Ode on Tregroes Chocolate Waffles*

A week or so ago, we got to see my sister-in-law. She lives in London, but was here in Washington , D.C. for a conference, and it was really good to see her. So we got to hang out and she got to meet l1 for the first time. And we got a scenic tour of Pentagon City as we got lost trying to find her hotel. The roads here are a little crazy.

And, she brought us these:They are oh, so delicious. Another perk to enjoy living in the UK.

And there is one more in the box here on the shelf. Technically it is r1's, if we were to split them evenly. But, he is not here right now, and I hear it calling my name...

*did everyone else have to read Ode on a Grecian Urn in high school? I've had that title stuck in my head ever since. But, the only bit of the poem I remember is the beauty is truth and truth beauty part.

the perils of afternoon church

... are even worse when you have a 22-month old who desperately needs to nap. Here in D.C., we are on the 1-4pm schedule. Which, as all you mothers out there know, is prime nap time. So that makes for a cranky w1 during church, who falls asleep on the way home, sleeps way too late, and is too hyper to go to bed. Lovely.

Here is a picture of w1 still napping at 6pm, with l1 trying to wake him up for dinner:

OK Go

Last Friday we went to Celebrate Fairfax with some of r1's co-workers. Wherein we consumed overpriced but oh-so-delicious gyros. And a large Icee, because it was quite warm. Then, we found a spot on the grass to take in the entertainment:

Did I mention it was hot? That's probably why we all look so energetic. The band we saw was OK Go, and they were a lot of fun, even sans treadmills.

k1's new obsession

OK, for this post is it important to tell you that we don't subscribe to cable tv at home. We are just too cheap, and lately, free time is in short supply.

But right now, down in DC, we have cable. And it is close to 100 degrees outside. So I have had plenty of time to explore the shockingly large number of channels.

This is where my new obsession comes in: HGTV. Especially House Hunters and House Hunters International. Where they show potential home buyers 3 houses within their price range, and in the area they want to move to. The buyers then choose between the 3. Not especially action-packed, but I like to see the homes in different areas of the country and world. How they are decorated, landscaped, how much they cost.

R1 could tell you how much of a nerd about this I already am. Wherever we go on vacation, I always pick up those free real estate guides and pour over them. It's not as if we are likely to move to any of the places we vacation...

Well, I already feel better confessing all of this. Does any one else share my obsession? If not, what is your favorite cable channel? I might have to check it out if it doesn't cool off outside.

a chubby bad hair day and other happenings

Before we get into the other happenings, let's start with the bad hair day:
His hair just wanted to stick straight up, giving him a nice baby-hawk. And the way he was sitting scrunched his cheeks up making him look extra chubby. I'm going to love pulling this picture out in about 18 years when he brings home his first girlfriend...

Our drive down to DC was long, of course, and rainy. And w1 was bored, leading to mischief and whining. That is probably what drove us to commit the temporary insanity that is evidenced in the next picture:
It is w1 and the aftermath of his first Little Debbie snack. Did we consider what all that sugar would do to him, or how messy it would be? No, we just reveled in the (shockingly short) time that his mouth was occupied. Oops.

After finally making it down to DC, we settled into our lovely company-paid-for 1 bedroom suite. Breakfast is provided, and dinner, also, 4 nights a week. There is a pool and a basketball court, and a cleaning service. Aaaah. But, the company only pays for 1 week, so after that, we are on our own. But, until Saturday, we are relaxing and living the good life: