The Tooth Fairy

... is English in our house and did not to leave the requested hundred bucks or tooth, though promised to return it one day, if many greens were eaten in the intervening years. Three dollars later and a Family Dollar store mermaid has entered our growing stash.

Don't try a floss slip-knot set-up in your front garden, as it tightens and gets stuck under the gum - trauma for all in the vicinity!

Colonial Williamsburg

The Union Jack is flying, the cottage gardens are beginning to bloom with tulips and one day soon - wisteria, plus there are wooden bridges across little streams and horse & carts, or rather carriages.

We boarded the Queen's coach and were taken nobly around by Mr Bob and Captain & Ranger. So civilised! The sun beat down a little harder by lunchtime so we picnicked under an expansive notable tree of Virginia and gently strolled on the shady side of the street. J had even got in a bit of watering-can training from a '1770s' gardener.

Sunset at the VMFA, Richmond

Every picture tells a story... look closely and you will see the wobbly tooth and the poo bag! Need we say much more. There were sculptures and fountains and a sunset to distract us, plus M took us on a brilliant mini art-looking-tour.

Scott Mountain, Appalachian Trail

We didn't plan to climb the steepest mountain to hand but joined the trail at McCormick Gap and headed upwards and south. We felt intrepid as we went vertically through the bare trees, with glimpses of wide open countryside to east and west. It was breathless-making and sunny and just great to be on the Appalachian Trail, somewhere along it's 2200 miles. Of course Bill Bryson was in some of our ears, as we steadied along a contour line.

Before all this, The King Family Vineyard down in the valley below had been the location for a great family-neighbour picnic, some heady wine tasting and an impromptu dose of American Football coaching. The vines were bare and the mountains grey but the view grew with beauty as we relaxed. At the close of the day we made our way into Charlottesville and wandered...

Beaver Lake Trail, Pocahontas State Park

Perhaps the greatest achievements are unplanned. This gentle dawdle became a hike and we all completed the full 2.56 mile circuit!!!

In the midst of it we had injuries to all with their hands held out, outsmarted trolls on long wooden walkways, waded in clear forest streams and crossed rivers with giant tree trunks as balance beams. P downed a substantial land-based fallen trunk system with a loud crack.

BBGB on Kensington

There's a cute, little bookshop on the corner and it's called BBGB. We had tokens and they have fabulous children's books. Today's personal choices were:

• Head to Toe by Eric Carl - J
• Let's go for a drive by Mo Williams - M
• Extra yarn by Mac Barnett - M
• Have fun, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell - C
• Nurse Clementine by Simon James - Gift

Even more Yorktown

We saw three (actually two) ships come sailing by... and the bridge swung open.

It was super, sunny, gorgeous and we pottered by the beach, caught jellyfish who stung themselves into a stupor, did the Delly with the Y, got a tram ride with a dash of history (seriously, it was French & Americans vs Brits in 1781- Oh boy, these things can pass a girl by) and found downed bamboo for a horse jumping and races.