Blossoms 2016

We just got home yesterday from a whirlwind two week trip out to Utah.  It was a fun and exhausting couple of weeks but I'm happy to report that the kids slept better than they ever have on a trip.  To me, that is really something to celebrate. 

So now, it's back to regular life.  I pulled out my paper planner (because I'm still cool like that) and started the list of all the things I need to make sure gets done.  The list never seems to end, church, school, finding quality activities for the kids, making sure we get to the doctor, getting the house organized.  It's been nice being away for a couple of weeks from all of the normal worries. 

Going on vacation sure puts life into perspective.  Things I missed before come into focus and it always seems to help me be more motivated to improve.  It was also a time of a lot of contemplation with the upcoming move of my parents to Chicago.  They were busily getting things cleared out of their house in preparation for this big life change.  I'm excited for them to go and have this new adventure but it has taken some adjustment for me to think of them not in my childhood home.  Through this new lens, I saw my childhood home and situation with new eyes.  I always thought that it would be home to me but over the last year I've felt the shift of "home" move east to Virginia. 

This morning, I dropped Leo off at school and Amy and I ran into see the cherry blossoms.  The peak of the blooms was last week but I was still happy to see some blossoms.  They are my favorite thing to see in the city.  I still remember seeing them for the first time in 2005 as an intern and all alone in a new city.  Sometimes, I have to take these moments to see beautiful things and let the list go out the window for the morning. 

 

 

 

Renwick Gallery

I have been to see the Renwick Gallery three times this month.  Yes, three.  Heber really wanted to see it this last weekend, and who was I to disagree.

The gallery used to be filled with paintings.  I've been there several times over the years but it had this European gallery feel to it where there was paintings hung all over the walls low to high.  They reimagined the whole space and brought in nine contemporary artists to create pieces that would celebrate the beautiful architecture of the building.  It is stunning.  Everybody else in DC thought so too, it was pretty crowded.

There is something that really speaks to me about being in beautiful old buildings.  I love them.  When I was an intern on Capital Hill, my favorite part of my job was taking people in to tour the Capital building.  Those grand spaces speak to my soul.  I'm happy I live in a place with so many of these grand buildings.

I also love the idea of taking something completely simple and common place and transforming it into something incredible.  My favorite exhibit was one that was made with thread.  Thousands and thousands of threads came together to create a rainbow.  I think projects are the most beautiful when they are or can be impacted by light.  I think that's why I love glass so much, the light comes in and transforms it.  Light transformed the threads.

 

 

 

We realized that we were just a few minutes away from a Shake Shack and decided that would be a great lunch.  I'd only eaten at one once while I was visiting Chicago.  It was all delicious, although I don't think their shakes were all that groundbreaking.  The burgers and fries though, totally worth a trip. 

The White House

I went to the White House last week.  How often do I write things like that?

My parents were able to arrange for tickets to go in, which is completely surprising because there were only two tours of the White House issued from the congressman's office during my semester of work there.

I am adventurous with the kids.  I tend to try to take them most everywhere but there are some places that we just don't go anymore.  Fancy restaurants after 7, big concerts, a White House tour, where you aren't supposed to touch anything and they are supposed to quietly listen to a tour guide in a group. 

Well, I threw it all out the window and went.  The opportunity to visit the White House doesn't come every day. 

We drove through the rush hour traffic and made it just in time for the tour.  It was so close.  We even got Amy out of the car and down the block before realizing that she only had one shoe but there was no turning back at that point.

We walked into that incredible historical building and we were nearly alone.  We wandered through the rooms at our own pace and just admired the spaces. I have always loved being part of things that are important, even if it's just to stand in the halls.  The kids didn't melt down too much and we survived even without a stroller or diaper bag.   I guess it all worked out, even one shoe down.

 

Memorial Day 2015

 

We celebrated Memorial Day today with my parents in town.  A holiday always feels more festive with my people around.  

 We went into the concert on Saturday, Heber smoked two racks of ribs yesterday and we topped it all off with the parade today.   

 

Four years ago, the Memorial Day parade was one of the first things we went into the city to do when we first moved here as a couple.  This was even before Leo was born.  It was as hot as the blazes that day.  This year, it was beautiful and breezy. 

It's been funny watching Instagram and Facebook this weekend.  Most of my friends on this coast post about Veterans and the sacrifices that have been made for freedom.  Most of my West friends are visiting family cemeteries and commemorating family.  For me, the holiday is about both.  I have a deeper appreciation for our freedom and it's cost.  Every day, friends have their husbands deploy to war zones and I watch the strain on the families as well.  I also think of my family, of grandparents and great grandparents who have shaped my life. 

I guess that no matter what, it's important to think of those who have gone before.  What do you celebrate on Memorial Day?  Did you grow up thinking Memorial Day was about commemorating loved ones too? 

Under the Blossoms...

It's cherry blossom season in Virginia.  I always get nostalgic this time of year because this is the time of year where I discovered DC for the first time.  It's been 10 years (wow) since I interned here, I can't help but picture myself as a 21 year old single girl under those blossoms.

We just got home from Utah on Wednesday.  It was an amazing trip but we have all been exhausted (during and since).  On Thursday, with mounds of laundry not dealt with and bags packed and splayed across the play room. I decided to go into the city to see the cherry blossoms.  The blossoms are almost sacred to me, when they bloom, I must go.

It was so beautiful.  The kids enjoyed it (after a snack of course), and I just walked and watched.  I'm not one to drive into the city much, the traffic and parking stress me out but we lucked out and got a great parking spot.  I guess luck was on our side.

It was just the pick me up I needed to get going on life again.  Now to tackle that laundry....

 

 

 

New Years

We celebrated the new year with a visit from some friends.  Janette and Sasha came up and we spent several days eating good food and seeing the sites. 

Having visitors in my home used to be so exhausting but now, I really like it.  Maybe it's because we actually have a comfortable space to host.  The other part is that it's interesting to see first hand how others deal with the wild toddler phase. 

We rang in the new year with fireworks that Leo deemed "awesome!"  We did our traditional burning of grievances in the fire.  It was a long list for me this year, I'm blaming it on all the emotions and stress.  We roasted steak dipped in rock salt (an old Logan tradition) and ate smores.  If you haven't ever eaten meat that way, boy are you missing out.

 

It was a good way to celebrate the new year.  There are some traditions around the world that say that what you are holding at the new year will indicate what the year will bring.  Some tuck extra money in the pocket in hopes of a fruitful year, others wear new clothing, or have good food in hand.  Me, I want good people around me in the coming year and so what better way to celebrate.  Good people, happy communities and a full life. 

I've learned a lot this year and can see how I've changed.  It was a year of stretching and expanding.  I hope the next year's grievance list is short!

As part of Heber's stocking, I got us tickets to go up to the top of the Washington Memorial.  It is one site that we have never seen but always wanted to.  As you know, we're big George Washington fans.  It was under renovation before and then we had an earthquake that shut it down for several years.  Well, the stars finally aligned and we were able to get in.   It's the tallest free standing rock memorial in the world.  We could see out in all directions for nearly 50 miles.  Just loved it. 

The view from the memorial

Leo checking out the view from the top.

What it's really like sometimes to sightsee with kids.  They really did awesome most of the time but hunger plus toddlers is no good.

One of the views.

   The rest of the visit was a blur.  Filled with traditional Lawrence fare (7 layer dip) and Ukranian food (Sasha is from Ukraine and New Years is a huge holiday in Ukraine, even bigger than Christmas).   It was so nice to visit with a good friend who's been there for me through so many things.  They are moving in the coming year and won't be as close anymore and I am going to miss seeing them several times a year. 

Well, here' s to a new year filled with good things.  Let's make 2015 the best ever!

Christmas Eve 2014

Christmas Eve is my most anticipated day of the year.  I love the magic of the holidays.  Truth be told though, I had a bit of a rough time getting in the Christmas spirit this year.  I think it was because it was different this year.  For the past 30 years, I've been doing the same thing on Christmas Eve.  I've been with the same people, eaten the same meals.  I know that this is not usually how life is and I know how lucky I was to grow up with those traditions. 

Now, we live thousands of miles away.  For the most part we have settled in here but I think that I will be homesick for Grantsville for the next 30 years on Christmas Eve, no matter how settled we are into our own traditions.  To stave off the wishing for home, we set out to make our first real holiday away a special one. 

We went into DC for brunch at Old Ebbit's Grill, a restaurant that has been open for the past 150 years.  We walked over to the National Christmas tree.

 

 That's the White House in the background.

Leo was way more enthralled with the train display around the trees then the tree itself.  I can't blame him though, it looks like a sad tree underneath the light mesh.

We then went over to the Botanical Gardens.  This tradition was born from the first time that I lived in DC.  As an intern, I used to walk over and spend time in the garden.  There are very few places in the world that make me feel so peaceful and calm.  In the hustle and hubub of the holiday season, it was just the feeling I needed.

They have an annual train display that we had yet to visit.  It was amazing.  Perhaps one of the coolest things I've seen this year.  They had a full room filled with tracks and weaving in and out of lighthouses built from plant parts.  You know how I feel about lighthouses (I love them!), it was just so beautiful.  Even in the crowd of people, I still really enjoyed it.  Leo loved watching the trains.

Isn't it gorgeous!

Cape Hatteras, a light house I have visited.

We had a beautiful Christmas Eve dinner, complete with Italian hot chocolate and put the kids to bed.  I told Leo that Santa was coming and that the presents would be there if he would fall asleep.  He immediately closed his eyes and went right to sleep.  That has NEVER happened.  Oh, Christmas miracles.

 

So, it was a special day.  I think we have some new traditions for the holidays, and that makes me happy.

The first picture of Amy standing up by herself.  She is so big!

 

Founding Farmers

Heber and I went on a date in the city a few weeks ago.  It was so fun to escape into the city for the evening, it has such a different energy.  With my mom in town, we took the evening and drove into the city to Founding Fathers.  I had heard good things about it and it didn't disappoint.  The food was delightful and local, but how could I complain about eating delicious waffles.  Their signature dish is just that, chicken and waffles. 

 

You know what I enjoyed most?   Spending time with Heber.  One of the downfalls of living away from family is that it is a lot more complicated to go out on dates so I really enjoy those times we get a moment away.

The times I feel like a person, and not just a mom are far between lately.  I'm seeing them come more and more often as Amy is growing out of the new baby phase (and I even snuck away this weekend and taught a class at the bead store!).  It reminds me of all the years we had together before we were parents.  Those were some good years, it's good now too, but I will always be glad we had those years just the two of us.  

We took a quick detour to see the Lincoln Memorial.  This is one of those places I've been to so many times at different times in my life.  It's one of my favorite spots in D.C.  We went there together way back when we were dating too.  Oh, good times.

 There was one interesting thing I noticed.  It was this building, right across the street from our restaurant.

Isn't it fascinating?  Do you see those two "old" buildings sandwiched in amongst this glossy new building?  I wonder what the story is.  Do you think that something significant happened in those buildings and they had to be saved?  I wonder what the expense and hassle it was to design and build a building around these two small structures.

I like that they didn't tear them down to make the building all glossy and new.  I think I'm like this building, I'm a jumble of where I've been and who I've loved.  I don't want to mask over it I want to honor all the parts of my life. 

So, all in all a great night.  If you are ever in town, book a meal at Founding Farmers!