Naked Chefs

I think it was Harry S. Truman who first said, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the clothing!"

Loretta's Big Day Out With Papa

Sometimes a girl just needs some time alone to have fun and bond with her Papa.

Getting all cleaned up to go out.
"Papa, look at that lady snapping pictures of us!"
Loretta in front of the Smithsonian Castle where she and Todd took in the Jim Henson exhibit at the Ripley Center.
"Ha ha! I'm touching everything!"

"I'm Carnac the Magnificent!"

Traveling Back In Time

The most fun activity we did this summer was attending the Maryland Renaissance Fair. It was a really big hit, not just for the kids, but for us as well. It's a community set deep in the woods near Annapolis with semi-permanent buildings. It was really a trip. Great food, great entertainment, great eccentrics.

"Hail and well met, m'lord!"

Up close and personal with a knight.

Uncle Tom gives a boost.

How can you beat free pony rides???? Answer: you can't! We got in line twice!

There was real jousting!

I think everyone's favorite carnival game was the "Dunk-A-Wench Booth." God's bread, that wench was clever with her taunts to the throwers!

A Relaxing Nook

Importing Pfeiffers

Now that Uncle Kurt has moved to town, there's plenty of fun to be had! Kurt has moved to DC to help us run the hardware store. He has been beyond helpful with the store and with the kids. We are so lucky to have him here. And it goes without saying that the kids adore him.

He sure knows his way around a dinosaur puppet.

And he makes a great landing pad.

School Daze

September brought with it the first day of school! Henry was thrilled to return to ALG and see all his old friends.

Loretta is psyched to go every morning, too. I wish they could both go, but she's not old enough, plus she'd probably take over the place and have the other children do her bidding.

Here's a photo album the school sent out of some cooking they did last week.

http://picasaweb.google.com/CElkins123/FriedGreenTomatoes?authkey=zvP_Gk9foNQ#

One Morning In Mt. Pleasant, DC

Here's a slice of our lives: how we spent one rainy morning in Mt. Pleasant.

When we woke up to rain, the kids were delighted to go out and splash in it.

Then we headed to the plaza at the top of our street where Henry was placed in Kid Jail. (a favorite pastime)

Next we walked up to the hardware store to visit Papa and play with his toys.

Chains!

Papa sure must have fun all day in this playland!

And then a quick stop to run through and watch the laundry in the laundromat next door.

They have tasty candy machines!

And back to the plaza to play with friends. (Loretta and Siena)

Phew!

Summertime Slurp!

Loretta Lou Hoo multitasking at the Zoo.

Slurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp!

What could be more delicious than a hot dog from a vending machine?!

The favorite part of the National Zoo for my kids -- the pump where you wash your hands before and after petting the animals.

Seven Year Itch Begins!

Todd and I took a fun dinner cruise on the Potomac to celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary.

Now what are you up to, Todd Pfeiffer?

The romance is still alive.

Dirt Devils

Henry delights in the dirt at Rock Creek Park.

Monkey see, monkey do.

In concert.

I am so outta' here.

You Can't Keep A Good Man Down

At the end of July, my father had knee replacement surgery.

That didn't keep him out of his garden, though. He is still very much on the mend. Recovery has not gone well and he developed a very serious Staph infection and had to have an emergency surgery. Currently, forty-days after his surgery, he is living at a Rehabilatation Clinic to finish his recovery. If you'd like to e-mail him good wishes and positive thoughts, his address is dino1939@hotmail.com

Here is my mother (my dad's round-the-clock nursemaid and an absolute saint) with the gruesome twosome.