New times in parenting

We went out to the theatre and some dinner with friends on Wednesday. These were the children's instructions.

Saturday night we left Seb and his mates at home enjoying their games night while we went to the neighbours for a birthday celebration.

So far, so good...

Cooking up a storm

In addition to taking the lead on our new "Taco Tuesdays", this young un made pancakes for all yesterday.

As dad said...

Think of what they could accomplish if they put this much effort into their homework!

There were 5 of them that evening and very intent on their game-making project

The rest of our Washington weekend

On Sunday we got to attend Wendy's Unitarian Universalist service and hear the inspiring, talented and provocative Dr Melissa Harris-Perry speak. Many of her comments will echo in my head for years to come.

Then it was off to the Air & Space museum to meet the newly-turned 11 year old, Nuan, her cousin and mum - our friend Kelly. We lucked into a great - but lengthy - tour. Saw the Wright brothers machines and Amelia Earhart's plane - not the one she disappeared in ;-)  and space stuff galore. Ate in the world's worst food court (it did have lots of windows; the food was awful and expensive).

Next up was a birthday cupcake and then the Spy museum. Fun history of spying, a focus on the Cold War and its amazing escapades and gadgets, and Bond - of course. But nothing on commercial espionage or the NSA / wikileaks /etc. Could definitely have done with an update in that regard, though it would of course be controversial.

Fun things to do in DC! George, do you want to go with Sophie???

and then bright and early (or dark and early in January) we headed to the airport.

Stand Up for Our Rights

What a weekend! It will be hard to put all that we saw and heard and felt into words.

It started with yummy, highly allergenic food and went from there.

Our hostess wanted to re-take DC after the inauguration, so we headed downtown and wandered around.

Extremely moving and a fantastic place to be on January 20 2017

She needed tacos, so we found a cheap and cheerful spot.

She also needed ice cream.

January 21st dawned and we made a few signs

We couldn't see or hear anything of the official rally but our rally-mates were funny, patient, witty and interesting. We handed out our Canadian-made pussy hats and were cheered by the woman in her 60s who had never been to a protest before - and she had driven 6+ hours to come.

After 4 1/2 hours of standing about, we were ready to march. So we spilled on to the Mall and shut down nearby streets. Chanting and moving and snapping photos - it was a powerful experience full of love and acceptance and disgust.

Sophie's favourite

Me and my gal

We then warmed up in the National Portrait Gallery and slowly made our way home. There we put our aching legs up on the couch and proceeded to watch the speakers and performers that we had missed!

He is smiling behind the hand

Style + Smile

Here is our wonder-gal. She is wearing the lovely frock her Nana got her at the Marble Arch M&S. Navy with maroon flecks. Amazing how long her hair is getting!

It's been an age

2 weeks of radio silence... I fell into the deep pit of a work deadline and all the effort that is going into Seb's high school choosing process. But I am surfacing here with proof positive that Saturday night games night is back on for a 2nd season. 4 lads showed up and it got quite raucous. Best bit? They made their own dinner!

2017 is already a banner year

There were not many leftovers...

I have lost count of the number of New Year's Open Houses we have hosted (22?). But this year's was the largest ever and we prepared the least perhaps. It was loads of fun and with a hard-drinking, fast-talking Irishman in our kitchen, it really was "from 2 pm till the last guest leaves"!

13 bottles of wine and many many well-selected beer

Seb's punch was the talk of the party (plus those incredible homemade truffles)

 However, before New Year's Day came New Year's Eve and we were hosting Mona and David and family - repaying a fraction of the hosting that they have kindly offered us.

Seb's lovely fried potato wedges

There were some great moves at the family disco

Seb's salt & pepper rimmed virgin mary

Cinderella stayed in the kitchen

Ice cream buche for the kids and Mabel's delicacies for the adults

Can you say friends?

Opening her New Year's pyjamas

The 2nd present haul

And on January 1st we somehow snuck in some present-opening...

Opening a 3-way gift