October- The Big City

Start spreadin' the news....  We drove to Brooklyn to visit our friends Jessie and Brian and taste the tastes and see the sights of the Big Apple.  It was a packed weekend, and exhausting, but so worth it to catch up with dear friends and visit some places I've always wanted to visit.  I took a bazillion pictures so it was hard to narrow it down. 



 Riding the trains with Georgia.  Really one of my favorite things was seeing our children become sweet friends.

 The famous and beautiful and being repaired Brooklyn Bridge.

The DUMBO pizza place of our dreams.  Best thin crust pizza award.  And also wackiest seating method award.  You line up out front and they call out for parties by numbers and the next party of that number is seated. 

 I asked Mac what his favorite part of the weekend was and he said, "Walking on the bridge and sleeping with Eben."  They really enjoyed each other.

View from the Brooklyn Bridge a la noche.

A little boy surveys the big city. This is on Liberty Island (the island with the Statue of Liberty).

The Lady

 She really is so beautiful, magnificent, and awe-inspiring up close.  I must say I felt full to bursting with patriotic spirit.  And really- do look up and read the full poem by Emma Lazarus, part of which is inscribed on her pedestal.  It is amazing. 



Coney Island



The whole Kit N Kaboodle.  Claire says, "look no hands!"



I do love me a hot dog.

America.

Ok, craziest thing I've ever seen on the road.  This gang of bikers on 4-wheelers and motorcycles pulled out in front of us on the way out of the city.  This guy blew us away.  He rode like this for a mile.  Holy cow.  My bad, Mr. Gang Motorcycle Guy. 

October- The Mountains

Jo Mama is back.  Needless to say the month of October was crazy busy with super fun stuff.  Trips hither and yon with family and friends from North Carolina to New York.  Let's begin with our yearly trip to North Carolina.  It was such a fun time- hiking and antiquing and more hiking and hanging out with the McAlarney tribe.  Peter came down with croup the night we got there so we spent some time in the ER, and he and I stayed at the house for a couple days so he could rest, poor little guy.  We soaked up the fall color and made more memories.

Hodges, Party of Four

When do two couples with 4 children each ever get to go out on a date together?  Rarely if ever!  So what a treat to get to go down to the District with our friends Beau and Malia Powers.  We metroed in from different spots and met up at the historic Old Ebbitt Grill for dinner.  We walked to the White House to gaze upon it in all it's glowy prettiness.  Then we went to the P.O.V,, a hip newly redone bar with a terrace overlooking the White House and with a great view of the city in general.  It was definitely hip and happening and we felt a bit OLD (although there were visibly older people there), but we really enjoyed it.  Well, except for my nasty mojito.  C'mon people.  Oh well. 

Soccer

Mac started soccer a Saturday ago in a league that teaches basic skills using fun games, and they don't play real "games."  I think it's a good approach, and the coaches are really great at what they do.  Mac is not so sure he likes it, despite his excitement talking about it during the week; but here he his having fun chasing Jay while dribbling the ball.

And Harry, who wants to do everything Mac does, watching.  He's ready.  He's thinking, "if only they'd give me a chance!" 

Mount Vernon

I discovered this tree which I think is another Blue Atlas cedar like the one at Oatlands.  It's official.  I'm a tree nerd.

There was a re-enactment at Mt. Vernon so there was an encampment and horses.  We missed most of the action but it was neat to see the tents and reenactors.