Why you shouldn't run out of gas when the power is out

 So after the big storm in DC, we woke up to a gorgeous morning.  We took the kids to the pool and leisurely got ready to head home.  Our hotel had power, and we didn't realize the extent of the storm damage. 
As we left the hotel, we noticed that the traffic lights weren't working.  Betsy's car didn't have much gas, so we looked for a station.  We found several, but without power, you can't pump gas.  Our cars got separated, and Betsy's car ran out of gas.  They stopped in a parking lot and called AAA.  In the meantime, we found them again.  And we passed one working station with about 100 cars in line.  Yikes.

 And we hung out by the parking lot.

 Considering the heat and unplanned delays, we still had fun.

 We waited and waited for AAA assistance.

 Finally, we saw a man with a gas can in the parking lot.  He too was out of gas.  When he was done fueling up, we asked him where his gas came from.  He sold us the gas can and told us where to find a working gas station... without much of a line.
By the time Andy got the gas and returned, AAA came and gave Betsy gas, so Andy sold the gas can to another stranded motorist who was extremely grateful.
So after a three hour delay, we were on the road.
Goodbye, DC Temple!

 On our way home, we found out that our neighborhood was without power.  And the next few days would have record temperatures.

And so we left our kids with Andy's sister in Wheeling for a few days.  And we went home to no power.  The storm hit Ohio Friday afternoon, and we got our power back Sunday afternoon.  And we got our kids back Tuesday.

Beat the heat... DC style

 The month of June was a good one.

We took a little trip to Washington DC for my niece's wedding.  (For more on the wedding click here.)

The wedding stuff was over by noon, so we spent the rest of the day sightseeing in our nation's capital with Andy's mom and sister and her kids.
 Did I mention it was the hottest day of the year?  Oh yes.

 Our plan was to stay cool in Smithsonian museums until it cooled off in the evening.  So we went to the Air and Space Museum, the American History Museum, and the Natural History Museum.

 Ruby got to see THE ruby slippers.

The museums were cool, it was just that walk between that was sweltering. Luckily, Betsy's stroller could hold a bunch of kids... hot, sweaty kids.

 The mall is large... and not air conditioned.

 And the hope that it would cool down in the evening didn't pan out.

 We saw a bunch of monuments.  The Vietnam Memorial is lovely and thoughtful.

 By the time we made it to the Lincoln Memorial, we were all wilted.  We took pictures to prove we were there.

Then we just needed to walk to the nearest metro station... which isn't very near as it turns out.  We walked across the Potomac River (which is wide) to the Arlington Station.  And we caught the last train back to the central station.  Then we took a very crowded train back to our hotel.  And as we walked the three blocks to our hotel, an epic storm hit.  June was asleep, but Alli and Ruby were wide awake and quite freaked out by the winds and lightning and debris.  The camera was packed away, and I was carrying June, so I do not have pictures of the storm.  But it was violent.  When crossing an intersection, I was worried Ruby would be blown over.  We made it into the hotel just as the pounding rain started.

When we got back to our room, we bathed the kids quickly and put them to bed... and they were instantly asleep.  We called Betsy and Grandma to make sure they made it back to their hotel (they were one stop up on the subway).  They were not in their hotel.  They were stuck in the subway station.  The power went out and they had to carry two sleeping kids and a bunch of stuff up a giant (about 6 flights of stairs worth) escalator that wasn't working and the lights went out in the middle of it.
Andy left our hotel to pick them up and take them to their hotel. 

We like to make lasting memories on our vacations.

Partying...

Summer is slipping away.  We have been so busy... and now I am attempting to catch up a bit.
Ruby turned six!  She has a loose tooth.  Time really is slipping away.  Read more about her party here.

The party was one of the best... the kids stayed busy and happy, everyone had fun, it wasn't too complicated for me, and I had help from my mother-in-law and sister-in-law and Andy.

Happiness!

Happy Mother's Day!

Every Mother's Day, my dream is to sleep in. 

But, let's face it, that is not what motherhood is about.

So today started early for me... when a warm, wet sensation seeped down the side of my body.  Apparently, June had climbed into our bed at some point in the wee morning hours.  She snuggled up to me.  And then she peed.  I am heavier than she, so the pee pooled next to me. 
Not my favorite wake up.
So I was in she shower around 5am... a little bit grumpy and grossed out.  (Actually, not too grossed out.  On the spectrum of gross things I have dealt with, pee is on the mild side... barf is much worse.)
After cleaning myself off, I put June in the shower (she stood there, but I am not sure she was awake), I stripped the sheets off of my side of the bed (Andy slept like a rock through this), wrapped June up in a towel, and went back to bed. 
This is why our bed has the industrial strength mattress pad on it.  Pee, barf, poo, extreme boogers... all those things are most likely to happen in mom and dad's bed (by the kids, of course!).
I didn't really fall asleep again.  I looked over at June all zonked out and bundled up in a fluffy white towel and marveled at how precious she is.  Too cute to stay mad at over something like this. 

That is what motherhood does to you.

I like to have a little space when I sleep, and when June gets in our bed, she likes to snuggle up right next to me with an arm or leg hanging over me... or holding on to me if I try to get away.  As I lay there this morning, I felt so grateful for my girls, and grateful to be a mom. 
I also felt tired... which goes hand in hand with motherhood.

Breakfast was not in bed this year... the sheets were all in the wash... and I was up.  It was delicious anyhow.
Alli and Ruby presented their gifts to me earlier this week.  As soon as they brought them home from school.  (They are a little like me that way.)  They made more cards and drawings for me at church.

After church, I was exhausted.  I read books to Ruby and June and fell asleep mid-book on the floor in the living room.  And while I slept, the girls took a picture of me.  And when I woke up I found someone had been eating brown sugar out of the jar in the kitchen.  And I was surrounded by stuffed animals.

Andy has been finishing the basement studio this week.  The flooring is going in!  He is making dinner today... sous vide salmon!!!  (New recipe... let's hope it works out!) 

Motherhood is not what I expected it to be.  It is better and worse and much deeper and far more complicated than I could have possibly imagined.  But motherhood is lovely.  Motherhood IS LOVE!  And mothers should be celebrated and revered.  I am so thankful to my mothers...


My mom is a saint.  I cannot fathom the patience she must have.  I cannot imagine birthing ten babies... and then raising them all.  And remembering all of the birthdays.  And writing thank you notes all the time.  She blows my mind.

My mother-in-law is amazing.  She is an encyclopedia of homemaking wisdom.  She gives so much time to us and her grandkids.  (Plus, her homemade caramels are phenomenal... and she makes perfect gravy.)

And I am thankful for the little mamas at our house.
Check out the little video we made for Mother's Day.

Spring Break Part 1

For spring break this year, we spent a few days at Grandma and Grandpa Ohio's house.   Uncle Ben was getting ready to head back to college, so it was our last chance to see him for a while. 

Ben serenaded the girls... and then they sang to him.

 We got to see a baby miniature donkey!  It was complete cuteness!

 Awwwwwwwww!

 The girls spent hours climbing the apple tree.  I loved climbing this tree as a kid.  The trunk is much thicker now, but it is still low and wide and great for climbing.

 June picked DOZENS of daffodils!

 Ruby posed by Grandma's flowering willow tree.  Gorgeous.

 We took Great-Grandma out for ice cream at Pav's.  We will do this again.

 Pink on pink...

 Super fun and super yum.

More to come...

dirt

We have been busy getting our garden ready for spring.


Followed by...

Life is good.

Hair dos and don'ts

Alli has a strong part in her hair... on the left it grows one way and on the right it grows the other way.  Ruby has a strong part too.

Poor June has no part.  Her hair grows straight forward from the cowlick in the back.

Her hair is always in her face, but I have been reluctant to cut bangs, since they would start at the back of her head.  I have been trying to clip that hair to the sides... but June doesn't love hair stuff.  I trimmed the back of June's hair a few weeks ago into a shorter bob style.

Ruby had no fears about bangs on her sister.


So Ruby went ahead and cut June's hair.  And the crazy thing is, she did a great job! 

(Except for some of the patchiness on June's right side.)

The bangs were a good length, and pretty straight.

I didn't even notice at first... until I found the clumps of hair under the end table by the couch.
June looks cute with the bangs.
And Ruby has talent... and she is in big trouble!