Continuous Learning

Niagara Falls, Canada

Women's March, Washington DC

We marched to the White House yesterday.

She made her own sign, taped it to her brother's wiffle ball bat, and proudly carried it with her everywhere we went.

Kauai County, Hawaii

Paradise found.

Black Hills & Badlands, South Dakota

Crazy Horse Memorial

Wall Drug Store

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

41st Marine Corps Marathon

While he hasn't run more than 10 times all year due to a crazy pace at work,

John finished his first marathon yesterday, strangely in no pain.

He ran strong with a big smile on his face, and we are so proud. NSDQ

Escuela Key

It's official: we have a first-grader and a kindergartener.

Looking forward to a great school year.

Nationals Park

We went to a Washington Nationals game this weekend.

They lost, but Bryce Harper homered,

and the kids ran the bases after the game.

National Aquarium

Touching a horseshoe crab.

Touching the jellies.

Great Falls, Virginia

Richmond International Raceway

Thank you, Daddy for taking us to our first NASCAR race tonight --
we had so much fun!

2015 Library of Congress National Book Festival

We heard Buzz Aldrin, David Baldacci, Tom Brokaw, Louise Erdrich, Juan Felipe Herrera and David McCullough
would be among the 175+ acclaimed authors, illustrators and poets participating in this year's National Book Festival,
and we had to go. We kept it simple and spent our day strictly in the children's genre.

A couple of our favorite highlights -- having Mac Barnett sign Extra Yarn and
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, two of his books we brought from home,

and catching Laura Murray read her books The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School,
The Gingerbread Man Loose on the Fire Truck, and The Gingerbread Man Loose at Christmas.

Luray, Virginia

We beat the heat at the Luray Caverns this weekend.

 

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Swimming, severe weather, and s'mores before breakfast.
These two roughed it in great company this weekend -- their first camping trip.

Truck Touch 2015

We were tipped off that this would be the mack daddy of all truck touches, with thousands of kids attending last year.
This year's Truck Touch at RFK Stadium in DC did not disappoint!

There were all sorts of demonstrations and activities,
and the DC Free Summer Meals Program passed out free lunches to the kids.

The kids were invited to climb aboard all the vehicles, push the buttons, and honk the horns.
There was A LOT of horn-honking.

They were very excited, and of course, they left nothing untouched!

So many city departments and government agencies showed up in support;
it was very cool to see a new vehicle roll in.
And the representatives who worked this event made the morning pretty spectacular.

Sergeant Branch gave us a tour of his helicopter and took the time to answer all of our questions.
He never once hurried us along. 

And Ms. Stephanie helped us to simulate our response to a local fire in her emergency management vehicle.
She let us use the radio to notify command and the loud speaker to move traffic in DC.
We liked that so much that we waited in line a second time to respond to a building collapse.

Certainly on our radar for next year -- we had a great time!

John scored us tickets to tonight's private screening of the new Disney/Pixar movie Inside Out, out on Friday.

Tour de Fat 2015

We took the kids to Tour de Fat, a beautiful celebration of bicycles and beer.

We saw a lot of zany bikes.

The choice ride of our resident bachelor.

A nod to the hometown: John Biere.

You might think this event would be geared more towards an adult crowd,
and we admit, the people watching was fantastic;
but there were plenty of things that kept our kinders' attention, too.

Great music, an impressive puppet show, a kids' parade, and a kids' zone with an obstacle course.
DC is just one stop on the tour, and if you go, we suggest that you do not miss the yo yo show.

We even found some children's books about bicycling and made friends reading stories in the shade.

The kids got a kick out of sharing one of their favorite splash parks with so many adults yesterday.
An excellent place to enjoy a refreshing beverage on such a warm weekend.

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas

This, the 'before' picture -- between assignments this winter, we traveled by ferry to reach the Bahamas; 
it didn't take long to learn that our children had forgotten to sport their sea legs.

In the moment, he was furious that he had vomited all over himself.
But he was outright enraged to discover that the extra shirt I had packed for him was in fact his sister's cat shirt.

Thrilled to be there, at last!

Pineapple coconut pancakes.

We built sand castles,

searched for seashells,

and reveled in well-deserved quality time with this guy.

It was wonderful to be together.

So long, Bahamas!