Halloween 2018

Owen dressed up this year as an astronaut and Milton was in out Spanish Feria outfit.  Owen fit in it loosely when he was 2 years and 3 months.  Milton at 19 months is squeezing in. Owen did amazing with wearing his costume and with trick or treating.  We met up with our friend from down the street and we all went around together for the trick or treating.  Ethan is 8 months older than Owen and Aiden is about 8 months older than Milton. I have become good friends with all of them as Ethan goes to Ayrlawn. At the very beginning of the night we met up with a neighbor from a few doors down and we went around the townhouses together.

Marine Corps Marathon 2018

This was my fifth Marine Corps Marathon.  It was well done as always.  Metro was dysfunctional as always.  I got in my gate five minutes before the gun went off and was on the first train out of medical center.  It was a beautiful fall day with perfect temperatures. 

Williamsport, Maryland

Williamsport and the surrounding area has a fascinating history. Situated at the confluence of the Conococheague Creek and the Potomac River, Williamsport was first settled in 1740. In 1790 George Washington considered it for the capital city of the United States but rejected Williamsport because of the inability of large ships to navigate the Potomac to this point. Close by is Falling Waters where the Confederate Army made its escape across the rain-swollen Potomac after the Battle of Gettysburg. Williamsport is the only place on the canal where examples of major canal structures can be viewed within a half-mile stretch. A half-mile rewatered section of canal leads through the turning basin, under the only Railroad Lift Bridge as well as the only Bollman Iron Truss bridge on the canal, and continues to Lock House 44 and the adjacent lock. The Conococheague Aqueduct is located across from the turning basin.

Pope-Leighey House, Virginia

Frank Lloyd Wright designed a house built for a family in Virginia. It is a whopping 1,200 square feet - which is the exact same size that I grew up in.  It was a beautiful home.  Everything in the house reminded me of my father.  Down to the screw heads all oriented the same direction. The house itself has been moved twice as its original location was in the path of route I-66. The Pope family had the house built for them and their three children.  Mr. Pope was an excellent woodworker and built all of the drawers in the house.  I have no idea why Mr. Wright would never put in drawers.  Where are kitchen utensils and underwear supposed to go.  Not in the same cabinet! Me. Leighey was the next owner who was the one that donated the house and grounds to National Trust for Historic Preservation. Owen and Milton were a bit feisty, so Ileene stayed outside with them during the tour.  Each building that Frank Lloyd Wright did had it's own geometric design.  I think one of the cutouts looks like an Apatosaurus. On the same grounds is the Woodlawn mansion which is the typical Georgian architecture.  Seeing the Usonian and Georgian architecture so close together was very interesting.  

October 2018

The beginning of the month we had Rod and Ileene come out for a visit.  The kids are in heaven when Grandma and Grandpa are around. We all went up to Butlers and the kids both had fun running around and going to pick out some pumpkins.  Owen played in the corn box and was running around for a solid hour before going to the car where we found about a half cup of corn in his shoes.  No surprise that something in his shoes didn't slow him down.

This was Owen's first full month of school.  He absolutely loves going and even on the weekends he will ask if he can go to school.  His teachers are fantastic with him and all his little friends are super adorable.  On Tuesdays Damon is tending Milton so after I pick up Owen from school we go on a date to Wendys for a "samwich and chocolate milk". Owen had his first school field trip up to Butlers Orchard.  He has so much with all his school friends.  They were adorable with the shirts.  He got to take the bus up to the orchard which I think may have been his favorite part of the day. We were able to pick out another pumpkin.  Owen also had his first Primary program.  All that he was able to stay with was the rehearsal, but he went up and said his little part "My name is Owen.  I like to play construction site and I am a child of God." After about 30 minutes he was running laps around the chapel during the rehearsal.  We are making progress with church, but as with everything it is slow going.  The biggest change for Owen is that I am cutting down on his tv.  It was making him almost more hyper to watch tv.  I give him steep requirements before getting a show such as eating breakfast and getting dressed.  That keeps him stalled for a while.  We are at the point now that he isn't asking for it as much as he did before.  He is behaving more calmly for sure.

Milton and I spend most mornings going over to work on various projects at my moms new house.  Milton loves having free reign of the house and especially not having any competition for the toys.  On Mondays he will take a nap over at my moms house since I don't pick up Owen until 1:45 because of his gymnastics class.  Milton's favorite toy is my mom's keyboard.  He likes to take a truck and run it across the keys.  His second favorite spot is in my mom's closet where she has a shorter clothes hanging rod where Milton can reach all of the hangers.  They need a daily inspection.  He had a run-in with the hand foot and mouth cootie. Then the aftermath is peeling on his feet and hands where the sores were.  Another added perk is that one of his finger nails got funky.  He handled it well with really only a few days of feeling poor.  Unfortunately that was the same time Rod and Ileene were here. He isn't saying much at all.  I've been working with him for signing "all done" and "more".  Then waving and blowing kisses.  He loves his books and will spend a lot of time in his room checking out all his books.  It is adorable.  Especially when Owen will go in there too and I find both of them reading their books.  Gold star for mommy moment there. Milton was asleep in the crib for a nap and Owen decided Milton needed company and threw my old doll in the crib with Milton.  Thankfully it didn't wake Milton up.