Vacation!- Henry.

While we were living it up at home, mama took a plane and a train to Maryland to see Miss Leah.

On Saturday, they headed into DC for the Cherry Blossom Festival. Mama was happy there was a parade with balloons.

Not as big as Macy's, but she was still impressed with the Examiner's mascot dog.

The Nationals brought out all their celebrities, including President Washington.

Kermit came.

But the real highlight was seeing Justin Guarini. You may remember his as the runner up on the first American Idol. Papa says he was also in a movie called Justin and Kelly that didn't make very much money when he worked at the movie theater.

We visited the White House. If you look closely, you can see that Miss Leah is also full with child. She's due 4 weeks before our baby is due. The main problem of getting two pregnant ladies together was that most of the day was spent looking for bathrooms. You can't take these people anywhere.

There was a Japanese festival that was really packed. Mama saw this train set, complete with Godzilla attacking the city. She also managed to get some gelato, though she was too late to get it served in a tiny pineapple.

Miss Maggie braved an afternoon of searching for port-a-potties to spend it with mama and miss Leah. We basked in the sun in front of the Washington Memorial.

And took a walk around the Tidal Basin to visit the Jefferson Memorial.

They looked for the fabled cherry blossoms, but the weather had been so warm that the blossoms were gone. Mama did spot one branch.

They spent the rest of the weekend hanging out and doing grown-up things that kids don't like. They ate at restaurants way past bedtime, shopped, and went out for ice cream.

On Monday, Miss Leah had to go to class, so mama headed downtown to do some sight-seeing. She spent the morning at the Holocaust Museum. She's been wanting to see it, but obviously it wasn't somewhere she could go with kids. It was a great museum, but emotionally draining. After that, she headed over to the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Not exactly a heavy place. She got to see Apolo Ohno's speed skate.

Kermit the Frog.

Lincoln's hat.

And Minnie Pearl's hat. How-deee!

On the way out she saw the Woolworth counter from Greensboro, NC. It was the site of the first historic sit-in that were an instrumental part of the civil rights movement.

Mama had a great time in DC, but was glad to get home to her own bed and her two non-stop talking kids. Thanks for the fun weekend, Miss Leah!

Flashback to last week- June.

Here's a few photos from last week that were on mama's computer that she couldn't be bothered to upload on her trip.

The neighbor boys came over on Wednesday night and we ended up in their driveway-our preferred play spot. It's because they have a basketball hoop.

I love to play basketball! We like this video because my shoes have squeakers in them and my skinny little legs look so cute when I run.

The boys conquered this rock wall.

I tried to conquer this bike, but it was too big.

So instead we ran some races.

And the boys climbed some more hills.

On Thursday morning, we were surprised to find that our trusty old Camry wouldn't start. Henry was PUMPED that a tow truck had to come and haul the car down from our hill.

What more could a little boy ask for?

The good news is that the only problem with the Camry was bad starter connections. $130 later, it's good as new. Or good as 13 years old and 180,000 miles. The best part is that the auto shop washed all the pollen off and we've never seen hubcaps sparkle like this before!

Mama's gone? Who knew--because we're HAVING THE BEST TIME EVER.

So Mama took off for the big city. Papa says she'll be back but frankly I have my doubts. Before she left, she: a) took a shower, b) dried her hair, c) painted her toenails, d, e, f) some other girly stuff I can't remember. It was obscene. The way I figure, she's been city-fied--she's gone soft and cosmopolitan. And what does she leave us with? Old Man Turner, sick as a dog, sleeping all day like a good-for-nothing. Thanks for nothing, Mama.

And before Papa mentions it--because I'm sure he's gonna blab to everyone that asks--yes, I had my first baseball practice today; yes, my friend Jon was there; yes, I sat the entire hour on the bench and refused to play. Why? I'm a watcher, friend. I watch. I'm probably watching you right now. Fact is, there was nothing on the line today. It was the first practice! I know how to play baseball! I don't need the basics! I'm watching. I'm analyzing. I'm figuring you out before you even know I'm there. Next Saturday, when practice starts up, guess who's going to know all your moves? Your tendencies? Who's going to know that your first swing always hits the tee? Who's going to know you tend to skip second entirely when running the bases? Who's going to know what you're thinking before you're thinking it?





I am, brother.

We'll see if Pops laments my lack of go-get-'em after next week's practice. Not likely.

Anyway, the old man was feeling much better this afternoon, and we ended up having a pretty great day. Mac-and-cheese for dinner, awesome story time, awesome car parking time, some Inspector Gadget. Then we went to the "other" park, where I busted out my mini-bike again and did my ridiculous sharp turns and super-fast pedaling around the playground. June can pretty much do monkey bars at this point, which makes her the only one in the family who can. I'm not exaggerating--she has a freakish ability to cling and hang on things--like zip lines, for example. You can send her back and forth on a zip line for hours and she never gets tired. Remember how she used to carry around a single bead in her grubby little hand for days at a time? Originally, I thought she was training like monks or Navy SEALS where they keep something painful in their hand to focus their minds at all times--well turns out she was just practicing for monkey bars.

Anyway, before we left the playground I spotted a field full of old dandelions. I recognized the scene was pregnant with photographic opportunities. So, in pictures, we made a VIDEO ESSAY.

"Existence is SO ABSURD. If I have to choose between crying and laughing, guess which door I'm taking?"

"You want me to define 'irony'?"

"Dandelions grow without toiling or spinning, yet I refuse to consider them."

[No caption necessary. Sometimes images speak with more passion than words can imagine.]

"We're all like so many dandelion fluffies. Like fluffies in the wind. Or dust. Dust, too. Dust in the wind."

"I know--I'm A1 adooorable. But you should've seen what Papa saw when he got me up this morning. Let's just say laundry was performed...laundry was...performed."

"You win some, you lose some. I guess that about sums up this old thing they call life. Winnin' some, losin' some...

Unless you play for Cleveland! Ho ho!!! SLAM!!!! In yo' face, Unkie! GG!! Grams, Aunt Jill, all you NW OH'ers!! Slam!!!"

FIN.

Easter bunny!- Henry.

In addition to the tons of candy we acquired at the easter egg hunt, we got kites and a chocolate bunny from the Easter bunny.

In our tradition, mama lets us have at our bunnies in one setting and then throws away whatever remains when we pass out from the sugar rush.

This year our bunnies were rather small and hollow. So after our good lunch, mama let us have them.

Good thing they took Junie's dress off, because she attacked her bunny and made a huge mess.

I munched both ends and turned mine into a telescope.

No one would ever know it was me looking through that bunny!

Neither June or I gave up on our bunnies. June even combined hers with a banana for the perfect favor combo. Maybe it's not a surprise June was awake until midnight!

Easter Sunday-June.

On Saturday night, we ventured over to Greensboro to visit our favorite Mister Paul and Mister Susan. we celebrated the Easter vigil with a trip to our favorite barbeque place- Prissy Polly's.

Of course, this is the nicest Easter shot we got of the kids. Sitting on a stranger's step and I'm not even in my Easter dress.

We got a special Easter surprise with our good friend, Mister Scott, drove up from Fort Bragg for the night. That is one tall guy.

The weather was so nice on Sunday that we decided to visit the arboretum. There was a cameraman there from the news station and he took videos of me running around. We forgot to watch the evening news, so I could be famous in Greensboro right now and I don't even know.

The main reason for our trip was to try out the new kites that we got in our baskets. And no, we didn't fly them close to those huge power lines.

While the boys ran ahead, mama and I took our time looking at plants and these huge wind chimes. I want some for our yard.

Mama particularly liked this flower- the Lenten Rose. She thought it was fitting that they were all blooming at Easter.

Too bad mama forgot my sandals to wear with my pretty dress. She's been waiting a while for me to grow into this dress since Aunt Lillie sent it up last year.

I enjoyed looking at the creek under the bridge. Then I tried to climb over and made it up to that middle rung before mama stopped me.

The boys were trying hard to get the kite up in the air. They got it up a few times, but there wasn't much wind to sustain its flight.

I dismissed all the kite flying and went straight for the playground. Don't I look like such a little kid in this picture? I'm not a baby anymore!

Mama got us to sit still for a second on the playground.

When did we get such big feet? This picture is proof that we are the only kids in the world who can repeatedly say "cheese," but never actually smile.

Mister Paul tried his best "cheese" face. He is so funny.

This is the best shot we got all day. Mister Paul is the greatest!

Of course we sat still for a group shot.

Now everybody act goofy.

And a close-up of my cute round teeth.

My new favorite trick is pretending to be a baby. First, an adult must cradle me like I've seen them hold little babies. Next, I carefully fold my hands together and put them up to my face. Then I quietly say "Waa. Waa. Waa" in a monotonous tone. It really brings down the house.

Before we left mama wanted one more try for a good Easter picture. Henry was ready.

Unfortunately, I started crying as soon as they set me down. Mama and Papa felt pretty bad when they picked me up and realized they set me on top of a pile of ants. I got bit a few times, but some hydrocortisone cream and a nap made everything better.

We left for home at 9pm. Papa hoped it would be late enough that we would all be tired and fall asleep. Too bad I've given up sleeping in the car. Henry fell asleep at 10, but I held out until midnight.