The Cherry Blossoms

We took a quick trip down to DC to smell the Cherry Blossoms and to visit some of our favorite parts of the Smithsonian.



It was gray but still beautiful. The I can't believe how amazing the blossoms look all around the Tidal Basin. This was one of my favorite parts of the day and the kids tolerated it.

On our way back to the Mall we stopped at the Tulip Garden. We were not the only ones to take in the delights of the day. There so many different types of tulips.

Then we took to Jack and Addy to the Air and Space Museum on the Mall. It was their first time to this specific Air and Space Museum and it was a hit. I am pretty sure that Jack's entire body was shaking with excitement the entire time we were in the museum.

Jack got to sit in a cockpit and try his hand at flying.

Addy found these SWEET Aviator goggles in the gift shop. She's been wearing them on and off since we returned. You may see her in Target or Wegmans with them on but I have not yet let her wear them to church. I chuckle every time she wears them. My favorite souvenir ever.

We then took a walk over to the Natural History Museum, rode the Metro back to our hotel to swim in the pool and then had dinner at our favorite Cafe Rio. (secretly, this may have been the entire reason for the trip. Sad, I know.)

The next morning we headed out to the BIG part of the National Air and Space Museum the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. We've been here twice before and Jack has the entire place memorized so he was our personal tour guide of his favorite parts of the place. It was like he was visiting his friends. "Let's go see Concorde." "There's Blackbird." "Addy, there's your favorite Orange Bi-plane." It was a great morning.

Loves Fighter Jets.

We'll have to go back to see the Shuttle Discovery now that it is being moved to this site. Can you see Jack pointing out his favorite Rockets?
This is my favorite photo of the day. Jack ran to the landing gear of his favorite SR-71 or Blackbird and sat in awe. The girls followed suit. We sat here for several minutes. Blackbird is Jack's absolute favorite airplane so getting to see it in real life is probably the most exciting thing in the world. If you don't know anything about Blackbird, I dare you to ask Jack. Just make sure you have enough time to hear all that he has to say.


We rounded out our trip with another trip to Cafe Rio, a visit to the Washington D. C. Temple and visitors center and were treated like celebrities in my Aunt and Uncle's temple missionary ward because we brought kids to a group of grandparents missing their grand kids. Absolute Celebrities. I recommend attending this ward quarterly:)

Accessorizing

Ella loves bracelets.
She often uses the cookie cutters as bracelets but this was something new . . .

She put every single pair of Addy's underwear on her arm.

I have to say that I was impressed with her ability to put them all on her arm.

Because it feels like a distant memory

Our winter was short and mild.

But we enjoyed every flake of snow by shoveling, making a snow monkey and going sledding.

Belle and the Beast

The kids met Belle when we were visiting Disney World and had no idea who she was because we had never watched Beauty and the Beast. That, however, did not stop them from being excited to meet this pretty Princess.

I checked out Beauty and the Beast from the library to watch for our family movie night this week. It was a HIT. Addy and Jack played Belle and the Beast by growing like the beast and dancing like princesses. Addy wore her princess dress and danced with Ryan during the ballroom scene. (melted my heart to watch) Addy has requested to watch Belle and the Beast every day. (she told me that is what she calls it)

Highlight of our current Beauty and the Beast obsession was on Monday when Jack and Addy had some friends over to play. Beauty and the Beast was on in the background as they played and when Belle appeared at the top of the stairs in her yellow dress, Jack silenced the room with a "Guys, Guys, it's the yellow dress. That's what she was wearing when I met her in Disney World." He made everyone stop what they were doing and watch Belle walk down the stairs. He even chastised me for walking in front of him because he could not see.

Needless to say, we are in high Princess adoration this week.

Toothless Wonder

For weeks Jack has been enjoying a wiggly tooth.

It finally came out on Sunday night.

He was so surprised when it came out and then he was so excited about the Tooth Fairy coming.

He put his tooth in an envelope for the Tooth Fairy and put it under his pillow.
We told him we thought the Tooth Fairy would bring him a quarter. His response was "Or cash. Oh and a toothbrush."

The Tooth Fairy was kind to him and brought a neon orange tooth brush and a dollar. It was almost as exciting as Christmas morning.

He can't wait to show Dr. Sean, his dentist, the space in his mouth.

Ryan and I are still recovering from the trauma of realizing that Jack is growing up so fast.

Feliz Navidad!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

updates from the crew


Eleanor: Walking, talking, smiling (now with teeth, finally), dancing, all around happy girl who loves a purse and an arm full of bracelets.

Adeline: Dancing, telling stories, singing, make believe, preschool, gymnastics, Spanish with her darling teacher, Josephina. She is part Batman and part Princess. Favorite outfit is her Batman costume and her Rapunzel hair.

Jack: Riding the bus to Kindergarten where he is in a Spanish immersion program, teaching us all how to pronounce things in Spanish, reading, writing, building, demolishing, singing, airplanes, airplanes and more airplanes.

Ryan: Thrilled to be done with the Boards. No more late nights studying. Now it is just late nights preparing lectures. "Enjoyed" his first trip to NYC; except for that part where he had to give a lecture to an international audience. Happy to be home for dinner on most nights.

Amy: Homework supervisor, taxi driver, gym rat, head chef, vacation planner/family memory creator, or as, Ryan says, "The glue that holds this ship together." Loves volunteering in Jack and Addy's classrooms and having Ryan home to help with the bedtime routine.

Favorite Moments from Thanksgiving

Feels like we've been traveling for the past month. We've been home in between trips but it has been a busy November and early December. Our yearly trip to Atlanta for Thanksgiving made for lots of memories.

The GIANT pile of leaves in Mike and Steph's backyard is still being discussed by our children.

Addy preferred to sit and watch or sweep leaves but we did catch one shot of her in the leaves.

How can you not love Eleanor?
This face melts my heart every day.

Jack would play outside all day and night if we lived in a warmer climate.