Charlottesville, VA 2015

We make a pilgrimage to Charlottesville about every other year, because we love it there. This year, since Kevin was giving a reading there, we invited EVERYONE WE KNOW. A lot of people actually came, and we had lots of fun, and we have now started a new tradition: Clou-a-rama! So the plan is that every year we can pick a location and date and get together! Like when you get invited to an out-of-town wedding and you go, because it's important. Prioritizing our friends is important! By changing the location and time of year it is more (or less) convenient to different people so it doesn't run up against the exact same problem for the same people repeatedly.

Our first picture in front of the place we met as a family of 4!

We arrived on Wednesday and went to the Christian's Pizza on Route 29. I'd only ever been to the one on the Downtown Mall but the one on Route 29 was just as delicious.

Kevin letting Miranda chew all the straws at Christian's Pizza

After we settled in at the little house we rented, we went over to Kevin's  reading at Virginia Festival of the Book. Unfortunately, because the kids were being disruptive I had to leave while Kevin was reading.  I passed Walsh on the way out.

We couldn't fit the double-stroller with all our luggage so I let James sit in the stroller and I carried Miranda in the baby sling. I told James that we left because he and Miranda were being bad, and he said, "No, Miranda was being bad. I was being good. Don't be silly mama." I thought that was funny so I didn't argue the point.

I got snacks and drinks for the kids and we sat around for snacktime for a little while, and then I went over to the chalkboard because I remembered he loved it on our last visit. This is what he wrote:

"JAMES MAMA bad Miranda"

I was thinking I was a pretty awesome mom managing both of the cranky kids on my own when James started chalking some guys shoes. So then I took him for a huge chocolate chip cookie at Mudhouse for dinner. While we were chomping away, we discussed such philosophical questions as whether he thought he would exist if Mama hadn't met Dada at Mudhouse (he guessed no) and whether sharing a giant cookie was better than hogging it (he wasn't too sure). Luckily then Kevin met up with us, and we had dumplings and noodles from Lucca for dessert I guess.

Best. parenting. ever.

Thursday morning Kevin went hiking and picked up sandwiches at Bellair Market for us on the way back. It's all about the "Jeffersonian."

Sunrise from the Turk Gap trail.

We got a babysitter for the evening and met Brady for dinner at Continental. Brady suggested the tuna and yum! I also had margaritas which led... obviously... to lots of inappropriate conversation. After dinner I went back, and Kevin and Brady at Courts Square.

Brady and the tuna!

Romantic night out with Brady!

Friday! Kevin felt kind of violently ill, but he had to give a talk to the Classics Department and then he had lunch with some professors. I was supposed to meet up with Cathy but she got into town late so while Walsh and Brady went to the Paramount Theater to watch the UVA game, I made Kevin come with me and the kids to the Discovery Museum. Sorry, Kevin. Also, thank you!

Besties at the Discovery Museum

 

Air ball!

 

Genius baby.

 

Little tykes on the prairie

 

Wheeling and dealing

Oh yeah, then we had ice cream for dinner. James loves Charlottesville! Oh don't worry I fed them mac n' cheese for dessert so it's all good.

James's first clue that his mother is pretending to be an adult

Then at dinner he went back out for some sexy Virginia Book Festival literary event. Then he went straight to sleep. Luckily, Michele and Brandon came over our little house, and we opened the wine the owner left for us and we had more fun sexy times.

Picture actually from Saturday night but cute.

Saturday was the big day! Some of us went out for breakfast at Blue Grass Grill for Cory's birthday.

   

Birthday boy Cory, me, Miranda, and Robin

Brady and Kevin

For lunch we went to Citizen Burger Bar mostly because we heard they'd have the TVs on the basketball. All of Charlottesville was really crowded because of the book festival and a race that morning. We fit four adults and 6 kids into an 8-person booth, and 6 very uncomfortable adults into a 6-person booth (I failed to get a picture of them but they didn't look so happy anyway).

Miranda, me, James, Cathy, and Kennedy in the 8-person booth

Leo, Madison, Jack, Jen, and Rob in the 8-person booth

Then Cathy, Jenny and I took most of the kids for more ice cream. I'm pretty sure the kids enjoyed Clou-a-rama as much or more than the adults.

Cathy picked up a hitchhiker (Kennedy and James)

James, Madison, Jen, Leo, Cathy, and Kennedy at Sweet Frog 

Michele, Brandon, Kevin, and Miranda met us there.

Kevin and Miranda went back to the house for a nap, and I took James to Meade Park. We got a babysitter. Then 8 of us went to Mas for dinner. Mas doesn't take reservations and it was really busy even though it was early. We figured everywhere had a long wait though based on our experiences that day so we just started drinking and hilarity ensued.

Before picture: Brandon, Michele, Janice, Darren, Jaime, me, Brady, Walsh

Eventually, Janice and Darren had to give up, but they were there for some of the best of it anyway. We were seated, we ate a lot, we drank some more, and here's our after picture- note that Janice and Darren turned into Kevin, Robin, and Cory. Also, Jaime saved my life by suggesting we quit while we were ahead. Actually, I was way ahead!

 

After picture: Kevin, me, Jaime, Michele, Brandon, Walsh, Brady, Robin, and Cory

Sunday we regrouped at Mas for some coffee and snacking. James played a little made-up-chess with a little girl he met. Charlottesville is cerebral like that.

Snuggling with Jaime at Mas

 

Cory and James are besties

I've never seen the pieces move like that- it's like they're chess wizards. Ha.

Michele and Brandon went off for a fun day of hiking and wine tasting (I should have gone with them!) While the UVAers went to Champions to watch the UVA game. The extremely devastating UVA game. Extremely. On the plus side, the food truck outside was selling delicious BBQ, so there's that.

Brady, James, Kevin, Miranda, me (photo by Walsh?)

Cory, Robin, and Miranda

We thought we'd drive home after that, but Miranda had other thoughts. After a lot of screaming we decided we should stop in Arlington and tire her out. Janice and Darren gladly obliged. Jaime came over too and we took the kids to the park briefly. They were actually happier chasing Fudgie around the house than at the park anyway. After a big pizza dinner, we finally headed home. 

 

Janice welcoming the trouble-maker

At the park

 

Dancing disco together.

"NONE SHALL PASS!"

Let's do again next year! Where to? You're invited! Clou-a-rama!

• Charlottesville, May 2013
• Charlottesville, April 2012

WWFTC Reading at VA Festival of the Book 2015

Kevin read at the Virginia Festival of the Book last week. His read with Clifford Garstang (editor, Everywhere Stories: Short Fiction From a Small Planet) during a panel called "Short Stories: Great Fiction in Small Bites" at New Dominion Bookshop.

Kevin all set before the reading

The reading was upstairs.

Kevin read the title story and the reading went really well. He had a good rhythm and the crowd understood and liked the story. Kevin had some different answers to the questions this time.

Or so I'm told. I couldn't stay to the end because the kids were being kind of disruptive. The reading space was weird because it was upstairs and pretty narrow. There was some seating downstairs, which is where I had to park it because I had Miranda in the stroller. This turned out to be somewhat fortuitous as I could escape with bothering too many people.

James entertaining himself by reading some kids books

Miranda napping at the reading

[Not pictured: James whining, Miranda tearing all the books off the shelves.]

After the reading. (Photo by Pat Jarrett, VFH staff)

Charlottesville, VA 2013

Since we were already so far south visiting Michele, Kevin and I did our pilgrimage to Charlottesville on Thursday. We love Charlottesville because we met here, it's warm and pleasant, it's green and full of trees and mountains, and it's the home of UVA which we love just as much, just to name a few reasons.

On UVA grounds

We went a little over a year ago, and we did pretty much the exact same things this time. It's pretty much our Cville greatest hits. Kevin went hiking during James's naptime, which made him very happy. The man really loves hiking. Back when we were dating I used to go and even kind of keep up. If he brought me along he usually kept the hike a little easier and I'd do 3-7 miles with him. These days I find the stairs somewhat challenging.

After naptime, we had Belair Market sandwiches- we always get the Jefferson sandwich because it's turkey and cranberry. Then we went to the main UVA grounds because they're beautiful. We took photos there again this year. The first time we took photos there together was in 2008, first for my law school graduation in May, and then we took engagement photos there later in the summer. It's fun to bring James to the place it all began even if he doesn't get yet. Last year we got James a Virginia t-shirt, this year he scored a Virginia shirt and hat.

James is flying I think

James's preferred mode of transportation in the heat

Then we went Downtown. We took a photo in front of Mudhouse Coffee again this year. It's where we met and had our first date in 2006. Their coffee is totally holding up, even after all this time drinking fancy Brooklyn coffee.

We Kevin and I met 7 years ago!

This time when we went by the Freedom of Speech Wall, James was inspired to chalk it up. Apparently, he has a lot of speech he wants to share. Or scribbles. He also felt the need to crowd this little girl out. SHe was pretty close to his age, but he prefers older women of 3 or 4 years old.

Drawing with his new Charlottesville girlfriend

We met up with James W. for dinner at the noodle place on the mall. I had this bright idea to pass some time while we waited for James W. James has been asking about bubbles frequently because he saw some episode of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse that featured bubbles. There's a CVS on the mall so I figured they would have bubbles for kids. Not only did they have bubbles, but they had Mickey Mouse bubbles. James went crazy. He doesn't care at all about Charlottesville, but the bubbles were the highlight of the day for him. It was maybe too exciting actually because I was getting worried that he was going to fall on the brick while chasing the bubbles with wild abandon.

Bubbles!

Little James looks excited to see James W. but is in fact just excited about the bubbles

I always called Marco & Luca Noodle Shop "the dumpling place." That related to the fact that I always just got one order of dumplings there. Since we were making a whole dinner of it we got dumplings and different types of noodles and I have to say the non-spicy noodles are now my favorite. I'm going to have to figure out how to make them because I've been dreaming about them ever since I got home. Kevin, James, and James W. are also big fans. Afterward, we went to Splendora's Gelato, where I was planning to have a gelato to myself, but James immediately helped himself to copious amounts of Mexican chocolate. Yum.

Marco & Luca Noodle Shop


Hello, gelato!

Finally, I let Kevin and James W go get drinks and have a good time without a toddler. But James and I had a good time at the hotel. We watched a little Mickey on my Kindle, blew bubbles inside, and he had a luxurious bath with all the plastic cups the hotel room offered.

Like a little angel watching a video on the Kindle

Our last trip to Charlottesville in April 2012, and our trip to Charlottesville in June 2010. (Michele, this one was a love letter to Charlottesville.)

A Look Back: UVA Law 3L Year 2007-2008

To celebrate the five-year anniversary of my law school graduation today, I've been reviewing my three years at UVA Law. I already did my 1L year, and my 2L year, and this post is about my third year and graduation!

August 2007
I was in New York City for my summer associate position at a law firm. At the beginning of the month we got job offers for work after we graduated and we had a farewell party-- no dinner, just drinks. Recipe for disaster!  Before I left the city, my parents and I went out for dinner and drinks.  After that, we had several weeks to vacation in Charlottesville and Cape Cod. When we returned to Charlottesville for good, Donald and Roger had an apartment-warming party.

Steph, Sarah, Donald, Jon at Roger and Donald's party


Roger making delicious drinks

Rob, Audra, and Jackie

September 2007

Some of Sarah W's friends threw here a big 23rd birthday party. Sarah H. B. and Donald started secretly dating, but we figured it out almost right away, and pretended we didn't know. A bunch of us went to the UVA v. Duke football game, and then Kevin and I had a big cookout at our new place.  All the while, Sarah and Donald tried to act casual. Ha ha. And then, one of my favorite events of the year: Fall Foxfield!

Sarah W's 23rd birthday party

Fall Foxfield 2007

October 2007
Donald and Sarah had now been secretly dating a whole month and the rest of us were still pretending we didn't know. Really! My parents visited me and Kevin at our new apartment. Brian and I went to a Maroon5 concert. A bunch of us went to the 3L Bonfire to celebrate our last year at law school.  We roasted marshmallows, and somehow Brian ended up going for a swim.

My parents on the Downtown Mall 2007


3L Bonfire 2007

November 2007
Brian, Roger, Katy, and I went to the Vermont v. UVA basketball game and sat in the student seats, while Kevin, Brady, Cory, and Chow went to the game but had to sit in the public seats. Going to games "together" like this was a regular occurrence.

Before my 3L Public Interest Law Association (PILA) auction and semiformal dance, we had people to our place beforehand. After two full months, we finally "officially knew" Donald and Sarah were dating and they went to the dance together. I got jealous when Kevin talked to Roger's date for too long (she was from Cape Cod).  Little did I know that Kevin had already bought me an engagement ring. Ha!

Before the semi-formal, 2007

Kevin planned a trip to New York, and took me to go see my mother at work first. She was in cahoots with him, and had picked up the ring delivery for him, and slipped him the ring while I was in the bathroom. Then he took me to the New York Public Library, where he proposed on the steps on November 21.

Proposal, November 21, 2007

December 2007
More finals. We were old pros at exams, so we didn't make a fuss anymore. Some of us celebrated the end of semester with wings at Buffalo Wild Wings. Yum.

Me and Roger


Jackie and Brandon

January 2008
We came back from winter break mid-month. Kevin and I had gone to the Caribbean to celebrate our engagement. Unlike some Januaries where I'd wear tank tops and marvel at the crazy weather, we had some pretty snow this year. Brian finished up his term as Student Bar Association President.

Snow at UVA Law

Brian working hard in the SBA Office

February 2008
Kevin bought Chris Long a beer at Mellow Mushroom. The chatted about his draft prospects.

A group of us went to our 3L Barristers Ball which is like law school prom. My parents co-hosted a little engagement party for me and Kevin in Charlottesville.  Sarah B., Sarah W., and I watched the lunar eclipse. A group of us had brunch at Professor Kitch's house, and that evening Sarah and I joined Audra on her bachelorette party.

UVA Law's Barristers Ball 2008

March 2008
My law school friends and I went to  Edisto Beach, South Carolina for Spring Break. We stayed at my friend Katy's beach house, and went into Charleston one night for dinner and walking around. From there we went to Audra and Rob's wedding.

Edisto Beach, Spring Break 2008

Audra and Rob get married!

 

At Audra and Rob's wedding

My 29th birthday came and went without a party, as I was busy playing an elaborate game of "Assassin" at law school. We threw a big party for the Latin American Law Organization. I finally won the  fundraising game of Assassin! My law school friends and I went to our last Libel Show together.

At the Libel Show in 2008

April 2008
My law school friends and I went out to celebrate Katy's acceptance into NYU's LLM progam. We went to a service at Roger's temple to hear him read. The 3Ls finished their year-long Seminars in Ethical Values. Some of us were lucky enough to have the 3L toast with Professor Leslie. Brian and I went on a 3L Vineyard Trip, and a UVA lacrosse match the next day with Kevin and Katy.

My Seminar in Ethical Values class

We love Professor Leslie!

3L Vineyard Trip- does it get any better than this?

My law school friends and I went to dinner at Maya Restaurant to celebrate our last day of law school classes. Brooke, Brady, and Cory came to visit and we went to my first Spring Foxfield.

Brooke, Brady, Cory, me, and Kevin at Spring Foxfield in Charlottesville

With newlyweds Rob and Audra (it looks like we all coordinated our outfits)

May 2008
I finished taking my last finals ever. My law school friends, Kevin, and I spent the week before graduation at Sarah's beach house in North Carolina. We even raced go karts!

 

Sarah and Donald at the beach house- I love this picture of them

We graduated law school!

 

We're law school graduates! Woo!


Ceremony on the lawn


After my graduation

Then we immediately started bar review classes to study for the state bar exams, in my case, New York.