More fun in Fredericksburg

When I was growing up, one of the highlights of visiting my grandparents was hanging around their houses and spending time with them. I think the same is true for my boys.

Some of their biggest smiles and most enjoyable moments during our stay in Fredericksburg were during the time spent at Grandma Paige and Poppa Fred's house.


My mom was able to get a picture of the boys together. They aren't both looking at the camera, but they are both smiling at the same time in front of a camera. These days, that's quite an accomplishment!

Of course P took the car for a spin, too. In the few months since he last rode in the passenger seat, C has learned to take control of the radio. Both boys were happy with this new arrangement, because everyone is now occupied with a special job to do. (I try not to fast forward in my mind about 13 years, to a time when the boys will want to cruise down the street together in a "real" car!) After several "adventures" up and down the street, the boys were happy to settle down for the night in "their" room at Grandma and Poppa Fred's house!

Thomas and Friends Live! on Stage

At the beginning of February, the boys and I went to visit Grandma Paige and Poppa Fred. While we were there, we took a day trip to Richmond to see Thomas and Friends Live! on Stage. Grandma Paige even got us special tickets that included a "pre party" with Thomas's driver. During the party there were snacks, drinks, balloons, and coloring sheets.

Thomas's driver taught all of the little engineers some dance moves to use during the audience participation portion of the show. P was really interested in learning the moves, and I was (pleasantly) surprised! Just before the show, we got to meet Percy's driver and Sir Topham Hatt as well. P refused to go up for a photo without his Grandma because he was "scared because Sir Topham Hatt is cross today".

After the photo op, the kids all received a "goody bag" from Thomas, and the gift was a "Thomas and Friends Live!" t-shirt. Personally I was impressed that the gift was something the boys would wear over and over (and not a few small trinkets that would possibly either break or get lost), and they have loved their shirts.

When we entered the arena, we found out we had front row seats! The story was about some bad weather and strong wind that had caused "confusion and delay". Because of the damage done by the storm, Sir Topham Hatt and the residents of the Island of Sodor weren't sure it would be possible to hold the annual Lantern Festival, but fortunately, as the title of the show suggests, Thomas saved the day.

Thomas had a little help from his best friend Percy.

The show featured Diesel and a Troublesome Truck as well. Of all the live shows the boys have seen, this has been their favorite. C clapped and laughed throughout the performance, and P is still acting out the story on his train table with Thomas, Percy, Diesel, and just one of his Troublesome Trucks ("because, Mom, there was only one in the show!).

This was a definite crowd pleaser in our family, and we'll look into attending another Thomas and Friends Live! show.

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's a bird...

It's a plane...

No! It's C!


It's P!

The boys had tons of fun preparing for today's festivities. P made valentines for his class at school and the members of his dance class, and both boys made valentines for their friends at church. I helped with P's Valentine's Day party at school. In addition to valentines for their peers, Daddy A surprised me by helping them make a valentine for me, and I helped them make valentines for their teachers and nursery workers, extended family members, and Daddy A.

They also enjoyed coloring these Valentine's Day masks and "surprising" me with them. Each time I recovered from my "surprise" we all laughed together.

Daddy A and I exchanged gifts and went out to dinner Saturday night, so today was a family affair... and it was wonderful. I truly love ALL of my valentines, and I feel incredibly blessed!

How Much is that Doggie in the Window?

snow tubing at Jonas Ridge

Daddy A took the youth group snow tubing at Jonas Ridge on MLK day since the kids were out of school. We got a sitter for C and P and I tagged along. P was especially excited because his friend Colby tagged along with his dad and his two older sisters (who are youth group members).

The conditions were excellent, and there were only a handful of other people on the "slopes" the entire time we were there! The entire group had a BLAST!