Not really sure what to title this one

My aunt Susan and her darling family visited Washington this week and we got to hang out with them! The kids kept Ethan's attention and pushed his stroller the whole time, so I had such a great time visiting with Sus! It was so fun to see them!

Ethan and I decided to bail out of touring with them early Friday and go home and take a nap. We stopped at the corner of 15th street and Constitution because police officers were blocking the intersection. Then, after several motorcycles and black SUVs drove through, I noticed the flags - one American, one presidential seal - on two large black cars and realized it was the president en route to the White House. As the second car slowed around my corner, I saw President Bush in the back. Though the windows were tinted, I could tell he was looking at me (also because there was no one else in my vicinity). And then he waved. Then I waved. We totally shared a moment! ;-)

I know people who loathe George W. Bush and I know people who adore the guy. I'd have to say I'm somewhere in the middle (I know, what a stance to take, huh?) of those two positions. And I know some of you fellow bloggers see him all the time, so this is nothing to you. But it was pretty awesome for me to see that controversial man so close up.

Uprooted

While I was shopping at Costco today, Ryan called to ask how the weather looked. He was considering hitting some range balls after work.

"It's sunny," I assured him.

I walked out of Costco to clapping thunder and pouring rain. Ryan called to tell me that the power was out at work and all he could see out of the windows of his high-rise office building were black clouds.

Then I happened upon this:




This sizable tree is about 100 yards away from our apartment.

And now we are under a "tornado watch." I've been watching and there is hardly a breeze right now so I'm not too worried.

I'm expecting...

... to get some pool passes soon! ;)

Apparently we were not denied pool privileges because of my tirade regarding pool rules - or because no one wants to see me in a swimsuit (though I wouldn't blame them if that was the case). It seems that my landlady's condo fee didn't go through last month. She assured me all is taken care of now.

If you are confused by this post, read the last part of the previous post.

Family time in C'ville

This weekend, the Roe family visited Charlottesville, the most tree-infested place I have ever been (but I've never been to South America or Hawaii).

This place was cool for a number of reasons, besides the greenery and abundance of people with southern drawls. It is home to the University of Virginia, a school founded by Thomas Jefferson. His beautiful estate, Monticello, is just outside the city. And historic downtown Charlottesville was a really hip little place to eat. Squinting in front of the Rotunda, Jefferson's architectural masterpiece on campus.Ethan climbing the Rotunda steps.Stacking jelly packets at a C'ville eatery.
Cheesing it at the home of our third president.


We asked this guy to take our photo in front of the house and, in typical tourist fashion, he got all of us and none of the house.
The flowers at Monticello were beautiful. Some are believed to be descendants of the flowers Jefferson (or his slaves, sadly) planted.
We left Monticello feeling like we learned a lot about Thomas Jefferson.Here's Ethan at the hotel, somewhere near the swimming pool, though there was no swimming to be had.

We would work on his fear of swimming in a pool but now may not be the time, since we got home from our little vacation this afternoon and found an envelope from our apartment manager containing this:
Could this have something to do with a recent post of mine?

Farewell to a first friend

A year and a half ago, I received a phone call from a complete stranger. The person on the other end of the line said something similar to this:

"Hi, we've never met before, but I heard that you are new in town and I go to your church. I just wanted to know if you need anything. I've been in this area for quite some time and know my way around. Do you need to go anywhere? I'd be glad to take you, or just help you find what you need?"

I was shocked for two reasons: one, no stranger had ever gone out of their way to call me to see if I needed help; and two, I needed help!

How did she know that Ryan and I had driven all over the area looking for the dang Home Depot that Mapquest said would be there, but it wasn't? And how did she know that I was scared to venture out and look for it again, since the only car available at the time was a stick-shift and I had never learned to drive one and I was terrified of driving it in this mixing bowl of freeways and roads? I found out later that she called as part of her job at church (she was on the "new member committee"). But the phone call still meant so much to me.

"Yes, I really do need your help. My little nursery (I was 8 1/2 months prego at the time) is currently a shade of concentration camp gray and I need to paint it. And I can't find Home Depot!" I said to her.

Later that week, the stranger came to pick me up and take me to the darn store that I had driven past probably 10 times. And that's how I met Shane, one of the coolest gals and greatest friends ever.

From throwing me an impromptu birthday party on the ellipse to taking me to the big scary car auction, Shane has been like a big sister to me out here. We love her and her fabulous daughter Emma, the smartest and spunkiest little 2-year-old.

That's why we were devastated by the news that they are moving to ARIZONA! Husband Jason will be working at Arizona State University (congrats Jason), and while we are so happy that they will be close to Shane's family in Tempe, we are going to miss them so much!

Notice a trend?

He really is posing for the camera in this photo below. Hilarious.

Ethan has become quite the poser. The instant I whip out the camera, he tilts his head back, squints his eyes and flashes his newly acquired teeth.

Us Megans and our hair

We go to a nearby park nearly every day and kids always come up to me and Ethan and introduce themselves or demand that we watch them walk up a slide or see what they made in the sandbox.

Yesterday, Ethan and I met Joaquin. He was a very sweaty little boy who spoke some words in English and some words in Spanish. He ran around with a little girl in a dress who couldn't say her R's.

"This is Megan," he introduced us to the little girl.

"Oh wow," I said to her, "Did you know that my name is Megan too?"

"Yes," she replied simply and without hesitation.

I sat for a second, then said, "How?"

"Because I saw your hair."