Wednesday, July 26, 2023

April 2022 Trip to VA: Bears Den, Great Falls, Anson's Birthday

 Monday, April 4 (Anson's birthday), we went to Bears Den after some morning reading. Tiny sported a wonderful ensemble of leopard-print leggings with a hole in the knee paired with a shiny, fancy dress and, later, a hooded sweatshirt. 


We accidentally drove up to the parking lot of the viewpoint and missed the parking lot for the hike. We went out to the rocky lookout area, picnicked, and scrambled around. The day was very cold, but it's a fun place. Rock scrambling is a favorite Kringel activity. 









Coco had her hands full with her littlest two, so I tried to help keep Anson alive. 






From Bears Den, we headed to the Billy Goat Trail on the Maryland side of Great Falls while Coco went home for naps and birthday preparations. The girls passed out while we drove.


We had a really lovely walk along the river. Later in spring with foliage would have been spectacular. 


Out of the gate, Wrenzy and Ever were walking incredibly slowly and looked deep in conversation.   




Everyone had to take turns crossing the water via this fallen tree, just for fun.










Tiny went exploring.


It was a miracle no one fell in the water. 




Tiny and Wrenzy started doing some really impressive Spider-Man leaping from rock to rock. I didn't get a good sample on video. 


Sweet Tines collected a whole bunch of shells but had a hard time holding onto them while she climbed. 






The girls were jumping off rocks and things along the side of the trail, and Jim taught them about parkour. We even paused for a viewing of a clip from the parkour episode of The Office and a few other parkour videos. The rest of the walk, every time anyone hopped on/off something, he or she called out, "Parkour!" I think there was only one injury. 

Wrenzy played necktie on the way back. 


We made it back in perfect time for Anson's birthday dinner - dino nuggets, mac and cheese, and raspberries. 


The birthday cake was Anson's standard selection - chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and M&Ms, marshmallows, and trucks on top. 


A lovely day!

Sunday, July 23, 2023

April 2022 Trip to VA: D.C., Fishing, Walk, Home with the Homers

On Thursday, March 31, 2022, we flew to Washington D.C (by way of Houston). The girls entertained themselves outside the airport by hopping from one concrete bollard to another. It was actually kind of far for Bear, and I was glad she didn't smash her face. 



D.C./VA = cousin time with the Homers. Wrenzy held Weston.


Jim pretended not to see Anson when he sat on the couch. 


Friday, April 1, we went downtown to hit the museums with Lucy and the Homers. We decided to start off with a museum day largely because Ever is (or claims to be) a big museum fan. In reality, I don't know that the interest level of any little Kringel ladies was super high. We did the National Gallery and then the Natural History Museum, where Wren refused to be in the family photo Coco took.


We found a lunch spot in the gardens.



Tiny and Wrenzy spotted a good climbing tree across from us and had to get involved. I don't think Coco appreciated their example for her son. 




We went to the American History Museum before heading home - mainly for the Star-Spangled Banner.  


Saturday, April 2, Dustin took us to a trout pond near Front Royal for some fishing. Lucy and Coco picked up apple cider doughnuts on the way, and those were enjoyed by all (especially Ever). Everyone caught fish, but only the Homers would touch them. Our girls would hardly even come close enough to the fish to be in photos with them. It was embarrassing. Dustin works so hard to provide fishing for us, and we are the worst participants. I did help net the fish after they were caught, though, so that's something.



We took a photo with each fish caught. Dustin could not get a Kringel to hold her fish, so he had to pose nearby with all of them. 





This fish was the one who got away. 












On fishing - Dustin smoked our catches. Jim was a sport. The rest of us weren't so good at eating it. The girls weren't having it at all. So, again, we did not do our part.)

After fishing, we went to Fort Valley, where Uncle Fun Dun made a fire. We roasted hot dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches (in a cool iron contraption). The Kringels doted on baby Weston while Dustin got things set up. We're helpful like that. 







Dustin helped us all take turns shooting the BB gun after lunch. 









In the early afternoon, we headed home to catch the second session of general conference. Anson scared Jim with his Halloween mask. 


Jim and I are old people who fall asleep during conference. The worst. 


Sunday we watched conference and walked to the playground near the Homers' house. Ever gave Eleanor a ride on the springy things. 


She got pretty radical and worked up a sweat. 










Tiny disappeared that afternoon, and I couldn't find her anywhere. I looked outside and inside and finally found that her down in the basement, where she had put herself to bed for a nap. She had even started Alexa (or "Ziggy," as the kids had renamed her) so she could sleep to music.