Monthly Archives: July 2011

July 30, 2011

Friday Night Lights

By Wind Inspired

We spent tonight on the beach. Dear friends from Arkansas are in town and we celebrated their last evening here with a barbecue and sand castles.

These are the kind of nights that I hope the kids look back on years from now and remember as key elements of their childhood.

You know the kind of memory that is lit with warm light.

The sounds in your mind include comfortable laughter.

You can still feel the sensation of sand beneath your toes.

You believed that summer evenings contained the possibility for magic.

You remember being surrounded by friends.

Thank you Gairhans for sharing our new home and giving us so many wonderful memories!

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , | posted in CAPTURE - photography

July 28, 2011

Fear of Falling

By Wind Inspired

Washington DC….. Random Thoughts….. Puerto Rico…… Random Thoughts…. If it seems that my topics for writing having been VERY scattered recently, then it gives you an accurate sense of exactly how our summer holiday has been. While we are loving every moment of visitors, travels and new explorations, I am not sad to say that school begins in exactly 2 weeks. We are all ready for a sense of routine.

Until then, let the whirlwind continue.

This week I did something very out of character for me. Something that I would normally leave to the far more daring, slightly insane type of person. I agreed to hang 630 feet in the air from a cable, and even crazier, I let my kids do it. Zip Lining is the current vacation craze for the adventurous set. Attached to cables, you zip through the jungle like Tarzan. Our daring bunch chose Toro Verde park here in Puerto Rico, home to some of the highest and longest ziplines in the world. Was this really the best choice for beginners?

The rational ones out there are probably thinking something along the lines of “so why did you do it?” The answer is simple PEER PRESSURE. You know that silly and somewhat rhetorical question: “If all your friends were jumping off a bridge would you do it too?” It is now evident that my answer is “Yes, why yes I would.”

Let me set a few facts straight before I continue with this story.

1) – I don’t mind heights or beautiful vistas, but I have a healthy fear of falling. I am very happy to look at gorgeous scenery from behind the safety of a guard rail.

2)  – As mentioned in my running experiences, I don’t do equipment well. I run and I swim – just me and the elements. When gadgets, gears, bats, balls, rackets come into play, I get flustered.

3) – I have an insane sense of smell. Really. I am sure that I was a bloodhound in a previous life. It is not a good quality. Think of feet, breath, armpits, fish… odors that might offend the average nose, now imagine them tenfold.

Now here is the play-by-play.

The scene: a beautiful day in the mountains of Puerto Rico.

The adventure park is about 1.5 hours from our home in San Juan. The first hour is mainly highway driving. The last 30 minutes are narrow, curvy and uphill. I know the driving is getting treacherous when my husband is holding onto the wheel with both hands. I kept telling myself that the ziplining couldn’t possibly be scarier than speeding cars coming down the hill toward us, leaving us reeling around corners on what felt like only 2 tires.

Next stop, payment. The course costs $80 per person. It lasts 2-3 hours, for 8 different lines and includes lunch. The park has a number of other adventures to include rope bridges, rappelling, etc. Our motley crew did not qualify in age or weight for a variety of the other options. For more info, check out the website: http://www.toroverdepr.com

Once we signed our lives away the waivers, it was time to gear up.

 I wish this guide would at least pretend to pay attention to what he is doing.

We each stepped into our contraption of straps and carabiners. With my stomach doing flip-flops, I kept reminding myself that it is good to do things that scare you. It makes you stronger and more confident, and only rarely does it kill you. With the straps in place, we added leather gloves, and a breaking mitt. My heart palpitations begin, because I now realize that aside from just holding on for dear life, I actually have to understand and use the equipment they just strapped onto my body. Next comes the helmet. I am not at all concerned with the fact that I need head protection. Nor do I even consider that if I fall 600 feet to my death, the helmet isn’t going to protect much. I am overwhelmed by the odor of other people’s head sweat. So, here I am. About to jump off a platform hundreds of feet in the air and my head is clouded with stink and with fear of using my equipment incorrectly. What have I gotten myself into?

I originally worried about the possibility of getting hurt. When I realized that if I fell, I would die – I actually felt a little bit better about death over paralysis. So – I put on my happy face and carried on.

Happy Face

I completed the first line unscathed. With my feet safely on the platform, I look back to see my little boy coming toward me. My Harry who has no fears. My darling 7-year-old who crosses busy streets without looking, talks to strangers, surfs the big waves, rides roller coasters… WAS SOBBING. He hated it. I should have taken this moment to just let him stop, as it was probably the last point in which we could have hiked back out. But no, we were convinced that after a few more zips our little Monkey would be in his element. He did the next few lines accompanied by a guide and he seemed to tolerate it.

Harry’s opinion of the adventure

Not only was I shocked that Harry didn’t like it, but I was even more surprised that Grace LOVED it. Now this is the kid who just finally got the courage to take the training wheels off her bicycle. She is timid. While she is good at so many things – being daring is NOT one of them. Yet, there she went, like Tinkerbell flying over the tree tops, arms spread wide.

Grace’s review

The zipping moved along. Each of the 8 lines varied by height, length and speed. Names included words such as fire, hurricane, and renegade. Harry was still hating it. Sometimes we had to just clip him in and gave him a push.  I was not happy with this method, but once we were far into the course, there was no turning back. Please take note that I expressly asked the park about young kids and if they were old enough, and they insisted that ages 7 and 9 were “perfect.”

With all of my worries about my little guy, I nearly forgot my own fears.

That is until I reached platform #8. The last of the lines. It was the highest (630 feet) and the longest (about 1/2 mile.) It was also the FASTEST. I didn’t think we could send the kids down. I wasn’t even sure I could send myself down. Harry offered to hike his way through the woods for hours, just to avoid this ride. The only way I can give you a sense of this one is visually.

The white spec in the right corner an inch below the tree branch is Caitlyn.

Here is a much closer shot.

We all survived it. Thankfully, a guide zipped in with both Grace and Harry. Due to their light weight, they would have gotten stuck and left dangling over the river until someone shimmied out to get them. (It happened to all of the other kids – even those well over 100 lbs.)

This is how a guide drags you back to the platform.

We returned to our starting point via a topsy-turvy truck ride.

The survivors

There we enjoyed our refreshments before our treacherous drive home.

Lunch Tent

Overall, the responses of our group were positive. Critiques included that the organization of the guides could have been better out on the platforms to avoid back-ups of people. We were also desperate for drinks – so access to water would have been an appreciated addition. Everyone agreed that the experience was well-worth the cost.

With my total of 8 lines, I traveled 2683 meters in length. For my non metric friends this is 8802 feet. For my running friends it just 1.66 miles. While one-and-a-half miles is a short run, it is a very LONG distance when your life is hanging in the balance of someone else’s handiwork. To me, running 26.2 miles is far less stressful. But, as the saying goes – it didn’t kill me, so I guess I’m stronger.

We followed our zipline day with more excursions: sailing, Old San Juan, the rum factory… I would say that feet on the ground and a cocktail in hand are much more my speed.

note: Later that day Harry and I watched the sea below our balcony and he told me that he wants to go parasailing. “After today?” I questioned. “Mommy, if I fall parasailing, I will just fall in the water. If I fell ziplining, I might have broken my arm.” I can only imagine the drama had he realized what was really at stake.

1 comment | posted in Uncategorized

July 21, 2011

Evidence of Laughter

By Wind Inspired

Today’s blog is attributed to a dear friend, Sassy, who came across a few, previously unnoticed, wrinkles yesterday. I have chased her tail all over Arkansas as we raced together, and she is responsible for more than a handful of chuckles during the last 4 years. Her discovery prompted today’s thoughts.

It is also brought to you in honor of my grand mothers who had wonderful, real faces. And  my friends and kids who have guaranteed that I grow old with a lot of laughter in my life.

Botox. Lasers. Peels. Abrasions. Collagen.

When you reach my age (almost, but not quite 40) it seems that the commercials for facial rejuvenation get louder and the magazine advertisements become more frequent. While the image of a “fountain of youth” has been around for a long, long time, it is only in the last decade that we seem to have found it.

I know that I am in the minority, but I don’t get it.

It seems like an oxymoron. Our society demands that we take chemicals and pesticides out of our foods and drinks. We ban smoking everywhere so that we don’t pollute our lungs. BUT we are more than willing to shoot botulinum toxin into our faces?

To be honest, chemical-free living isn’t really my angle. I have to take medications daily, and while I hate it, I know that they keep me alive and as healthy as possible. I also drink a soda or two every month, which means I am pretty much pouring drain cleaner into my system.

So what is my angle? Faces. I love them. I love knowing how someone feels by looking at their expression. I enjoy scars and freckles. I especially like wrinkles.

Wrinkles are proof that you lived. You loved. You survived loss. You worked hard. You had something worth worrying about. You enjoyed the sunshine.

People gauge success visually - cars, clothes, houses, jewelry. If you have been reading my blog, you know by now that we don’t have a lot to show in that department. My darling husband is driving a 17-year-old car. We are nomads – rarely inhabiting a particular house for very long. I have beautiful jewelry, but due to joint inflammation, it often sits in a drawer. And clothes? Well, these days I am usually in flip-flops and a swimsuit.

SO – what will prove that I have had a successful life? My face. You can call them crow’s-feet, I will call them laugh lines.

And I have laughed. Long, hard and often.

2 comments | posted in ABOUT - life, motherhood, marriage

July 20, 2011

HOME

By Wind Inspired

Home again, home again….

Or am I?

The last few weeks of travel have stirred up all kinds of emotions – remembering favorite places, and more importantly spending time with favorite people. So it begs me to ponder, where is home? And the even scarier question, when the choice is ours, where will we finally settle down? The final resting place. I know, it sounds like a cemetery, but this is how I always refer to the place where we finish up. Set down roots. The place where we are when our kids come “home” from college.

Two weeks of June were spent in VA – my college “home.” I love Virginia. It is a unique state in that within an hour or 2, you can be at the beach, in the mountains, in the middle of open farmland, or in our Nation’s capital. It has relaxation, nature, culture and intensity all at once, plus a great respect for education. There is also a sense of southern charm, without being syrupy or false. It was a great place to go to college.

This past week I was in AR. We still own our house there, yet a new (and wonderful) family has their food in our fridge and their sweet children are being tucked into my kids’ bedrooms. I love that house, but even more so, I love that community. It is a place where people rally behind a great cause, and you feel like you can truly make a difference. Years ago, if anyone had ever told me that I would put Arkansas on my short list of possible retirement locations, I would have just rolled my eyes. But – it was a really great place to live.

Next week I will be flying to Long Island; the place where I spent my formative years. Ages 0-18, the same town, same house. While I have now been away from NY longer than I actually lived there – it is still where “I am from” when people ask. The difference is that this summer, our house is someone else’s home. My parents have relocated and our childhood home was sold to a young couple just starting their story. While I wasn’t overly emotional about the sale, I do realize that returning to NY without that familiar space to sleep will feel strange. And, with the fear of sounding like a broken record, Wading River was a great place to grow up.

Long plane rides lead to plenty of pondering time. Taking off, landing and all the time in between allowed me to reminisce about our homes over the years.

VERADALE, WASHINGTON

Our newlywed house was brand-spanking new. We seeded the lawn, built the deck, and sewed the curtains. Here we brought home our first puppy, our first computer and our first child (in that order.) We ate Thanksgiving around our $10 garage sale kitchen table. I figured out how to survive military deployments and how to work my first SLR camera. During our last year here we rang in the new millennium, had our second daughter, and sold our first house.

RIVERVIEW, FLORIDA

We bought this 4 bedroom house with changes in mind. We thought we would stay here as my husband completed his stint in the Air Force and ventured into the world of the commercial airlines. Within these walls I watched the towers fall and had the conversations that would change the course of our life plan. In the midst of chaos and uncertainty we brought home our third daughter. We loved the climate. We went to Disney about as often as we went to the grocery store. We said goodbye reluctantly, as 2.5 years were not long enough to enjoy the wonderful advantages this area had to offer.

WATCHFIELD, ENGLAND

This tiny duplex was surprisingly efficient in its layout. Our charming cul-de-sac had a great playground in the center and the residents in our ‘hood represented dozens of countries. If you could create a utopia of diversity, where kids could grow up seeing every variation of appearance and hearing a multitude of languages daily – this was it! Harry arrived to welcoming arms and noisy sisters. Our one year here still ranks as one of the best of our lives, mainly because we met dear, dear friends who still fall into the family category, even though the are spread to all corners of the earth.

MEDMENHAM, ENGLAND

Okay, I will just say it. I hated this house. Even still, I loved this chapter of life! Poor layout, awkward kitchen and musty garage… but I would return in a heartbeat. Why? Because of the location. London is close enough to pop in just for the evening. Behind the housing “patch” (british military lingo for neighborhood) were miles and miles of wooded running trails. I re-learned to love running here and trained for my first marathon. We were nestled between Marlow and Henley, two of the most charming towns along the Thames. The schools were to die for. My children took on sweet accents. In the spring the hills were dotted with lambs and the fields were yellow with rape seed flowers. If I ever get a heads up that I have 6 months to live, I hope it coordinates with Spring and I will take a direct flight to here.

CABOT, AR

We bought this beauty online. I’m not kidding. Time was of the essence, we were flying in from overseas and we needed an address to put the kids in school. This is a house that gives the impression of simplicity, yet has so many nooks and crannies that were perfect for our brood. I love the light. And the front porch. And pulling up the driveway when I can see the Christmas Tree lit up inside.  The yard was fertilized with a great deal of landscaping sweat, and a few tears as we bid farewell to our 13-year-old pup. Our time here was longer than expected, and like a band-aid… the longer it is on the more painful to rip off. Goodbyes were difficult.

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

And now we find ourselves somewhere unlike any other home. There is no comparison. Unlike houses in small towns, we are in an apartment in a city of over 1 million, that happens to be on a tropical island. Our home is tiny, but our opportunities are huge. Instead of mowing the lawn, we build sandcastles on the beach.  We don’t have next door neighbors per say, but we have a whole hotel staff that act as surrogate aunts and uncles watching out for the children. Our time is limited, and so we are soaking up the sunshine, wonderful food and unique opportunities.

Retirement is really just around the corner.

Even though I have complained over the years about the lack of control we have over our Military Life, I actually feel a greater sense of panic over the idea that we have to pick our last location. What if we make the wrong choice? Who will come a few years later to cart our things somewhere new? Honestly, as alluring as the idea of settling down is, it also makes me feel claustrophobic. No more anticipation. No more fresh starts.

While I may be envious of my friends who can mark their children’s growth on a wall in their family home. And I would love to watch the saplings I plant grow into mature trees. I am also still thankful for our opportunities. Our changes. Our moves.

Until we do choose that final resting place, I think I will just enjoy the moment and feel thankful that there are so many wonderful addresses on our list of past residences.

And figure out a master plan for extraordinary wealth so that I can have homes in ALL of my favorite places.

1 comment | posted in ABOUT - life, motherhood, marriage

July 12, 2011

I SPY a Museum

By Wind Inspired

And we are back to our DC Reviews!

Last week we visited the The International Spy Museum.

I could tell you about it, but then I would have to kill you.

Seriously, it was awesome. BUT, there were no photographs allowed. At all!

We started off becoming spies, taking on new personas (in various spots inside there were places to test your memory of your profile and your mission.) Throughout the multiple floors of the building we crawled through air vents, learned about bugs, how to pick locks, the history of spies, stories of famous spies, submarine listening systems, secret information codes….. There was something for everyone. Information was presented in a variety of methods including hands on action, videos, headsets and interactive computers. From age 7 – 41, all members of the family were entertained. Best of all: we managed to make it out of the gift shop only $10 poorer (the handcuffs were a must-have and I admit that I have already threatened to use them to lock my children together.)

Leave at least half of your sight-seeing day for this space. There was plenty to do and lots of time on your feet. For more info or to book your tickets ahead of time www.spymuseum.org

But wait, there’s more! Just across the street we found fabulous pizza at Ella’s.

It was exactly what we needed – nourishment, a break for our tired toes, nearby, and gluten-free options. We tried out regular pizzas, gluten-free crust and a delightful strawberry spinach salad. Thumbs up all around!

Check out their website: www.ellaspizza.com

All in all a deceptive and delicious day!

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in EXPLORE - world travels

July 11, 2011

the FUN cousins

By Wind Inspired

The Bachs are known in our house as the “fun cousins.”

When we are together, regardless of the season, the kids are barefoot, there is always running, often jumping, and before our visit is over we are entertained by a theatrical performance complete with costumes and dramatic lighting.

We adore each and every one of our cousins, but my kids are the oldest when it comes to their immediate first cousins – by a good 6 to 13 years. So, insert some second cousins. (Okay, help me out here – I never did understand the family tree past second cousins. The two dads are first cousins, that would make the kids second cousins to each of the dads – what are the kids to each other?)

Regardless of the relations. They are here in Puerto Rico this week. And we are having FUN!

This year our motley crew hits the ages: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. Perfect for adventures, sleepovers and mischief.

The kiddos

As I type this post, I am sitting on my balcony overlooking the beach. Not just because I enjoy the beautiful view, or the tropical breezes. (Although it is a spectacular day.)

Spectacular Day

And not just because it is a perfect spot to sip my tea and drown out the noise from the 7 kids inside our little apartment.

I am sitting out here to keep an eye on the biggest cousins – yes the two 40-something boys who are out exploring.  There is an island off of our beach called Isla Verde (Green Island.) Surrounding the small island are reefs and beds of seaweed. Yesterday involved a swim with a friendly manatee. Today they are out on an adventure, and I am keeping an eye on them – just in case I need to report to the authorities the last place I saw their bodies.

Isla Verde

Unlike many families, we don’t see our relatives very often. Geographical constraints due to Air Force assignments, means we have never lived closer than 8 hours away from any of our immediate family. This makes gatherings even more valuable. It also means that time is of the essence and we pack in the fun. During the last few days we have been:

Night Kayaking

Checking out views (from stomach wrenching heights)

Tormenting Iguanas

Wearing pigeons

Chasing Waterfalls

Exploring Dungeons

And just enjoying general togetherness

Tomorrow we will spend a full day at sea – sailing, snorkeling and I am sure there will be some sort of diving contest off the boat.

And then we will say goodbye. Exhausted and filled with wonderful memories.

I hope that in years to come, when they are old like their dads, that seeing each other will always be special. That time together will bring their childhoods back to life.

I am off to pack a cooler of drinks for an afternoon in the sand. No worries – the big kids are back safe and sound.

2 comments | posted in Uncategorized

July 7, 2011

CRAZY for Cupcakes!

By Wind Inspired

Beware: further reading may result in desperate need for a confectionary fix.

When I began planning our USA Capital tour, I asked the kids what they would like to visit. Our list included “the big guy in the big chair,” hang out with the Obama girls, and eat at D.C. Cupcakes. Well, 2 out of 3 ain’t bad.

Lincoln Memorial                                  D.C. Cupcakes

  

At our house, the DVR is set to record Cake Boss, DC Cupcakes, and Cupcake Wars. The kids pretty much love everything about cakes – planning them, making them, eating them, watching other people make them….. you get the idea. In my children’s eyes, it would be really cool to open a bakery with your siblings, cook all day, boss your mom around the kitchen and get to have your own tv show. So, while in Washington DC, a visit to Georgetown Cupcakes it is.

Much to our appreciation, Georgetown Cupcakes offers a Gluten Free option, but be sure to order them 24 hours in advance. It would be a shame to march your little Celiac sufferer all the way through Georgetown only to find that they are out of GF cupcakes. Even better than knowing your desired cupcake will be available, is that if you place an online order ahead of time, you get to bypass the long line and pop right in the door to pick up your order. Let me say that again. IF YOU ORDER AHEAD OF TIME YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT IN THE LINE!!!!! My only wish, which I plan to suggest to them, is that you can add beverages to that online order, as we were dying for some nice cold milk. Drinks are available, you just have to wait in the LONG LINE to get them.

Long line

Our venture to the bakery took place on a Thursday; 13 days into a trip that involved a great many miles of walking and sightseeing. We had already shared quite a lot of family togetherness. It was kind of warm. Feet were tired. One of our travelers was not particularly excited about this quest for cupcakes. ESPECIALLY when 1 block into our walk we passed this:

Curbside Cupcakes – clever van that delivers cupcakes all over DC, spreading word on their where-a-bouts via twitter.

“Why exactly are we riding the metro and then walking another mile for cupcakes when this van is right here, right in front of us, and it has Gluten Free cupcakes too?”asked the party pooper.

I respond with: “Well, there is the tv show factor. And that I have already pre-paid for a dozen cupcakes. And they are already placed in a pretty pink box. With our name on it. And we just can’t abandon perfectly good cupcakes. And how was I supposed to know that we would pass by a moving cupcake shop exactly at the right moment?”

I am pretty sure that the only part of my argument that made any difference was the “pre-paid” part.

So off we went. Strolling through beautiful Georgetown, taking in the gorgeous flower arrangements, window shopping in the quaint boutiques, imagining life when the Kennedys took their little ones by hand and wandered these same streets.

Ok, in reality we were dragging sweaty kids along the bumpy cobblestones. At every corner someone asked “how much farther?” I could overhear my dear soul mate mumbling “These better be good cupcakes.” And did I mention that we passed TWO more cupcakeries along the route? Some might think: why on earth did you walk so far for cupcakes? More optimistic folks like myself would think: Oh, next time we are going to do a cupcake tour, stopping at each place for a bite to eat, cleansing our palettes with fresh cold glasses of milk.

As the black awnings came into view on the corner of 33rd and M street, the kids shouted with glee and I said a secret prayer that the cupcakes were worth our efforts. As mentioned above, due to my ordered ahead of time status, I whisked right in and received my pink boxes.

Grace with said pink box

Victoria with other pink box

The anticipation was great, and the sight of our treasures did not disappoint. One box held our Gluten Free Chocolate Lava cupcakes. (YES! They kept our GF cakes separate from the crumbs of our wheat flour based cakes.) Our other box held vanilla, red velvet and chocolate peanut butter cupcakes.

Chocolate Lava – Chocolate cake, a center of chocolate ganache, topped with cream cheese frosting.

Red Velvet                                                      Chocolate Peanut Butter.

    

Note – the Vanilla did not last long enough for photos.

Now, I have never met a cupcake I didn’t like. And I have to say that I make a pretty mean one myself. But these cupcakes truly exceeded my expectations. I would order the Chocolate Lava even if I didn’t need a gluten free recipe. I might actually say that it was the best cupcake I have ever tasted.

The children were happy and full on their sugar high. All admitted that the walk was well worth it.

It is safe to say that if I ever run the Marine Corps Marathon again, mile 9 will be my slowest mile, as I will absolutely be stopping off for a pre-ordered nutritional supplement.

If you are in the continental US, you can order cupcakes for delivery at www.georgetowncupcake.com.

In Puerto Rico we are not so lucky. So as I type this, in my kitchen is full of wonderful smells. My future food network stars have cupcakes baking, ganache melting and cream cheese frosting chilling. Thank you Georgetown Cupcakes for the excitement, the deliciousness and loads of inspiration!

2 comments | posted in Uncategorized

July 5, 2011

The British are coming….

By Wind Inspired

Today’s blog is brought to you by Grandparents  – a big thank you to Grammy and Paku who made this visit possible! (Aside from the final day, the parents in this blog were off on Air Force business.) The kids enjoyed their American History lessons with their grandmother, a retired elementary school teacher, and perfect example of patience with energetic youths.

Colonial Williamsburg

It seems fitting that we began our All-American visit to our country’s capital in Colonial Williamsburg, VA. Our visit to Virginia coincided with the annual reenactment of the British Occupation of Williamsburg. While this town is a great place to visit any time of the year, it was pretty exciting to witness key events in the birth of our country.

The children spent 5 days in this great city taking part in typical 18th century life. They played games common to that era. (think dolls, marbles, and jump rope rather than wii or psp.) They did many chores. (imagine airing out the beds, cooking, caring for animals, pumping water from a well….) They witnessed first hand what kids their age wore, ate, did with their free time, and the homes they lived in. They loved it! Here are some scenes:

Traitor?

Mixing mud for brick making                     Clean up, aka colonial pedicure

      

Making dinner

Getting water

   

Crafts                                                          Marching

    

Local transport (described by the riders as slow and bumpy.)

On our last day, the Red Coats came into town. Now you must know that we are anglophiles in this family. We spent 3 years living in the English countryside. Harry was born in the UK. Some of our dearest friends are British. Just when you might think that we could put all this Revolutionary War stuff behind us and be allies, we were challenged on the spot to “Be loyal to the King or be a TRAITOR!”

With a week’s worth of images of the stocks and the hanging posts, Grace would have none of it. She was very quick to claim loyalty to the King. I guess it is safe to say that she will never lead an uprising. Our very own Queen Victoria was the quickest to remind her: “We win Grace, remember, we become America.” So glad someone has been paying attention in Social Studies class.

Hope you enjoyed this episode of our All-American Family Vacation. Until the next installment we will be unpacking, organizing, and grocery shopping….for tomorrow: THE COUSINS ARE COMING!

Leave a comment | posted in Uncategorized

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