Washington DC

We recently made a trip to Washington DC. I wanted to go to the temple one more time before our baby makes his appearance. We got all packed, hotel booked, and checked to see if we had our recommends, we did, but they had expired 12 days before. RATS!

We made the trip anyway-the kids were so excited. The thing they love the most is swimming, so of course we did that later that night. We ate at the Cheesecake Factory-always a delight- and walked around a really ritzy little city. It was so fun!

For those of you who haven't been to DC, I am always amazed by this view. Driving down the interstate and then you see this amazing temple rising up from behind the trees. Truly an amazing sight!

The next morning, after setting off early, and due to operator error (me) with the GPS, we ended up driving forever but we eventually made it to DC.

We walked and walked and walked (things in DC are SO far) but we made it to the Washington Memorial. It is SO amazing! I always forget how HUGE it really is.

I love this pic of all the kids.

This one too!

It was SO hot and humid, but the kids were troopers.

We then walked to the Natural History Museum-the kids LOVED it!

They saw tons of dinosaur bones

G thought this triceratops skull was amazing!

We also went up and saw the gems and precious stones! I was surprised, but the kids thought it was so cool! They loved this huge amethyst.

More than anything G wanted to ride on the subway. Even though we were all so tired and hot, C took him. He was SO thrilled and felt like he got ripped off when they only went one stop. We'll have to take him again, he thought it was great!

J had no desire to go on the subway, but wanted to go on this carousel. So I took her and K. She adored it!

It was such a fun trip! I love that we live so close to DC and can experience it a little at a time with the kids without overwhelming them.

G's Graduation

G had his preschool graduation a couple of weeks ago.

He was all excited and when we went to leave, he informed me that he hated the shirt he had on and went into fits. We were already getting into the car so I made him keep it on.

He walked into the class, went up to his teacher and said, 'hey you wanna know something? I hate this shirt and walked off'

He quickly forgot about it and got busy singing songs-his favorite being

'the wide mouthed bull frog'

He got his certificate and was so excited

After eating vanilla cupcakes, one of his favorite, he walked up to his teacher and said, 'hey, that was a pretty great graduation'

He loved preschool this year. He may be re-doing it. I'm on the fence if I am going to have him start Kindergarten in the fall or not. His birthday is around the end of july and I just worry about him. We'll see-any advice?

rb winter state park

We went to a great state park by our house.

If there was a glacier nearby I would think the water came from that, it was SO cold-but the kids didn't seem to mind.

When we got there, the sand had been freshly combed, it felt and looked like brown sugar.

What trip to the beach would be complete without a super soaker

Bathing beauties

I snuck this picture of K, but what I really wanted was all the cute amish girls in the background in their dresses

where's a rock when you need one

Oh, where to start??

The other day we were taking out normal outing to the library. We pulled up and there was an older man standing under a tree. We smiled at him, he waved and we walked on by. We had made our selections and were at the check out desk. I quickly glanced over my shoulder and noticed a guy walking towards us with a slight limp. I go back to checking out-with my back toward him. As I can hear him passing, I hear my sweet little 4 year old ask, "What are you doing?" Knowing that he is referring to his walk, I silently pray, I hope he didn't hear that or if he did, he doesn't realize WHAT my little man is referring too. He stops, looks at my little G and says he has a condition that makes him walk different. PHEW! He was nice, explained it, now he can me on his merry way. As he is walking away, G then gets his attention again and says, 'Oh, so if you weren't different, then you could walk like this'... and then proceeds to show him how he can walk straight, without a limp. The nice guy once again says, 'yes, I guess'. OKAY, please let this be over. OH NO, G continues to question him about WHY he walks the way he does, does it hurt, will he ever walk normal... it was a whole spectrum of questions. After entailing even the people at the check out for help in explaining WHY he walks the way he does, all i want to do is leave with what little dignity I have left and slump into my car seat.

We make it out the door and are in the alcove to the outside just as G sees some people painting. Not just any people, but Amish people. As I am opening the door, he says, 'hey look, Amish people. HEY! Are you Amish?! K, look, Amish people!" I quickly grab his hand and lead him briskly to our car- where he sees the same man we saw 10 minutes before.

He then asks him, 'How long are you going to stand there for?' To which I reply, he's just enjoying the shade because it's such a hot day. The older man smiles and reveals a smile that is missing some teeth. G doesn't miss a beat, and in keeping with the last 5 minutes of the library fiasco says, "Do you ONLY have 1 tooth? Mom, why does he only have ONE tooth?!" At this point, I am shoving him in the car and hanging my head in shame realizing at what point did I manage to teach him NO tact or kindness to others.

It only takes a 4 year old to bring you down into humility's path.

Oh to have the power of invisibility!

more pinewood derby

I realize I just did a post about pinewood derby, but I didn't realize I had a ton more pictures.

It was really fun, because they even let the small kids do a few runs with the cars.

When it was done, they gave each of the kids a little pin with a car, J and G were so pleased!

K and the rest of the kids in his den.

It was a fun night!

Pine wood derby

K got to take part in his first pinewood derby. He was so excited! C and K worked on his car for about a month. Coming from Utah, where pinewood derby is an actual sport.... they made sure they added weight and lubed the wheels up...

K ended up taking first place- he was SO ecstatic!

Lining it up just right.

They guy helping up at the top of the track called K's car the dark horse of the race, it was pretty funny

He also earned his wolf merit badge.

His car-so FUN!

He L--O-V-E-S scouts! What a fun thing for an eight year old!

fun things

When C's parents came, they came with some fun stuff and worked on a few projects.

C's mom helped me make these valances for the windows in our family room. I love how they frame the window, but also leave the great wood trim visible.

She also brought this amazing quilt she made. I LOVE it! All of the fabric used are reprints from the civil war. It just adds to the feeling of the house.

It's perfect!

She also brought this quilt she made for our new baby. Since he's a July birthday, she made it red, white and blue. I adore it! I can't wait to snuggle our new little one in it!

This is a view of the back.

She is one talented lady!

I forgot to take pictures of the quilt she made me with a soft minky back- scrumptious to take a nap with!

She also brought a baby blanket from one of our friends back in Utah. I'll have to get a picture of it, I love the fabric she used.

So many fun things!

Fun with Fam

C's parents came into town and we went just about everywhere.

Hershey World

On the little ride with singing cows

Her next 'favorite' stuffed animal, yes, it stayed in the store

We went to Lancaster, Amish country and saw so many of these wagons. It was really neat. There were grooves in the road from where the wagons and horses travel.

We shopped and shopped. Here's J sporting an amish hat for a boy.

While we shopped, C stayed with the kids and entertained them with the petting zoo animals and park.

The shopping was like Gardner Village. So fun and I got some GREAT fabric too!

We stayed in hotels and swam and swam and swam.

This was in New Jersey, right outside of NYC.

G has found a new love of goggles,

I love how he wears them so they push his ears down.

C's mom made this adorable outfit for J to wear, I LOVE it!

The kids with Grandma and Grandpa

While C's parents were here, we got to go to an amazing wedding in New Jersey with a friend C went with to school. It was SO fun and I have never seen so much food. It was great fun!

After leaving, C's parents headed out, J and G both cried, it was so sad. They ended up missing their flight because Skycap was so slow, but they made it home the next morning. It was great to have visitors! We haven't had any for over a year! (We love guests- just let us know :) ).

What a great trip!

Things come in Three's

Things really do come in three's. The past couple of weeks have been that way for K.

Thursday morning, I took K to the orthodontist and they put on an expander on his top teeth. He was so uncomfortable, couldn't swallow or eat, really having a hard time. Fast forward to that evening, we were putting in our much needed air conditioning units and we had two still in boxes. C offered to let K help open the boxes. Out come the pocket knife. I was downstairs. I hear blood curdling screams coming from upstairs. I go up and see K's finger wrapped in a towel, bleeding profusely. C looked at me and said, he cut his finger and we need to take him to the ER. We called a friend who watch J and G and we were off.

Poor little guy was so upset and really hurting

Trying to be brave about having to get shots to numb up his finger

After the anesthesia and feeling a little giddy....

They sewed him up and he was fine

Five days later he was at baseball and was up to bat. The ball hit his thumb against the bat. Once again, but trying to be brave, he started crying. He was in a lot of pain all night long. In the morning, I took him the doc (hence my way hugely risen bread), and we found out it was broken. So now he has stitches in his left finger and a cast on his right hand. Poor kiddo, when it rains it pours.

Quite pleased with his cast.

It's all part of growing up.

EEEEWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THESE ARE?

THEY ARE DISGUSTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have found a few of these in our house. They are fast, creepy and SO GROSS!!!!!

What are they?

Stacie, could your husband help identify? :)

What happens when you go to the doctor.....

I decided to make bread one morning before taking K to the doctor. I was going to let it rise while we were gone. We were at the doc's for over 2 1/2 hours and it was a really hot day. All the time, I wondering how my bread is rising, well, it was HUGE and this is how it cooked up.

All my work for nothing. Oh well.