-10T13:13:50.738-08:00CreepyWe're getting things done around here and honestly it is all so surreal. We have about three weeks until we say goodbye to ABQ. Our house is officially for sale, we have a garage packed full of STUFF to get rid of (garage sale happening tomorrow), Darrin has accepted a salary which is more than we expected, we have a lovely apartment to move into which is paid for, I will get to spend a few weeks with Lulu in Michigan with our family, I've resigned from my job and am looking forward to not having to teach for awhile. I am mostly super giddy and excited. I am so happy for Darrin because I know that he's going to really love this job and it is perfect for him. He will be so proud to take care of our family and I will be able to do some new things that I've always dreamed of doing, like raising a family and taking good care of our household, going to yoga regularly, finding some sort of meaningful 'work' to do on the side other than teaching. I am especially excited to try to have another baby. And yet I have this huge reservation about being excited. Like if I'm too happy about it, something will happen to ying my yang. I keep telling myself be happy, just be grateful, live for today, it's no use to worry about the future. And yet here is this worry...always creeping in. Go away you creep.Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13616859020005320017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606932555178724869.post-32885629895788462092011-10-09T20:34:00.000-07:002011-12-10T13:13:14.030-08:00EEEEEKKKKKThat title about sums up our life. We've been busy as bees around here. Darrin got word on Wednesday that he finally had a job with the foreign service. Which is great, great, great, but the hang up is that he starts NOVEMBER SEVENTH! EEEEKKKK. Today's date - October 9th. That gives us exactly 4 weeks to move, move, move. Oh yeah and to sell the house. Oh my. I am a bit of a wreck. I have 100 million things to do. We've met with a realtor who told us to clear out our clutter by this Friday. It sort of looks like a bomb went off in here tonight. Lord knows I'm trying. Lulu has been such a good girl in spite of all the chaos. She really hasn't been in the way except that I do have to clean up after her attempts at being helpful. Pippa clearly knows that something is up. She is needy and pacing. I'm am currently calming myself by sharing a bottle of wine with Darrin. Second in as many nights - not a good habit to have to deal with stress, but hey!, I've got to survive somehow. So CHEERS.Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13616859020005320017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606932555178724869.post-85620857762933635642011-05-30T09:45:00.000-07:002011-05-30T10:06:11.833-07:00What we're UP to...<div style="text-align: center;">Lulu is still in her pajama top here and has total bed-head...she is an early riser!</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXce9odhL4PBNj6BYxIxt4briJBMenTN7nBxCQoWAO7qO0mVUKO0H5VYX0Ob9V_Wui92CA8UdBk-F2JgGvpJx9ZaeWAfEiXRQ1L25EmzsZ3yjLIjrhyphenhyphenGXPsk-ASxgRsBGLgEjFQCELNDE/s200/IMG_4602.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612554742725869842" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMhZshkUuDqs_IO2Tyf-mng8z0dn3SXOEcSsLU8t2U_ADAcVGpG-tMtLuyU-ub50sH3OEo-x7oD4wNHU1E7ZINgvErhubAnJOfrn5dGExsd7jAFhi8tzEIs1R-sWcxZrjbuWPJq9uWRU/s1600/IMG_4598.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMhZshkUuDqs_IO2Tyf-mng8z0dn3SXOEcSsLU8t2U_ADAcVGpG-tMtLuyU-ub50sH3OEo-x7oD4wNHU1E7ZINgvErhubAnJOfrn5dGExsd7jAFhi8tzEIs1R-sWcxZrjbuWPJq9uWRU/s200/IMG_4598.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612554740019746242" /></a><br />Darrin left for ASU this morning to start his summer adventure of learning Tajiki so Lulu and I are finding ways to keep busy since I'm on summer break. Lulu is quite the busy body, waking up around 7 and ready to go. We have started every morning working in the yard - planting, rearranging, generally cleaning up. The yard is in bad shape since last summer we didn't really do any yard work. Lulu was not yet crawling and not really content to just sit and watch - not to mention she quickly got bored in her entertainment-center-thing and could scoot/roll around and get into everything if I didn't keep a close eye on her. This summer is so much different. Lulu is really into helping out and mimicking what she sees us doing. I give her a little shovel and she digs, stacks the flower containers, picks the flowers off the plants, plays in her little sandbox, or scoots around on her scooter while I get things in order.Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13616859020005320017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606932555178724869.post-31478467860805783942011-05-29T21:11:00.000-07:002011-05-29T21:12:20.425-07:00first posttesting testingMollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13616859020005320017noreply@blogger.com0