Transportation

We've finally gotten out to the Virginia Museum of Transportation, as a number of people have be recommending that we do for a couple of years now.  It did not disappoint!

The general favorite was probably the enormous Lionel Model Train Layout. It was so classic, with dozens of little scenes, shops, people, animals. There was even a Mill Mountain Star!

Oh, also, there were several trains which, if you ask Miles, he will tell you excitedly "Go all by demselves! Around and Around!"

Adele is also a huge fan of vehicles of every sort. She's just started saying train and making whistle sounds.

Adele hugely enjoyed the hot wheels, both the displays and the play table.

Can't stop taking pictures with my Tiny.

Brought the Ergo. It didn't really get used, though. Meet Toddler Adele.

Loads of those displays to put your face up close to and disappear.

Dewey, Cheetum & Howe! I thought this was in Cambridge, Mass!

I'm always trying to decide what it is about tiny town displays that I find so tranquil and attractive.

I think it might be memories of Mr. Rogers. I can almost hear jazz piano...

A large showroom contained a number of antique cars. They were neat. I'm.... not the person for commentary about cars, though. Sorry!

Jon said his West Coast family has one of these Model Ts.

The Bug was my favorite on the lot; it's about the only car I get a bit excited about. From 1970.

Look, a car!

"I was told to stand here."

Miles is on the phone, in front of something he doesn't recognize as a phone.

Dressup experiences were provided in one room....

Why we have no pictures of the trainyard, I do not know. There were scores of trains of every sort. The kids and Jon were delighted. I was happy that they were happy. I think my favorite part of the trainyard was the platform, however. There's just something aesthetically romantic about them; one feels as if one ought to be involved in a dramatic farewell or reunion of some sort.

We spent considerable time outside, considering the February-ness of the day. They had a brilliant little playground:

Both kids got a kick out of sitting in the helicopter, for rather a long time. This might be the longest Adele was still!

Miles' social skills are coming along. He's discovered that people are often willing to talk to him if he walks up and smiles and says, "Hi, I'm Miles. My sister is Adele. What is your name?" He did this probably half a dozen times today. One woman responded, "I'm Ashely." And he shocked me by saying, of his own accord, "Hi Ashley. It's nice to meet you." He made friends in this way with a couple of little boys on the playground and they had a good old time, especially when this real live train went by...

We have got to go back there!

Blacksburg, for children

Our town frequently receives recognition for being one of the best places to raise children. I totally concur. Even in the wintertime, there are free events for kids that bring texture and art and enrichment to our lives.

The Chocolate Festival, which was free to attend but which had games, crafts, and some activities that allowed you to donate to a local private school, took place just before Valentine's Day.

There were carnival games (with great prizes!) and beautiful hand crafts, crafting tables for kids and, of course, chocolate to sample and buy.

But my favorite activity had to be the childrens' yoga!
Behold Miles, front and center:

He excels at downward facing dog

He's not bad at upward dog either.

Tree pose.

He did SUCH a great job following the poses and responding to both the verbal instructions and the physical example of the leader. He was the youngest participant, and I was, of course, beside myself with pride. At the end each kid did their favorite pose for the group, then did a little "Namaste." It was cuter than words.

Adele was mostly a free-range rambler. She did a lot of climbing, practicing stairs, and did try a couple of the carnival games.

Oh,and I've added a fringe. Yay me.

Her vocabulary is getting huge, and is growing almost daily. Recent additions are ball, diaper, up, down, clock, duck, and bear (and that's just this weekend) (and that doesn't include signs). I love this age!

Miles played carnival games. Fishing was definitely his favorite:

Though the playdough table was pretty rad.

At the end, he got a balloon animal. He asked for a cow. Balloon Man did his very best, bless him. It was somewhat cow-like; Miles was happy.

As I'll discuss further later, we don't know how long we'll be living in Blacksburg, but most likely it will not be our permanent home. I am trying very hard to consciously soak up as much as possible, though, because I have a feeling we'll look back on these years, as lean and stressful as they could be in some ways, as some of our best.

I am not kidding: I wake up each morning and thank God that we're living here.

Price House; late January

This Saturday is a few weeks behind us, now, but I thought I'd share a bit of what we've been up to in the gaping blog-silence.
A special event brought us to Price House to see some snakes, lizards... and a barn owl!

Miles signs "owl."

This stone circle in P. House's yard is made to look like the one in The Lorax. It even has a little stone that reads, "Unless." Miles Froggy poses within.

Adele started saying "ssssss" for snakes on this day.

And she's taken up writing implements with enthusiasm.

I got to pet her. It's not every day...

This is Adele's favorite spot in Price House: "Catty Corner."

This is Miles': sand table.

Jon successfully turned 30 on the 26th of January, which is his usual date for a birthday. I CAN'T BELIEVE we have no pictures of this weekend, but we took a weekend jaunt up to Baltimore and celebrated in very good company. Marijke and Eric SO KINDLY hosted us, Jon's brother Tim and his wife Corey, and our good friends Mike and Stef Brown. We were very merry over card games as David Brown played and Adele slept angelically. Miles enjoyed his first sleepover at Grandma's, and by all accounts it was a success.

When we got home, I presented Jon with his gifts. From the kids, a fingerpainted masterpiece (picture to follow). From me, a Doctor Who teapot! We were finally able to use Allison Brown's long-ago gifts, the teacups and the tea cozy. At last!

I love my geek husband. <3 br="">