A bit worn out, but otherwise well and happy...

OK, so I took this spinning class on Wednesday afternoon after my parents went home.

Right now there are probably several of you getting all excited, but was not THAT kind of spinning class, the kind where you sit calmly and quietly and watch a spinning wheel turn fluff into yarn (at least this is how I picture it--I've never done it, so really I don't know).  No, ma'am, THIS kind of spinning class is the kind where you watch a spinning wheel through all the sweat that is turning your mascara into a black puddle, and the only reason it is quiet is because you stopped breathing about 10 minutes into it.

Spinning.  That is the REAL reason I have been too sore to type, too tired to figure out where I took those pictures, and way too braindead to attempt to write anything clever.  If losing weight is going to involve spinning and giving up chocolate, is it better to just stay fat?  This is a question I'm going to have to ponder over a pint of Phish Food over the weekend while I stage a 2-day sit-in in my big comfy chair.

Also, the fact that you may have to pry me with a crane from my comfy chair this weekend can partially be blamed on my parents, who spent a week dragging us from one educational venue to another visiting. 

Aren't they cute?  We like to call Mom Better-Than-Barbie-Tammy, because she is the only person we know who can actually look cute in pink bermuda shorts.  But Mom and Dad, you are OLD.  Doesn't that mean you are supposed to be at least as lazy as I am?  I'm like a newborn, you know. I have a very delicate routine.  And this routine is supposed to involve coming home from work and, well, staying in a comfy chair until I'm pried out of it with a crane.  Apparently, you didn't get the memo.

No, really, we've had a lot of fun with all this go-go-going, and we've seen parts of Virginia that we've been putting off seeing until we could get some real tourists here (as opposed to tourists who preferred shopping to historical sites). 

We saw Natural Bridge, which is tall.  Very tall. 

Mom says it doesn't quite compare to the Utah Arches, another tall place I haven't yet been.  Arches might be big, but they aren't big and green.  Totally different geological tourist trap entirely.

Did I mention that Natural Bridge is very tall?

We also met a Monacan basketweaver at a Monacan Indian Village...

and then spent 20 minutes trying to convince Matthew that it isn't traditionally acceptable to go camping in the Monacan visitor's hut.

We saw the lace falls, which Mom informs us are much smaller than most the falls in Idaho.  Our falls, though, come with lots of trees.  Totally different body of water entirely.

(Don't you always just love to see those nice family pictures with the sweet little children as they, well, groom their facial orifaces?!  Between Ryan and Matthew, I am starting to lose hope of getting a decent family picture.)

We also did some hiking around by the Blue Ridge Parkway, in a place where we discovered that Matthew has an irrational fear of big rocks.

We caught this little pet...

...and then let it go again, because we would not be good caterpillar parents.  Our knowledge of caterpillars is limited to the fact that, when hungry, they will eat a piece of cake, an ice cream cone, a pickle, a slice of swiss cheese, a lollipop, a piece of pie...

We went to the Museum of the Confederacy and the old Southern White House in Richmond, where we were all in agreement that Mrs. Davis had much better decorating taste than Mrs. Washington.  Still, all that Southern charm is not enough to convince me that fighting that war was worth having to eat like a Confederate soldier every night!

We stayed in the fancy schmancy Boars Head Inn in Charlottesville, yet another place we would have never gone without real tourists (thanks Mom and Dad!), where we really had to talk ourselves into leaving the premises each morning.  Could you blame us?

And then, of course, we had to take the farm boys to see farm stuff.

Old mills...

Defunct Great-Grandpas of Tractors...

...that sort of thing.  Boy stuff.

And then there was some shopping, and a whole lot of eating out, and just a lot of fun in general.  It was so fun to have my parents here (and they didn't even say one thing about my dirty kitchen, hooray!).  Even though they wear us out, we really didn't want to let them go home!  Here is one final picture from the morning they left.  (Just so you know I'm not playing favorites, I also took one of my mom, but she informed me that she would not really appreciate being on my blog without her lipstick on.  Like I said, Better-Than-Barbie Tammy...)

Right after this picture, Grandma and Grandpa asked for a goodbye hug.  Matthew responded by crawling under the table and refusing to come out.

"No, stay here."

My feelings exactly.  Couldn't you just buy a little horse farm out here or something?  That would be great.  We loved having you here and we'll miss you!  Thanks for coming!

Comments

[Kara]

Your family is darling. Looks like you had an amazing time!

[Stephanie]

That is your mother?

What a beautiful family! What fun! :)

[Sin City Spuds]

Oooh, I hate spinning classes! I think they're meant for people with much more supportive sports bras. Plus I could never get the hang of moving my legs that fast and balancing and slowing down quickly and everything. Good luck!

[Erin]

Spooky...I went to my first spinning class this week! I am a little worried now that I won't be able to have children.

Looks like you had a great time with your parents. And your Mom does look fab in pink bermuda shorts. Lucky lady!

[Mike Tripp]

I have really been enjoying this journal ... Well done!

I can so respect the energy of parents and you know what ... I broke my leg under that water wheel at the Cyrus McCormick Homestead. (Broke it doing a visit from my parents, none-the-less.)

Even so, it remains one of my favorite spots.

--Mike T.

[Traci Sue]

While at Natural Bridge, did you happen to see a little boy, about eight years old dressed as a Native inside the hut? He is my son and they let him give tours of it when he is there.