Hey there, it's Yogi Bear!

First things first!  I got all the pictures from DC “scrapbooked” on My Digital Studio!  I didn’t quite get them the way Amy had them, but I gave up-it was too hard to get the different sizes to fit together like puzzle pieces!  I have already scrapped most of the trip/pictures as we’ve been driving.  What else would I do as we drive? : )  Here are the DC (quickly put together!) pages:

Second...what a gorgeous drive today!  We left DC, and traveled down Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway towards Tennessee.  We took the scenic route..and paid fifteen dollars for it..I had no idea!  It is a national park (Shenandoah), so there is maintenance I guess.  I will say the roads were perfect, some newly paved.  And the views?  Amazing is not adequate!

I also learned a little about mountains. : )  When you stand near the top of Skyline Drive, you can see two mountain ridges-both part of the Appalachian Mountains.  To the west you can see the long, straight, parallel ridges of Massanutten Mountain.  To the south you see the ragged, jumbled Blue Ridge Mountains.  The geologic origins create the contrast!  The mountains of Shenandoah National Park contain some of North America’s oldest rock formations-and are home to more plant species that ALL of Europe, including 100 tree and more than 900 wildflower species!

Blue Ridge Mountains

Massanutten Mountain

**Ok, after a little research..I found out that the Massanutten Mountain is made of rock layers (think piled up deck of cards or wrinkled throw rug) that are folded downward in a “U” shape (called a syncline), which accounts for it’s double ridge shape.  And ..the ridges are capped with sandstone, which is resistant to weathering and erosion.  So they aren’t likely to weather anytime soon.  (csmres.jmu.edu/geollab).  So, they stay relatively flat, unlike the Blue Ridge Mountains which are older (the oldest mountains in the world!), and have been weathered much longer by the constant wind blowing across the exposed ridgetops, torrents of rain, freezing and thawing water in crevices, and chemical decomposition to reduce them from Sierra size (up to 14, 000 ft) to their current low profile (at an average of 3-4000 feet).  (from virtualblueridge.com)**  You are SO welcome for your geology lesson for today. : )

..We always rent Redbox movies while we are traveling.  It makes for a super-pleasant car ride!  Today, the kids were watching Yogi Bear (you’ll remember I didn’t love this movie) while we drove through the parkway and through Virginia.  It seemed campy/woodsy and apropos.  Well..guess what we drove by?  Jellystone National Park!  Seriously.  I couldn’t make this up.  The kids had asked me a few miles back if Jellystone was a real place-and I said, “No-it’s just a pretend park similar to Yellowstone National Park.”  Eating.  My.  Words.  Haha!  There are apparently lots of Jellystone National Parks (yes, we stopped to get more info and shop the store, which had CLeaN bathrooms!).  They are campsites plus pool, waterslides, parks, etc.  Very  nice!

I even got Mary Claire a patch for her brownie vest with Cindy Bear on it!  It seemed kinda scouty there. : )

I must give out a Cleanest Rest Stop Restroom Award.  We visited it today.  I’m never impressed with a rest stop (it’s usually only used in desperation!), but today-Bathroom Nirvana! : )   First, it was clean.  No tp on the floor, the trash can was recently emptied. There was no bad smell.  It had a clean window with bright light.  The stalls were white and clean (free of graffiti!).  The floor was clean, mirrors clean, toilets clean.  (I wouldn’t be surprised if it only opened a few days ago.)  Congratulations, Virginia Rest Area Mile 158 South on Interstate 81!  You deserve kudos!  I must contact Virginia now.

*PS-Yes, we come to Washington, DC, and single-handedly impacted our country.  The budget crisis is averted (debt ceiling raised)-we only had to be here for the weekend to impress our strong dissatisfaction with the unmeeting of the minds.  Now for it to pass congress.  You are welcome (I think..).

**Don’t forget to register for the contest!  Up for grabs: a Vera Bradley (Imperial Toile) Clip Zip ID Tag!  You have your choice of the two prints I picked up : )  Leave a comment with your name before Wednesday, August 3 at midnight! : )  (..it's not letting me add a picture!  I'm having internet trouble, so I'll try again tomorrow..I'm sleepy!  They are both chocolate brown with ivory, one is leaves, one is floral!)

Changing Lives

Washington DC always makes for a long day.  We rode the train (exciting if you are a little boy!), saw museums, monuments, and even fit in the zoo!

I'm trying to get the pictures ready..I was planning to try something new.  Amy uses software to get the biggest, most beautiful collages together, and I was thinking I could try (even though I have a Mac!).  It's taking me wayy longer than I thought, so I'll keep working.  We have a super-long drive tomorrow (to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee!), so that should give me time to get them ready. ; )

Here are a few that I really like:

You can't learn anything from experiences you're not having.  -Louis L'Amour (and so..we give our kids experience!) : )

This was a display on medical devices that changed our lives.  Pregnancy tests...and a One-Touch Home Meter.  They've both changed my life.

Mary Claire with Michelle O'Bama's inaugural ball gown-it was beautiful.

The kids on the National Mall with the Capitol Building in the background-but it's all washed out.  (well..I know it's there.) : )

My kids in the National Zoo (sign)!  We are totally the zoo. ; )

And the big ferocious reason we took two extra Metro rides, and walked for a couple extra miles: a real, alive Tiger.  (and suffered at least 5 meltdowns and pee behind a tree on the way there)

Do you already know not to go to DC in the hot, steamy summer?  'Cause if you ask...I'd say to wait till fall.  or Christmas.  or even Easter for the Egg Roll?  Summer is so stinkin' hot!  I love it though, so we persevered.  In thin flip-flops...I gotta take a hint from the tourists and whatever book they read.  I should wear better shoes and a fanny pack.  Bahahahaha..  Not.

At least I didn't wear heels and a Chanel bag (Seriously, people-it's gravel.)  (Did you outlet shop yesterday or something?)

American Girl + Vera Bradley = Awesome Girls Day!

We made it safely to Washington, D.C. today!  We didn’t however make it to the National Mall to finish the museums. : (

But...we DiD make it to Tyson Corner (and American Girl and Vera Bradley and Lego and Pottery Barn Kids)!  Clay had to take Hercules into the mall so he didn’t bake again.  I think he’s learning all about responsibility..  Then we checked into our hotel (to drop Hercules and our luggage) and went to Leesburg!  Ahh..my kind of day.

Get This.  When we were in Vera Bradley at Tyson Corner (salivating all over the lovely luggage and pencils and notebooks and purses), this sweet employee suggested we check out the outlet.  WHAT??  (double-take!)  There’s an outlet?  (Change of plans!)  Umm..we had to find this place.  So..that resulted in an extra trip! : )

We drove out to Leesburg (about 45 minutes northwest of here) and split up so I could shop a tiny bit.  Ches took the kids to see the new Smurf movie in a brand new theater (personally, gag.  I did Smurfs in the 80's and didn't see the need for them to come back), the Cobb 12 (it was only 8 days old!) (and did I mention the American Girl DC Store has only been open one month?).  I headed over to the outlets, which were only a couple minutes away, and lo and behold.  Vera Bradley.  They were so stocked!  (and they had 500 boxes of stock in the back, and couldn't even open their doors!)  I was looking for this, but it's been discontinued, and the outlets said they can't keep them in stock.  I found Mini-Hipsters for $31, a Hipster for $35, and a Tiny Traveler in Blue Lagoon (hold on to your hats..) for $9.99.  Seriously! I also put my name on a list for a Tiny Traveler in Boysenberry.  They'll ship for free, since they couldn't get to their stock-it was PaCKeD in there!

My sweet girl and her girl, Megan, at the Washington, DC American Girl Store!

All three of us girls (that does NOT make me a grandma)

They had a great book selection!

Clay with Hercules..Herc is now a shopper. ; )  And doesn't Clay look positively thrilled to be here?

With Kanani, of Hawaii!  (I have called this girl Kalani since she came out.  Mary Claire politely told me today that there is no L in Kanani.)

She loves the Tiki set with the drinks

We loved this, but I will just make one.  And it won't be $34.  ; )

And they had CRAFTS!  We made scrunchies-we tied ribbons onto little fluffy rubber bands!  Super easy.  Do try this at home.

In the hotel with her new Very Berry Paisley Mini-Hipster!  It was to replace the meter purse I'd made-this one is already organized and ...wonderful! : ) (I even got the new attache in Very Berry..so we match!) heehee

Since I was so excited about Vera's Outlet...I decided to do a little give-away! : )  I picked up a little extra fun thing: a Clip Zip ID in Imperial Toile.  I got two: one for me, and one for YOU!  I thought I could clip it to my keychain, and it would hold an ID, debit card, some cash, and maybe my library card!  It would be perfect for a fast trip..or it would have been great for the water park or.. even tomorrow at the Smithsonian museums! : )

Would you like to win one for your very own?  I can't mail it till I get back..so let's take entries till Wednesday night at midnight.  I'll pick the winner on Thursday (after I get a good night's sleep!).  Enter by leaving a comment with your first name (and email if you don't have a blog where I can find you!).  You can FB, Tweet, or blog about it to earn extra entries.  Just leave your name with where you shared in an extra comment. : )

Hope you had a great day! (Today was my 20th reunion..but as you can see-I didn't make it!  Whew-time does fly.  Frankly, I'm totally happier now than I was back then-life does get better.  I couldn't have imagined that back then though!)  Where were you twenty years ago?

Mmm...Sandy Chocolate Pies

Laundry was on my agenda this morning! : )  I got up around 8, and ran down to the laundry to get some started.  I just had to wash swim stuff and a load of light things-Ethan had two shirts with stuff on them, and I didn’t want the stains to sit too long!

Then, we packed up our van.  Today was our last day at the beach. : (  I packed one suitcase with all we’d need to shower and change at Rita’s beach house after our sandy bodies trekked back from the beach.  We dropped off Hercules (Clay’s new hermit crab) so he didn’t bake in the van, and headed down to the beach!

Under the pier : )

Mary Claire and her daddy out in the waves

Ethan building roads and tunnels

Mary Claire planting a Garden.  She even watered it. ; )

This is when the girls took our chairs.  Pfttth. : P

He smiled, he smiled, he smiled for me!  (He's holding a plate of barnacles!)

It was a beautiful (HoT!) day-the water was warmer today, and it was perfect.  We (I with a little help from my little friends) made a big Pit Pool (very unofficial term! haha!).  We dug out sand, and gave it a protective wall.  It took us over an hour to get this far:

but then...in less than an hour...it was gone.  I mean, leveled and beautiful beach again.  It still always amazes me-the power of the ocean.  And that we happily play at its feet shore.  Even with sharks and jellyfish, it draws us in.  That beautiful danger, that is ready to turn on us in an instant.

Kinda like diabetes when you think about it.  We just keep it bouncing inside of normal-not too low, not too high.  And, boy have we had a week!

Sandy Site.

We take off Mary Claire’s pump while she is in the ocean, and use the little plug to block off her site (we’ve gotten sand in it before...not fun!).  But having that pump off, having her unhooked from her lifeline of insulin-drives her CrAzY high.  I do NOT look forward to her post-summer a1c. : (  I hate having that to think about all the time.

We immediately hook her up after swimming, and start pushing insulin.  I start conservatively, but then an hour later, I’m just pushing.  I have to get her down for dinner so she can eat with everyone.  And when she’s high..she’s SO irritable and whiny and uncooperative.  I’ve promised to love her no matter the number on the meter, but only the Good Lord helps me through.  She can be so difficult when she’s not happy (or too high or too low!).  I know how I feel when I am desperate to eat, so I can’t even imagine how she feels.  I try to sympathize, I really do.  I’m sure I still have room for improvement.

Yesterday, we lost a site.  Right at the end of our pool time at the water park, she unplugged to go back in one last time, and off it came.  I knew it could happen, so I wasn’t surprised.  I just knew that then the clock was t-i-c-k-i-n-g.  I hate that too.

Ok, anyway, you get it.  Back to vacation..

The kids played, and I fell asleep in a chair as the surf came up and washed my feet.  It was the sound, the kids playing, the warm sun, the “chocolate pies” Mary Claire was “feeding” me:

the long days lately and the hard work on the Pit..it was all too much!  Ches touched my hand, and I jumped.  I knew I was close to falling asleep, but really doing it?  Two totally different things when your kids are that close to powerful danger! 

Then I came up and laid under the pier and read for a while, with my legs hanging out in the sun.  This, my friends, is how you tan the backs of your legs.  Or like this:

Catch the mama in the top right.  This is how you tan your back.  Off the sand.  This will be me someday..in someone else's pictures!

We ended our day with warm showers, and a goodbye family dessert of layered ice cream sandwiches (with cool whip and caramel topping-DeLiSH!), for Ches’ cousin David’s birthday.  We took one last picture of all the kids there (we had to narrow it to post-1984 kids, since..aren’t we all kids? ha!):

Bye-bye, Ocean City, we’ll see you next year!

Love you, the Jones family