On Sunday we wrapped up our trip to the farm. I should give credit to our great hosts. We stayed at Olde Fogie Farm in Marietta, Pennsylvania (near Lancaster). Even with massive amounts of rain, we had a wonderful time. The girls helped with farm chores again on Sunday morning, so I must add a few more pictures of their tasks. 

After leaving the farm (which was sad for all of us), we headed to the Strasburg Rail Road. What fun this was. Meg is very into all things Victorian right now, so this Victorian train ride was perfect. The train cars are beautiful with their brass fixtures and plush seats. The heavy, cold rain pelted the windows as we stayed warm inside the coach car and enjoyed the Amish country scenery all around us. 

We unfortunately had to drive through an ice storm on our way home, which is a little ridiculous on March 30. If you think I am overstating things, I will simply say that cars were spinning out of control and going off the road. We moved slowly but made it home safely (though Clare was begging me to go back to the farm).

The week leading up to our farm trip was not easy. I had a stomach virus. Meg developed a migraine. Then on Thursday Meg fell running to the car and broke her finger. Yes, this is the same child who injured her arm running in from the school playground a few weeks ago. Numerous friends and family have suggested we wrap her in bubble wrap (and as I wrote that she tripped trying to get into a rocking chair, so I think bubble wrap is a great idea).

I am not certain how we managed to get to the farm with so many doctor visits on Thursday and Friday, but we are here. And even with lots of rain and mud, I am so glad we are here.

Our cozy suite provides us with a full kitchen, a claw-foot soaking tub, a nook for Meg and Clare to sleep in and separate bedroom for Anne and me. There's even a back corner with a play kitchen and various other toys.

We were invited to participate in farm chores at 7:30 Saturday morning. Chore time included feeding lambs.

The goat, of course, needed to be milked.

And eggs had to be gathered.

When chores were done, we enjoyed a breakfast of fresh eggs and then played at the playhouse.

After a rainy morning of rest and play (and a few sibling squabbles), we left the farm for a drive to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. There we took a ride in an Amish buggy. The girls pretended to be Beatrix Potter riding in her buggy. I enjoyed the sound of rain beating against the buggy along with the clip-clopping of the horse's hooves.

It's been a good trip so far and we have more planned for Sunday.

We love farms. As I have mentioned before, we are regular visitors to Frying Pan Farm Park. We drive very far out to Hollins Farm (pictured above) every fall to pick out pumpkins just because we want to quietly wonder around a farm. When we visit my husband's family in Rhode Island, we always visit Watson Farm, which is an amazing blend of colonial farm life and coastal beauty. So when we decided that a little rest and relaxation was needed, I knew a farm was the answer. 

Let me back up. Among his other jobs, my husband owns his own tax preparation business. From February 1 until April 15, we don't see too much of him and it is my job alone to entertain the kids seven days a week. This is always a stressful time. My husband is tired from working crazy hours. I am tired because I have no time to myself at all. (And of course, in typical married couple fashion, we are each frustrated that the other does not understand how hard we are working.) The girls are tired because I am trying to keep them occupied and out of the way so my husband can finish all of his work. This past weekend we realized it had all become too much for everybody. We needed a change.

With a small amount of research, I found the website Pennsylvania Farm Vacation. The website lists numerous farms where you can stay, help with chores and just hang out on a farm for a few days.  This weekend, the girls and I are off to the farm.

Meg and Clare began packing their bags immediately once I told them we were going. Clare was initially nervous because she imagined us sleeping in a barn on some hay. But she has since packed all of her art supplies so she can paint things she sees on the farm just like Beatrix Potter. Meg insisted on eggs this morning for breakfast because she is looking forward to the fresh eggs we'll have on the farm this weekend. Yes, we are very much looking forward to this farm adventure. Expect many farm pictures and stories to come.

I have some catching up to do. I've been down with a stomach virus and unable to post. Happily, I am starting to feel almost normal again. (I need to send a huge thanks to Nicole who took Meg and Clare on a pancake and bookstore adventure yesterday while I slept off my fever.)

I am looking out the window and seeing snow yet again, which is absolutely unbelievable on March 25. However, when I look at our pictures from the last week I am reminded that we've had little hints of Spring.  

Last Friday, rather than taking off on a grand adventure, Meg and Clare decided to take advantage of the green areas we have by our home. The green areas are one of the major reasons we chose the particular community in which we live. Prior to moving here, we lived in a high rise. There were grassy areas and parks close by, but the girls wanted a yard. My husband and I, however, knew we would not be good at caring for a yard. Besides, if we were to remain in Arlington, a large yard was not likely. Plots of land are small here. The larger the house, the smaller the yard. So, we chose a row-house community that was built around parks, playgrounds and green space meticulously cared for by the homeowners association (that's right, no mowing or hedge trimming for us). We have our own patio, but the girls mostly play in the shared front yard that is much larger than we could ever have in a single-family home. Also, when they go out and play, usually two or three of their neighbor friends join them. 

Right after we moved here, our neighbors told us about the courtyard-type green space just up the path from our backyard. What a magnificent surprise when we walked over there. There were benches where I could sit while watching the girls run and run in a huge open area. I was immediately reminded of the shared garden in Notting Hill.

On Friday, the girls decided to use the big green area to work on their tree climbing skills. To my surprise, it was three-year-old Clare who really did some serious climbing. 

On Saturday, we headed to the Glen Echo Park Puppet Theater for a showing of Sleeping Beauty. Meg and Clare had never seen marionette puppets before and, considering they love Sleeping Beauty, I thought this would be a great introduction. It was a wonderful experience. They were able to sit right at the front and the 45 minute show was just right for their attention span. 

By Sunday, the cold weather was starting to return and so our outside adventures were not quite so fun. We went to Green Spring Gardens for a short visit. Small flowers were starting to bloom (I'm trusting those flowers were covered before this new round of snow hit), but the garden definitely had a desolate winter feel to it. 

I so look forward to posting pictures of Green Spring Gardens in full bloom. I do hope Spring will be here soon. Having just had a stomach virus, I desperately want to open up the windows and let fresh air into the house. Unfortunately, today that would mean letting in icy cold winds and probably a little snow. Please let Spring arrive soon. 

What a beautiful day we had for the first day of Spring yesterday. In the past, we have often spent the first day of Spring at a garden--either Green Spring Garden or Brookside Garden. But considering we just had a snow storm, we weren't hopeful that the gardens would be that pretty. So we opted, instead, to do some gardening of our own. We put some potting soil in egg cartons and the girls planted some of their favorite seeds. Clare has been anxiously awaiting planting chamomile (because Peter Rabbit is given chamomile). Meg chose two different varieties of sunflowers. 

The egg cartons have been moved back inside to protect the seeds from the cold weather that is still in our forecast, but oh how we are hoping to be able to put these outside soon. Never has an entire community been so ready for Spring. Every conversation I have with a stranger these days is how much we are looking forward to Spring. 

Once we were finished gardening, it was time to continue our enjoyment of the mild weather. My parents gave the girls a wagon for Christmas and they haven't been able to use it much due to the snow. We decided it was a perfect day for a wagon ride. I put Baby Anne in the Bjorn, the girls climbed into the wagon and we headed to the playground.

The girls pretended I was a horse pulling them in a covered wagon to Grandma's house. I could have used a horse considering I was carrying a 17 pound baby in the Bjorn and pulling a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old in a wagon. What a workout and what a lovely way to spend the day. 

St. Joseph's Day did not turn out as expected. A late night email indicated an unexpected account had been breached thanks to my stolen wallet and I woke up at 3 am to the sound of my husband on the phone trying to sort it out. (I, of course, was convinced someone had died. Why else would you be on the phone at 3 am?). Neither of us slept much. Meg woke up with a headache or perhaps she was just tired. It didn't turn into a migraine (yes, she gets migraines at 5 and has for awhile). We should have been happy it was not a migraine, but mostly we were frustrated she missed school.

With snow and teacher work days, we had been stuck in the house too much already this week. Throw in exhaustion and the fact I can't get my house clean when everybody is in it and a little identity theft anxiety...it was a tough day.

I am with anxiety how some people are with alcohol. I can't handle moderation. Once the anxiety takes hold, it gets bigger and bigger. As I felt the walls closing in around me, I was reminded of the entire basis for this blog. Focus on today. Make today the best it can be. When I do that, anxiety does not get the best of me.

So last night, I cooked my husband's requested meal, because St. Joseph's Day is a day to honor dads--Catholic Father's Day as we call it. We had ice cream cake. Our preference would have been zeppoles made at a Rhode Island bakery, but after going through our Northern Virginia options, my husband chose a Carvel ice cream cake.

But beyond the food and fun of St. Joseph's Day traditions, there is just remembering why we honor St. Joseph. God entrusted the care and protection of Mary and Jesus to this man. They faced a murderous king, travel to a strange land, and the daily struggles of life. St. Joseph trusted God, did what he was told to do and I must believe he didn't let anxiety get the best of him.

Today we'll celebrate the first day of Spring with gardening. I will try to focus on making today my favorite day and just enjoying the beautiful children God has entrusted to me.

We celebrated St. Patrick's Day with about seven inches of snow (yuck!). That of course was unusual. Otherwise, we were fairly traditional on St. Patrick's Day.

We started the morning with Irish soda bread. I wish I could say it was homemade or at least came from one of our fabulous local bakeries, but I picked it up at the grocery store before the snow came.

After breakfast the girls made the leprechaun craft pictured above. They were quite creative with the project and we now have them proudly displayed on their bedroom door. After the organized St. Patrick's Day project, the girls delved into more independent projects and attempted to make leprechaun and fairy outfits from construction paper and paper towels.

Like many families, we ended our day with corned beef and cabbage. The girls refused to eat it and opted for beans on toast (which I am realizing as I write was quite British of them and could be taken as an insult to the Irish). My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the corned beef, so we will still call the dinner a success.

Now we will prepare for St. Joseph's Day tomorrow. This is always such a busy week, but fun with so many food traditions and craft possibilities.

Here we sit on St. Patrick's Day snowed in yet again. Meg is eating Irish soda bread for breakfast (Clare doesn't care for the raisins) and I am researching St. Patty's Day crafts to keep us occupied. Perhaps we should be grateful for the restful day because we had quite the busy weekend.

On Saturday morning we headed to the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop for A Day at the Ballet. What a fun place CHAW is. It is precisely what one might imagine if they dream of moving to a city to pursue an artistic dream. It is housed in an old building with beat up wooden floors. The upstairs consists of a dance studio, with old mirrors hung on the wall, and an art studio, with paint splattered everywhere and wooden easels stacked against the wall.

For A Day at the Ballet, three ballet dancers, dressed in full ballet princess costume, led the children in a mini-ballet class. Then each dancer danced a solo. The dances featured Odette from Swan Lake, an Arabian princess, and Cinderella. There was also a special dance to the Frozen music that we are hearing everywhere. Following these dances, the children were allowed to get a closer look at several ballet costumes and talk with the ballet dancers. Then the children proceeded to the art studio to make ballet princess crowns.

The girls enjoyed making the crowns, but Clare began to melt down at that point. She couldn't get her hearts perfectly spaced and perfectly straight and this led to tears. As we left CHAW, Clare informed me that she needed a nap and I agreed. Rather than continuing with our Capitol Hill adventure plans, I put the girls in the car for a long drive out to Manassas. Clare slept well in the car and when she woke up, we went to Cracker Barrel--the girls' favorite restaurant. After a delicious country-style meal (quite the antithesis of our urban arts morning), we sat in rocking chairs and the girls played their version of checkers. The Manassas Cracker Barrel happens to sit by the Manassas Civil War Battlefield, so we also took the opportunity to drive by some of the historic battlefield sights.

Perhaps inspired by this brief bit of history, on Sunday I decided to take the girls to Mount Vernon.

Recently, Meg has begun to recognize George Washington's picture and has asked about him, so I suspected it was time for a visit to Washington's home. To make the most of the visit, we made sure to get the Adventure Map at the visitor's center. The special map works like a treasure hunt map with kids answering clues at various stops.

The girls enjoyed the house tour. Baby Anne even cooperated by only crying when we walked from room to room. She always stopped crying before the docent began talking.

A very special treat for us was the baby lambs in the Mount Vernon paddock.

We also very much enjoyed the museum and hands on history room. Meg and Clare loved George Washington in the snow (as they called it).

In the hands on history room, they dressed up in period clothing.

They played with Lincoln logs.

They tried weaving

And dressed up like George Washington.

We were so excited to take Baby Anne to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum for the first time this past Friday. The museum is one of my Adventurers favorite adventures, so it was time Baby Anne was introduced to the dinosaurs, woolly mammoth, and coral reef aquarium.

To our surprise, this trip turned out to be a first for all of us--the first time we experienced crime on our adventures. My wallet was stolen right out of my diaper bag. Being a trusting person, I at first hoped I had merely dropped the wallet and some Good Samaritan would take it to lost and found. But no, one of our credit cards was used within minutes of its disappearance.

But let's not let a pick-pocket cloud the day too much. After introducing Baby Anne to all the dinosaurs in the Dinosaur Hall, Meg and Clare enjoyed watching the scientist working with this Triceratops' bone in the Fossil Lab.

Clare stuck with the magnifying glass for her discoveries.

Since becoming a mother, Beatrix Potter has become surprisingly important to me. I have always loved her artwork and knew I wanted to incorporate it into our nursery. Weeks after finding out I was pregnant with Meg, my mom began to knit a beautiful afghan inspired by Beatrix Potter's Tom Kitten in which the girls now cuddle up quite often. (They've also been known to wrap each other up in the afghan pretending to be Tom Kitten wrapped up in the Roly Poly Pudding.)

It was Clare who took our love for Beatrix Potter to a whole new level. When she was not quite two, her favorite book became a simplified retelling of Peter Rabbit. She would have me read it over and over. One day she found a copy of The Tale of Benjamin Bunny and brought it to me to read. As she realized it was a continuation of the Peter Rabbit story, her emotions were a mix of joy at having discovered it and dismay that no one had previously told her of its existence.

Inspired by all of this, I added to my own reading the charming Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter. These books are mysteries by Susan Wittig Albert, which have Beatrix Potter as their heroine. I also read Linda Lear's biography of Beatrix Potter entitled Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature. It was with the reading of this book that Beatrix Potter went from a favorite artist and writer to a woman I would want my daughters to emulate in many respects. Prior to writing her children's books, Beatrix Potter used her artistic skills to draw fungi. Her study of fungi led her to develop a theory of germination at odds with the experts of her day. She wrote a paper on the topic that at the time was rejected, but since has been proven correct. Also, while being a daughter of privilege, Beatrix Potter made her own money and used that money to buy farm land and keep the land as working farms. 

Perhaps the thing I admire most about Beatrix Potter is how she dealt with sorrow. Meg and Clare have been begging to watch the movie Miss Potter. I have hesitated because, in the movie, Beatrix Potter's fiance dies and I was afraid it would simply be too sad for them. Yesterday, when they asked why the movie was sad, I explained that she loved a man and they were to be married, but he died of leukemia before they could be married. And then I added, "She was very sad, but do you know what she did? She chose to be happy. She moved to her farm. She worked very hard to make it a really good farm. And eventually she met another man that she also loved and they were married for many, many years." That is a life lesson I very much want my girls to learn. Life will bring you many things that can make you very sad, but you can always choose to be happy. Each day you can choose to do things that you love and things that make you proud. In Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature, there is a story from Beatrix Potter's early life. She battled a long illness and felt herself going into her head a bit too much and succumbing to depression. Her solution was to memorize Shakespeare plays to keep her mind active and fight the depression. I love to see that kind of fight in a woman and I love that my daughters see her as a role model.

I let the girls watch Miss Potter yesterday. Clare fell asleep (still recovering from the time change). Meg followed the movie, but kept running out of the room to collect her art supplies. She found my wooden lap desk and began to set up a work table that resembled Beatrix Potter's work table in the movie. She reiterated that she would be an artist who made books and began discussing how we would publish her book Fairies of the Sweetness Flower. Yes, I feel quite good that Beatrix Potter is one of their role models.