Daddy/Daughter Weekend Day 2

Sometimes, I get lucky and things come together by random chance and good moods. This was one of those lucky days.

Today was clear, crisp, and sunny: a perfect outside day. After breakfast - spent sitting at the table reading the Sunday Washington Post (with Geek Girl reading the kid's pages and stealing the comics from me when I wasn't looking) - Geek Girl and I decided to go to the National Zoo to introduce Wholegrain The New Kitty Santa Brought to Tai Shan and the tigers. We walked to the Metro to maximize sun time and chatted the whole way. Much of the walk was taken up with a very complex story involving the Animal Agents (superhero animals that save the day in myriad ways) that I won't try to repeat here.

Geek Girl kept wanting to know how many "points" she was earning -- she gets 100 points for every mile she walks, and the points are redeemable for whatever treats Mama Geek and I deem appropriate. She sometimes plays along with this, but often you can detect the eye rolling already underway. Today, she played along.

Geek Girl Magic Moment #1: "Daddy, I'm glad Mama and [Auntie Geek] are having fun. Mama takes care of me a lot. You don't get to take care of me very often because you have to work. We should have more days like today."

Once at the zoo, we walked through the Asia Trail, stopping along the way to see the fishing cats and watch the otters wrestle. Geek Girl read and asked about all the interpretive signs, and eventually we reached Tai Shan the panda, who was lunching on bamboo and soaking up the sun. Geek Girl "gave him a letter saying Happy New Year" (I just repeat it; I don't explain it) and then announced it was lunchtime. After a quick stop, we headed on down the hill, stopping in the Small Mammals building and the Reptiles building and for extended visits to the elephants, tigers, and lions.

Geek Girl Magic Moment #2 was the extended joyous amazement I felt while watching the flashbulbs of learning going off in her mind as Geek Girl alternated between intense reading of the interpretive signs and questions to me about various aspects of what she was seeing. "Daddy, what would you do if there was an elephant soooo big it could jump over the railing and walk around? Or soooo small it could duck under the electric fence and walk around?" "Daddy, what does 'om-ni-vor-ous' mean?" "Daddy, I learned that a woman's ov-i-duc-ts and a lizard's don't go to the same place. And *you* don't have o-vi-duc-ts! And what is a u-ter-us anyway?" (This exchange was particularly funny as there was a grandmotherly lady standing there reading the same sign and trying not to laugh, especially about me being informed I lack Fallopian tubes.) "Wow, that tiger sure looks hungry. I hope it doesn't swim across the moat and climb up here. You know, tigers are really good swimmers, Daddy." "Daddy, what would you do if the tiger came to get us? I think I'd have to fight it. I'm a Super Dragon, you know." "Daddy, that donkey was sooooo soft and fuzzy!" At one point, a random dad we had repeatedly run into said, "Wow, that sure is a little girl with one big personality!" That about sums it up.

We left the zoo only because it was closing and only after promises to return soon to see all the other stuff we didn't see, and walked up the hill into Adams Morgan where we found a small playground for Geek Girl to enjoy as the sun set. Next stop: coffee (for me), hot chocolate (her), and small snacks (both of us) while we warmed up, and then a walk to the Dupont Circle metro.

As we left the coffee place: "Daddy, tell me another Little People story! It's been sooooo long since you told me one." [For those who don't know: the Little People are really small people who live in our apartment and go on adventures around it, experiencing everyday objects as huge mountains, lakes, vines, fields, etc. Each story has a mystery Geek Girl has to solve, like the time the Little People visited the Cave Monster (my tongue as I snored with my mouth open) under Two-Cave Mountain (my big schnoz). The Little People first appeared when Geek Girl was freaked out about a small boogie boarding accident and I needed to calm her down by giving her a puzzle to solve. They've been a hit ever since. Desperate fathers take note: some spur-of-the-moment things are winners, but be prepared for them to last.] This time, the Little People went on a three-day journey from Geek Girl's bedroom, through her bathroom, and to the bananas on our counter for the Festival of the Yellow Tubes. This story carried us all the way back to East Falls Church, and then we walked home with Geek Girl talking about the different types of dragons and various other Animal Agents.

We stopped off for dinner at a local place where Geek Girl Magic Moment #3 happened: spontaneous consumption of vegetable matter. In mid-sentence, she looked down at her plate and said with immense seriousness: "I'm going to eat one of those carrots. Super Dragons don't usually eat carrots, 'cause we're predators, but I'm going to eat you, Mr. Carrot." And she did. I asked her to eat another one, and this time the response was: "Super Dragons don't usually eat carrots, but sometimes they will if their Daddies tell them to." "Good, sweetie, now finish that one, please."

We rounded out the day with a game of Monopoly, Jr. and a book before Geek Girl headed to bed. She fell asleep almost instantly and is now happily snoring away, which is hardly surprising when you consider that she earned about 600 points today and probably asked just as many questions along the way.

Daddy/Daughter Weekend Day 1

Auntie Geek is visiting us for a couple of weeks, and she and Mama Geek are off on a sister's trip to New York this weekend. That means Geek Girl and I are on our own for a Daddy/Daughter Weekend. I've really been looking forward to it, and I didn't realize how much Geek Girl has as well.

Yesterday was grey and damp, but above freezing for the first time in a while. Geek Girl and I drove Mama Geek and Auntie Geek to their bus for New York, and then headed into DC to pass a drizzly day. First stop: the National Building Museum, which we had heard was full of fun things for kids and certainly was full of families when we visited. Unfortunately, Geek Girl was bored by the activities, which were aimed at younger kids or kids more interested in buildings and architecture, so after about an hour, we headed off the National Museum of the American Indian, where Mama Geek and Auntie Geek lunched the other day; they highly recommended it.

Geek Girl Magic Moment #1 came on the way into the museum, when she spontaneously grabbed my hand and informed me very seriously of the top five things I do that show her that I love her, including this gem: "You take me to museums and explain things to me, even when I ask a lot of questions." (Have we ever mentioned she's inquisitive? An hourlong visit to a museum can easily involve a dozen or more "Daddy, why...?/Well, sweetie,..." exchanges.)

Geek Girl enjoyed her chicken fingers while I ate venison with greens and cornbread (yum!), and afterward, Geek Girl led us on a tour of one of the galleries. She was interested in the different interpretations of the universe that were held by the different cultures, and especially in the loop of videos showing traditional stories on stars and constellations. We also enjoyed some music and a little talking time before deciding to head home via Dairy Godmother in Alexandria (highly recommended). We had a low-key dinner and read books together before bedtime.

Geek Girl Magic Moment #2 came when she cuddled up with me on the couch, put her head on my shoulder, and said very seriously: "Daddy, I really love it when you read me bedtime books even when you're tired." A very nice way to end the day.

Waiting for relief

Actually, it's not that bad. Now last night, when Girl Geek was literally bouncing off the walls and saying "I'm not tired, I'm not tired", that's when I needed relief. But the end is in sight I hope.

Daddy Geek and Auntie Geek have both landed. Daddy Geek is at Dulles waiting for his big suitcase. Normally he avoids checking a bag, but since I insisted he be a gift courier, he brought the big suitcase. Auntie Geek is at National waiting for a taxi. Since the airport metro station is closed, the demand for taxis is a little higher than normal.

Girl Geek is in the bathtub, warming up after playing in the snow. After writing messages in the snow (with her gloves) and making a couple of snow angels, we ended up at a nearby parking lot. We built a volanco and some dinosaur nests. It was just like playing with sand, except that it was cold and wet. When we wandered over to the basketball court we found that someone else had built an igloo.

School has been cancelled for tomorrow, but we don't know if Daddy Geek will be going in or not.

Snow & Cookies

Daddy Geek left on Saturday morning and Sunday morning Geek Girl and I woke up with colds. Geek Girl has been well enough to go to school and I've been suffering from sinus congestion, but we're okay. Auntie Geek was supposed to arrive in the wee hours of this morning, but there's this little snowstorm here that has canceled flights and things.

They joke around here is that anytime snow is predicted there is a run on bread, milk, and toilet paper at the grocery store. I was at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's yesterday morning and it wasn't too bad, but I'm sure it got worse as the day went on. I was stocking up on yummy things to eat with Auntie Geek (oh well) and baking supplies.

So, Geek Girl and I have been doing some Christmas baking. Check out these cute reindeer cookies.


Geek Girl wanted me to say that the cookies look yummy.

I'm trying to take it easy and being very careful to wash my hands frequently and not cough in the direction of the dough and baked products.

Here are some pictures of the snow on our balcony. Daddy Geek told me I should take Girl Geek out and I'll probably regret not doing so due to hyperactivity, but I don't feel like dealing with sopping wet child by myself.

An appropriate saying on our balcony door.


And a shot of the door from the floor.


Depending on how quickly the school bus routes get dug out there may or may not be school on Monday. And who has school the week of Christmas anyways? Virginia does because they don't start until after Labor Day.

Daddy Geek and Auntie Geek are both scheduled to arrive tomorrow afternoon (at different airports). Daddy Geek was planning to taxi home anyways. I'd like to pick up Auntie Geek, but I'm not sure if I should really be out on the roads. Right now the above ground metro stations are closed, including the one at National Airport, but hopefully it will be open tomorrow.

Checkers

Geek Girl and I have a cold this week and since we were out yesterday, we ended up at Wendy's for dinner. Geek Girl's toy was a travel checkers set. I've been too tired to play her, but she's been willing to play her right hand "Rightie" against her left hand "Leftie". Last night Rightie won, and today Leftie won (or the other way around). It's kind of cool that she's patient enough to finish a checkers game now.

Our little tree

It's been a busy week with classes, playdates, dinners, and a birthday party. So busy we kind of forgot to bathe Geek Girl. Oops.

Anyways, somewhere in there we found time to set up the tree. Our challenge? How to get a Christmas tree home in a two-door car? Solution: small tree on top of the TV stand. (We don't have a TV anyways).

Here's our cute little tree (and of course cute Geek Girl).


This morning Daddy Geek was going to take a taxi for his annual trip to his San Francisco conference. However, the taxi arrived earlier than scheduled and then took off because Daddy Geek was busy getting ready rather than answering his mobile phone. Fortunately I was up, so I woke Geek Girl up and we drove Daddy Geek to the airport and watched the sun rise on our way home.

So now Geek Girl and I are on our own for over a week. But Auntie Geek will be here in a week!

Cool Field Trip

Geek Girl came home today with a permission slip for a field trip in January. Her class is just going on a field trip to The Capitol. How cool is that? Hmmmm... maybe I need to email the lead room parent to see if they need any more chaperones... Or Auntie Geek and I will have to go by ourselves while she's here.

Edited to add: Woohoo! I am officially a chaperone for the field trip.

Here comes the snow...

This weekend the area had its first snow. Saturday morning started with rain which turned into snow. Here is the snow curl that formed on our balcony.


And here is the view of the neighboring area from our balcony.


Saturday night we had our first raclette of the season and unfortunately the snow kept away some of our guests, but we still had fun. Hmmmmmm... raclette.

On Sunday morning there was blue sky, so we headed to the C&O canal to go for a snow walk.


Geek Girl had fun making fox prints with her new snow boots. Thanks Nai Nai!


And Daddy Geek and Geek Girl made me a snowheart.


We also ran into a bunch of feeding ducks. One of them was not like the others. This guy had a blue beak. Daddy Geek tells me it's a pintail duck.


And the male mallards had the brightest green we've ever seen on ducks.


However, it was starting to get colder and some of us were getting hungry, so it was time to turn around and head back to the car.


Note: edited to fix type and add pintail duck

Art on the Walls

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend. For Turkey Day itself, we went over to my cousin's for the main meal and it was great fun for Geek Girl to play with the girls and neighbor boy and we had fun meeting cousin's friends.

On Friday, we sent Geek Girl to art camp. She likes art, we would have six hours without her, what can go wrong? Well, someone forgot to open up the community center on time, but we were able to clean out the front room and she created three works of art.

And so finally, after living here almost eight months, we finally have art on the walls. Here is Geek Girl's latest creation. A Sophie Harding inspired giraffe.


And Ansel Adams flanked by a couple of Uncle K prints.


On Sunday, Geek Girl woke up early and it was a clear day so we decided to head down to the Mall and go up the Washington Monument. Daddy Geek dropped me off at 8:30 am and the earliest we could get tickets was for 11:30 am. So we headed down to Gravelly Point to watch planes land. Hopefully Daddy Geek will post the video soon.

We also had the opportunity to walk *in* the reflecting pond as we were waiting for our ticket time.


It was a nice Thanksgiving weekend, but I wish it had been earlier so we would have more time to get ready for Christmas.

note: Edited to change nine months to eight months. Apparently I can't count these days. I have confirmed that I can still do simple derivatives, but unfortunately my integration is not as quick as it used to be.

Hysterically funny hysteria

Via this post on this epic thread on reddit, I have just come across one of the funniest Web sites I've ever seen seen. Mama Geek and I spent several minutes laughing and giggling hysterically. Highly recommended.

Thanks, pigferret!

Clothes Organization

Most of Geek Girl's clothes hangers are the pink, orange, green, and blue ones from IKEA. She's been running low on hangers so I picked up some white hangers from Target yesterday. Last night when I went into her closet, I found that she had taken her white shirts off of the colored hangers and put them on the white hangers.

Have I mentioned that Daddy Geek's shirts are grouped by color? My clothes are lucky if they stay on a hanger.