Whale Watching, Virginia Beach

Well the whales had moved on south but instead bounding gracefully through the waves and under the bow of the boat were dolphins and more dolphins... despite the severe chill and my over-riding sense of nausea and the terror of certain death for both children- standing at the front of the boat for every swell - this was amazing and worth it and done with lots of lovely families.

The Aquarium that followed was a contrasting interactive hell of noise and intensity that was totally unlike the vast grey open water and completely distracted from the immense tanks of live fish and strokeable rays and a crocodile! We saw some serious Komodo Dragon action and live gestating shark eggs.

Finally a windswept moment on Sandbridge Beach before a dodgy beach diner, which we later discovered had a claw-grab live lobster catcher game and then the long road home.

The Egyptian Project, 2nd Grade

... and so Horus (the eagle-headed sky god), his crocodile and my Sphinx are in, fired and glossy with glaze, though not tin faience for true historical accuracy. Beneath the family-sawed pyramid are jewels and back home, J's turtle and lion.

Someone else had mummified (!) their baby doll and another built a pyramid in sugar cubes - project learning cheers my soul.

Salon Playdate, Katy Blue

Chewy the Shitzu keeps the girls company as they choose a style and demonstrate the length of fringe they desire. Choc chip cookies and iced water in cocktail glasses all round.

Valentine's Weekend, RVA

You've got to embrace the crazy that is Valentine's Day USA. We exchanged family cards this year, with our own bagfulls and then P whipped up the ultimate romantic toast for four plus the odd strip of carnivorous-lover's bacon encased in Billy's bread.

Workday No. I, Shields Market

While the kids marked-up booze and bagged coffee on their first 'shift' at the ultimate local store, we skipped off for a beer... of the alcoholic ginger variety in my case.

Snow Day No. VIII, RVA

This time some serious arty-filmic action with a glimpse of the Hollywood Costume show (free ticket from immensely kind passer-by) at the VMFA. J and I favoured the green slinky dress from Atonement and M - Dorothy's dress from Wizard of Oz. Moulin Rouge caught our eye too. However Cleopatra stole the show with her 1930s and 60s variations... this was slick production c/o the V&A no less.

Upstairs we sketched Egyptian shabti dolls and hieroglyphics with some more quality control stress with the eldest offspring and then it was out into the snow, layered for survival and Dale Chihuly's red glass reeds glinting against the sparkling white - my new shades c/o Colin Leslie got their first official outing.

Valentine Tokens, Pinterest

It should have been a scene of domestic bliss but the love-heart production line was subject to some quality control issues and parental frustrations.

By Day 2 of creation things had calmed down and the gleaming love tokens were looking good. J's met with complete delight and got worn by her teachers, once she'd told everyone in morning-meeting how they were made by her whole family...

Pie Picnic, Church Hill

The perfect Friday picnic - NZ-style, with proper pie, chocolate mallomars and a steep grassy hill for rolling down. Church Hill is such a fabulous spot for comfort food and views - Richmond-on-Thames, almost.

Project Ancient Egypt

Anubis takes shape, whilst in the garage a pyramid is fashioned with a hand saw and some sandpaper. Next the class Mummification party but sadly for M (!) no classmate's heart removal is possible - for weighing on the scales of truth and sin - as she established after some investigation.

Forest Camp, Bon Air

J & M got to go to school together, ending up in the woods and exited here singing, 'The ants go marching one by one...'

Spring Semester, Latin Ballet of Virginia

... and so to the warm-up for end-of-year performance in late May.

'Here comes the sun' filters out into the foyer and the danced-journey begins through England, with George Harrison on vocals, before other lands...

Sunday Cycle, Chimbarazo

No coats and both on big bikes - a day of firsts, with a return to Chimborazo Park in Church Hill with it's lovely view of the James and surroundings. There were a few other families hanging out with their poodles, car radios and skateboards, chatting and wandering.

Afternoon tea at the reopened post-fire Sub Rosa - Perfect!