Saturday Spelunking

We took a family outing to Luray Caverns in Luray, VA, about 90 miles from Washington, DC.  Neither Kenny nor I had been before and we thought, in light of the recent cold snap, it would be a good "indoor" activity, considering the caves are a balmy 54 degrees year round.  We enjoyed our visit and being outdoors without also being exposed to the elements.  It's not that far from DC and definitely worth the trip, at least once anyway.

 

 An almost perfect family group shot, apart from Isaac not looking and the photo being slightly out of focus.  But, we'll take what we can get.

 

Kind of a creepy looking rock formation.  The black is the result of manganese.  There were also white formations that get their color from calcium deposits.  In general, the rock was much more colorful than I anticipated. 

 This was really spectacular.  The picture doesn't do it justice, but the pool of water reflects the ceiling and makes it look like a 20 foot deep cavern.  The water is only about 6 inches deep and crystal clear.

 The caves were first discovered in 1878, and boast many different types of rock formations.  The tour is only 1.25 miles, but there is plenty to ooh and aah over.

 At one point, I looked up and this was directly overhead.  The folds are so delicate, it is hard to believe this is rock.

 This organ is located in the part of the caves known as "The Cathedral."  They have actually had over 400 weddings in the caverns.

 The Great Stalacpipe Organ -- we heard a demonstration of this instrument which, instead of using pipes to produce sound, is connected to a series of stalactites throughout the caves.  The stalactites have been sawed off at the appropriate lengths to achieve the correct tone.  Obviously, this organ was installed long before conservationists were sufficiently mobilized to intervene.

 See the wires?  Those are connected back to the organ and when the corresponding note is played, the stalactite is hit with a mallet and the note fills the chamber.  It's really incredible.

 The wishing well.  Our kids wished for Santa to bring them lots of presents.  I'll try to do a better job of schooling them in the mystique of wishing wells before we visit another one.

The sign explains that the wishing well is drained annually and the proceeds are given to charity.  It also lists particularly lucrative year totals.

Pretty good view for a cold, gray Saturday in December.

Make the Pain Go Away

A week ago, I was reveling in late Fall loveliness.  Brightly colored leaves were still clinging to branches, the sun was warmly shining and going outdoors was not in the least forbidding.  Well, that was last week.  This week, oh, this week.  

It's freezing.  

The sudden cold has been shocking, bone-chillingly so.  Okay, so maybe not that cold, but still not warm.  To add insult to injury, most of my real cold weather clothes are still in transit -- not exactly where I need them.  Somehow I managed to make sure the boys had all the necessary winter gear and that Kenny too was taken care of, in fact, I double and triple checked this, and yet failed to pack more than a few cotton sweaters for me.  Worst of all, I have no one to blame but myself.  So, I'll be start the new year clothed in warmth, but for now, I look something like the stay-puff marshmallow man's sister with all the layers I'm sporting.

I haven't lived in cold weather in 4 years, and I'd sort of forgotten just how cold one can get.  And, I know this is just the beginning.  The temperature isn't even close to it's final resting place and will continue like this well into April.  BRRRRRRR.

I can weather (get it? I kill myself!) the cold.  But...but, my hands are another story.  Just a few days of this bitter chill and they are dry, chapped, cracked and I know bleeding can't be too far behind.  Having grown up in Hawaii, I was never very good with chapped hands anyway.  But, now, I'm completely hopeless.  Nothing I'm using is providing any relief.  They hurt.  And the pain makes me cranky.

HELP!

There must be a miracle product out there I haven't found yet.  Some lotion, cream, balm, salve, ointment, oil, butter that can help me.  Do you have a miracle cure or tested remedy?  Share it with me, would you?  I don't care if its slather your hands in crisco and sleep in socks, if it works, I'll do it.  Please, I'm begging you.  I'll owe you one.  An enormously, huge one at that.  Please, please, please.

Christmas Cheer

I've been doing lots of surfing in the blogosphere the last few days and I've stumbled upon some fantastic finds.  Here is a sampling of my favorites so far (click on the titles for the source):

Homemade Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows

Ribbon Wreath

Orange Creamsicle Cookies

Christmas Ornament Tree

12 Days of Christmas Gift Tags

Felt Christmas Tree Pins

Glitter Stars

Homemade Advent Calendar

Pretzel Turtles 

(maybe the easiest holiday snack EVER)

I hope you enjoy all of these fabulous ideas!  Thank you to all the wonderful bloggers in the world who share their talents and make beautiful crafts seem possible for even the most creatively challenged (like me).

Come back later this week for a round-up of our latest Random Acts of Christmas (i.e. finals are upon me and the random acts have been sidelined for a few days).

Bright Lights

Tonight we went to the LDS temple to enjoy the annual Festival of Lights.  It was freezing, literally, but we were still happy to be there, even our shivering, teeth-chattering boys.  In addition to thousands of bright, multi-colored lights outside, inside the visitor's center there was a display of nativities from all over the world and several specially decorated Christmas trees donated by various communities from around the region.  

The highlight of the festival is the nightly musical performance given by local choirs, orchestras, and soloists.  The lights alone would be worth a visit, but all the added extras make this a holiday tradition not to be missed.  
 

image from here
 

Random Act of Christmas #6:  I have always loved Christmas lights on houses.  I can remember growing up in Hawaii and feeling that in spite of the warm weather and swaying palm trees, once my Dad had trimmed our house in lights, Christmas had truly arrived.  Coming home on this last Saturday night we passed a few houses that were really dressed up for the holidays.  We slowed down to take in their beauty and admire the time that went into making them something special.  Today, we picked our two favorite decorated houses and mailed them a note thanking them for their beautiful light displays.  I hope they will enjoy knowing their hard work is appreciated.

We Love Washington, DC #6

The National Cathedral is my favorite DC landmark.

It took 83 years to build, was started when Theodore Roosevelt was president and was finally finished during George H. W. Bush's presidency.

It is stunning inside and out, with over 200 stained glass windows depicting traditional religious motifs, as well important events in American history.

High up among the gargoyles is a statue of Darth Vader.

Kenny and I got engaged in the Bishop's Garden on the Cathedral grounds.

It is the highest point above sea level in the nation's capital, though from base to tip not as tall as the Washington Monument, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the Old Post Office Building.

It has incredible acoustics and is just a few blocks from our house, the perfect distance for Sunday afternoon walks.

Random Act of Christmas #5:  Today's random act is a surprise gift for someone who reads this blog, so I can't go into the details.  But we had fun making the surprise and can't wait to deliver it.

The First Home Stretch

Today I wrote a paper.  

Actually, it was a policy memo, but potato, potahto.   The subject was democracy in the Philippines.  I wrote about rule of law and corruption and human rights violations and governance and election fraud and civil society.  Fascinating, no?
 
You want to read my policy memo now don't you?  

I sat in front of the computer for hours poring over my research and slowly, slowly filled a mockingly blank page with words.  The paper is not due for a few days and that's good, because some, maybe many, of the words will have to be changed, they aren't good enough to be permanent.  And, truthfully, the memo isn't complete yet, but it's close and it will be finished soon enough and then I can check one more big thing off my "I'm almost done with the semester" check list.  

There are only 4 items left on the list.  

Short entries, no more than two words apiece, but they represent huge commitments of time and brain power.  4 items and I'll have one whole semester of graduate school under my belt -- 9 credits done.

DONE.

  

I love grad school.  I do.  But, I'm ready for the end of this semester.  I've already registered for my next courses, bought the books, worked out childcare and filled my winter break to bursting with social obligations and fun.  I'm so close, I can taste it, and it's delicious.  So close, very, very close.

Random Act of Christmas #4:  Because I was indoors all day today, my random acts of Christmas options were somewhat curtailed.  But, since man cannot live by studying alone, or at least this woman cannot, I took study breaks, several actually.  And each time I did I searched for a "click to donate" website.  You know the ones, where by clicking you can help solve world hunger?  I know some of these are hoaxes, but I also know many are legitimate and the sponsors actually do put their money where the clicks are.  

It took fractions of a second, but if even one of these links is real and an extra dollar or two makes its way to breast cancer research or someone gets clean water because I clicked, then yippee! 

If you'd like to do some clicking yourself, here are a few links that seemed reputable (some were interactive too):

http://www.freerice.com/

http://solvepoverty.com/

http://www.care2.com/click-to-donate/

http://donate1click.com/

http://freeflour.com/

http://www.freepoverty.com/

A Recipe for Lunch

Follow steps in the order listed, or not.  Results will vary.

1.  Your 2 year-old says, "I'm hungry, please can I have pop-tarts?  Puh-llllleeeeeaaaaassssseee?"

2.  Look at the clock and realize it is half past lunchtime and wonder what you can serve in the same amount of time it takes to unwrap previously politely, yet insistently, requested pop-tarts, but still provide the same level of satisfaction and maybe a bit more nutritional value

3.  Open the refrigerator, stare at the packed shelves and wonder why there's nothing to eat

4.  Stand with the refrigerator door open a little longer waiting to be inspired (hear your Dad's voice in your head reminding you that "you don't pay the bills and if you're just going to stand there and let all the cold air out, maybe you could contribute some of your allowance")

5.  Close the door, silence the voices and head to the pantry hoping for better luck

6.  Wonder if canned corn (thanks pantry) and leftover roasted chicken (the fridge's contribution) can be combined into anything edible, to say nothing of delicious

7.  Remember that it is hovering just above freezing outside and is only slightly warmer inside and decide soup is the best option

8.  Reject yogurt, fruit snacks, nutella and applesauce as complementary ingredients for the aforementioned corn and chicken

9.  Bless your mother for teaching you to stock a pantry and pull out one of every canned good available (except the pumpkin, pineapple chunks, refried beans and evaporated milk of course)

10.  Open cans, strip chicken, dump in pot, throw in unmeasured amounts of random spices and seasonings

11.  Bring to a boil for pretty much no time at all, spoon into a bowl, top with a dollop of sour cream and serve

12.  Pat yourself on the back when the 2 year-old from step 1 says "this is delicious, I like it" and then proceeds to clean his plate, 'er bowl (that is a direct quote by the way)

3rd Random Act of Christmas: Today the boys and I carried our neighbor's mail upstairs.  He has some difficulty walking and uses a cane.  We live five flights up and don't have an elevator so we thought he might appreciate not having to negotiate all those stairs while his arms were laden with packages.  This is not the first time we have done this, but we did it today, so we're counting it for day 3.

Music to My Ears

I am a paper products girl.  

I like all things paper, napkins, baby wipes, paper towels, tissues, cleaning wipes, paper plates and, of course, toilet paper.  

I know that makes me the environment's worst enemy, but I can't help it.  I need the paper products.  I have boxes of Kleenex in every room and packets of wipes in my purse, diaper bag, backpack, etc.  And, we never have a meal without napkins, never.  Have you ever been to someone's house for dinner and there were no visible napkins?  It's very awkward, what are you supposed to do?  Use your shirt or wipe your fingers discreetly on your socks?  You see, awkward.

I'm also a bit of a Boy Scout.  Well, technically Kenny is the Eagle Scout, but my Dad is an Eagle Scout and all of my brothers are too so some of it rubbed off.
 

image from here

I am always prepared and I rarely throw anything away until I am absolutely certain I cannot use it for something.  No, I am not a hoarder, I just believe in being ready for every contingency.  This habit drives Kenny insane, but more than once I have been able to produce something from what most would call nothing and he has had to admit I'm not as crazy as I seem.

We go into crisis mode around here if the baby wipes are running low or we don't have ample kleenex and napkins at the ready.  Yes, it's weird, but everybody has their thing and this is mine, or rather one of mine, if we're being honest.

This afternoon when Isaac, my 2 year-old, was diving into his scrumptious and nutritious lunch of macaroni and cheese, hot dogs and avocado, he called out, "Mommy, I need a napkin."  Well, my heart leapt with joy.  Of course you do, I thought.  I practically ran him a napkin which he promptly snatched up and immediately put to good use.  He's my little boy, no question.  This is one idiosyncrasy I am happy to pass along.  I'll try to mitigate some of my other craziness, but a love of napkins thrills my soul.

2nd Random Act of Christmas:  When I was in the car today, I went out of my way to be courteous.  I let any car who wanted to merge in front of me or turn or slow down for no obvious reason whatsoever with no adverse reaction from me (that's a rarity indeed).  I stopped for scads of pedestrians trying to jaywalk, walk against the light or beat the traffic.  I waited for buses I would normally pass and gave myself lots of time to get anywhere to avoid driving too fast.  The result was lots of grateful waves from other drivers and many pedestrians and really good traffic and parking karma.  
I might just keep doing this random act from now on.   

Random Acts of Christmas

If you've been following me for awhile, you know I have a pretty fabulous Mom. 

Several years ago, my Mom sent my brothers and sisters and me a letter indicating that she was done receiving Christmas presents, or at least she didn't want anymore stuff.  Instead, she wanted us to perform an act of service, write it down and give it to her as her gift.  She asked for this knowing full well that doing the service would be of more benefit to us than either her or the recipient(s).

Some years I have done better at fulfilling this request than others.  Often, time just gets away from me and at the 11th hour I will pick a charitable cause and donate money instead of actually doing anything.  Last year was a particularly poor effort.  I was determined not to have a repeat performance this time around.  Accordingly, this year's gift of service to my Mom will be:

25 days of Random Acts of Christmas.  

Day 1:  For my first random act, I wrote a letter to a friend who has made my life significantly better because she is in it.  I have known this friend for many years and I have never taken the time to tell her just how important she is to me.  I finally did, today.  I thought about sending the letter anonymously, but then realized that defeated the purpose of the note. 

Obviously, my random acts are not necessarily going to be earth-shattering or end world hunger, but I hope they will make a few people smile, lighten a load or two and serve as a reminder to me and my family of what Christmas is really about -- service, family, friendship, joy, rejoicing and love. 

 

The onset of Advent

Sunday marked the beginning of Advent, but we are officially starting our countdown to Christmas tomorrow...like everybody else.  Our advent calendar from year's past is still boxed away, but that will change soon enough.  I'm so EXCITED!  I la la la la LOVE Christmas!! 

Last December we found a kid-friendly advent calendar that we are anxious to debut for the boys this year.  It is a Pottery Barn Kids creation and it makes me very happy.  It is nothing fancy, all made from felt and easily duplicated if one were feeling crafty.  But, what makes it especially nice is that I didn't make it.  Plus, I like that it bears a remarkable resemblance to our actual Christmas tree -- even down to the slightly lopsided gold star on top.  Initially, we weren't sure what to put in the pockets of the new advent calendar, but eventually decided on candy canes they could place on the tree.  However, we're open to suggestions for future Christmases, so if you have any brilliant thoughts, please share.

We decorated our tree last week and were sad to discover we are missing a box of ornaments.  I am crossing my fingers they are in the last shipment of things coming from Caracas.  Over the years we have picked up ornaments from all the places we visit in lieu of souvenir t-shirts or other kitsch.  Many of our destination ornaments are in the missing box, so it would be unfortunate if they are gone forever.  Not the end of the world certainly, but sad.  Ah, the trials of putting all your worldly possessions into the hands of strangers every 2 years.  I go back and forth hundreds of times a year between leaving my most precious things in storage and wanting them with me to enjoy.  Thankfully, so far we've avoided any major mishaps, knock on wood.

We have also started buying nativity scenes from places we live and sometimes from places we visit if we can find them without too much difficulty.  It is always interesting to see how different countries and cultures depict the birth of Jesus. 

From left to right we have Columbia, Peru and Venezuela

This is our "traditional" nativity, (i.e. the one we've had the longest), which is from Spain

 Our new apartment is a bit on the small side and does not have a hutch or mantel or anything that naturally lends itself to hanging stockings.  So, we are improvising with this bookcase -- nice, huh?  I am confident Santa will be able to roll with it too.  In my dream house, we will have both a hutch and a mantel and maybe more than one of each.  But, that dream house is practically light years away so in the meantime, one does what one can.  Someday/year, I am going to finally embroider our names on our stockings so I don't have to remember from one year to the next whose is whose.  Kenny is no help with this, by the way.  Apparently, remembering stocking ownership falls into that amorphous category of "things the Mom is supposed to know," along with what to wear in family pictures, what's for dinner and where the scissors are.

Our halls are decked, the cider's mulling, our spirits are bright, the Christmas playlist is on repeat and our ears are cocked for the sound of sleigh bells.  Come on over for some Christmas cheer, we've plenty to share.

A Herd of Elephants

Dear new downstairs neighbor,

Can you hear us up here?  Wait, of course you can, we're loud.  We're not trying to be, we promise.  

But some of us are 4 and 2 and are struggling to understand that we are not the center of the universe.  Do you know what that's like?  Coming to terms with the reality that other people exist?  You live alone, so maybe you don't.  But, that's where we come in, with our chasing matches up and down the hall and our jumping, dancing, whirling dervish, can you make yourself throw up spinning episodes, to say nothing of the car races and superhero fights that routinely get hashed out.  With all of that to assist you, dear neighbor, you can't help but be "gently" reminded that you're not alone in the universe -- at least not in this corner where we have noisily, despite our best efforts, set up residence.  

Luckily for you, and us (if you're the complain to the powers that be type), we have an upstairs too and a rule.  Our rule is "no jumping downstairs."  Simple enough, no?  

But, here's the problem, the couches and the bunk beds are downstairs, so the rule is a toughie and sometimes seems almost cruel.  I mean, when you're saving the planet, sometimes you have to perch high enough to see the people below before you can, you guessed it, jump down and save them.  I mean, let's be serious, when you're saving the planet, your options are often limited.  Do you know about saving the planet, downstairs neighbor?  

We do have rugs and padding beneath the rugs and like the HOA requires more than 80% of our floors are covered.  Honestly, they are, we did the math.  But, is that helping?  Can you hear us reminding and chiding and begging and pleading and bribing the little people up here to follow the rule?  Surely you can.  We do it several times a day, and sometimes not quietly, no, definitely not always quietly.

I often wonder what it sounds like to you.  We're on the top floor, so I really can't imagine.  How many people do you think live up here?  Can you hear every step, however light?  And the less than light ones, do they make you nervous or just annoyed?  Does it sound like a herd of elephants?  Or maybe just a leash of greyhounds?  Or, hopefully, an ostentation of peacocks?  Please let it be the peacocks.

I hope that you are gone a lot, because we are not.  No, we are not.  And winter is coming and we'll be here even more.  We'll be here day in and day out in all our rough and tumble, we're exceptionally good at being a toddler/preschooler glory.

But, I promise two things, okay, three actually.  First, when the spring comes we'll go outside for as long as humanly possible.  We'll do as much running and jumping and saving the planet outdoors as we can.  Second, we won't be here forever.  In less than two years, we'll be gone, for good.  And we'll try very hard to rent the place to someone who sounds like an array of hedgehogs instead of a bloat of hippopotamuses.  And, finally, we're nice.  We are.  And we make great baked goods.  You'll find that out soon enough, Christmas is coming after all.  Any favorites?

In the meantime, dear neighbor, thank you for your patience and indulgence.  We're doing our best and maybe very soon you'll come to think of us as background noise.  Maybe?

Sincerely, 

Your upstairs cohort of zebra

The Man I Love

The man I love turned 34 today.

  

If you are lucky enough to have met him, then you know that loving him is easy, a whole lot easier than loving me, in fact.
  

He is charming, unassuming, brilliant, generous, REALLY well-read, and a spectacular father.  He's a lot of other things too, but the reasons why I love him are too numerous to list, so here is just a sampling.  34 actually, in honor of his special day.

This is the only picture taken this year of just him -- he is never very far away from his little shadows

 1.  He never gets mad, never (okay, except at bad drivers, and even then, they have to be exceptionally bad to merit his ire)

2. He always does bath time because 1) he likes it and 2) he knows I don't

3. He is a great trip-planner, I pack, he plans the itinerary -- it's a great system and we have seen a lot of the world that way

4. He pays the bills and manages our investments, taxes, expenses, etc.

5. He was more excited than anyone, including me, about my going to grad school

6. He never needs a break from our kids

7.  He has never met anyone he couldn't talk to

8. My grandmother, who was kind of particular, really liked him

9. He reads the newspaper (2 actually) every day and tells me the highlights or sends me the links to stories that he knows will interest me

10.  He cooks, all the time, and his food is delicious, especially his lasagne

11. He makes the bed, EVERY DAY!

12. He does the housework, so I can study

13. He makes sugar cookies for Christmas and Halloween

14. He loves traditions and makes sure we keep them

15. He spends all of our disposable income, and then some, on books for the boys

16. He reads voraciously

17. He doesn't snore

18. He loves my cooking and puts up with the fact that most of what I make cannot be duplicated (I generally don't use recipes)

19. He loves live theatre almost as much as I do

20. He knows everything, seriously, he does

21. He is patient, oh, so unbelievably patient
22. He is an adventurous eater, I think the only thing
I've never seen him eat are raisins

23. He never fails to follow through

24. He lets me volunteer him for stuff and then he happily does it
25. He enjoys spending time with my Dad
26.  He loves classical music and can usually identify the piece,
or at least the composer
27. He believes in second chances
28. He is a loyal friend -- our Christmas card list is teeming with
every friend he has ever made
29. He is a big sports fan, but recognizes that people and relationships are more important -- he has never missed an event because the "big game" was on

30. He loves God

31. He believes it is possible to have theater quality sound in your living room, 

and we do

32.  He is man enough to carry the diaper bag, or even my purse

33. He gives great gifts

34.  He loves his family and our family and me

For these reasons, and so many more, I love this man.

Happy Birthday, Kenny. 

'Tis the Season

Yesterday morning, before appetizers, turkey, every kind of side dish imaginable, dinner with great friends, too many slices of pie and a very satisfying food coma, we took in one of DC's favorite traditions - the holiday exhibit at the National Botanic Garden.  We have never experienced this truly incredible display, but plan to go every year from now on when we are in DC for the holidays.  It was that good!

The artist uses plant materials to replicate major DC landmarks (basically all the buildings on the US Mall, including some Smithsonian museums) and then creates an entire room of buildings in a chosen theme.  This year's them was famous structures around the world.  Besides those represented below, we also saw replicas of Tikal, the Great Pyramid of Giza, Petra, the Sphinx, Stone Statues of Easter Island, and the Lighthouse at Alexandria.  Circling the buildings is a series of trains which makes the exhibit fun for the whole family. 

Click on the pictures below so you can see the building up close, the attention to detail is astonishing.  Each of these replicas took hundreds of hours to complete and when you consider they are constructed exclusively from plant life it is impossible to be anything but impressed.

I think we may have to visit this exhibit 1 or 2 or 7 more times before it closes.  Can't wait, already, to find out what next year's theme will be!

The United States Capitol

The Great Wall in China

The Taj Mahal

The Library of Congress Jefferson Building

The Eiffel Tour

Neuenschwander Castle

The Hagia Sophia

Machu Picchu

Us and the White Heron Castle

My 2 goofy boys and the enormous Christmas tree

Happy Thanksgiving...

...from all of us to all of you.

We love Washington, DC, #5

Kenny took Caleb and Isaac to the United States National Arboretum last weekend.  We keep thinking this beautiful weather can't last and then another gorgeous Saturday surprises us.  We know that once winter finally does arrive, it will likely be with a vengeance and then outdoor outings will be a thing of the past.  For now, though, we are happy to enjoy the beauty of DC in the brilliant 

Autumn sunshine.

The National Arboretum is 466 acres enormous
and features hundreds of species of plants and trees.  It is crisscrossed with walking and driving trials and there is a shuttle tour of the highlights
There was ample space to run and jump -- paradise for the 5 and under set.

 

 The boys especially enjoyed seeing the "tiny, little trees" -- aka, Bonsai trees.  There were Chinese, Japanese and North American varieties to ooh and aah over.

 This tree has been in "training" since 1625!

I didn't go with them, but we are still crossing this off our DC Bucket list and will likely return again in the Spring when everything is blooming.

Thankful for...

 Little opportunities for giving that make a big difference.

A friend directed me to the Tipping Bucket website.  They are a social change organization committed to making the world a better place $1 at a time, literally.
  

If you're looking for creative ways to make your charity budget stretch a bit further this year, here's a way to get maximum bang for your increasingly precious buck.

  

Check it out and change the world. 

Image from here.