VA/D.C Day #1

Well our first full day was great. After being picked up at the airport last night, we got a small tour on the way to the house. We landed in Baltimore, MA, and drove to a town in VA where we are staying. Today we woke up early (after sleeping on an amazingly comfortable bed! No joke..) and went to the door to peek and see if anyone else was up yet. Well, someone was waiting outside our door just staring at it =) Caleb promptly grabbed him up in a hug and the fun began. Next, the two girls came down the stairs to greet us. We were forced to wake up quickly because the kids were talking super fast and in order for it to seem like we knew what they were talking about we had to listen really carefully. They were super excited to see us and we were excited to see them! After the two older ones were taken to school, we got ready, had some coffee (caffeine = a "must-have" of life), and were out the door on an adventure. D.C. is only a few miles away so it didn't take us too long to get there. We drove around for a while, getting the tour of the buildings from Caleb's cousin, and then got out to walk to a near by park that had a great view of the White House and Washington Monument. **Let me just add a note that it was 55 degrees and sunny here all day! It felt so amazing to not be freezing!** Next was lunch, and we ate at this neat Tex-Mex place. I got double stuffed Chorizo and Caleb got some burger with bacon, an egg, and the works. It was yummy. After that we went to the Jefferson Memorial, which was huge, and really really cool. The wee one who was with us especially loved the geese who were swimming and waddling around, and the chains being used as a fence - she was quite amusing to say the least.

When we went to get the kids from school, their energy levels were up and they were talking a mile a minute. We came back to the house, did some bowling on the wii (-the most competitive person being a five year old boy.. haha-), and got ready for dinner. Dinner was served at Caleb's-cousin's-husband's-parent's and was delicious. They also had more family fly in tonight, so it was cool to meet everyone and have dinner together. The most interesting part was listening to them speak to each other in Albanian. We were the only two there who don't know the language -yes, even the kids know it!- so we sat back at times just to take it in. I almost think sometimes its better not to understand the language around you, because then you're forced to pick up other language. The body language, facial expressions, and reactions in general were great to watch. And the exchanges between the kids and their grandparents when they spoke to each other in Albanian was astounding - joyous squeals, grins accompanied by giggles that made their eye squint together, and the laughs of the adults - all those things made it worth so much more than it may have been had I understood what was being said. Everyone was happy, everyone was having fun, and everyone knew that, regardless if we knew what was being verbally spoken.

Another interesting thing was how smart these three kids are. I've noticed every time I'm around them how just plain bright they are. On the way home tonight the two older kids and I got in a discussion about how American English is a hard language because things aren't spelled the way the sound. They then went on to give me words that they thought should be spelled differently, how they thought they should be spelled, and why. It was crazy. It was also very neat to hear what they're doing in school. And their reading levels - wow! This kindergartener can read so well. I observed in a kindergarten class last spring in Michigan and the kids there seem so much less advanced. I don't know if its because of the state they live in, private vs. public school, or the education of the parents, but there is definitely a difference.

Anyway, I'll post some pictures below of what we did today. Plan for tomorrow: most likely spend some energy in a nearby park, and then help with a ninja themed birthday party. Fun fun! This is a fast-paced place, good thing we're used to it!