Kindergarten

It's that time of year. The Back to School time. If you know anyone with kids you've probably seen their "first day of school" posts.

Indulge me, please, while I add mine to that list of posts.

I could tell you that I can't believe how fast he's growing up, but I realized that I've been thinking that about both my boys since the day after they were born.

I could tell you how proud I am of him....so I will.

I could tell you how scared I have been to send my innocent, sensitive, sweet little boy into the world to face rejection, hurt, failure...the list could go on.

I came to the conclusion that I can't protect him from those things. And, in fact, I would be doing him a great disservice if I did. What Cory and I CAN do is equip him with the tools to deal with those things.

So this is where I feel our parenting really starts to be tested...and will continue to be from here on out.

On the other hand, I could tell you how excited I have been for him because I know he is a sponge for learning, and he will also experience adventure, success, confidence, new discoveries...the list could go on.

And so it is that we sent Lucas to his first day of the rest of his life.

He's at school from 9:05-3:45 (except Monday when he's out at 1:20); the schools in this area only offer full-day Kindergarten. It's been an adjustment for him to be gone all day, both for him and me. 2 weeks into it now and I think it's going well. He enjoys it and gets excited to go. He and Gabey are always happy to be reunited at the end of the day (and Mommy, too). What an adventure we've embarked on!

And, lest he be left out, Gabey started our co-op preschool that me and 2 other moms take turns teaching 2 days a week. He was excited to start school, just like his big brother.

Aren't they handsome boys?!!

I am such a mom.

Thoughts on Visiting Utah and Being Back in Virginia

In mid-August we took a trip to visit Utah, the homeland. Highlights included...

1. Being with family

2. Seeing friends (grateful to have seen the ones we did, sorry we didn't get to see everyone. 2 weeks go really fast).

Most of our "DT Family" from our last year as Hall Advisors in T-Hall at Deseret Towers (DT) at BYU.

3. Surviving -- even enjoying -- the plane ride. We did a lot of prep work before and the kids did great; phew!

4. The Mountains -- seeing them and being in them! What a sight! I've missed the mountains.Gabey and cousin Lincoln sitting around the campfire waiting to roast hot dogs and marshmallows.
Uncle Andy (my brother) teaching Lucas how to fish. The water was SUPER cold, hence Lucas's face and lifted leg.

5. Sleeping in
6. Not cooking
7. Golfing
8. Cafe Rio (Delicious Tex Mex)
9. BYU old-fashioned doughnuts (both 8 and 9 were eagerly anticipated and they did not disappoint; both were as good as we'd remembered).
10. A day at Education Week at BYU
11. Sleepovers with cousins
12. Some days, not getting dressed until after lunch
13. Girls' Night Out
14. Not feeling like a weirdo for walking around with 2 young children and being pregnant
15. Hob-knobbing on "the Hill" (the State Capitol) with former colleagues and contacts

We are so glad we got to go and loved seeing our family and friends. We've missed it.

But you know what I didn't expect? To miss Virginia. Who knew I thought of it as home now? And I wasn't the only one. Gabey got a bit out of sorts near the end and wanted to go to our "new house" in Virginia.

It made me feel really displaced because I thought Utah was home. And you know what I've decided? It is.
And so is Virginia.
One doesn't have to be home at the expense of the other. They just represent different seasons in our family's life.
I missed the green in Virginia -- I realized just how much of a desert Utah is!
I missed being able to visit all the amazing places we can visit. I LOVE that about living here.

I missed the fireflies and hearing the cicadas (sp?) in the trees.
I missed our house and our routine.
I missed the life we've made here.
It's been a year since we moved to Virginia and the Lord has really blessed us to make it home.

On Why There are Often Long Periods Between Posts

1. Laziness
2. Disillusionment with blogging
3. Pregnancy

*I don't know what #3 has to do with anything, but it seems to be a great excuse for everything else, so I'm going to run with it.

Recent Martin/Evans outings

I've gotten behind, but here are some of the places we've been in the last few weeks in our weekly Tuesday outings.

The Old Stone House in Georgetown (the oldest building in DC; pre-revolution)

Alas, I can't remember under what name I stored these pics.

Hidden Pond Nature Center

Gunston Hall Plantation (home of George Mason)

Roosevelt Island

Two Sundays ago we took a walk on Roosevelt Island. A great Sunday outing (and have I mentioned what a neat place this is to live?).
Crossing the bridge over the Potomac to get to the island.

Aren't they cute boys? And getting so big? Teddy's looking good, too.

Does he look like he's mine?! I'm sending him to Kindergarten in just over two weeks...aaaahhhh!!

The West Wing

We have these friends we'll call Adam and Marie. Marie has this brother we'll call Aaron. Aaron works as a staffer at this place called the White House. Last week, Adam emailed Cory and Scott to tell them there were 3 spots for a West Wing tour with Aaron that night (which you do not see on the normal White House tour, btw). How could we pass up that?!

I quickly arranged for babysitting and recording of the So You Think You Can Dance finale (you think I'd miss it?!).

It was really awesome. I told Cory and Scott that I'm used to taking tours of historical places with roped off parts, but this one is still in use! And, not only that, but by the highest offices in our country!

It was really quite small. If you've ever seen the TV series "The West Wing", they took a lot of artistic license to make it look much bigger than it is. The hallways are narrow and some rooms smell like...old rooms. And it's not at all too showy or ostentacious (sp?). I thought it was great.

We saw the Oval Office, Cabinet Room, Roosevelt Room, the door of the Situation Room, the Press Room...all the big ones! Of course, we couldn't take pics inside, but here are some of what we could...

This is the Rose Garden at night (the tour started at 9pm). I know; for all you know, we could be standing next to any pillar in DC and telling you it's the Rose Garden. But it really is! The very one right outside the Oval Office.

Here's Cory briefing the press in the Press Room (did you know there's a swimming pool underneath the floor of that room? It's not in use anymore but it's still there!).

Standing in front of a set of doors into the West Wing, complete with the Presidential Seal.

In front of the White House INSIDE the gates.

Thanks, Adam for thinking of us! What an experience!

Nephews....and Neice!?!?!

I love being an aunt. I think my nephews are the cutest in the world. I really miss them living far away from everyone. We've got...

Alex

Logan (I'm sure you can figure by the red hair that they are brothers)
Hayden


Tad
Lincoln
(perhaps not quite as obvious, but Linc and Tadders are brothers).



With my 2 boys that makes....7 little boys. And this next week we're all going to be at my parents' house. 7 boys under age 6. Sound fun?! I think so!!

My brother David and his wife Maida had their first baby on Saturday. They gave our family the first girl...and she is beautiful!!




Welcome to the world, Abigail!

Isn't she beautiful? I hope we can see her soon. Congratulations, David and Maida!!


I have to add this pic because I think it is just about the sweetes picture of my little brother. I knew David would be a good dad when, when he was a freshman at BYU and I had just had Lucas, he watched him for me one time (well, several times, but I remember this one :)) while I had meetings. I learned afterwards that Lucas had given him a hard time (read: cried). David tried everything to calm him down and decided maybe he needed a diaper change. He laid him on the changing table...where Lucas promptly fell asleep. David was no dummy; he didn't want to move him and risk waking him up, but he also didn't want to risk him falling off. He sat on the edge of our bed for...at least an hour (I don't remember exactly) to watch him until he woke up. Isn't that about the sweetest thing you ever heard?