Washington DC

Last weekend we took a quick trip down to Washington DC. We had never been since we've lived on the East Coast, and Ryan's sister Kimber was in town for a conference - so we figured it was the perfect time to go. We tried to hit all the highlights: Air and Space museum, Natural History museum, various monuments/memorials, yummy food, and LOTS of walking. (My favorite was the cooked-to-order breakfast at the hotel - YUM!!!) It was raining the first day, which added an extra level of difficulty to trekking around the Capitol:

Can you just see the excitement in this boy's face?!

So many {stuffed} animals to see at the Natural History museum:

Ellie was really interested in this little Neanderthal boy:

An extra surprise was a reading fair in the Mall with tons of tents and giveaways. There was a PBSkids tent with several characters from the kids' favorite shows:

Also, the Magic School Bus was there! Lincoln LOVES the Magic School Bus - I believe we've checked out every single book from the local library.

Ms. Frizzle in person

Of course, we HAD to see the Lincoln Memorial. It was probably funny to hear us yelling "Lincoln! Lincoln!" around the memorial as {our} Lincoln was running and jumping off things.

First Day of School

This is the last year before we REALLY start school...for the rest of our lives! Ahhhhhhh!!! We had such a great experience with our Mother Goose Time group last year, that we're doing it again - just with some different friends and more kids. There are 6 kids, including Lincoln, and all of them will be starting Kindergarten next year. Here's the big boy:

Ellie had to get in on the experience too - backpack and all:

I didn't think that Ellie would care too much about Lincoln being in school, but she often asks "Ellie school too?" and as soon as Linc is out of the car she asks "Where'd Lincoln go?" about 50 times until we pick him up again.

Do you think the kids have changed much since last year?!

Ellie Don't Come In

While we were visiting my family in Kansas City this summer, Lincoln decided that he had enough of his pesky little sister and commissioned his Nana to write a sign for him. Then he drew the pictures - so Ellie would be able to understand what it said, naturally. The pictures are a number 4 (meaning you have to be 4 years-old), Ellie's face Xed out, and a railroad crossing sign (he was playing with train tracks).

He posted it up and then showed Ellie the sign - pointing to the words and "reading": "Ellie don't come in". Then Ellie would say "Come in!" very happily - to which Lincoln would say, "No! Ellie don't come in" and she would repeat again "Come in!" It basically continued like that for a while! Too hard to keep from laughing at these kids!

Ellie Turns TWO!

Two years goes VERY quickly!! Looking back, I can't believe how {somewhat crazy} it was to have a baby in England - retelling her birth story each year is quite entertaining! We always say our best souvenir from living overseas is Miss Elizabeth Rose.

Here's what a 2 year-old does for their BDay:
Fun at Jump on In




Presents (She didn't let Linc get away with opening all the presents this year)




So excited to have PRINCESSES!






Dressed like a princess and eating raisins -what could be better?!








LOVE this one...Linc had to assist with the candle-blowing


Yep, 3 cupcakes - it's her Birthday!!


Ellie is so cheeky and spunky and keeps us all on our toes! She loves to play with (and taunt) her brother and wants to be just like him. She will do/repeat anything he says - even if it makes no sense! (Lincoln hurts his head, then Ellie says her head hurts) She talks up a storm - she is a girl who knows what she wants, and knows how to get it. She runs, she climbs, she swings - she gives me a heart attack at the park! She can count to 10. She knows all her shapes and most colors. She tells jokes and teases. She sings at the top of her lungs. We LOVE this two-year-old!

Lincoln's Creations

Lincoln loves to build. He has always had a knack for making intricate train track designs, utilizing EVERY track piece we have. His favorite is the all-straight track as seen here:


He also branched out with his PBK building set - reminds me of a parking garage in England at a mall we frequented.


{I would like to say I helped him with the building, but I was taking a nap on the playroom floor} :)

Ryan and Linc made a shed for his tanks out of Play-Doh. Very patriotic, right?!

Lucky Layover

On their way to Europe, my parents and youngest sister had an extended layover in Newark. So the kids and I met up with them and we passed the time at the nearby IKEA - food, shopping, entertainment for the kids, and ice cream - what could be better?!

Taking in a show:


The international travelers:


Playing with Nana:








Ellie tries out all the toys:


In Ellie's words: "ICE CREAM!!!!!"


We had such a great time with Nana, Pop, and Auntie Kelly - why don't you fly in every afternoon, and we do this every day?? :)

The Great Swamp

In May, the preschool lessons were about "Meet me at the Pond", so we took one last field trip to The Great Swamp. Apparently, it's a huge swamp (hence the name!), and it's only about 10 minutes away. There are nice boardwalk trails {ie: easy for strollers} and a cute nature center. We were able to see lots of wildlife - birds, fish, chipmunks, a frog, and PLENTY of bugs.

Looking for fish and water striders:


Can you spot the frog?


Lincoln + Raquel (the other kids were sick and/or had moved away)
{I think Linc has a little crush on Raquel -he always says she's cute} :)


Ellie was very interested in this turtle!