Country Roads Take Me Home!

In a few short a days I begin my annual trip back to Southern Colorado, where I was born and raised. I don't like being away from my sweet hubby and while I love the east coast, and the D.C. area, life here is a bit hectic and I always look forward to my time at home where things move a little slower. Well, actually things move tremendously slower. But, it is this slow pace that makes me so excited to return each year. Let me show you some of the differences between my home town and Washington D.C. I think you will understand why I still love going "home" so much!

Above traffic in Washington D.C. Below traffic in Sanford, Colorado.

In Colorado we have mountains. Beautiful, amazing mountains.

In Washington D.C. there aren't any mountains, but we do have Capitol Hill. Beautiful, but not quite as impressive.

Although my husband would strongly disagree, in my opinion the San Luis Valley has the best Mexican Food in the world.

In Washington D.C. Mexican Food is lacking but we do have a lot of Kabob Houses.

In Washington D.C. we have the White House.

But, in Colorado we have an OUT HOUSE at my grandparent's cabin. Thanks mom for posing in the window!

In Washington D.C. we have a public transit train called the Metro. You may have heard, it sometimes crashes.

In Colorado we have the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad.

Below is what shopping in Washington D.C. looks like--I think they should change the store name to Temptation's instead.

But, in Colorado about 30 minutes from my hometown is a Wal-Mart. Sorry, but I love Wal-Mart. And I miss it terribly.

In Washington D.C. we have this guy!

But in Colorado we have these guys (my grandpa's) and many more people I love and cherish. Can't wait to see everyone!

Dinosaurland

We took the boys to Winchester, VA this afternoon which is in the Shenandoah River Valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains. While we were there we visited Dinosaurland. It was great fun meeting all of the dinosaurs and for some reason a Cobra and King Kong as well. Go Figure!

Happy 4th from the Capital!

Crazy!

There have been a few things driving me crazy this week, besides the Michael Jackson circus. Don't get me wrong, he was amazing-but with the North Korean's testing Nuclear Weapons every morning do you think there is any way we could just speed up the burial and get on with our lives. I think it is becoming a matter of national security. Although, I am sure the King of Pop is going to put on one amazing show in heaven or hell or wherever he went. He has all the people he needs to make it a success. Just imagine Billy Mays being the pitchman for all the heavenly commercials for MJ's afterlife concert, Ed McMahon being the MC, "HERE'S MICHAEL" and of course Farrah Fawcett will be the sexy GoGo Dancer in her red swimsuit.
But, I digress that's not really my biggest complaint here it is... first, this new prescription drug on the market called "Latisse." Have you seen this advertised? It is a drug that will help you grow thicker and longer lashes. For real? Calling all scientists, can you please focus on something IMPORTANT! You know, like curing cancer, or in Scott's opinion male-pattern baldness-I mean anything but eyelash thickness. How will this new drug effect Obama's new health plan? Will his socialist doctors be able to handle the influx of patients seeking treatment for a less than hearty crop of lashes? Oh me, oh my, I smell a catastrophe in the air.
I am also terribly distressed to hear the news that the people of Minnesota have elected a former member of the Saturday Night Live cast to the United State's Senate-not even a funny member mind you-Al Franken. Can life get any worse for these poor people. Not only do they live in one of the most horrible places in the world, but they are idiots too.
My last complaint is as follows. I spent 45 minutes driving around the parking lot at the mall last week trying to find a parking spot. The ironic thing is that there are twenty spaces reserved right up front by the entrance. They are not reserved for handicapped people or expectant mother's. No, they are reserved for people who drive hybrids. Isn't it idiotic to make the people, like myself, driving gas guzzlers and making huge carbon footprints drive around for nearly an hour while these sweet little PRIUS' get front row parking. If we genuinely cared about the environment wouldn't we do it the other way around-Prius' in the back-trucks and SUV's up front. THINK about it PEOPLE-that's all I am asking.

Claude Moore Colonial Farm

The only thing separating our neighborhood and Langley (CIA Headquarters) is a little patch of land called Claude Moore Colonial Farm. This area is set up to recreate the life of a poor family living on a tenant farm during the Colonial period, 1771 to be exact. I took the boys there last week and was impressed with the questions Atley asked the farm family and the lengths that the actors went to in their attempt to create an authentic experience for their visitors.



The boys initial reaction to the experience was complete shock and horror. Atley got big tears in his eyes when he realized that the people were not wearing shoes. He timidly asked them why and they explained to him that they were too poor to wear shoes in the summer and that they were saving their shoes for winter. He was also surprised to see the children working along side the adults, that of course, was my favorite part.


It was obvious that cotton was not king in northern Virginia during the colonial period, rather tobacco was the cash crop. The above pictures show Atley next to a young tobacco plant (when mature the plant will be more than five feet tall) and the boys in front of the Tobacco house where the tobacco is dried.



This is a typical tenant farmer's home during the colonial period. This one room home housed seven family members. The yearly rent on the farm was 500 lbs. of tobacco. The family was quite concerned that with the unusually large amount of rain we have received this year that they would be unable to have a successful tobacco crop and therefore unable to make rent.


When the family sat down for their mid-day meal Atley began grilling them with questions. Question #1: Where are your neighbors? Reply: Our closest neighbors are about a two hour walk and we have to walk everywhere because we do not own a horse. Question #2: Where do you go to church? Reply: In Falls Church. One member of our family is required by law to attend church at least once per month, but it is a full days walk to attend, so we do not go often. Question #3: Well, if you don't have neighbors and you don't go to church how do you make friends or get married? Reply: HA, HA, HA!

Question #4: Don't you have any mosquito spray for all of these bugs? Reply: They don't bother us too much because we wear long clothes that cover most of our skin. Atley's Reply: Wow, I'm sure glad I have enough money to buy bug spray so I can wear shorts and not those crazy clothes you're wearing. By the way, Nash was out of commission for the interviewing process because he was whacked in the head by a cast iron skillet while chasing the chickens as the family members were bringing food to the table.


Growing up in such a rural area I never dreamed I would actually pay money for my own children to see a farm, but it was a learning experience for all of us and I am coming to terms with the fact that my children are city slickers. Even more importantly I gained much more gratitude for the blessing of living in modern times.

FLORIDA

We just got back from four fun days in Florida (say that three times fast). Here are some pictures of our adventures.


After we arrived we went to Downtown Disney and had dinner with Scott's brother Todd and his family at the Rainforest Cafe. After dinner we explored Downtown Disney for awhile and discovered a Dinosaur themed restaurant. The boys had a great time checking out all of the dinos. Notice Atley's expression in the picture. He is a little nervous about taking his eyes off the looming dinosaurs to smile for the camera.

The following day we took the boys to Disney World. Amazingly, but not surprising their favorite part was the Monorail. I guess we should have saved our money and just rode the monorail outside the park.


There were only two rides that Nash wasn't able to ride, Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain Railroad. I took Atley on Splash Mountain and when we received our photo at the end of the ride he says, "Wow, mom you look really happy and I look really scared." Atley got to drive the Jungle Cruise which was really exciting, especially when he tried to turn it around because he was afraid of the crumbling Chinese temple in front of us. The longest wait was for DUMBO 40 minutes for a 45 second ride. The race cars were also a big hit,as were the spouts of water at Ariel's Grotto. Considering that it was 97 degrees outside with a heat index of 110, Atley laid on the spouts and let them shoot into his armpits.










We never intended or imagined that the boys would make it an entire day but here we are 12 hours after arriving waiting for the Electric Light Parade and they were still happy and excited to be there.

After another night in Orlando we drove to Daytona Beach to meet the rest of the Butler's. We spent the remainder of our time at the Beach or in the pool at the resort.