Family Visit, Week 2

So after the fevers and fun of week one, what did we have in store for week two? Lots of stuff we didn't take pictures of. Like: a trip to IKEA, where the girls played and played and played in the children's department (as well as the rest of the store) and mom and I bought new pillows, her for her bed, me for the new sofa.

Thursday, Dad suggested a visit to the National Zoo, a short metro ride and pretty walk for everyone. So, Orlando led everyone to the Metro and the adventure began. The girls had fun, saw lots of animals, and predictably loved the elephants.



Both girls got new ball caps, and enjoyed a little rest in the shade before walking back up the giant hill.



During the walk, the girls played in the water mister:



Then, both crapped out and became little more than dead weight.



Mostly, though, the girls just enjoyed playing together. They were exceptionally good playmates, with no real fights, and just a few moments when they both decided that they needed some space. Each morning, the two started by packing their bags to go on a trip. This particular morning, it was to Madagascar.



They had some pretty exciting adventures, colored a lot, played with a ton of stickers, and generally cooperated very well in whatever they were doing. They also did a surprisingly good job of cleaning up whatever mess they'd made during the day.



On our last weekend together, we spent Saturday running errands and decided to go cherry picking on Sunday. The farm we visited in the Fall for apples also grows berries, cherries, flowers and lots of other stuff. On this week, tart cherries were ripe and ready to be picked. Bags in hand, the girls marched off into the orchard.



The trees with lots of cherries were at the end of the orchard, but eventually, we found a few trees that had tons of cherries on low branches. The girls did a great job filling the bags.





Hot and tired, we made our way back to the farm, where the girls had some fun playing with the pigs and the goats.



Then ice cream and a short rest for the girls and Papa before the ride home.



On the day that they left, Anastasia asked me whether we could go to visit Ashley's house today. I had to explain that we wouldn't be going to see Ashley for a while, but when we do, you can bet the girls will have a great time.

Awards and Butterflies

Last Tuesday was the awards ceremony at Anastasia's school, so we all marched the three blocks there to support our little girl. She was pretty proud.



The preschool awards were the first part of the ceremony, and Anastasia got awards for doing her homework, academic excellence and two for being the student of the month (she was the only student who made student of the month twice, so that was exciting.)



After the awards, we headed off to the Natural History Museum for a visit to the Butterfly Pavilion. The girls were very excited to see the butterflies, but first, we paid a visit to the animals and dinosaurs.



When it was almost time for our turn with the butterflies, we headed up to wait. The pavilion holds more than 150 butterflies, more than 30 varieties and they are flying all around, and even landing on you. We didn't get a picture of them, but one landed on each of the girls while we were in the exhibit.



When the girls had had enough of the butterflies, we headed down to take a quick picture with Papa before heading off for some ice cream. There's been a lot of ice cream in the last two weeks.



The day ended with two little girls exhausted by the day who crapped out together after a very short story.

Two Little Girls and a Fever

Friday morning, the grown-ups took the girls to the Fun Festival at Annie's school. The Fun Festival is the school's way of giving the kids a day off at the end of the year and celebrating the end of the CASS Testing (DC's standardized tests, which all students in 3rd grade and above has to take and pass). The day had all the fun you'd expect from a carnival.

Little water slide for the little ones:


Moon Bounce:




Face Painting:


And, after a couple hours, two tuckered out girls:


Later in the day, it was starting to become clear that Ashley was coming down with something. She was running a fever by the end of the night, and so went to bed with a dose of ibuprofen.

Saturday dawned with a happy Ashley who crashed hard with a strong fever. It was pretty clear that our trip to the local coffee shop and IKEA were going to be postponed in favor of a trip to the urgent care clinic. About an hour and a half later, we left with diagnosis of urinary tract infection and a prescription for antibiotics.

Our evening plans were to head to the Pride Parade, which is a wonderful spectacle of joy and fun. Anastasia loves it every year, so it was very sad that we had to leave Ashley and Mom at home. We left with a promise that we'd bring home lots of new necklaces for Ashley.

Our mayor was out tossing beads to the crowds.


Anastasia loved all the rainbows and this princess dress was a big hit with our little girl.


She came away with a new swimming pool noodle (not sure where we're going to use that), about 50 new beaded necklaces, and a bag full of candy, all to share with Ashley when she was better.



After a very late bath for the girls, they hit the sack at a very late 10:00. Ashley was on the mend and Sunday dawned with a new promise for her health.

Grandma, Grandpa and Ashley Hit DC

For the first time in 4 years, my parents have come to DC for a visit, this time, with Anastasia's cousin Ashley. They arrived very late on Tuesday, it was almost midnight when we got back to the house, so we woke up Anastasia to say hi. That was about all either of the girls could handle, not to mention Mom and Dad, Orlando and Me (Myney had been in bed for a long while by that point.)

Wednesday was about playing at the house. No plans, just playtime for the girls. They woke up early. Probably earlier than any of us expected. Still, they played together pretty quietly in Anastasia's bedroom, so Orlando and I were able to sleep until almost 7:00. After getting dressed (surprisingly, they each picked beautiful outfits all by themselves) they started in with a game of hide and seek with walkie talkies.



After a visit to Anastasia's school so Ashley could meet her class, and a lot of running around the house, it was time for a bath in the big tub. Ashley was very surprised when she pushed the button that starts the bubbles. With lots of bubbles, the girls had a ball putting on bubble beards and saying "ho, ho, ho." Then it was time to wash each other's hair.



Yesterday, Orlando was home with the girls and Mom and Dad while I went to work. Again, the girls played well together, but by about 11:00 Orlando was itching to get out of the house. So, it was off to the Metro with the girls and Mom (who played photographer for the day).



They headed to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Anastasia showed Ashley her favorite dinosaur bones and the giant whale in the middle. Orlando got to play chaperon to the two prettiest girls in the building.



Day two ended with a game of "nose button" in the house. Orlando has to wear a Holter monitor for a day or so, and it came with about 200 of the sticker sensor attachments. When we put the sensors on him the girls were very interested, so we explained that they were "nose buttons". The girls ate it up and this was the result.



Two happy little girls had a lot of fun and crashed very hard. Day three dawned to the promise of a carnival at Annie's school and an afternoon with Grandma and Grandpa.