a fine spring day in Luray

We went to Luray in May one weekend. Mom and Dad came too and we all soaked up the glorious Virginia springtime. 

We walked into town for lunch and on the way back stopped in the Art Warehouse. It's gigantic and filled with pieces for sale by locals. The further into the warehouse you go, the weirder it gets. Amazing! I found a sculpture with little glass vials I'm pretty sure were filled with urine. 

Dad was walking around with me and told me not to leave without him. This was a good suggestion as it turns out, because everyone else went home and left us wandering around that crazy place! I liked it though. 

Kahlil and Mowgli entertained us us with their Flying Dog act.

Then it was straight into act II, Man vs. Dogs. Kahlil won.

Natalie showed us her office. So professional!

We went up to Skyline Drive together. In addition to the setting sun, we saw a mama and baby bear on the side of the road, a raven, and an American redstart, which is a bird. I looked it up on my Audubon app. 

And we got another nice tourist to take our family portrait - ta da!

World's Greatest

We were in New York last weekend to see Luis on his birthday. Luis danced the flamenco and it was beautiful. I didn't get any pictures of that, just trust me. Luis, by the way, is the World's Greatest, in addition to his city.

We stayed at the Conrad in the financial district. We were on the 15th floor, which isn't high for skyscraperville, but I got shaky knees looking down into the lobby from up there. Heights!

It's a fancy hotel. It made me feel like I was living in an iPhone. The lighting was so futuristic.

Scott got a deal on Priceline. Our room even had a little sliver of river/New Jersey view.

It was fun being in that part of town. I never spent much time down there when we were living in the city. 

It has been a construction zone for as long as I've known it. It still is, but it's changed and is all different to me.

I wasn't having a breakdown at the 9/11 memorial. Despite what you may have heard via text message. But the sadness of the place is not lost on me.

We walked uptown Saturday. That's my favorite: walking around seeing what's to see.

And taking selfies, which is everyone's favorite.

That's us in front of our wedding venue! City hall!

I spied beautiful, wild, city greenery all over the place. 

When we got tired of walking, we decided to be brave and rent Citi Bikes. Riding bikes in midtown traffic was splendid and terrifying.

Yes I know, no helmet is dumb.

Bicycle selfie with Empire State Building photo bomb!!

We lived to eat soup dumplings with Luis, and watch the World Cup later. And I got to try Chinese ice tea:

I love New York.

the most wonderful time of the year

Christmas at our house this year! It was a lot of fun and food. 

Pomegranate

Not exactly candid.

Laura with her new best friend.

Christmas tree pecan pie.

Natalie the Dog found her spot.

Christmas morning; most of what's under the tree is hers.

Funny hats! 

This is about right.

Kahlil trying on his gift.

Trying out Scott's new juicer.

There were a lot of juices.

Isla and her Uncle Pancake.

Laura posing Mowgli while he tries his best to nap. Good dog. 

Train set time.

This is to document the full Christmas experience, which included a trip to Urgent Care at 10 PM for Laura's cough/asthma. She got better!

Christmas aftermath.

This is the weird picture Scott made us take with only the "original Stades," and somehow Mowgli the Dog, the newest family member, was also included. Laura correctly protested the entire idea.

The real family Christmas photo. I think we should have mushed together more. But we were TOGETHER and that's what matters.