Exploring

Stella and I found this on our wanderings around Fort Belvoir. This memorial is for the Fairfax family, after whom the county is named and who owned the Belvoir Mansion, after which the Army post is named. I love this post. There is always something new to find.

Often on walks, people tell me what a pretty dog I have and ask what breed she is. Well, we thought we were getting a golden retriever mix but ended up with just one pretty mutt. :)

Oktoberfest

Every year there is an Oktoberfest at Fort Belvoir. Every year it is during General Conference weekend so we can't go. This year we decided to go on a week-day and that way we wouldn't miss conference. It worked out beautifully. Not only was admission cheaper but the lines were shorter. We got the kids off of the bus and headed right over. We had dinner there. Each kid had some sausage and a lemonade. Then we went to ride the rides. It was SUCH fun time.

There are several rides that are classified as "Daddy will NEVER go on this" rides. For those, the kids take me. We did quite a few whirling rides while Jason took pictures. I think the Scrambler is awesome!

Another favorite was the bumper cars. I love bumper cars and Darby and Eva mostly did too, except they got very frustrated when they couldn't figure out how the car worked. We got to do it about three times so by the end they were not so bad at maneuvering.  Side note: the floor of the bumper cars ride is VERY slippery. Running to a car may result in a hard fall and nasty bruise. Ask me how I know. ;)

Paige is too short to ride some of the rides so I took her on the kiddie rides. Here she is riding a dragon. Another little kid on the ride was so scared so they had to stop it and get him off. Paige looked at him like, "Why are you scared, man? This is nothing."

Due to lack of lines, the kids could go up and down the giant slides man times. Paige even caught some air on one slide down.

This ride is called the Navy Seal, seeing as how it looks like you are falling down in a parachute. The older kids really liked it. 

We rode the carousel and the Ferris wheel.

 I remembered why I am not a fan of the Ferris wheel (ahem, heights) but it was a beautiful night.

There is a ride called the Avalanche that was Brendan' and Eva's favorite. They rode it multiple times. It went up and down and in circles. The quick drops made your stomach flip.

Just another awesome night at Fort Belvoir.

Pitching a Fit

This little one pitched the mother of all fits today at the dentist. Not because she is scared of the dentist. Actually, my kids love the dentist. They cheer for a dentist visit. No, it is because she didn't get to play with the toy she wanted in the lobby. I don't know what got into her but she kicked and hit and flailed when I picked her up and marched her out the door. In fact, her crazy, thrashing body knocked into the automatic door on the way out and slid it off its hinges slightly. I tried desperately not to lose my cool but I was furious. Finally, outside, she calmed down enough to re-enter after a few minutes. Overreact much, Paige?

Then, to add insult to injury, we were put in a private room for her appointment. We usually get to be in the main room with multiple chairs so I can see all the kids' being worked on. But this time they put us in a single operatory. I bet they saw the fit in the lobby and figured she was one of "those kids" that would be trouble for a dentist. Sigh.

Quidditch

I looked in the backyard to see this. When I asked them what they were doing, they told me, "Mom, we are playing Quidditch before school." They also said Stella was the golden snitch. Hahaha. Such creativity.

Family Trip to the Arcade

Since we went to Dave and Buster's earlier in the month, Jason has been dying to take the kids. So we went this weekend. Daddy won at the Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, which are surprisingly hard to maneuver.

The little girls loved playing Fruit Ninja and I did too.

The simulation ride games are always a hit.

Jason had to play some more Guitar Hero, of course. Fun was had by all.

A Visit from Friends

The lady I visit teach, Paula Phelps, asked if I could watch her two youngest today while she takes the two oldest to a play in DC. Charlie, her youngest, is one of Paige's friends. They had so much fun playing together all morning. They made a very interesting band.

Darby was home because she had a fever yesterday and you can't go back to school until you are fever free for 24 hours. She's fine now but it hasn't been 24 hours. I am glad because she liked to entertain Samantha. They are the same age. Sam has Down Syndrom and autism. Darby asked if she could push her around in her chair. Then she wanted to talk to her and play with her. It was sweet to see how she interacted with Sam, who is non-verbal. I am reminded of the compassionate, tender hearts of children.

Look at these little artists at work.

Oh, My Boy!

When your Aspie boy politely, without prompting, asks you at dinner, "So Mom, how was your day?", you might get so excited and happy that he used social skills so appropriately and effortlessly that you might just give him a big hug and Mommy kiss on the forehead (which he will hate but will tolerate because its a compliment and he knows it.)

Stella's Best Friend

We found a lady in our neighborhood named Lynn Frazier who has a dog with Stella's same size and temperament. They've met out on walks a few times. We decided to meet at the dog park. His name is Sammy. I adore Lynn and she is great to talk to. The dogs play and play. It's like a doggie playdate. We need to make this a regular thing.

A Goal Reached

He did it! One whole week of not blurting out in class.

His teacher reached out to me and told me that he was having trouble raising his hand and that he would just blurt out all the time, interrupting her lesson and not waiting his turn. So we made a contract with him. He would earn a Lego Dimensions set if he could go a week without blurting and remembering to raise his hand. We talk about self-mastery all the time. You cannot control others but you can control your actions. And for a boy with ADHD and Aspergers, this self-control is a HUGE accomplishment!

Visiting Dad at Work

Brendan had an appointment today and it was over with not enough time to take him back to school and make it worthwhile. So we stopped by Dad's work before heading home. Brendan loved it! He had so many questions. Jason let him look through the microscope and see all his dental tools. We talked a bit in his office before he had the last patient of the day. Brendan wants to go back. He was fascinated by all the tech. I think Dad liked showing his work to Brendan too.

Darby's Talk

Darby gave a talk in Primary today. It occurred to me how much she has grown up. She reads very well now and we no longer have to do the "whisper in your ear and you repeat it" way of giving a talk. She was so confident too. In a few months, she will be baptized. Where does the time go?

New Calling

Today I was released as the Cub Scout Committee Chair and called and set apart as the first counselor in the Young Women. It was bittersweet. Being in Cub Scouts was really difficult but taught me many things. I was getting good at my calling. I learned to love those boys. Now I am stepping over to a new group of youth to love. I am not sure if it will be any less difficult but it will definitely be more familiar. I will continue through the month being with the cubs to train my replacement and show her how a pack meeting is run. There is A LOT to teach her. I hope she is up to the task.

Campfire

 While the weather is still nice we decided to go camping for Labor Day. Brendan had the idea of using the mattress pump to provide air to the fire. It worked really well.

We were by the Potomac again. It is so lovely there, especially at sunset.

We roasted marshmallows and Starbursts. The best part of camping!

One happy dog, who kept tangling herself in the longline. She and I went back home to sleep since she is not well trained enough for an overnight yet (barking, sleeping in a tent without keeping everyone awake, etc).

Jason's Birthday

Jason's co-workers decorated his office with Care Bears for his birthday. Mrs. Bailey must've giggled the whole time. He kept finding more Care Bears stickers throughout the day.

He decided to slay the Care Bear. And he "re-decorated" the Care Bears around the office with sunglasses and machine guns to toughen them up.

But the tres leches cake was delicious!

At home after work, we had his birthday dinner. He requested I make Reuben sandwiches. He got the special red plate. He also didn't want a cake, instead opting for apple pie a la mode.

For presents, we got him a fine polyester tie and a nerdy fun book. I think he liked them.

Happy 38th Babe!