By George, we love Mount Vernon.

Is there a more useless show on TV than Ghost Hunters? Please let Andy know, and I'm sure he'll season pass it.

Anyway, we put our annual passes to Mount Vernon to use yet again this weekend. Here's the storyline of our trip in pictures; see exhibits 1-4.

1. Alexa immediately took over photography duties upon our arrival. The only thing more ostentatious than her oversized pink digital camera was the pink, fur-trimmed Hello Kitty bag she used to carry the camera.

2. Noah, as we have come to expect, proceeded to pay attention to nothing. The important thing to note in the picture is the closest tree, immediately behind which is a medium-sized bench.

3. When next I saw Noah, he was mid-air, flipping head first over the previously mentioned bench. He later agreed to pose for a picture although his fall, accompanied by scrapes on and under his nose, had put him in a foul mood--hence the forced smile. Those injuries got added to a prior burn on his hand and allergy-swollen eyes. Yes, he was quite a sight.

4. We ended our outing with a relaxing and informative boat ride on the Potomac River. Look out, Spirit of Mount Vernon, there's a new showboat in town--Spirit of Alexa.

It was a photo-op day at the Roussel Roost.

Jump in the river...then doggie paddle.

Let me just start by mentioning that Noah was sent home with an excellent report card this week, in case any Grandparents or Nannies or Parrains or whoever want to make a "nice job, kiddo" call.

Lexa wishes the universe a most Happy Earth Day today and encourages all of us to go diving in the river to remove trash. I have politely dismissed the suggestion and would recommend diving in neither the Potomac nor Anacostia Rivers, but the Mississippi might be a reasonable option for those of you in Louisiana. My friend Caroline has graciously offered access to rabies shots as well as some cipro if I change my mind.

The kids might need a rabies shot, though. At Daisy's obedience training, Noah played the trainer to Lexa's dog impersonation. Lex was a little aggressive and kept getting "kenneled" by Noah. Daisy and her classmates (Lou the black Lab, Stanley the white Lhasa Apso, and Sorren the Collie/German Shepherd) seemed unphased by the ill-behaved pretenders. I was kind of phased, though. Even the trainer, Sarah, whom I have deemed a genuine dog whisperer, could not calm her pseudo-client Mad Lex. Well, they'll definitely remember us at any rate. We know drama.

Andy, who had seen over 30 patients after his lunch break, arrived to collect the rugrats precisely 5 minutes before class ended.

It was a doggone day at the Roussel Roost.

Capes are not optional.

We visited Great Falls, Virginia (on the Potomac River) for Andy's requested birthday activity. George Washington built canals there back in the day. Andy's better at the historical background of these National Parks, so consult him if you have any questions...or Google it!

In keeping with her mission to bring fabulousness to the outdoors, Lex wore her Super Girl outfit. I've included, as a reminder, a photo from last year's trip to the Smoky Mountains in which Lex sports a cape to hike up Clingman's Dome.

It was a Super day at the Roussel Roost.

The Marshalls have left the building.

It's almost quiet around here. The kids aren't bothering Baby Rex; Daisy isn't barking at perceived intruders; the Guitar Hero World Tour disc spends alot more time shelved in its case.

...I don't like it.

It's a missing the Marshalls day at the Roussel Roost.

Young writers are in our midst.

I had a very productive and entertaining visit to the 2nd grade classes at Noah's school on Tuesday for my "Teach Children to Save" lessons. Two hours of 150 seven and eight year olds is exhausting, though. A few kids slipped me their email addresses, so I guess I did OK. Today, Noah gave me a pack of letters his class had written to thank me. Most mentioned the recycled money pencils I brought. Noah wrote a very legible and sweet letter to "Mrs. Roussel." Olivia wanted to know how grown ups make so much money. My favorite letter, though, came from a boy, who had extraordinarily neat handwriting for a second grader. He wrote, "Dear Mrs. Roussel, Do you remember when you came to our class? You said we could get extra money saving our money in the bank. I'm going to try that. Sincerely, Adam."

In creative writing news, Lex has been busy writing dramatic dialogue and composing some new songs because she is "practicing to be in a play with Grandpa Rick." Maybe she will include the following cycle-of-life poem she created today:

"Here comes the sun, here comes the sun.
Love is for everyone.
It's time for bed, it's time for bed
When all of us are sick or dead."

Either she's a really promising poet, or she plagiarized some Beatles lyrics...you make the call.

The words were loosed, the words were loosed. It was a compositional day at the Roussel Roost.