Williamsburg's Wreaths

I have a to-do list about a mile long before we leave on Saturday for the holidays. But, the temperature was nice and brisk and the sun was out, and I knew we had to seize the moment and spend some time outside.

Every year, magic hits Colonial Williamsburg and the entire area gets even more beautiful. Gorgeous wreaths hang on the doors of the different buildings, and I love how different they are. In between naps, I took the kids to go check them out. We did not even see half of them. That's just what happens when no one wants to ride the stroller. That's okay. I'd much rather have them run around anyway. 

This wreath was probably my favorite. I love sharing all these things with S and Pato. S ran around yelling, "Weath! Weath!" We'd talk about what was in each wreath and I told her that no, we couldn't eat the fruit that adorned some. J especially was pretty bummed about that. So, he found some dirt and stuck that in his mouth instead. Some older women walking by looked at me like I was letting my kid eat poop. Or maybe they noticed that (at that point) he didn't have a coat on and thought I was cruel.

Yep. I'm cruel. I actually feed my babies trash for dinner and enjoy watching them freeze. Guilty! 

If you ever get the chance to make a trip to Williamsburg around the Christmas holiday, I promise you won't regret it!

colonial garb is totally normal to me now

Four years here in Williamsburg, and we are still discovering new places. We finally made it a point to visit the Governor's Palace gardens on Saturday, and it did not disappoint! I kicked myself the whole time for forgetting the memory card in our DSLR, so the iPhone had to cut it. (Counting down the days till my upgrade next month! #firstworldproblems)

I was telling C that ever since I became a mom, I suddenly see the appeal of open spaces where I can just let me kids roam free. They were happy as larks just running around, picking up pebbles, and pointing at squirrels.

It's always fun to see people dressed up. I'm at the point now where I see people dressed like this in the grocery store and I don't even think twice about it.

We are not sure how much time we have left here in VA, but the end is somewhere in sight, and already I feel a little sad pull on my heartstrings because I know I will miss it here. Especially living just five minutes away from Jamestown and CW. Growing up in NJ and feeling like an East Coaster through and through (my heart is in the shape of a taylor ham-egg-and-cheese bagel), I never imagined I would feel so at home in the South. I feel so lucky to call this my home.

***

Start planning your VA trip, people. We have room for ya! And I promise to even put a non-Hershey-brand chocolate on your pillow. 

picking pumpkins...or the day my two became best friends

You know those days where you sit on the couch at the end of the day, and the kids are sleeping in their rooms, and you're pretty sure time did something screwy and the day was actually 30 hours long and not 24? (Pardon the run-on...my degree was in communications, not English.) Today was one of those days. 

The morning started off by taking S to the farmer's market and running some errands while we were out.  While in the car, I asked her if she knew where we were going. She said, "Car. Popeye? Tetas?" We've been talking about our trip to Texas next month, and I've had to remind her a few times that we can't drive to Texas right now. It was cute thought. (Oh, and Popeye is what she calls her Poppy that lives in Texas.)

So we got to the store, and for some reason, some people just rub S the wrong way, and today we met one of those people. S had been perfectly happy until one saleslady wanted to touch her and play with her. 

"She must be hungry, " she said when S started whimpering and covering her eyes.

"No, I don't think so. She's just shy sometimes."

"Huh. You don't get out much then do you?"

"We get out every single day. Every. Day."

I love when strangers assume things about my parenting.

Anyway...we still had to run to the post office and I wasn't sure how S would manage since she was going on twenty minutes of straight sobbing. It wasn't the angry-whiny cry. It was the "I'm really uncomfortable and sorta scared, mama" cry. I was able to distract her by having her point out letters that we saw. This girl is all about her letters lately and she is getting so good! Then she got sad again and I told her we would go home soon and see Dada. She then said, "Gaco?" I assured her that yes, we would see Pato, too. Finally, we got home and we told her she could help us get Pato from his room. She ran in yelling, "Gaco! Gaco!" She loves her brother so so much. 

We then hopped in our car, and took the ferry over to Surry to pick some pumpkins. It was suuuper windy and I actually thought one of my kids was going to get blown over. We all survived, and the only person who fell over was J, but that wasn't from the wind. He just falls a lot. I call him Mr.Bump.

As soon as we got out of the car, we just let these two run wild. They loved getting dirty and S definitely got pumpkin guts all over her boots. I think I also caught J poking at some guts, too.

And the moment C and I agreed these two had definitely become best friends:

I am lucky.

***

P.S. Pato had his first taste of ice cream today. It was a hit! (And that was the quietest I've seen S in a while. No time to talk. Just eat!)

garden exploration

This morning, I took the kids to go explore the gardens in Colonial Williamsburg and to visit the sheep. S is at the age now where the double monster stroller isn't always necessary, and she was happy to walk alongside mama and little brother. When she's feeling extra adventurous, she'll run up ahead of us...but never too far. Like I've mentioned before, this girl is kinda attached to me most of the time. J always love going out places (as long as it's not too hot) and I can't wait for the day till he's running alongside his sister. When I took this picture I had to stop him from shoving the little pebbles in his mouth. He is my messy little guy who finds any way possible to get dirty.

Oh, how she loved those sheep. We had the following conversation about them while were were there:

Me: Hey, S. What do sheep say?

S: Sheeeep!

Me: No. They say, "baaa." So, what do sheep say?

S: (silent for a few seconds) Sheeeep!

We're working on it.

When we walked away from the sheep she yelled, "BYE!!! Bye!!! Bye bye sheeep! Eee you layer!" ("See you later" in S-speak)

She walked up to this tree and said, "Woooah!" Then she hugged it. Have I mentioned that I am la-la-loving two?!

Sometimes I feel like I try my best to show my two the world, but more often than not, I find they're showing it to me.

we're graduating from the club...

...you know, the two kids under two club. Well, on Monday, we will officially have a two year old, and I've got to say, I'm really excited. I know know, terrible twos, blah blah blah. But, this little lady of mine is becoming such a fun little person, and sometimes I just look at her in awe and wonder where she gets some of her stuff. Sigh. And, J. Oh, baby J. He is dreamy. Just like with his big sister, each stage keeps getting better.

We like to stretch birthdays out around these parts, so today we started celebrating S's big day. She and I went to the farmers market, where I let her pick out a cupcake...for me to eat later. Ha! The lady selling the cupcakes was so excited that it was her birthday, that she let S pick out a little fondant butterfly to take home. We let S have it after dinner and she loved it. After Pato took his morning nap, we went to Jamestown beach. It is an absolutely perfect little beach.

Her new favorite is playing ring-around-the-rosies. Over. and over. It's looking at this picture above that definitely convinces me that one of the best things we've ever done for S was give her a little brother.

We had a perfect day together and look forward to even more celebrating :)