Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas Blessings

Update: Koren was home from the ER in record time last night (the upside to visiting the ER on Christmas Eve - no wait time), and thankfully the injury looked a lot worse than it actually was.  The tooth is whole and still in place and we’re just supposed to watch him for sensitivity and take him to a dentist sometime next week.

In about an hour or so, our kids will start waking up and the Christmas rituals will begin.  Santa, stockings, presents, breakfast, visiting family, more presents, more food, etc.

I know this is the part where I’m supposed to wax sentimental over the real meaning of Christmas and the Christmas Spirit, and while I have plenty I could say on that topic, a) you’ve heard it a thousand times already, and b) it’s 5:30 in the morning, so I’m more inclined to use the next hour trying to get a little more sleep before the chaos and festivities commence.

But I will say this:

I hope that you and yours have a beautiful, wonderful holiday and that you truly feel as blessed as we do.  We are surrounded by an incredible group of friends and family, and are always grateful for your love, friendship and faithfulness.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Merry, Quite Contrary

My plan was to dress the kids up in their Santa outfits and film them singing “Jingle Bells” (Koren does backup, it’s great) and post it here to wish you all a Merry Christmas.

But Koren’s in the emergency room after busting his mouth on our staircase.

So Plan B....

Merry Christmas to you all, and we hope you have a relaxing and fun-filled weekend.  If you get the chance, please send up a prayer for our little guy. He’s had a rough day.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Pretty Much Speaks for Itself

One day he’ll laugh at this.

Kaelin had a long and detailed conversation with Santa about how she wants a toy puppy that swims and eats and obeys and poops and pees and that’s what she really wants for Christmas, and that’s her brother Koren over there and he’s a little shy but he’s one and she’s four, and that snow globe we walked through with all the falling snow was really cool and look how she has snow on her dress and her head but it’s not real snow, it’s made of styrofoam, and oh yeah, there’s something else she wants for Christmas but she can’t remember what it is so she’ll try to think of it and get back to him.

Koren’s conversation with Santa basically involved him hurling a long string of toddler expletives at his mother and we’re pretty sure Santa has lost a little hearing in his right ear.

Santa was very accommodating, but you can’t miss the suffering plea in his eyes.

Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon was the plantation home of George Washington, during his childhood and again after his marriage to Martha.  One thing we learned about our founding fathers on this trip: they sure knew how to pick a site for a home.  Mount Vernon overlooks the Potomac River and it’s pretty clear why guests loved to come visit the Washingtons and stay for weeks at a time.  Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take pictures of the interior of the house, but we did get some of the outside.

Mount Vernon was home to George Washington for more than 45 years. First known as Little Hunting Creek Plantation, the Estate was originally granted to Washington’s great grandfather John Washington in 1674. It eventually passed to Washington’s older half-brother, Lawrence, who renamed the property Mount Vernon after his commanding officer, Admiral Edward Vernon of the British navy. George Washington inherited the property upon the death of his brother Lawrence’s widow in 1761.

Over the years, Washington enlarged the residence and built up the property from 2,000 to nearly 8,000 acres. He divided the acreage into five working farms, including the Mansion House Farm, where he lived with his family. At the Mansion House Farm, Washington sought to create a landscape combining beauty and functionality in a serenely harmonious setting.

Washington also transformed the Mansion’s modest frame exterior, using a process called “rustication.” This meant replacing the original plain wooden siding with bevel-edged pine blocks that had been coated with a mixture of paint and sand to give the appearance of stone.

Today the Mansion has been restored to its appearance in 1799, the last year of Washington’s life.

George Washington's Tomb


Who can resist a photo op with the first president himself?