If
you knew that your life was merely a phase or short, short segment of
your entire existence, how would you live? Knowing nothing 'real' was at
risk, what would you do? You'd live a gigantic, bold, fun, dazzling
life. You know you would. That's what the ghosts want us to do - all the
exciting things they no longer can.
~ Chuck Palahniuk
Happy New Year! 2012 is done. 2012 is beginning. It is time for a new chapter of our journey. The second half of our year here is going to be very different than the first (at least for 2 of us). We, as a family, decided that Sawyer needs (and wants) to go "real" school. I guess coffee-shop kindergarten wasn't fulfilling our needs as a whole...even though it was fun for a bit. We realized that he needed some more social stimulation and that he'd really have a lot of fun in school with his sister. So last Friday he officially became a kindergartener at Ashlawn Elementary School. With new backpack and Mario lunch box, he bravely took the step to go to school. He was totally tough...and his sister was a wreck. She could barely sleep the night before, was wiggly all morning, and got teary-eyed as we dropped him at his room. As for me...I feel like this year is starting over in some ways. It will be very interesting to see what my days will begin looking like, whether that is working part-time, exercising more or checking off every museum in this big city on my list. Today he rode the bus with Natalie...and I began my day with a solo grocery shopping trip followed by a fun jog with Steve on his lunch break...now I am in the super cute coffee shop down the street blogging about it. :) I think I'm going to be alright. Here is a pretty picture of my lovely coffee...which I am enjoying immensely.
New Year's came and went. We didn't stay up for midnight, because it is just damn painful anymore to do that. However, the George Mason University law students in the 'hood made sure to wake us up at 12:00 to let the block now 2013 arrived. Natalie and Sawyer had their buddy over for game night and we called it a night early.
We did end up visiting the National Botanical Gardens' Holiday display before it disappeared on January 1st. The display included the most amazing Fairy Houses Natalie could ever dream of. The pictures below give it no justice, but I tried to capture them. We also finally visited the Sackler Gallery and our new favorite Renwick Gallery where we got to see the jaw-dropping Wendell Castle's "Ghost Clock". How did he do that?!!
I finally did the run that I have been planning on doing since Steve first applied for this fellowship. On a sunny beautiful day I ran the entire Washington Mall and visited over 10 monuments, which included many I haven't seen because the walk is too far for kids in the cold. It was only a 6 mile run, but by far goes down as one of the best of a lifetime. I can't wait to take my sister when she comes in April.
Finally we got to experience the Redskins Football craziness that is called the NFL playoffs...and of course they were playing the Seahawks (which I embarrassing admit, I have never seen a game...even on TV). So whoever won, it was exciting. Who won...um,I think the Seahawks...heehee.
Here are some pictures of our last couple weeks. Enjoy.
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| Sackler Gallery stairs |
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| Seahawks vs. Redskins, 2013 |
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| My monumental run. |
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| What do I do when I visit the Jefferson Memorial for the first time? Push ups on the stairs...he's so inspiring. |
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| FDR Depression Memorial |
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| Renwick Gallery |
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| Our new Kindergartener! |
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| 2 0 1 2 (not sure why we didn't do 2013...oops) |
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| Fairy House #1 |
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| Fairy House #2 |
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| Fairy Log...my favorite! |
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| US Botanical Gardens |
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| Capitol Building |
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| Our new favorite family game....Blokus! |
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| Oh, and we got flu shots...ouch. |
