Alexandria September 16-20

Here we are the happy smiling Grandparents.  This picture was supposed to be at the end, but I couldn't figure out how to move it.

We had a fun "long weekend visit" with the Sarah, Toby and Clare last week.  It was so fun to see Clare again.  She is an amazing baby, willing to be dragged all over the place and sleep anywhere.

Sarah, Toby and Clare at their front door.

One of our adventures was visiting the Leighy Pope house built by Frank Lloyd Wright.  It was built as a starter home, very small and utilitarian.  The highlight of the interior decorating was use of that amazing new material, plywood.

Clare obligingly slept through the tour.

Clare spent a lot of time in her car seat or stroller and seemed perfectly content.She can wail with great enthusiasm if her diaper is wet, but she doesn't have to do that very often.

On Monday we drove to the Shenandoah Valley to visit the Luray Caverns.  Calvin pronounced it the best cave he has ever seen.  The formations were amazing and he took lots of pictures, but I couldn't tell whether most of them we upside down or right side up, so he will have to figure that out and post them.

The best picture in the cave was of Sarah and Clare

The caves are in a really beautiful part of Virginia which prompted another picture

and another

Clare has a really cute dimpled smile that we didn't manage to get in a single picture, but if you go visit she will be happy to smile for you.  It is one of her best tricks.

Labor Day 2011

We had a great evening at Lake Tahoe on Labor Day.  If  Sarah , Toby and Clare had been there it would have been perfect.

Zach orchestrated some serious log rolling

which morphed into log standing

and then digging it in

so there could be standing contests

and when it started to get cool you could always wrap up in a snuggle train.

Zach and Austin weren't too interested in a family picture

but Calvin and Peter tolerated the picture

and Rosie and Jay are always ready with a smile.

Family weekends are priceless!

The Kitchen is almost complete

Our kitchen is almost complete.  We have a couple of small details that need to be completed, but we have moved back in to the kitchen and used all the appliances.  I love it!  But everything looks so nice I almost hate to use it.

The island butch block top

Looking to the east

The dining room wall with ovens, refrigerator and microwave

The south wall with cook top and hood