Visitors II

Following a fantastic visit from my sisters (see previous post), we had another fantabulous visitor.

My friend Em (full name Emily, but I only call her that when she's in trouble) came into town for a couple of days to visit. So fun.

Lucas took this picture (he's very into picture taking lately). Let me alleviate your fears; my shoulder is not impaled. That is the Washington Monument peeking behind me.

We showed her some of the sights of our incredible Nation's Capitol and really enjoyed having her around for a couple of days.

So glad you came, Em! Come again!

Visitors

We LOVE visitors!!!
My two sisters, Julia and Alison, and adorable nephew Hayden (son of Julia)came to visit for a very fun, albeit too short, visit a couple of weeks ago. It was so fun!

We had 3 days, 3 kids, 3 women, and 1 dream...

Day One:

Ride the metro to Washington, DC. Meet Cory for a picnic lunch on the White House lawn...well, at least the lawn behind the White House. "W" was too busy that day to dine with us.

Walked to the National Mall, where we stopped at the WWII Memorial,

And the Lincoln Memorial.

Day Two:

Mount Vernon

This included the "Potomac River Sightseeing Cruise". The narration was less than stellar, but the kids liked the boat.

Girls' Night Out in Old Town Alexandria while Super Dad/Uncle Cory watches the 3 boys.

Sisters, Italian food, ambiance, and a stop at the Walgreen's for Alison to get a passport photo.

Very fun.

And home before 10:00 as we'd been dragging children and ourselves to national historic treasures for 2 days.

Day Three:

Visit to Hershey, PA.

3 women

3 kids

One Chrysler Towne and Country Mini Van (kindly rented by Julia to get us all there...have I mentioned my dream car is a mini van? I am so a mom).

Approx. 5-hour round trip

Meet up with our brother David and his wife, Maida (who are living in State College, PA toattend Penn State). Good times! Gabey kept talking about going to "Choc-o-late World" (Yes, another cruel joke on Gabriel...let's take him to a place dedicated to something he cannot have)! I did take some Gabey chocolate for him.

In the end, we pushed each child to their absolute maximum...but we all had fun.

And, if you were wondering, I did cry when they left. Why do people have to leave after they visit? Especially the family people?

Thanks, Jules, Al, and Hayden for the visit! Let's do it again!

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Two weeks ago, Uncle Sam gave us a great gift: a trip to the beach. We were very fortunate to be able to take a long weekend and drive about 9 hours south to Hilton Head Island, SC. Travelocity hooked us up with a good deal on a condo at Palmetto Dunes Resort. It was a a studio with a little kitchen and sofa sleeper, and about a 5 minute walk to the beach.

We had no agenda; just wanted to play at the beach and relax, which is pretty much what we did.

Gabey was totally in his element in the sand, but didn't like getting near the water.

Lucas got into the water with me!

The boys liked helping Daddy find hermit crabs in the tidepools. We rented bikes to ride on the beach. Of course, Cory's job was harder as he pulled an extra 70ish pounds behind him with the kids in the kiddie cart. They loved it. Except when we actually rode on the beach and it was too windy...Gabey was screaming to leave (our children seem to develop a fear of wind around the age of 3; fortunately, Lucas grew out of it, and we're hoping for the same for Gabey. I think his fear began when I openened the car door to get him out and his balloon was sucked out into balloon heaven in the sky. Anyway, I digress), and Lucas was hiding under the blanket. We did enjoy other bike rides exploring the island.

A happier bike ride.



Making sand angels. And sand messes.

Eating at the Big Bamboo, a 40's-themed restaurant.

Spring in DC

If you have any blogging friends/family who live in the DC area, you've most likely seen a post already about the Cherry Blossoms. But you haven't seen ours.

Diana and I took the kiddos -- Lucas, Gabriel, Emmet, and Gabriel -- to the Cherry Blossom festival. It was a great day -- a warm 76! We spent all day picknicking, running, exploring, and wearing everyone out. Attempting to cooridnate 4 boys for a picture....ha!

The main area of cherry blossoms is around the tidal basin, which is where the Thomas Jefferson Memorial is located. Lucas asked of Jefferson was really that big.

The beaver's sign says, "Stop. Please don't pick the cherry blossoms". The kids loved the beaver signs. And, as part of the festival, there was a tent where the kids could do various activities and earn a junior ranger badge. Lucas took his very seriously and was on the look out for anyone picking the cherry blossoms.

The Tulip Library.

Little boys don't tip-toe through the tulips. They race.

All in all, a great spring day!!

Stay tuned for the "Martin trip to Hilton Head Island, SC" post...coming soon!

We Don't Have to Hide It

The Office returns for new episodes TONIGHT (April 10) and, yes, we are looking forward to it.
None of this pretending like we didn't know it started tonight or that I didn't just watch a clip of Steve Carrell on Jay Leno to see a clip of tonight's episode (which was a kick in the pants, I might add) or that it hasn't been on my kitchen whiteboard calendar.

Catch Up

In no particular order, here is what we've been up to....

An Easter egg hunt with some friends...including our own Little Bunny Foo-Foo.

Seeing "Horton Hears a Who" in the theater.

This was a completely spontaneous activity which, for me, is a big deal (the spontaneity part). Lucas was off for spring break, Gabey had been sick, I was restless...all this added up to, "Hey! Let's go to a movie!" So, the 3 of us spent a small fortune to see a movie on the big screen. This picture was taken before the previews started...as soon as they did Gabey was on my lap, where he stayed the whole time. The previews were traumatic ("I want to go home! I want to go home!"), but he made it through the movie OK. Lucas had a great time.

While Gabey was at someone else's house for our little co-op preschool, Cory (who was fortunate enough to get Friday off) and I took Lucas (who was off school for spring break) to the Air and Space Museum. This was maybe our 4th or 5th time there, but our FIRST time to see one of the shows. We took Lucas to the Planetarium show "Cosmic Collisions." He was SOOOOOOO excited. We started walking into the planetarium and he was running a few steps ahead of us. It went something like this: run, run, slower run, stop: "Whoa."

I'd tried to tell him it was going to be a dome over our heads, but he was still taken back. He was pretty nervous about the whole thing, and spent the whole show on Cory's lap...but ended up liking it. He thought it was pretty cool (and it was!).

And, of course, we had a very nice Easter.

Oh, and I'll leave you with this, which is what Gabey started doing while he was in the bathroom

brushing his teeth.

I know a famous author

My friend Angie has a story published in the April Liahona! The Liahona is a publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The story is also set to be in the Ensign (another publication of the Church)...

So, way to go, Ang!

(And way to go me, since I finally figured out how to hyperlink...and can't believe how easy it is and that it took me this long.)