A few weeks ago we went to the National Book Festival on the Mall, hosted by the Library of Congress. It was a lot of fun. They do a good job of getting interesting authors to give talks and readings. Katie got to see some of her favorite authors including Tad Hills ("How Rocket Learned to Read"), Jane O'Connor ("Fancy Nancy"), and Mac Barnett and Adam Rex ("Chloe and the Lion"). Katie met Mac and Adam the day before at our local bookstore. When they came on stage at the festival, they pointed to her standing in the front row and said, "Hey! We know you!" It was pretty cool. Our daughter's a groupie!
There were several other non-literary entertainers that were also very enjoyable. Several bands performed including Choo Choo Soul, Justin Robert and the Not Ready for Naptime Players, and Jose Louis Orozco who sang fun folk songs in Spanish and English.
There were also several authors that we unexpectedly stumbled upon that we really enjoyed. Jeff Kinney, the author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, gave a very funny presentation on how he came to write the books. He tried to be a comic book writer but couldn't draw well enough. So he thought he wrote the Wimpy Kid book for adults until his agent told him it was really for kids. The book has been translated into 40 languages and he showed some of the translations of the title. In German, it is "Jeff Is Surrounded By Idiots". When he asked why they couldn't just call it "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," he was told that Germans have no word for "wimpy." He also told a story about bringing his two sons to a White House dinner and during the evening they were captured by the White House photographer spanking each other. He said he hasn't been invited back.
Another author that we enjoyed unexpectedly was Kel Gilligan ("Daredevil Stunt Show"). He wore an Evel Knievel inspired daredevil outfit and read from his very funny book about a boy who undertakes some very brave challenges like eating broccoli and going to bed without checking for monsters.
One slightly disappointing author was Jewel. She didn't read from her new children's book nor did she sing. Instead she just fielded questions from adults about her career.
Katie and Peter also got to meet some of their favorite characters like Abby Cadabby and a dinosaur from Dinosaur Train. They also got special dog ears to celebrate Clifford the Big Red Dog's 50th birthday. Not sure if that's in dog years or not.
Last weekend we went to Opera in the Outfield at Nationals Stadium in DC. It's a great event where you can spread a blanket and sit on the outfield grass and watch a live simulcast of the Washington Opera from the Kennedy Center. This year they performed Mozart's Don Giovanni.
We got there early and saw a stage combat demonstration (sword fighting). Then the kids ran around the beautiful outfield grass and loved it. They started with racing each other (and Nancy) and then devolved into wrestling and rolling around. The concession stands were open so we got to eat hot dogs and cheese fries while watching opera. It was a beautiful night for it but unfortunately Peter was way too restless so we ended up leaving after about 45 minutes of the opera (we were there over 3 hours so it was probably time to go anyway). There was a great crowd there. The outfield grass was completely full and several sections of the bleachers were full too.
Katie started a new swimming class last weekend and did great. She swam all the way across the pool and back (with help from a floatation device that looked like a very small boogie board). Then they tossed rings into the water and dove down to pick them up from the bottom. It's amazing how far she's come in the last year. She used to hate sticking her face in the water!
The kids watching Elmo. Even though there's plenty of space on the couch, Peter always likes to sit as close to Katie as possible.
Despite spending several days traveling in the car, Peter can't wait to get back in.
This looks like a scene from a Kubrick film.
Cuddle time
Katie twirls with her friend Ava at her school's ice cream social for the families.
Peter chills in bed watching Mickey Mouse videos.
Peter watching ducks on the Potomac River during a walk with Nancy.
Peter kept pointing to the cow on his shirt and saying "Baaaa!".
Peter listens attentively to an author during the book festival. I believe this was a discussion of Keynesian neo-classic economic theories.
Katie hugs Abby Cadabby. Was it weird that PBS showed up to a book festival with characters from their tv shows?
A dinosaur wanders by with the Smithsonian Castle in the background.
Peter meets the dinosaur but wasn't sure what to say.
Mac Barnett and Adam Rex on stage. When they saw Katie, they pointed to her and said, "Hey, we know you!" (they met her the previous day at our bookstore).
Katie wears her Clifford the Big Red Dog ears.
A sneak peek at Katie's halloween costume (Jasmine from "Aladdin").
Peter and his favorite hat. He wears it everywhere, even to bed.
The sword fighting demonstration at the Opera in the Outfield.
Yum!
Katie runs in the outfield.
Katie races Nancy
Running along the outfield wall
Peter joins in the fun.
Gangnam style?
Standing along the outfield fence.
Mayhem ensues
The outfield was completely full and several sections of the bleachers filled up too by the time the opera started.
First they showed a Bugs Bunny cartoon.
Then the opera started. Poor Katie couldn't understand the singing (in Italian) and couldn't read the subtitles. But she seemed to enjoy the action and the costumes.
The moon decided to make an appearance too on the beautiful night.
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