Ever since the Minnesota State Fair (and the awesomeness of Princess Kay of the Milky Way), I've been sort of a state fair nut, dragging Drew (and now Rachel) to every state fair -- and some local ones, too -- where we've lived.
Today was the start of the Virginia State Fair, which lasts a week (it ends next weekend), and because I'm working next Saturday -- a once-in-a-lifetime rarity -- I decreed that today would be the day we'd head to rural Virginia. It's a 90-minute drive each way, with rain threatening, and Drew and I were up very late last night paying bills and doing some paperwork decluttering, so we didn't end up getting out of the house until 12:30. I brought umbrellas and boots just in case, but left them in the car because I didn't want to drag them around.
It was cloudy and sort of cool when we arrived, but we headed straight for the kids' area, anyway, and Drew smartly bought Rachel an unlimited ride pass. She went on a bunch of them, including the Ferris wheel, with Drew before the skies opened up. And, man, did it rain! We all got soaked and I gave Rachel my raincoat because she looked so wet and miserable. We took refuge in the dove/bird exhibit tent -- the doves were cooing! It was adorable! -- and then the poultry and bunny tent, and then we went to the petting area where we saw llamas! guinea pigs! Sheep! Goats! Cows! And the sweetest, fuzziest baby chicks EVER. By that time the rain had let up, and we went back to the rides where Rachel discovered a trampoline ride with a harness that allowed her to jump really high and do forward and backflips. She persuaded Drew to let her go twice, and I got some great shots of her mid-flight with her hair flying.
After the rides we decided to get something to eat (I was wet and cold and getting cranky by that point), so we wandered to the food area and the Midway, and got dinner -- brisket and pizza and unsweetened iced tea, a rarity in this part of the world -- and then ice cream for dessert (Rachel). Rachel went on a couple of the scarier rides after that, including the Tilt-A-Whirl and a space-themed ride that looked scary to me (the sign outside said, "Frightened children should not be pressured into riding."). Drew wanted to bet on whether Rachel would come outside and throw up or say, as she had after the Tilt-A-Whirl: "That was AWESOME!" It was the latter, of course, and then Rachel had this to say: "While everyone was screaming, I had a lovely little chat about Star Wars with the person next to me." I swear, sometimes she sounds like a little old lady.
We didn't leave until 9:30 -- we sure got our money's worth, although Rachel didn't get to bed until 11, and yes we are bad parents for keeping her up so late. The time is fast arriving, Drew said, when he'll schlep Rachel and her friends to the fair, give Rachel $50 and tell her that's all she gets for the day, so she has to budget for rides, food and anything else she wants to buy, and he'll meet her at the end of the night for the drive back home.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Two Rachel decisions
Rachel told Drew (and, the other day while I was half asleep, me) that for this year's Science Fair project, she wants to see if yawns are contagious.
Not sure how we're going to manage that, but okay.
She also told Drew that when she goes to middle school (Swanson Middle School, if we manage to stay in the neighborhood and she doesn't choose the alternative H.B. Woodlawn) she wants to learn how to speak French.
Why French? he asked.
"Because I think I can express myself more stylishly in French," she said.
We're looking into it. Heck, I'd get her lessons now, if I could.
Not sure how we're going to manage that, but okay.
She also told Drew that when she goes to middle school (Swanson Middle School, if we manage to stay in the neighborhood and she doesn't choose the alternative H.B. Woodlawn) she wants to learn how to speak French.
Why French? he asked.
"Because I think I can express myself more stylishly in French," she said.
We're looking into it. Heck, I'd get her lessons now, if I could.
Sherlock Holmes
On Sunday as we were sitting around finishing up a late breakfast, Rachel and I got into a discussion about Sherlock Holmes, one of her favorite authors -- I could swear she knows his stories (at least, the kids' version of his stories, by heart) -- and she asked what my favorite Holmes stories are.
"The Valley of Fear" and "A Study in Scarlet," I told her.
She, of course, asked me for summaries of both.
Do you have any idea how long they are, and how many twists they contain? I obliged, anyway, and when I asked if she really wanted to hear all the details, she said plaintively, "I LOVE hearing your voice; you tell stories so good!" (It's true, she's constantly asking me to tell her stories about my childhood, and about when she was a baby and a toddler, which is why I'm so glad I can turn to this blog).
Then she followed with, "You'd be a good librarian."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because you know how to shush kids," she said.
Oh.
"The Valley of Fear" and "A Study in Scarlet," I told her.
She, of course, asked me for summaries of both.
Do you have any idea how long they are, and how many twists they contain? I obliged, anyway, and when I asked if she really wanted to hear all the details, she said plaintively, "I LOVE hearing your voice; you tell stories so good!" (It's true, she's constantly asking me to tell her stories about my childhood, and about when she was a baby and a toddler, which is why I'm so glad I can turn to this blog).
Then she followed with, "You'd be a good librarian."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because you know how to shush kids," she said.
Oh.
Reading test
Rachel announced yesterday that her class was given some sort of reading test -- basically, each kid had to look at words flashed on a computer and say the words aloud (no need to give an explanation, just say what the word was), and there were different levels of words that the kids got.
Rachel told us she successfully pronounced words that were listed on the EIGHTH-GRADE list. So, theoretically, she is reading on an eighth-grad level!
She said her friend Simone told her she had gotten words on a 10-grade level, but Rachel believes that's impossible because the list only goes up to eighth grade.
Regardless...wow. We told her over and over again how proud we are of her. She seemed pleased. I am really looking forward to our back-to-school conference with her teacher, Ms. Burke, in two weeks!
Rachel told us she successfully pronounced words that were listed on the EIGHTH-GRADE list. So, theoretically, she is reading on an eighth-grad level!
She said her friend Simone told her she had gotten words on a 10-grade level, but Rachel believes that's impossible because the list only goes up to eighth grade.
Regardless...wow. We told her over and over again how proud we are of her. She seemed pleased. I am really looking forward to our back-to-school conference with her teacher, Ms. Burke, in two weeks!
"How are babies made?"
Yeah, that's how most kids would ask that uncomfortable question, which leaves parents squirming.
Here is what Rachel asked Drew the other morning at breakfast (I was upstairs, asleep):
"How do a man and a woman combine their DNA to make a baby?"
Drew described his answer, which is way more coherent that mine would have been: How each cell has a set of DNA, and how DNA in a sperm combine with DNA in an egg, and that's how a baby gets made -- more involved than I'm saying here, but you probably get the gist.
Here is what Rachel asked Drew the other morning at breakfast (I was upstairs, asleep):
"How do a man and a woman combine their DNA to make a baby?"
Drew described his answer, which is way more coherent that mine would have been: How each cell has a set of DNA, and how DNA in a sperm combine with DNA in an egg, and that's how a baby gets made -- more involved than I'm saying here, but you probably get the gist.
Monday, September 14, 2015
gymnastics
Rachel is in Level 1 advanced in her county-run gymnastics class, meaning that they do more advanced work like chin-ups, pushups, and the like. To pass into the next level, she has to learn how to do a perfect cartwheel and several chin-ups. We will see how this goes.
Afterward she complained that the instructor was "too strict." She has to pull her hair back (it's not optional anymore) and I told her that this is the next level, which means it's harder. She looked unconvinced.
The instructor, who is also named Rachel, said that our Rachel is "one of the stronger kids in class" because of her ability to focus. I was watching some of the advanced gymnasts, some of whom appeared to be quite young, and she said that they had been plucked from some of the county classes and put on a more advanced track. They are in USGA, the certifying organization for the Olympics, and Ms. Rachel said that they had been there since 4 p.m. (it was 8 p.m.) practicing, and that they practiced 20 hours a week. She also said it's too soon to see if our Rachel is that talented. Right now, she said, the kids have to learn the concept of squeezing their muscles and working their bodies before they can really show promise.
Rachel was happy to hear that her teacher said she was one of the stronger kids, so maybe she'll be happier about the increased rigor. We also bought her a sparkly purple-and-silver leotard to replace the one she has, which is too tight.
Afterward she complained that the instructor was "too strict." She has to pull her hair back (it's not optional anymore) and I told her that this is the next level, which means it's harder. She looked unconvinced.
The instructor, who is also named Rachel, said that our Rachel is "one of the stronger kids in class" because of her ability to focus. I was watching some of the advanced gymnasts, some of whom appeared to be quite young, and she said that they had been plucked from some of the county classes and put on a more advanced track. They are in USGA, the certifying organization for the Olympics, and Ms. Rachel said that they had been there since 4 p.m. (it was 8 p.m.) practicing, and that they practiced 20 hours a week. She also said it's too soon to see if our Rachel is that talented. Right now, she said, the kids have to learn the concept of squeezing their muscles and working their bodies before they can really show promise.
Rachel was happy to hear that her teacher said she was one of the stronger kids, so maybe she'll be happier about the increased rigor. We also bought her a sparkly purple-and-silver leotard to replace the one she has, which is too tight.
Rosh Hashanah day
I had told Drew last night that my foot ached so much that I maybe would go to the hospital today, and so he interpreted that to mean that he should send Rachel to school (even though we'd told them that Rachel would be home for the day). Bottom line: I woke up at 8:30 as she was dressing for school. I stopped the process; she put on a dress, Drew and I got into a huge argument; he stomped off to work and I threw on some clothes, my boot for my sore foot, and we got to synagogue only 15 minutes late this morning (as opposed to 30 minutes late on Sunday. Hey, that's progress).
Several other people were late, too. Rachel spent much of the service lying on my lap (Sunday she sat ON my lap, burying her face in my neck and kissing me) but said she was listening as the rabbi gave an excellent sermon on white privilege and duty of Jews to work for social justice. It was truly inspiring and I hope to incorporate some of those lessons in my own life this year.
Luckily we got to hear the shofar not once, not twice, but three times -- Rachel had really been looking forward to it -- and they called all the kids up to help put the Torah away after the long reading (although Rachel was disappointed that she didn't get to at least help put the caps on the scrolls and the pointer in place). I had brought in a notebook and colored pencils, without telling her, just in case she got bored, but she wasn't restless or obnoxious at all -- and the service was 2 hours, pretty long for a kid her age. I thanked her tonight for her patience.
On the way from synagogue to the car, which I had to park quite a ways away, we noticed other people were walking to their cars, too. "Those are the unfortunate souls who got here late," she declared. Sometimes she really does sound like a little old lady, the way she talks.
Then we stopped to buy lunch salads for me this week, got home and had lunch, and then Rachel said, "May I please got upstairs and take a nap? I'm tired," and I said sure, and then I lay down too, and didn't get up until 2:30. Rachel was up by then and wanted to play on the swings and I said, sure, go outside, and then I set about getting things ready for an early (5 p.m.) dinner because I was going to take her to her first gymnastics class. We didn't finish our quick meal until 6:15, but we made her class with time to spare.
I had really, really wanted us to go for a walk or a long bike ride because it was a perfectly beautiful day -- sunny and only 75 degrees -- but my foot hurt and I couldn't rouse either of us to do so (Rachel spent a lot of the afternoon reading). Sigh. Next year? When I'm better?
Several other people were late, too. Rachel spent much of the service lying on my lap (Sunday she sat ON my lap, burying her face in my neck and kissing me) but said she was listening as the rabbi gave an excellent sermon on white privilege and duty of Jews to work for social justice. It was truly inspiring and I hope to incorporate some of those lessons in my own life this year.
Luckily we got to hear the shofar not once, not twice, but three times -- Rachel had really been looking forward to it -- and they called all the kids up to help put the Torah away after the long reading (although Rachel was disappointed that she didn't get to at least help put the caps on the scrolls and the pointer in place). I had brought in a notebook and colored pencils, without telling her, just in case she got bored, but she wasn't restless or obnoxious at all -- and the service was 2 hours, pretty long for a kid her age. I thanked her tonight for her patience.
On the way from synagogue to the car, which I had to park quite a ways away, we noticed other people were walking to their cars, too. "Those are the unfortunate souls who got here late," she declared. Sometimes she really does sound like a little old lady, the way she talks.
Then we stopped to buy lunch salads for me this week, got home and had lunch, and then Rachel said, "May I please got upstairs and take a nap? I'm tired," and I said sure, and then I lay down too, and didn't get up until 2:30. Rachel was up by then and wanted to play on the swings and I said, sure, go outside, and then I set about getting things ready for an early (5 p.m.) dinner because I was going to take her to her first gymnastics class. We didn't finish our quick meal until 6:15, but we made her class with time to spare.
I had really, really wanted us to go for a walk or a long bike ride because it was a perfectly beautiful day -- sunny and only 75 degrees -- but my foot hurt and I couldn't rouse either of us to do so (Rachel spent a lot of the afternoon reading). Sigh. Next year? When I'm better?
Quiet weekend
With both Drew I sick (at his insistence, I visited my doctor last week and she diagnosed bronchitis) and some unexpected fact-checking work on two sensitive stories that came my way, I was reluctant to go on our scheduled camping trip to Bull Run on Saturday and Sunday. Plus, I had scored free tickets for "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by the Shakespeare Theater Company for Sunday afternoon, and I was worried about how we'd race back from camping, change clothes, go to the theater, come home and head to synagogue for the first night of Rosh Hashanah, then head home to a home-cooked dinner.
Fortunately it rained on Saturday morning -- rained and rained and rained -- and one thing that Drew and I agreed on is that we do NOT go camping in the rain. And Rachel's friend Ivy wanted to have a playdate (we had seen her the night before at McKinley's first-week-of-school ice cream social, which I'd never attended until this year), and we hadn't seen Ivy in a while, so...Rachel went to Ivy's, Drew ran errands and I worked on fact-checking most of the afternoon.
That night, Ivy came over for Family Fun Night. I had sushi, the girls had pizza (and after a glob of pizza ended up on a sofa cushion, Drew smartly banned all eating while watching movies, which is a good thing), and then Ivy went home. After putting Rachel to bed, Drew insisted on watching Mission Impossible (Ghost Protocol), which means we ended up going to bed too late and woke up late on Sunday (but in time to Skype with Valerie and Tia Daniella). Afterward we got to the theater in time to go to the Patron's Lounge (free, again), which had drinks and snacks, and then we saw the play.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" was AWESOME, one of the best productions I've ever seen. Rachel howled -- absolutely howled -- at the play-within-the-play, especially at Puck's antics, and except for some whispering that Drew did to explain what was going on, she was able to follow the plot pretty well (it was set in the 1930s). The only thing that marred the experience somewhat was the young woman (probably early 20s, if that), who kept turning around and giving Rachel and Drew dirty looks (after a while, she opened some candy and began eating, which was strictly forbidden). If she had said anything, I would have replied, sweetly, "Some day, you'll come here with your 7-year-old son or daughter, grateful for the free tickets, and I hope you remember how you acted today." Come to think of it, I probably should have just said it anyway.
We took the Metro back and because of delays, we ended up getting to synagogue about a half-hour late. We still took in most of the service, though, and because it was short, and Drew didn't have time to make dinner, and the game hens were frozen -- we didn't end up eating until 9 -- steak and popovers, which is not exactly a fancy Rosh Hashanah dinner. But we dipped apples in honey and got Rachel to bed before 11.
Unfortunately I ended up pulling a muscle or something in my left foot -- the one that has been plaguing me all summer -- and so I iced it, took some Tylenol 3 and hobbled off to bed in misery. Not the best way to start the new year.
Fortunately it rained on Saturday morning -- rained and rained and rained -- and one thing that Drew and I agreed on is that we do NOT go camping in the rain. And Rachel's friend Ivy wanted to have a playdate (we had seen her the night before at McKinley's first-week-of-school ice cream social, which I'd never attended until this year), and we hadn't seen Ivy in a while, so...Rachel went to Ivy's, Drew ran errands and I worked on fact-checking most of the afternoon.
That night, Ivy came over for Family Fun Night. I had sushi, the girls had pizza (and after a glob of pizza ended up on a sofa cushion, Drew smartly banned all eating while watching movies, which is a good thing), and then Ivy went home. After putting Rachel to bed, Drew insisted on watching Mission Impossible (Ghost Protocol), which means we ended up going to bed too late and woke up late on Sunday (but in time to Skype with Valerie and Tia Daniella). Afterward we got to the theater in time to go to the Patron's Lounge (free, again), which had drinks and snacks, and then we saw the play.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" was AWESOME, one of the best productions I've ever seen. Rachel howled -- absolutely howled -- at the play-within-the-play, especially at Puck's antics, and except for some whispering that Drew did to explain what was going on, she was able to follow the plot pretty well (it was set in the 1930s). The only thing that marred the experience somewhat was the young woman (probably early 20s, if that), who kept turning around and giving Rachel and Drew dirty looks (after a while, she opened some candy and began eating, which was strictly forbidden). If she had said anything, I would have replied, sweetly, "Some day, you'll come here with your 7-year-old son or daughter, grateful for the free tickets, and I hope you remember how you acted today." Come to think of it, I probably should have just said it anyway.
We took the Metro back and because of delays, we ended up getting to synagogue about a half-hour late. We still took in most of the service, though, and because it was short, and Drew didn't have time to make dinner, and the game hens were frozen -- we didn't end up eating until 9 -- steak and popovers, which is not exactly a fancy Rosh Hashanah dinner. But we dipped apples in honey and got Rachel to bed before 11.
Unfortunately I ended up pulling a muscle or something in my left foot -- the one that has been plaguing me all summer -- and so I iced it, took some Tylenol 3 and hobbled off to bed in misery. Not the best way to start the new year.
2nd day of school
I walked Rachel to her second day of school, and as she was unpacking her things I tried to help her get organized by attempting to put her lunch sack in the big cart with the other lunch sacks/bags.
"I have a routine, Mom," she explained, gently shooing me away. "Um, okay!" I sputtered. I watched her go into class, hoping she'd give me a wave or at least a hug or kiss goodbye. Nothing! She walked in and never looked back.
Pretty soon, I guess I'll just leave her at the front door of the school because she'll insist on going inside alone. Or, more likely, she'll just be too embarrassed to be seen with me.
"I have a routine, Mom," she explained, gently shooing me away. "Um, okay!" I sputtered. I watched her go into class, hoping she'd give me a wave or at least a hug or kiss goodbye. Nothing! She walked in and never looked back.
Pretty soon, I guess I'll just leave her at the front door of the school because she'll insist on going inside alone. Or, more likely, she'll just be too embarrassed to be seen with me.
First day of school!
Rachel's first day of school was last Tuesday. She had the usual first-day-of-school worries, especially because she didn't get the teacher she wanted (Ms. Wallach, who runs the student council and has a guinea pig and another class pet, and Libby and Tasia and some more of Rachel's friends were in her class). We were disappointed, but the teacher she got, Ms. Burke, seems quite nice (although, as I pointed out to Drew, very young. She looks 19 but is probably in her mid-20s, which means I am old enough TO BE HER MOM).
Rachel was very upset that I made her dress up a bit and absolutely refused to put on a dress. I made her wear a skort and a turquoise shirt to match. "I'm afraid my teacher will think I'm a girly-girl!" she said, teary-eyed, after I forced her to take off her shorts and T-shirt. She also fought Drew on shoe wear but finally agreed to wear her Keens.
When she got to school she saw Gabby and Addie, friends from kindergarten and first grade, and a couple more kids she knew. When I tried to say goodbye, she was already being shown what to do by Gabby, who had arrived a bit earlier. I left knowing that she would be fine, and then Drew told me she had a good day.
Rachel was very upset that I made her dress up a bit and absolutely refused to put on a dress. I made her wear a skort and a turquoise shirt to match. "I'm afraid my teacher will think I'm a girly-girl!" she said, teary-eyed, after I forced her to take off her shorts and T-shirt. She also fought Drew on shoe wear but finally agreed to wear her Keens.
When she got to school she saw Gabby and Addie, friends from kindergarten and first grade, and a couple more kids she knew. When I tried to say goodbye, she was already being shown what to do by Gabby, who had arrived a bit earlier. I left knowing that she would be fine, and then Drew told me she had a good day.
vacation
Drew and I have been battling bronchitis (and have matching antibiotic regimens! Isn't that too sweet for words?), which is why I've been lax in updating the blog. So, to catch up on the last two weeks:
We had a lovely if way-too-short (as usual) vacation in the Outer Banks. Drew was coughing uncontrollably the Wednesday that we were supposed to have left, so we left on Thursday instead -- thereby putting into danger all the stuff I had planned for us: kayaking in the Sound, an all-day trip to Ocracoke, a visit to the flight museum and plenty of beach time. We left later Thursday than we wanted to, but neither of us was in any shape to get up early and leave with the sunrise.
We stopped for an early-ish dinner at a great place called Southland on the NC border after we ran into traffic around Hampton Roads, which means we didn't get to PopPop and Mammaw's until nearly bedtime. I took NyQuil the entire time we were there, which enabled me to sleep while Drew shook the bed trying to conceal his coughing. Rachel, of course, completely avoided getting sick.
On Friday, we went to the beach. It was the absolutely perfect beach day -- warm but not too hot, and the water was the ideal temperature -- refreshing but not too cold. Rachel and I spent most of the day in the water, she jumping over waves near the shore and me catching her as she tried to jump over the waves. One time I didn't manage it and she got a good scare going underwater, then ran back to our blanket and covered her body with a towel, shaking and sobbing. I sympathized with her a bit, but then told her the best way to get over it was to get right back in the water, which she did. I didn't want her to come away traumatized by the ocean, and she seemed to recover quickly.
PopPop and Mammaw cooked a grilled chicken dinner that night and had a lovely surprise for Drew -- an ice-cream cake from Carvel, yay!! and Rachel and I gave him his 50th birthday gifts: a new Daddy Tool (Swiss Army knife) and two pairs of cargo shorts, one of which was unfortunately too big and had to be returned (which Drew did this past weekend).
The next day was windy, and so we all went to the aquarium (at Rachel's request). It's quite a good one considering that it's far from a big city, and the best part for me was to watch the turtle recovery efforts -- I told Drew that if we lived in the Outer Banks, I'd definitely volunteer for turtle rescue duty -- those critters are big, and they look very friendly. We had lunch there and then headed home with the idea that we'd go to the flight museum. But then Rachel announced that she wanted to take a nap, and I was tired, too (from being sick or from allergies; at the point I had no idea what it was except that I was sneezing and coughing), so we crashed for about an hour or so before dinner.
PopPop and Mammaw took us to an excellent seafood restaurant with great cocktails and we all had a nice time looking at the sunset. Rachel was very disappointed when we told her we weren't going to get dessert there, so I gave in and said, sure, order the Hershey's chocolate cake (which was way too sweet, even though I had only one or two bites). We got home, put her to bed, and then Drew and I watched some episodes of "House of Cards" together.
The next day we had a good breakfast and took our time about leaving, since we stopped at a recently reopened lighthouse hoping to walk the 100+ steps to the top. You have to buy tickets, and to kill time before we walked upstairs, we walked a path out to the estuary where they had a lookout, and you could see herons and the ocean beyond -- absolutely lovely. By the time of our tour, it was 1 p.m. and the temperature inside the lighthouse was 104 degrees, so they closed it to walkers. So disappointing, but there was nothing to be done. We told Rachel we'd just have to come back sometime, which we will do next year because, as I told Drew, we are spending more time visiting PopPop and Mammaw if we have to cancel Oregon to do it. It's totally worth the relaxation time!
The ride home was almost totally traffic-free because it was a Sunday evening. We ate dinner at a lovely little restaurant in Fredricksburg (must explore more of that town!) and then got home around 10, got to sleep at 11:30, and then we all slept in the next day. Drew took Rachel to a baseball game (the Mets won!) and I went to work.
Altogether, a wonderful (yet, as usual, too-short) vacation!
We had a lovely if way-too-short (as usual) vacation in the Outer Banks. Drew was coughing uncontrollably the Wednesday that we were supposed to have left, so we left on Thursday instead -- thereby putting into danger all the stuff I had planned for us: kayaking in the Sound, an all-day trip to Ocracoke, a visit to the flight museum and plenty of beach time. We left later Thursday than we wanted to, but neither of us was in any shape to get up early and leave with the sunrise.
We stopped for an early-ish dinner at a great place called Southland on the NC border after we ran into traffic around Hampton Roads, which means we didn't get to PopPop and Mammaw's until nearly bedtime. I took NyQuil the entire time we were there, which enabled me to sleep while Drew shook the bed trying to conceal his coughing. Rachel, of course, completely avoided getting sick.
On Friday, we went to the beach. It was the absolutely perfect beach day -- warm but not too hot, and the water was the ideal temperature -- refreshing but not too cold. Rachel and I spent most of the day in the water, she jumping over waves near the shore and me catching her as she tried to jump over the waves. One time I didn't manage it and she got a good scare going underwater, then ran back to our blanket and covered her body with a towel, shaking and sobbing. I sympathized with her a bit, but then told her the best way to get over it was to get right back in the water, which she did. I didn't want her to come away traumatized by the ocean, and she seemed to recover quickly.
PopPop and Mammaw cooked a grilled chicken dinner that night and had a lovely surprise for Drew -- an ice-cream cake from Carvel, yay!! and Rachel and I gave him his 50th birthday gifts: a new Daddy Tool (Swiss Army knife) and two pairs of cargo shorts, one of which was unfortunately too big and had to be returned (which Drew did this past weekend).
The next day was windy, and so we all went to the aquarium (at Rachel's request). It's quite a good one considering that it's far from a big city, and the best part for me was to watch the turtle recovery efforts -- I told Drew that if we lived in the Outer Banks, I'd definitely volunteer for turtle rescue duty -- those critters are big, and they look very friendly. We had lunch there and then headed home with the idea that we'd go to the flight museum. But then Rachel announced that she wanted to take a nap, and I was tired, too (from being sick or from allergies; at the point I had no idea what it was except that I was sneezing and coughing), so we crashed for about an hour or so before dinner.
PopPop and Mammaw took us to an excellent seafood restaurant with great cocktails and we all had a nice time looking at the sunset. Rachel was very disappointed when we told her we weren't going to get dessert there, so I gave in and said, sure, order the Hershey's chocolate cake (which was way too sweet, even though I had only one or two bites). We got home, put her to bed, and then Drew and I watched some episodes of "House of Cards" together.
The next day we had a good breakfast and took our time about leaving, since we stopped at a recently reopened lighthouse hoping to walk the 100+ steps to the top. You have to buy tickets, and to kill time before we walked upstairs, we walked a path out to the estuary where they had a lookout, and you could see herons and the ocean beyond -- absolutely lovely. By the time of our tour, it was 1 p.m. and the temperature inside the lighthouse was 104 degrees, so they closed it to walkers. So disappointing, but there was nothing to be done. We told Rachel we'd just have to come back sometime, which we will do next year because, as I told Drew, we are spending more time visiting PopPop and Mammaw if we have to cancel Oregon to do it. It's totally worth the relaxation time!
The ride home was almost totally traffic-free because it was a Sunday evening. We ate dinner at a lovely little restaurant in Fredricksburg (must explore more of that town!) and then got home around 10, got to sleep at 11:30, and then we all slept in the next day. Drew took Rachel to a baseball game (the Mets won!) and I went to work.
Altogether, a wonderful (yet, as usual, too-short) vacation!
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