At Praying and Playing

Sunday morning, we woke up to this:

I don't remember it ever snowing this much this early, even in Rochester. I think we trigger something in the universe by coming up there, as it's snowed nearly every Thanksgiving we've been up. 

Church was at Dad's church, St. Thomas' Episcopal. What a glorious service! The curate preached powerfully. There was a jazz trio performing at interludes like during communion and the postlude. And check out this amazing Offertory!

The deacon has a fantastic voice, and the selection was right on for Children's Sabbath. I could barely stay in my seat. 

After church, Miles got to schmooze with the musicians. I wanted to stay for coffee hour! But we had a date to meet ALL THE RELATIVES at the Strong Museum of Play. 

A gloomy day, perfect for indoor play!

We had some sunshine by the end of the day. View of the Butterfly Garden at the Strong. 

While we waited for everyone to arrive, we took a turn on the old carousel. I remember riding on this on my visits to the 1980s version of the museum (which was much more modest!).

I was not really all that disappointed that Adele still requires a chaperone. Wheee!

We ate at the vintage Bill Gray's in the restaurant, which looks like this:

Not my picture, but so fun, right?

 I grabbed a picture of some of the Cornell blue eyes:

My aunt Lynda, cousin Rebekah, and Miles FJ. 

 When we could no longer contain the kids, we launched into the museum. Being that we were such a large party, of 10 adults and five kids, we were quickly separated by differing desires among the kids. There were a lot of "where are you guys now?" texts.

The Sesame Street area always warms my heart. 

 Adele wasted no time getting up on the climbing wall. That's my girl.

 Aiden made some art. He's a drawer by trade:

 Miles did physics experiments:

Adele says for her birthday she wants a doll and a racecar. 

Leah & Abby are two of a kind. 

Kids get to be on a Sesame Street segment with their favorite puppet! You can buy a video, but... no. 

Aaron & Joel just played. It took me back to our family as it was in the 90s!

Driving muppets in a taxi

Matthias, collecting taxi fares. 

 The Super Mario Brothers 30 year anniversary exhibit surprised me by being OPEN already! How delightful for this Nintendo addict of probably 27 years.

Duck Hunt Case

Playing Super Mario Brothers with the giant controller 

There was so much for Nintendo lovers to learn!

 Elsewhere in the museum...

 One of the often-overlooked parts of the second floor is a huge vintage arcade! Name a beloved arcade game; it's probably there.

I hugely enjoyed another chance at this classic. 

 Miles & Adele learn to play PacMan:

I loved all the video-game positive quotes on the walls!

Playing virtual dodgeball

 When we heard the 30 minute bell, we had to get back to the second floor for some Fairy Tales! We barely entered half of the downstairs when all was told. If you come, come all day!

The kids got to live some favorite fairy tales:

In her coach 

Aiden is making the giant move and talk 

Adele climbs the beanstalk!

In the Fairy Tale Cottage:

In the Superheros section, we scaled buildings!

Saw ourselves as superheros: 

.... And got sketched: 

We had some real fun and laughed some great laughs. I'm so glad that happened. 

 Goodbye, Rochester! We'll see you at Thanksgiving.

 Sunday night found us having one more family meal out. The adults discussed the 2016 election, and the kids kept their happiness in each others' company to a dull roar. What joy.

Aiden gets to be the big kid of the family!

These cousins are crazy about each other. 

 Adele called him "Cousin Aiden" all weekend, and hugged him frequently. He wasn't sure what to make of this at first, but I think he decided she's like an honorary baby sister.

On the way home, we found frost lingering to the PA border, and beyond.

It's a starker, colder Blacksburg we found when we arrived home! But we're embracing it affectionately. Good old SWVA.