Nate's stocking

This stocking is a little bit representative of Nate himself--it was a lot more complicated than I thought it would be, but I would choose it all over again! Playful, happy, sparkly, and a deep capacity to feel and share joy!  You can't see it very well, but there are sparkly threads through all the snowflakes, the hats, and the blue letters.  I didn't even know it was sparkly when I choose it, but the sparkles connect it to Nate even more.  Anyway, SOO glad I'm done!  

Here's Camden's stocking  (When I made it, I imagined him being the one at the top, putting on the star, but now I would imagine him as the one at the bottom, giving directions!)

And a sneak peak at the one I hope to have finished for Mckay next year (Yeah, right! Maybe in 2 more years!)





I just think those polar bears sort of look like Mckay! (And the whole stocking only has white, a few shades of grey, red, pink, purple, and black.  The blue part is the fabric, not stitches.  Hopefully Joann's will have a good Black Friday sale with free shipping!)

Maryland, Port Discovery Museum

On Thursday, we needed a relaxing day.  We stayed at Grandma's house in the morning, and then the boys stayed at home with Grandma while the rest of us went shooting.  I learned I like handguns better than rifles. 

 

On Friday, we visited the Port Discovery Museum, which is a children's museum.  This was a favorite, for sure!  There are three stories, with lots of fun things on each level.  But the middle space is open all the way up.  There is a giant climbing playground, with tunnels, ladders, rock climbing walls, ropes, etc, etc.  My friend told us a few things: Don't wear flip-flops, and each kid needs an adult.  Boy, was she right!  We're glad Grandma and Grandpa would follow Mckay around.  Nate loved, loved, loved the climbing!  Camden felt sad because it was tricky with his sling.  By the end, he could do some of it with help.  It was so fun! 

 

 

 

 

 

Maryland, National Zoo and Capitol Building

On Wednesday, we had reservations through Senator Hatch's office for a tour at the Capital building.  The reservation wasn't until 2, so we decided to spend the morning at the National Zoo.  It's part of the Smithsonian Museums.  Camden loved the cheetah, the lions, and the tigers.  I agree!  They were pretty neat.  And Mckay LOVED the elephants.  He was exhausted, but couldn't keep his eyes off them.  The elephants have a pretty big exhibit, indoor/outdoor areas, and a big mountain with a bridge over the top for people.

 

Part way through the day, the clouds opened and sent torrential downpours.  It was quite the soggy experience to get back to the car (trying to keep Camden's splint dry) with all our kids and strollers while rivers of water ran down the sidewalks.  Strangely, I can't find any pictures!  I'll have to double check Brian's phone. 

 

Then, cold and wet, we drove to the Capitol building.  Camden, Brian, and I went inside while Grandma and Grandpa kept sleeping Nate and Mckay in the car.  I don't think Camden was particularly impressed with the Capitol.  Oh well!  And it was raining so hard that we could only barely make out the silhouette of the Washington Monument through a window of the Capitol. 

 

 George Washington originally was supposed to be interred at the Capitol under this room.

 

 The dome is under construction to repair (1500?) weather-related cracks.

A bathtub for the senators.  It's not used anymore, but senators used to come in from fields.  They were not permitted to speak on the Senate floor if they smelled bad enough.