Catskills!

We are sitting in Uncle Greg and Aunt Mary's house in the Catskills... lovin' life. :-)

Tori and I just spotted a mama deer and her beautiful baby fawn prancing through the grass outside the window. Birds are chirping, a cool breeze is blowing and our bellies are full of fresh berries.

Oh there's a beautiful blue bird!

We got up here around 7:30 and unpacked the car. Mary and Greg had the house open and welcoming. Uncle Greg entertained the kids with stories... some true and some "fiction" and Aunt Mary's job was to clarify which was which.

Greg has so many plans for the kids today... They include but are not limited to:

stream exploring

beaver dam viewing

baby hawk spying

lizard hunting

wildlife watching

tractor riding

berry picking

cookout

lightening bug catching

I gotta get moving!

On our way to the Catskills today!

We spent a beautifully sunny afternoon at the Pitt Zoo yesterday with Mary, Michael, and Stephen. Back at Buff and Mary's we had a relaxing dinner and visit with family. Eric and I pray our kids turn out as good as Matt, Michael, and Stephen... all good boys. Buff and Mary's parenting style is a great role models for us!

We drop Eric off at the airport this am. It will be a sad event of course.

I head to the Catskills with the kids for about a week. They may be a bit board but the quiet is much needed for this mommy. My Aunt Mary and Uncle Greg have a beautiful home they have generously opened to family and friends. When we lived in NY we were able to benefit from their generosity often but I have not been there for a while now. I am SSSSSOOOO looking forward to it! A good friend from our Fort Drum days is coming up for the day to join us. I look forward to seeing her again... it has been too long since our last visit! I also hear my uncle may be up there for a couple of days too... it will be nice to catch up with him in his happy place!!!

I am a little freaked out watching the news about the trains that collided outside D.C. The kids and I were just on that train last week when visiting D.C. from Veronica's. So sad for those in the crash.

I don't think I will have Internet at the cabin. So I will have to update this and check e-mail on our next stop. Thanks for trackin' me! Have a great week!

PA with PATERS!

After a picnic of PB&J & a little bit of clothes shopping on the way to pitt... we picked Daddy up at the airport! Always a joyous event! Eric has been working out down in the bayou so he is looking great! Nice and fit in his old man strength.

We headed for dinner and then to visit Mom at the hospital. Mom looks great and was adamant she will be discharging ASAP. Period. And Mom owns McKeesport as Lisa, my sister-in-law, says so she got her way.

Hotel and swimming... bed and up to visit with the Boyds who drove down from Erie to visit!

We visited Mom at the hospital first thing in the am. She was dressed and standing over the nurse at the nurse station asking yet again when her doctor would be coming in to discharge her. Mom humored me by letting me lecture her with my very best discharge planner lecture but in the end she and we knew she was going home no matter what her doctor planned on telling her during rounds.

The Boyds joined us at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. It was great to see Scott and the kids again. Such a nice family. Natalie and Tori are about the same age, as well as Aaron and Nicholas. Leah thinks she is around my age and is so mature for her young years. I whole-heartedly enjoy her company. After spending the good part of the day with us Eric headed back to Glassport where he made Mom a yummy dinner much to her joy. Scott and I had the kids in the pool when Eric and I switched out. I went to be with Mom until she was tucked in to her bed, happy to be home. The boys (Eric and Scott) kept me and the kids up way to late (LOL!).

The morning (Father's Day!!!) came too soon but we jumped in to the pool anyway, ate a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, had a pillow fight, and grabbed lunch before the Boyds headed back up to Erie to spend Father's Day with grandpa.

We were at Mom's home after lunch were I took a nap (:-)) and awoke to Buff, Mary, Matt, Michael, and Stephen playing with E, N, & T. They brought their cool bean bag toss (VERY high speed Pitt sports team themed!). I think I was the only one who tossed the poor bean bag over the neighbors fence. But Matt was my hero.

Buff and Mary made us all dinner, awesome! We enjoyed the down-time with family. Mom was so happy to have family milling about and relaxing in her home.

We headed back to Buff and Mary's where we spent the night and met Cloe, the newest addition to the family!

So now it's morning. Nicholas is still sleeping, Tori is playing with the cats and dog while watching TV, and Eric is visiting with Mom again before we head out to the zoo with Mary and the kids. I love to see the kids spending time with family!!! We miss that connection. The Pater's are good to let us interrupt normalcy when we breeze through town.

On the road again to PA

Dinner with Radhika was just what I needed! Nicholas, Tara and Tori were great friends fast of course. It was wonderful seeing Dr. Joglekar as well. Made me happy.
We are on our way to Pitt to pick up Eric & visit the Paters. Mom Pater is coming home after her heart surgery so we thought it would be a good time to visit.
So the kids are gonna see their Dad for Father's Day!

Day off. Extended.

We hung out at Veronica's Wednesday until she was able to take Tori to get her nails done... a special Aunt Veronica treat. After entertaining the whole salon in true Tori fashion we all went to Chili's for dinner and Dave and Buster's for Nicholas' special treat from Aunt Veronica. I think V and I are finally getting our hearing back and the kids may be coming off from the high of kiddie gambling! The kids did not get to bed until after 11:30! Such a wonderful day with Aunt Veronica for all of us.
So I had planned on heading in to Baltimore, MD today but I do not have the energy. It is a rainy day and I need to take a day off from adventures. I am washing clothes, reorganizing the suitcases, and figuring out what I need to do when and why. Oh and I plan on finishing up Veronica's garden today which makes me REAL happy. I think well in the garden. :-)
Plans for this afternoon: chillin' and Dinner with Radhika, Tara, and Dr. Joglekar! I can not wait to catch up. !!!

D.C.!

We got up as early as I could tolerate and headed in to D.C. via the train. That was fun in and of itself of course. We saw and did so much..
-Admired Union Station
-U.S. Capitol
-Smithsonian Air and Space Museum where we focused on the and the "How Things Fly" hands on room, "Exploring the Planets" room, and the "Wright Brothers"room. Laura reminded me to get the kids dehydrated astronaut ice cream!
-National Gallery of Art where we, um... saw art, had lunch in the cafe, and I took a picture of the kids in front of a fountain Mom took a picture of me and my siblings in front of when I was around their age.
-Washington Monument
-WW II Memorial where we found all the states we have lived and will live.
-Lincoln Memorial where we watched a school from Newark, NJ recite Martin Luther King Jr.'s Civil Rights March speech. It was so moving! I love when little, unexpected things happen like that.
-Korean War Veterans Memorial
-The White House (in the distance)
-and the Spy Museum.
We were soooooo tired since I was too cheap to pay for a trolley! A quick grocery shop after getting back on the train and we enjoyed a late dinner with Veronica before hittin' the hay.
Such a fun-filled day!!! The weather was PERFECT. warm and slightly overcast. Could not have ordered better weather.

NJ, Delaware, and Maryland again!

After a relaxing morning with Chip, Sue & kids we packed up my car and were off again. As nice as it was to be with family I was really looking forward to continuing our adventure.
We decided to drive back down to stay with Veronica in Maryland. Aunt Veronica is spoiling the kids ROTTEN!!!
I did not get to take the kids on the Cape May-Lewes ferry or to see D.C., or to the Baltimore Aquarium for that matter! So we had no choice but to turn around.
Cape May was beautiful. adorable. The kids tried Salt Water Taffy for the first time and liked it! The ferry was perfect. I saw a dolphin but the kids missed it.
We got to Veronica's kinda late but had a little visit before bedtime.

Mom is officially retired!

Mom's retirement went very well! Mass was very nice. And the reception after was perfect. I got to see my Karen!!
K. so. just hanging out with the fam-damily. I ate bagels this am... REAL bagels. YYYYYUUUMMMM!

A Great Adventure in NJ

Thursday: Went to Six Flags Great Adventure with the family! Barbara and Andrea Walch (Liechtensteiner friends!) also took a train down from NYC to join us. It was Sssssoooo nice to see a couple of Ernst and Margret's offspring. Always such a treat.
Marmie spoiled us all in the park. The rain did not seem to slow down our kids... the lines were a lot shorter because of the rain actually so they kinda were more active because of it! We parents were a bit frazzled by the end of the day but it was awesome seeing all the cousins run around together.
Friday: Relaxing (much needed) morning at Chip and Sue's. Ran some errands and hung out at Laura and Tom's in the afternoon. Chip and Sue had a bunch of us over for an awesome dinner. It was great to just hang out with family. We also got to skype Eric so he could be part of the craziness. It gave Eric and Tom a chance to solidify their bet on the Stanley cup game.... Go Pens!
The adventure continues tonight with Mom's Retirement Mass and Party. It's time to start thinking about how to look presentable.!

VA to NJ

Started out Monday with the kids feeding Tom's tarantula before we got on the road again. What fun! Drove down toward VA beach and stopped off at a battlefield just outside of Williamsburg to picnic and learn. The peaches we bought at a roadside stand in GA were perfectly ripe!
We saw a very cool battleship off the Chesapeake Bay bridge tunnel at which Tori exclaimed "HHHOOOLLLY Ship!" My heart stopped! and then I had to chuckle to myself hoping she truly did not know how close she just came to getting a major lecture.
We got to Cape Henry/Fort Story VA and hiked up to the top of the lighthouse. Beautiful view.
Checked in to the Cape Henry Inn and rushed out to the shore. The kids were a riot! Nicholas decided the beach is a graveyard and Tori ranted against the waves for pushing her around. She then evolved into singing and dancing for the waves when she got used to the feel of the ocean. They both found much joy in finding treasures: both dead and alive. Three days on the beach did us all a lot of good.
We had a nice, relaxing time on the beach and at the pool. I am very happy I had this time to simply be.
On our way out of VA Tori starts holding her ear and writhing in pain. Hello! Ear infection! FINALLY got meds at the Norfolk Clinic... that's another story. She is back to singing and smiling so all is good.
I am now at my little brother's home! It was so nice to see that "welcome to NJ" sign! Add Maryland and Delaware to our list of states! Susan had a very yummy quiche waiting for me. & now I am very sleepy. Knowing I have to keep up with the family tomorrow at Great Adventure makes me realize I gotta get my bootie in bed! Night!

Fairfax, VA and fitness training!

Good Morning! Yesterday was a fun-filled, exhausting day at the "Celebrate Fairfax" event Jennifer chaired. Tom and I enjoyed flashing the VIP tag Jennifer gave us to get in free with awesome parking. It's good to know "people"! There was SSSSOOO much to do/see/eat there was no way to hit it all! It was a beautiful day and fun was had by all. I was so ready to get back to Tom's and hang out on his back porch where he taught the kids how to play Uno. We proceeded to play the longest game known to man while eating our kettle corn. :-)
It amazes me to watch our kids play together. Who would have thought it when we were in college this would be where we would end up. Tom's son is a beautiful, happy boy whom my children obviously adore. Nicholas loves teaching him stuff and playing while Tori LOVED helping with bathtime and bedtime routines. Wait until you see a picture of Tori holding Thomas on her lap with a bottle while Jen holds a book for Tori to read to him. Priceless.
After Tom made us an awesome dinner and Jen a very yummy dessert I heard my bed calling me. I was planning on joining Tom O-dark-early to attend one of his Custom Fitness Concepts classes (www.customfitnessconcepts.com) of which he is CEO (little brother is all grown up!!). My goal: to not embarrass him or myself.
O-dark-early comes REAL early! Go figure. But I was up and ready. Tom kicked my butt and the butts of those who pay him to yell at them. enough said.
O.K. I think I have finally stopped sweating so I will get in the shower while Jen takes all the kids on a walk! It's kinda nice to have three parents!
I head out for Cape Henry, VA this am to stay at a military resort for a couple of days. I will need to sit on the beach for a few to recover from this a.m. I am sure.
Hugs!

Richmond, VA to Sterling, VA!

We did not leave the state today! Yeah us!  :-) Courtney and I had a wonderful surprise this am.  Slightly serendipitous one might say.. Dan went for a run and passed a lady that looked familiar at the farmer's market down the street from their home.  Turns out it was Barb... Kriszta's Mom. Kriszta is a dear friend of both Courtney and mine who died from cancer after we three graduated from the VCU MSW program together.  Barb does not live in the area all year. For Dan to come across her while I am in town... and for Dan to actually REMEMBER Barb and encourage her to come over to say hey is truly amazing to me.  It was beautiful for us all to get to talk about Kriszta.  It was a gift.

After leaving Courtney WAY TOO SOON! the kids and I went to one of my favorite places to hang out and think while I was living in Richmond... Maymont Park. Beautiful grounds and a petting zoo & exhibits for the kids.  The black bear and the Japanese Gardens were our favorites. Pictures have been taken but can not be shared yet. I am not traveling with my own computer so I do not want to hook my camera up to just anything! 

We all worked up an awesome appetite on those hills so we headed for the fan... a great neighborhood in downtown Richmond that got it's name from the fact that the streets follow that shape and fan out from a central location. We had a great meal and walked around while this Mommy said... Daddy and I used to eat here and my friends and I used to hang out there!  

Tori was in desperate need of a haircut and was treated to a big girl experience at a salon.  She ate it up.

We headed up North to Tom and Jennifer (and Thomas III!!!) Kalka after driving through VCU grounds.  Tom, Eric and I went to school together, were in ROTC together, and Tom is Eric's little brother in their fraternity.  Tom was also in our wedding! So needless to say a good friend who just moved in to a beautiful new home and was ready, willing, and kind enough to have us stay for a couple of days!!!  

I have to say Jennifer is amazing. Not only does she keep the Kalka boys in line, works full time in a high-powered job with Mommy flexibility!.. she is also the Chairman of their community fair.  More to come on that tomorrow 'cuz that is what we get to experience as her guest!! If she was not so lovely she would be intimidating.  :-)

OK I just helped myself to a little bit more wine Jennifer poured me and I know this friendship was meant to be... a very nice Viognier from Argentina. My fav!!!  aHHHH life is good and I am surrounded by amazing people. 'Night!

The Biltmore: Asheville, NC to Richmond, VA

Woke up and blogged you before up and out to the Bitlmore Estates. Breathtaking. So worth it. Eileen, thank you for suggesting it!!!  I have always wanted to go but never had the time... and this trip is all about that!

The Biltmore is a little piece of Europe created by Mr. Vanderbilt in NC. The Blue Ridge Mountains (I think that is right!) surround this generous estate. The kids enjoyed counting the fireplaces while I took in the beauty of the rooms and spectacular gardens... oh the gardens!!!  I was in heaven.  Will I EVER live ANYWHERE long enough to plant a garden and see it grow.

?

We picnic'ed on the terrace of the arboretum while Tori announced to everyone we are pretty much homeless. She will do anything for attention that girl. 

Drove on to Richmond, VA to Courtney and Dan Bickett's home.  Courtney and I had a long overdue catchup. Thank you my dear friend.

It was so much fun to see our kids literally performing together. Courtney is an amazing Mom. A nurse practitioner during the day at our al ma mater ... Mother extraordinary whenever possible.  Pulling together a very girly 7 year old makeover b-day party even though it is WAY out of her element... she is that kind of wonderful Mom. I am in awe.

Alabama, Georgia, South & North Carolina

Good Morning! We started our trip out in Birmingham, Alabama this am. Visited downtown Alabama where we walked the freedom trail.. a circular park with art you walk through. Attacking dogs, waterhoses, children marching, police with a dog attacking a young black man. The kids go it and so did I. We entered the Civil Rights Institiute when the doors opened. I preped the kids with a story about a teacher who told her classroom kids with brown eyes were stupid and not as nice, while children with blue eyes were sweet and smart. The teachers way of teaching them racism via a class experiment. They understood quickly how much that taught the children (Tori thought it was mean of the teacher!) and how the kid's interactions played out.
A short movie sets the tone. The exibit was very powerful. I did a lot of explaining the best I could, Nicholas was quiet and contimplative, Tori quickly came to sobs. I tried to tell myself it is important for them to hear this but it was hard to see their faces. I hope it pays off in the long run. We were going to go to a plantation in NC after but I could not bring myself to have Tori and Nicholas slammed with more facts. So instead we are going to the Biltmore to see something pretty :-)
We had another picnic lunch at a reserve in Georgia. It was a perfect location right off the highway with a homestead from the 1920's and a wonderful new play park.
Dinner at a Thai restaurant in South Carolina. Yum!
Hotel by 8:30 where we all jumped in the pool and then the shower. Slept in a comfy bed
Eileen took time to find us a great deal on an awesome hotel in Asheville!
Tori wants me to tell you we are having a great time here and she wishes we can see you soon!
Nicholas says "happy to be here! That's all".
We will stay with Courtney B. and her family tonight in Richmond, VA. Courtney and I are friends from Grad School. I can not wait to see them!!!!!

Mississippi & Alabama

Drove across LA and MS. Tried to tour a gin plantation but it was closed. Saw some beautiful scenery. Doubled back to take a picture of a unique tree. Stopped at a grocery store to pick up PB&J, yogurt and apples. Ate lunch a little further down the road at a cemetery along the road. Read the historical plaque nearby regarding General Covey and his union troops who built a bridge to traverse this land during the war. That was our education for the day :-). Stayed outside Birmingham, AL. I feel very pale compared to my surroundings. Tori makes every body she comes across smile. Nicholas is taking it all and has taken it upon himself to educate Tori on all seen. Learned about mirages whilst driving through LA :-). I could not have described the phenomenon better than he.
The kids are journaling and sketching like mad. I hope they keep it up. We did not stop much because I figure this will all be in driving distance of our next assignment so it can wait.

Oklahoma, Texas, & Louisiana

Left OK just fine. Drove through Texas without much concern or worry. Arrived in Louisiana late. Slept at Eric's apt. Woke up when we woke up. Kids now in Eric's Apt Complex pool with their Daddy watching while this Mommy made hotel reservations at Fort Story, VA Cape Henry Inn for later on in the trip! and took a brisk walk. Sights and sounds:
Deep breaths of hot sticky air, dogs barking, birds chirping and twittering, roasters crowing, hens clucking, victory gardens in full swing!, beautiful groves of trees, lawns being mowed, trees being felled, kids calling out marco polo in the pool, Eric encouraging me to have fun and enjoy, friends & family voices in my head telling me "of course you are welcome.. any time!, just let me know"... Positive messages like: "Louisiana has an awesome 10 month growing season", "I love the way your family lives", "you are so brave for travelling like that". I am trying to be a positive force!!!! All this from a 15 minute walk!!! :-) Off to south of Birmingham, Alabama. Next stop Charlotte, North Carolina I think.. then Richmond, VA! See ya I gotta stretch!!!!!!!!!