Polo Anyone?

About an hour away from the city you are surrounded by the most beautiful countryside in all of America and Virginia Horse and Wine Country. Yesterday, afternoon we traveled to The Plains, VA to the Great Meadow Polo Club to watch a few matches.  It was so much fun and super kid friendly. We packed a picnic and spread our blanket on the grass. The kids were able to run around the fields and at half time they let all the kids go into the arena for a tug of war and foot races.  It was so lovely and exciting especially watching the professionals play, including the Captain of the American Olympic team.

Atley's 9!

How did this happen? He is half way to being an adult! His birthday began at about 5:30AM, like Christmas or something. He wanted cheesecake for his cake/breakfast and to be able to open his presents before school.

 After school and dinner we went to the mall because his birthday money was burning a hole in his pocket. After 2 hours of trying to decide he finally determined how to spend his money. We headed to TGIFriday's for dessert.  He was so excited when they sang to him.

Friday was his "friend birthday party". We ate pizza at the mall and then went to the new movie EPIC. It was pretty uneventful. We only had to make one call to 911 because of a suspicious backpack and only one kid left needing stitches.

 

Learning the Hard Way

I have a child named Nash that refuses to wear underwear.  That's right, he prefers going Commando, if you know what I mean.  I decided to stop fighting this battle when he started coming home from school each day with his briefs in his backpack.  I figured as long as he is wearing pants, no one needs to know right?  Well, the other day the boys had some friends over.  They were out back climbing trees.  Nash's pants got snagged on a branch and well, they fell off! It looked something like this...

He was panicked.  Apparently, climbing out of a tree naked is extremely frightening.  I can see how the thought of a sliver in your nether regions might be alarming.  He was screaming for me to help him out of the tree. I took pictures instead, to remind him why he should wear briefs! 

Tacos in a Bowl

I am of the opinion that Ramen Noodles added to anything can only improve the flavor.  I have lots of Ramen Noodle recipes but this one is my favorite.  It is fast, easy and filling!

Ingredients

1/2 lb. Ground Beef

2 T. Chopped Onion

3/4 Cup Canned Diced Tomatoes Drained

2 T. Taco Seasoning

1 Cup Water

1 pkg. Ramen Noodles

Crushed Tortilla Chips

1/4 Cup Cheese

Cook beef and onion then drain grease.  Stir in tomatoes, taco seasoning and water. Bring to a boil and add noodles.  Cook until noodles are tender. Sprinkle with cheese and chips and anything else you would eat on a taco!

D.C. Dudes

When you go to school with the children of Diplomats, when you almost run over a Secret Service Agent walking his Senator while you are riding your bike, when you go to church with Hillary Clinton's personal assistant and Mitt Romney's biggest campaign contributor and when you live 500 yards away from CIA headquarters you might be a little more aware of world events and politics than most kids. Raising a family here is a little different than the way I grew up. In some ways it is fantastic and sometimes not so much.  Let me give you some examples. 

Atley recently decided to make a list of what he would do if he were president of the United States.

 

1. Lower Taxes by $4989

2. Make more taxes go to the poor people, like my family.

3. Make my friends and family's birthdays national holidays.

4. Make the Japanese Maple the National Bush.

 

When I asked him how he planned on getting elected he said,  "I am going to rent a plane and distribute fliers all over the country and I am going to use a really persuasive font."

 

While that seems harmless, the other day I walked in to an all out war going on in my kitchen.

The boys informed me they were dressed up like the allied forces and there mission was to destroy this person.

This picture was taped to the window.  At first I was a little scared that they were shooting at me, what with the caption and all, but then I noticed the flag and realized that they were dethroning non-other than Kim Jung Sun, the North Korean Dictator. 

 

Muffins for Mom with Nash

It seems like yesterday when I went to the school with a 3 day old baby girl for Atley's Muffins for Mom Celebration.  Now my baby boy is a Kindergartner and I just love him to pieces.  Nash was so proud to be there with me and I was so happy to be there with him. It always makes me sad when you see the 2 or 3 little kids without their mothers.  I am so grateful that I could be there for this special day and that I could be his mother, and Atley and Harley's mom too!

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mother's I know!

Harley's Personality Disorder

True Happiness is. . .

 

Ups & Downs

Dear Atley,

Remember a few weeks ago at the Rain Gutter Regatta when you lost your very first race after working so hard on your boat.  You lost your temper and ripped the sail off of your boat and growled like a little wild animal in frustration. I made you leave and we both cried the whole way home.  We were both disappointed. We felt like failures, you because you lost the race and your temper and me because I felt like perhaps I hadn't taught you the things you needed to know to handle situations like that.

The very next day the bookstore finally had all of the Bad Kitty books you love and I told you we could go get them. Your friend Niel was at our house and he came along.  You were so excited to get those books. Then you asked me if Niel could get a book too. I told you I didn't have enough money with me to buy anymore books than the one's in your hand. You graciously put down one of your beloved books so that Niel could have one for himself.  I cried the whole way home but this time they were happy tears and judging by the smile on your face you were feeling the same joy.

You bravely bore your testimony in church on Sunday. You just walked right up without encouragement or preparation in front of 400+ people and offered the most pure testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ I have ever heard.  Everyone recognized your love of the Lord and the light of Christ in your countenance.

Atley you are good and kind and brave and you also make mistakes  That is okay, so do I, so do all of us.  As long as you are trying your best, the good you do will always outweigh the bad.  You are such a blessing to your brother and sister. You never fail to include them and protect them in all situations and I couldn't love you more. Life will be full of ups and downs but you are strong and your positive attitude will bless you and everyone around you. Thank you for being you.

Love You Always,
Mom

Check Mate

It makes me so excited that the boys are sharpening their smarts by playing chess. They love it which bodes well for them becoming future Harvard Alums but then again I have seen a lot of homeless men near DuPont Circle that play chess.  Okay, I take it back, maybe I am not all that excited that they love to play chess.

Yippee! Harley's 3

My baby turned three today, although she assures me that she is still a baby. Well, she's partly right, she will always be my baby.  All I know is that she is the most hilarious, expressive and fashion-forward 3 year old on the planet. Of course I am her mother and I am supposed to think that way.  She is headstrong and smart, perhaps a little manipulative at times, OCD, independent and has the most beautiful face I have ever seen. Again I am her mother and I am supposed to think that way. She planned her birthday, which included her brothers skipping school, and as I sit here at the end of the day I am feeling just how utterly exhausting those plans were. 

It all began about 7AM when she insisted on cake and ice cream for breakfast followed by presents.

 

After playing with her new toys for awhile, she insisted we all go swimming in the hot tub. After lunch we went to one of her favorite places-the library, followed by the Leesburg Animal Park. She was in heaven there.  She is such an animal lover and has no fear of any creature large or small.

 

 Of course no day is truly complete without at least one trip to McDonald's and the playground. 

 I hope you enjoyed your day princess! We love you more than you know.