Just Daddy and Me

This past Friday thru Monday, Mommy left for a relaxing spa weekend getaway with her friend and left the men at home to fend for themselves. No, really it we were excited to see Mommy go and get some rest and plus that meant guy time for Daddy and I!

On Saturday, Daddy took me hiking and then to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Now, if you recall back to last year's festival we saw different artifacts from Texas, Bhutan and NASA. This year, Wales, Las Americas and a section called Giving Voice were featured. Giving Voice was the section that I was most interested in. It had all kinds of good storytelling, which I love by the way :-). So Dad and I were playing when all of the sudden this man with the coolest drum I've ever seen showed up. Tejumola "TEJU" Ologboni was the name of the man and he was one of the Storyteller's that day. Here's a photo below of TEJU and a little background on him too:

TEJU draws listeners into stories with gestures and movements, and sometimes with music made on traditional Africa instruments. Some of his stories are filled with magic and mystical characters, like "the Possum and the Hare;" others are fact like the story of Joshua, a runaway captive who escaped to Wisconsin, and whose case went all the way to the Supreme Court, when a bounty hunter tried to capture and return him to being enslaved. Serious or humorous, political or festive, Teju's stories reflect on longstanding and contemporary cultural perspectives to capture and return him to being enslaved. Serious or humorous, political of festive, Teju's stories reflect on longstanding and contemporary cultural perspectives to give listeners greater understanding of the profound influence of African heritage on our traditions and identities. Come listen to this culture keeper and be enlightened and inspired.

While TEJU was setting up for his storytelling he let me hang out with him and play his drum! TEJU was impressed and after I was done, I slapped him five :-). It was really awesome! TEJU told Daddy that I need a drum of my own. I couldn't wait to tell Mommy ...hahaha.

Sunday, Daddy and I went to the American History museum and a little more time again at the Folklife festival. We sure had fun guys weekend but when Monday came, we were glad to see Mommy.

Love,
Emerson



"Hey TEJU where can I get one of these?"

"Whoa, feathers too!"

"TEJU, you got to hit it in just the right spot"

"I think I'll start my own band"

"Look Mommy, Daddy let's me jump on the couch when you're not here"

Hiking on Father's Day

I Scream You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream

This past Saturday, Mommy and Daddy took me out for dinner and a treat. It was Father's Day weekend and Daddy was in the mood for Tex Mex. The closest thing that we can find to that is Austin Grill which is now rumored to be owned by some Yankees (Originally started by Austinite's). When Mommy and Daddy first moved to this area Austin Grill use to import Amy's ice cream but now that they have new owners.... well let's just say they don't know what they are missing by not having it!

After our dinner, the weather was so nice that we decided to go get my very first ice cream. So Daddy with his rock star parking, found us a spot right up close to the waterfront of Old Town Alexandria. Of course all the ice cream shops were packed but it was worth the wait. Mommy and I shared some sort of heath chocolate combination. IT WAS SO GOOD!

Finally, we ended our evening walking around the waterfront and checking out the artists booths from a festival close by. On Sunday, we took a Father's Day hike at Great Falls. I'll be sure to get that video up later.

Love,
Emerson
"Mommy, let me have the spoon... I promise that I won't make too much of a mess"

" Hey Lady, you got anymore of that good ice cream"

We Had A Ball!

A Walk In the Park

Cousin Jessica comes to town

This past weekend my cousin Jessica from Texas came for a visit. It was the first time that I had met her and I must say that she's pretty cool! Jessica is 18 and just graduated from high school (the same one where Mommy went) and leaves in August to go to the University of Texas at San Antonio.

While Jessica was here, she taught me lots of fun things to do. One of my most favorite things that cousin Jessica would do was to play hide and go seek. I just love that game! Also, one afternoon Daddy and Mommy took us to the park along the Mt. Vernon trail and Potomac river. We had lots of fun, chased lots of geese and stepped in lots of geese droppings (Mommy wasn't so happy about that last part). Anyway, here's some photos from our adventure at the park.

Love,
Emerson
"Daddy thinks that I'm going to give this feather up.... we'll just see about that!"

"Cousin Jessica, please let me down...... the geese are getting away and I've got to catch them"

"Really??? You aren't suppose to eat that?"

"Ha ha ha.... on your marks, get set, come and get me ........."

"SWEET FREEDOM!"