Washington's Home

We took Dorothy to Mount Vernon. It had been about a year since I went to Mount Vernon with Jill. We went on a Thursday afternoon and avoided the crowds. We walked straight into the house. No waiting in line whatsoever.

The Potomac from the backyard with its unobstructed view. There is an ordinance that nothing can be built across the river from Washington's house so that the view looks as it would have when Washington enjoyed it.

Beckett sitting on the back porch being a ham.

On our way to explore the other buildings on the estate.

Washington's transportation. I don't think this chair/cart looks like a very fun ride.

At the memorial to the slaves.

Looking back toward Washington's grave.

Walking down to the river.

Washington wanted to be remembered as a farmer, so we visited the sixteen-sided barn.

After we toured the grounds we went to the museum and education center. They have a really fun kids room where we spent a long time talking to an employee who graduated from BYU-Idaho and is related to Mitt Romney.

We Went Back

We loved Harper's Ferry so much that we went back and took Nate's mom. I'm completely enchanted by Harper's Ferry. I've been there twice in one month, and I'd go back again next weekend.

It was crazy pretty. Colors everywhere you look.

Harper's Ferry has a long military history. Last time we were was all about the Civil War. This time we saw these guys from the War of 1812.

The city is built on rock outcroppings and cliffs. It truly is amazing.

 Felix and I had a mini-photo shoot in this courtyard.

 Beckett saw 6 trains, so it was a pretty good day.

(Nicole, Jill, Mel, and Kristen - you can hike to the top of the cliff in the background of the above shots. I'm thinking hike during the reunion.)

Dorothy checks out John Brown's Fort

 We walked along the Appalachian Trail this time. Maybe I'll start saying I've hiked the Appalachian Trail.

 Actually, I spent most of my time racing on the Appalachian Trail. Beckett has now perfected the art of cutting people off. I think this will come in handy when his preschool does their annual Turkey Trot.

Beckett and Grandma Dorothy. Maybe my favorite picture of the bunch.

Lots of Fun on Halloween

We had an engineer and a giraffe come to stay for this Halloween.

 

Beckett had a party at preschool.

Costume Parade. I love that the teachers were big Teddy Bears.

B and his buddy Javi.

Happy Halloween!

Great Falls or I Love Fall or Behold, Our New Stroller

Last weekend we ventured out to enjoy the glory of an East Coast autumn. We moved in September of last year, and I think it was a good time to relocate to this state because everyday was beautiful and fall last for three whole months.

These are the Great Falls on the Potomac river. They are pretty spectacular.

We let Felix take a look too. He looked like a baby standing on a cliff.

Beckett liked the kids' area in the nature center (a little too much).

We are loving our new stroller. It's a Britax B-Ready. The boys love it. It can carry two kids and lots of cargo. It can fold up with the bottom seat attached. It has hardy foam-filled rubber tires. It is going to allow us to do what we love: explore.

Nate and Felix do baby tricks.

Beckett is really into racing his parents. He says, "Ready, Set Go" and then we run while he says, "who's going to win? who's going to win?"

We ended the outing with a few minutes of throwing rocks into the water. This was probably Beckett's favorite part of the excursion.