Allons-y!

int Hastily-planned road trip count = +1

Shane and I took another jaunt up to Northern VA Wednesday. We didn't have anyone to meet until the afternoon, so we set a leisurely pace. First, we went to the library. Then, we stopped in Culpepper for lunch!

And, of course, I factored in some extra time for traffic (This is Northern VA we're talking about).

We arrived at Matt G's apartment a little before 3 PM.

Shane can pronounce Gabriela now! Matt and his daughters had just gotten home from a orthopedist appointment for Sophia (She busted her ankle).

I brought swimsuits for the pool, but we weren't sure about how the ankle brace would do in the water. Gabby pulled out Minecraft and the point was moot.

The kids spent the next couple of hours laughing, hollaring, and playing.

Some of it was Greek to me.

Matt and I hung out and talked while the kids played. Gabby threw the controller to Sophia whenever Shane was about to die. That way Sophia got to take all the blame!

And Shane.....Shane milked it.

He would put on a sad face whenever he died. The girls would ooh and aah, and he ended up in Gabby's lap at one point. I guess it's only fair, because they really enjoyed teasing him, too ("Oh no! Your house blew up!")

We left when the girls went over to their mom's. It took us an hour to make our way from Leesburg to Fairfax (The toll road costs $5.40 now!!! There were wrecks on 28 I wanted to avoid. I thought I was safe with $2 in quarters. If the toll wasn't credit card only, I would have been screwed!).

When we got to Fairfax, Shane wanted to tell Uncle Matt and John all about "MineCrab."

John brought a new Lego book for Shane.

Shane was, predictably, excited. He wanted to show everyone.

Whether they were busy or not.

After Shane went to bed, Matt, John, and I tried a game of Zombicide. It's a co-op game with minis (and John loves minis!).

I played a bearded dude and a dark-haired lady. Then I texted Carrie, "I'm playing us!"

Carrie texted back screenshots from Rogue Legacy. She got a high score, beat the game, then beat the game AGAIN. I replied, "You need to go to sleep!"

Shane and I said our farewells the next morning. Matt groggily waved over a cup of coffee (he's not a morning person....Shane is!).

The morning was beautiful. Shane and I went on a walk. He wanted to see the stream next to Matt's house.

We followed it down the trail.

Drain checks confirmed the stream did not slip away.

We followed it to "*gasp* A TINY WATERFALL, DADDY!"

We walked to a playground around the corner from there. We killed enough time that we wouldn't be too early for our next stop.

Surprise, Jama!

"You caught me in my night robe!" Jama replied. Quickly followed by, "Shane, would you like some bacon and candy?"

Shane loves his Jama! I was glad there was time in her busy agenda for us.

We only stayed an hour before it was time to head home. We made a few of our usual stops at my favorite bagel place (Manhattan) and at a Korean Bakery for Carrie (Jireh this time).

Shane went misty-eyed. "I don't want to go! I want to move back to Northern Virginia!"

He was pretty tired from all the excitement. It was only 11 AM and he took a half hour nap.

We made good time and made it back safely. It was good to be back. I sent all of my NOVA friends a small picture, too...

For context, the station next to Matt was pumping fuel at $2.29.    :)

Family Art JAM Photos

The art museum emailed a link. Maybe we'll be famous.

Korean Bakery

Every trip to Northern Virginia ends with a visit to a Korean bakery.

It's Carrie's treat for losing Shane and I for a while.

This exchange falls firmly into the "It's not what I wanted, but it hurts no one and keeps the kid happy/busy."

"Come here, Shane. I need to go to the bathroom before we go."

It took a while.

"Do you need to go?"

Shane shook his head.

"Are you sure it's a long car ride..."

"Nope!"

Plan A failed. It was on to Plan B to prevent Shane frog-hopping out an emergency exit.

"Look! There's a HUGE map on the wall! Where are we?"

In and out. Shane hadn't moved.

Nostalgia: Naps

Once upon a time, Shane napped. He napped long and hard. Only the loudest noises could wake him.

Now, we're lucky if he naps once a week.

Couldn't Taste Either of Them

Double rainbow.

Double. Rainbow.

Builder Boy

Shane broke his minion bank today (Mommy helped). He decided to make a new bank with a stool, chair, and a pumpkin.

If it fit, it went in the bank.

Bucket hid.

Shane tried to build some more in the evening. He built a trap. At one point, if you sat in the chair he tried to hit you with a shovel. It got more Rube-Goldberg as time progressed.

Seven Happy Years!

Today was Carrie and I's 7th anniversary! Shane and I bought kombucha while Carrie was at work. She slipped out early and bought dinner.

Shane was eager to help.

We had chicken pot pie (from the store) and roasted potatoes and veggies (all Carrie, Shane, and fresh garlic)!

Carrie put on Up while we cooked and ate. It holds a special place in our hearts. We watched it in theaters on our wedding night.

We didn't need to exchange any gifts. I "bought" Carrie multiple horse "gifts" already. She "bought" me a game or two (including the Lego Hobbit for Shane!).

It was a simple, wonderful night. I gained three pounds.

Swimming Pool

There aren't neighborhood pools here. There are city pools. Turns out, they're popular.

Our next door neighbor tipped us about one. Shane woke early, so we went early.

The pool was an outdoor version of the one at the pool party. There was an extended wading/kids area, water slide, and a deeper wading area with a current. There was a small lap area, but 90% of the pool was 3'6" or shallower. I wonder if it's cheaper for insurance and/or to allow a larger group of people who can't swim. Hopefully, Shane will be swimming on his own in a years. There wasn't much of an area to practice.

We only swam for a little over an hour, but I got sunburned (#GingerProblems). I sprayed SPF 70 on Shane and my arms, neck, and face. I didn't get my shoulders, because I figured Shane would play and I'd guard our stuff. He's super social. However, this was the one time that he insisted I play. I couldn't stay in the shade and I left the spray at home. I don't know how much it would've helped. My neck was a little burned and I protected that!

When it was time to leave, Shane and I checked out the adjacent park. No one else seemed to have the same idea. It's so close, it seems like a great way to spend break. Unless I missed something (quite probable).

Shane complains that he has to pump to swing. He won't do it unless I start him off.

An ADHD aside: Shane's form has improved, but are backs supposed to bend like that?

Shane and I will have to visit the pool a bunch more times to make sure the passes go off. I'm not a huge pool person (sun allergies), but I like that the city has them. It gives kids a place to go and provides jobs for the older ones to do something useful. Win-win.

Update: Almost forgot. I took a 13 second video.

To Grow or Not to Grow?

Shane wanted to push the cart alone.

Until he didn't.

Thanks, Nana!

We have way too many garbage trucks.

And that's not even all of them.

Shane used them to build a tower in the kitchen. A tower of GARBAGE TRUCKS.

Richmond Visit

While Mommy was away, Shane and I went a little further to play. Kim and I texted about going to play mini-golf or a kid's museum, but what we really did was look for cats.

Berry was under the couch. Kim, Shane, and Buster couldn't coax him out.

Ryan didn't have any luck, either.

It turned out there was no need to plan to go anywhere. Shane was thrilled just to be at Kim and Ryan's.

He knew exactly what he wanted to do.

Berry came out eventually, too!

We split up for lunch. Ryan and I took Shane to Chic-Fil-A.

Then we walked it off around Lowe's. We bumped into one of Ryan's band parents while we were there.

When we met back up with Kim, it was Lego time. Kim and Ryan had a great collection. Honestly, I'm surprised they let Shane play with all the intricate ones! I guess they aren't kraglers.

Their was one set that involved a wrecking ball, a destructible house, and a toilet. Ryan bought it for the toilet. In Shane's eyes, the wrecking ball was the touchdown and the exploding walls and toilet a two-point conversion.

Eventually, I started to feel the cats. We went for a walk and jumped at a trampoline at Kim's friend Zena's house to finish the day.

Ryan bounced, too. I don't know who was tired out more by the end of the day: Him or Shane!

We said our goodbyes afterward. Ryan was happy Shane was injury-free and he couldn't be blamed for anything. I wonder if Ryan napped after we left. Shane did....for the last 10 minutes before we got home! I let him snooze a few more minutes before the car became an oven, but it was too late in the day to go any longer.

The trip made for a memorable Saturday!