Purim carnival

Cal shooting baskets while Aaron waits his turn.


Alana and Nikki on the bouncy slide.

Sleep over

Dawn took this photo of Alana sleeping at their house

New refrigerator

The freezer portion of our refrigerator died two weeks ago. When I went to buy a new one, they said that NY was starting an appliance rebate program a week ago ($100 back in 4-6 weeks), so I waited to purchase the new one until the day the program started. It was delivered yesterday. Very nice timing for once. (Already decorated with our impressive magnet collection!)

Composer

Alana writing songs; one is titled "I Love Pets"

Wilmington

On the way back to NJ, we met Matt outside Wilmington for dinner. At Rascals Crab House and Bar B Q. They didn't have any crabs so we settled for their mediocre bar b q.

Lunch in Crystal City

Arlington

The cemetary was the main reason for the trip - Cal made a model of the Tomb of the Unknowns in school last year. The tour bus got us there just in time for the changing of the guard.


Outside Arlington House, the estate of Robert E Lee that was abandoned by the Lee family and taken over by the Union Army during the Civil War. After the war it was turned into the much needed National Cemetary.



Alana as a panda on the amphitheater throne

National Archives

My favorite quote in Washington. It was a gorgeous, sunny day.

Smithsonian

The American History Museum was great fun (we went to Air and Space as well). Here, Cal is giving a press conference in the Presidents' Hall.


Daddy helping with windsurfing in the Hall of Science


Julia Childs' pots and pans

Subway trips

We took the metro from Falls Church West. Alana liked standing up and having to hold on.


This is on the return trip - Alana is wearing panda bear ears that she bought in the Smithsonian gift shop.

Monuments

Outside the Jefferson Memorial

In front of Lincoln

Vietnam Nurses Memorial

Standing on the frozen Reflecting Pool

New Jersey snow

Alana making a design in the untouched snow at the park

Ritual humiliation

All the nominees were required to perform a mildly embarrassing task under the guise of Truth or Dare. Many had to sing, but, unfortunately, not Larry. Here he's using the Flip Video to record someone else's initiation.

At dinner

Helping in the Ritz kitchen

TRH had chef's jackets made with each person's name


I grated (a lot!) of apples for a small salad



Putting cheese filling in mini tarts

Reynolds Plantation

The back of the building

Arbor near the front entrance

Circular staircase near our room

Our room is the double windows on the third floor.

View of the lake (man made) out our suite window.

Our bedroom

Sitting room with snack tray on table.

Pizza party

Quite a spread at Sharon and Len's apt

Alana put marshmallows on hers . . .


Dueling DS players

Detente

Roxy and Shayna enjoy a fragile peace at Susan's apt (Max would have nothing to do with the dog).

At the Ginsbergs'

Playing Wii


American Girl dolls

Cal and Sean

Playing DS


Playing frisbee on the Wii

Valentines Event

Lovely event at the elementary school. Here Alana makes a valentine that will be sent to a soldier in Afghanistan.

We ended up with 5 bowls last year, so this year we picked a few to bid on and had a price limit. Neither of these were the first choice, but all were happy with their final selection.

New bed

After *much* talk, we finally bought a new bed and a new headboard.

Party food for Superbowl

Turns out that Cal doesn't really like these, though Alana ate several. Cal really enjoyed the game and was so happy that the Saints won, but he had hoped that Larry would get home before it ended (he didn't).

Lost tooth

Alana pulled out her loose tooth while we were having lunch at New Century Vietnamese Restaurant.

At the library

We took a photo outside the library to show what a sunny day we had while much of the eastern seaboard was getting a huge blizzard.

Alana reading Dr Seuss at the Cicero library

Cal just loves Spy vs Spy (the library had a bake sale).

Lunch

Kids playing air hockey at McDonald's on Rt 31.