VA Beach!

Check out that giant chair! It's one of the many things we enjoyed at Portsmouth, VA's awesome children's museum last week when we visited my in-laws for a few precious days of R&R. The girls LOVED this place, and once my father-in-law discovered the wall where you can push your impression through from the other side, we were all in stitches entertaining one another.

This is a VERY rare picture of Evelyn. She is ASLEEP. In the CAR. During the DAY. I think building the Greek Parthenon out of blocks at the museum pretty much sucked the life out of her. (It couldn't have been playing on the playground afterwards or walking the 18th century neighborhoods of Portsmouth while Alan and I drooled over architecture...)

The next day was BEACH DAY! Alan played 9 holes, the girls jumped waves until they were shivering and blue-lipped, and I was SO proud of myself for re-applying sun-screen on the girls AND me!

My in-laws joined us for dinner al fresco overlooking the ocean (and eating hush-puppies, one of our favorite beach delicacies), after which we toodled around the boardwalk in this very environmentally-friendly, sassy little cycling number, topping it all off with some kiddie rides. (You'd think Evelyn would have fallen asleep in the car after beach day. But no.)

And a visit to my in-laws' is never complete without an evening of cards and ridiculous laughter, which I am happy to report we succeeded in enjoying. How is it that we can all KNOW my father-in-law is GOING to try to "run 'em" in hearts, but he still manages to get away with it? Uncanny. And very entertaining.

Finally, the girls have found something new to love about Grandma and Grandpa Blackman's house--it is located in a quiet, flat neighborhood where lots of people walk their dogs. It is PERFECT if you are five or six and you love to ride your scooter, pet dogs, and make conversation with strangers. It's the South, and everyone is very friendly. :)

Thank you, Mom and Dad Blackman, for a lovely time together!