Craig's mom (aka, Nana) visited for two weeks, and the girls were in hog heaven. Rory nicknamed her BOB (after one of the characters in Monsters vs. Aliens, with which she is currently obsessed), Fiona tottered around after her like she was the queen of England, and a great time was had by all! We like to encourage our relatives to visit as often as they like, and to stay as long as they like. Everyone wins! Until we live in New England, this will be the standing arrangement. So if you're reading this, feel free to come down!
With Nana in tow we went to an animal park, too many playgrounds to mention, and the girls spent many a spare moment blowing bubbles all over her and spraying her with squirt guns. What a sport! Craig and I even snuck out to see Star Trek (two thumbs up!).
We'll see you soon, Nana! We'll miss you!
MANY thanks to Hartford Whalers information guru (and lifelong fan, despite their defection), Steve G. As always, he came through in a pinch, and sent me this classic photo of the door that used to give me chills. I was always, ALWAYS thrilled to go to the Whalers Gift Shop (before and after games, to which my patient father can attest). I typically left with some small trinket in tow, and it was always the pinnacle of the night. =) Sigh!
For years, I longed for a green satin Whalers jacket. Never did get one. Maybe that's for the best!
Recently, a spider appeared on Fiona's side of the car, scaring her to pieces. She absolutely freaked out about it, which is very unlike her. The entire way home, Rory kept trying to comfort her by saying, "Don't worry, Fiona. I'll kill it when we get there."
How sweet. Maybe not too kind (to said spider), but I thought it was lovely of Rory to want to defend Fiona that way. Even by committing spidericide!
Note: the day after this incident, I saw said spider in the car. It was the size of a nickel, was hairy, and appeared quite menacing. Turns out it was also a jumper. I tried to capture it (capture being the first choice over murder), and it jumped away to hide. Sneaky little bugger. Later, my friend, Kevin, tried to crush it to death against my windshield using an Alex Ovechkin plastic hockey stick. Two minutes for roughing!!! We haven't seen it since.
This weekend, we attended a kid's birthday party at one of those new-fangled bouncy houses, a place where kids bounce and jump around on any number of potentially hazardous (and certainly disease encrusted) apparatii. I was watching Rory hurtle headfirst down a huge slide when I heard a woman summoning her daughter, saying what I heard as "Rory, come on, let's go over here."
Rory is such an uncommon name, let alone on a girl. I had to know if I had been aurally hallucinating. Later, I sidled up to the woman and inquired as to the name of her younger daughter (certainly she thought I was a freakshow stalker). Bingo! Two Rorys at the same party!
And the same age, even! My Rory is barely three weeks older than the other Rory. Even weirder is that they both have Elizabeth as a middle name. That little tidbit guaranteed that the other mother and I would take pictures of the two Rorys, who kept happily greeting each other with, "Hi Rory!" "Hi Rory!" "Hi Rory!" "Hi Rory!" It was very amusing. They hugged a bunch, too. =)
This past weekend, the girls and I drove south to visit Hartwick friend Julie Gaden Lechner, her husband Paul, and their enchanting son, Jerry. Fun was had by all! Jerry and Rory had a sleepover party in his room, and even shared the air mattress on Saturday night. We had the monitor on in their room, and we could hear all of their adorable chit chat. So sweet! Their first slumber party, and it was co-ed! Way to go!
It was a lovely and relaxing visit. On Saturday morning, we packed up the kids and took them to the local butterfly museum (Oprah was there on Sunday - glad we chose Saturday!). Rory was desperate - and I am not overstating this - to have a butterfly land on her. We have a book called "Velma Gratch & The Way Cool Butterfly," and Rory really wanted to share the experience. I am sad to report that the hundreds of butterflies flitting to and fro voted not to alight on her outstretched arms. Next time, hopefully!
Many thanks to Paul and Julie for hosting us (and the excessive volume that accompanies us). They're wonderful, and we can't wait to go back!
Last night, we went to Picante, a delicious local Mexican joint, to celebrate our 7th anniversary. It was, as always, simply divine and we had a great time. They had live Mariachi players, to boot! On Cinco de Mayo, they also hand out free, homemade tamales, and we also got free t-shirts that say "I am Picante" on the back. Cool!
The children were hamming it up in these photos (how shocking), and get more precocious every day. Tonight, while putting her to bed, Rory asked me, "Why does Daddy's beard keep growing?" I guess he scratches her a bit - hah! I told her man beards grow all the time - nonstop. She seemed amazed. I should have told her he was growing a playoff beard!
Ole!
On this day in 2002, we got married at the Barns of Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA. Seven years! I will post some pics later. =) I feel very lucky to have such a great family!
This weekend, the girls and I visited my dad and brother in Gettysburg, PA, where Pat was visiting Gettysburg College. While investigating the free hotel toiletries, I came upon a shower cap, which I put on my dad's head. I then took what HAS to be the worst photograph of my father EVER. Looks like a coma patient just coming out of it.
To compensate, I added in good photo of Gramps from the trip, so you can see that he *can* look civilized... and usually does!
Enjoy (if you can!)
"I wish my butt had more skin so I could fight with it."
She uttered this pronouncement to me after using the bathroom and streaking back to her bedroom, where I waited with her day's clothes in hand. And please don't ask me what the above means; all I replied was, "That would be great!" =)
Craig's mom (aka, Nana) visited for two weeks, and the girls were in hog heaven. Rory nicknamed her BOB (after one of the characters in Monsters vs. Aliens, with which she is currently obsessed), Fiona tottered around after her like she was the queen of England, and a great time was had by all! We like to encourage our relatives to visit as often as they like, and to stay as long as they like. Everyone wins! Until we live in New England, this will be the standing arrangement. So if you're reading this, feel free to come down!
