Month in Review

We have had a busy month or so here in our Little Llama world!  The best way to beat Winter Blues (if you can even call what we have had winter) is to fill it full of birthdays and holidays!

Carson turned 5… got a pogo stick… since we thought he wasn’t active enough of a kid.

And had the best super hero party ever!  (separate post to come!)

Mommy recovered from the invasion of 12 boys by escaping with Daddy to Asheville on a speaking engagement, which we turned into a pseudo baby-moon!

After dining the weekend away, we opted for a nice dinner in with the family for Valentine’s Day. 

This was such a fun evening that I think we will do again.  We made filet mignon, thyme potatoes, creamed spinach, and a walnut/cranberry salad (take that Ruth’s Chris).  We also had chocolate dipped strawberries and the boys bought the girls flowers.   We also sipped on sparkling grape juice (note—those little plastic wine glasses don’t last long with little hands--- you know, the ones where the stem pops off the base… bad)

 

Gemma came in town and insisted we go visit the American Girl store and café in Tyson's.  WOW.  This is what little girls are made of.  Now, we can all agree that these dolls, clothes , ccessories are WAY overpriced…. but the memories, and the dreaming, and the wide eyed excitement.  This is what being a little girl is about.

 

We decided that if DC wasn’t going to get any snow this winter…

    

        We would find some!!

 

 

 

     And we did!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While on our Winter retreat with our college students, we took the kids to a kids’ snow village at a ski resort.  Ignore the fact that it was 65 degrees on that Friday… by Saturday it was 42 and FREEZING.  The top of the mountain was in the 30’s and thankfully they have the technology to make snow.  The memories and great pics are too many to post here so they will get a separate post.

 

Carson finally got to go to an evening event with Daddy on campus at Georgetown!  Most of our weekday campus events don’t start until 9, but Carson heard one Sunday them announce that a meeting was at 8, and he begged to go.  He got to hang with his buddy Tripp Lee, who spoke on “Am I really a Christian?”

Somehow, by BABY turned 3.  Not allowed.  3 is like the right of passage into big kid world.  Slow down little llamas.  Don’t go growing up so fast!

We had an easy, simple yet FUN Pinkalicious party (which I will post about separately) We celebrated this little lady. 
 

And hung out with the these Capitol Hill cuties!

 

I made 2 cakes in 1 month…

I have a great recipe tweak to box cake mix that makes the cake moist, springy, and REALLY easy to cut and arrange (if you are trying to make a cool shape)  Just follow the recipe in the link and use the instant pudding flavor that best goes along with your cake mix flavor. 

PS—I have a promised that each of my kids will get at least one awesome cake/amazing party by me at some point in their life.  I am all about simple cupcakes, and store bought Carvel icecream cakes!    Charlotte had hers at 4 with her Cowgirl Party (simply
uh-Mazing).   Carson, buddy… I think this counts for you.

And after all that fun and craziness---  I turned 32.  I have 1 more baby on the way, many more gray hairs, and my blessings just keep overflowing.  We continued the DC tradition of “Birthday Pie” from Dangerously Delicious.  David spoiled me and I felt VERY celebrated and loved!  (and I have a new Kindle Fire to enjoy when those late night feedings come next month!)

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So that is where our month has gone….  It has been busy, crazy, and amazingly fun.  I might not have time to blog about all this as often as I want, but I at least I have time to live this grand life of mine.  To love these sweet children, to be loved by this great man, to make all these amazing memories.  This is my life--- and I
am so very Thankful for such a time as this!  God has been so kind to us and we pray He continues to give us many more memories like this!

Date Night!

It is really important in marriage to take the time and get a babysitter to take a Date night.  But it is also important to take Date Nights with your kids!  We did just that this past Monday!

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Right after we moved to DC last year, A Chick Fil A opened up near by.  Though it isn’t a free standing store (which means no playground unfortunately) it is close by.   And it is in a more business district, so really famiyl friendly and easy(er) parking on the weekends.    And one of the great things CFA does is host Date Nights for parents to bring their kids to.   And Monday Night was…

So Daddy, got all “hansomed” up and the girls felt SO special going on a date with Daddy.

They were all ready to go out on the town!
And in my opinion they had the best looking date there,

Little Ms Pretty, all ready for her date.

Helen was beside herself and I think she said at one point
”I never been on a date”

Carson was a great sport… and while we are waiting on Chick Fil A to host one of these soon…

We went out on our OWN Mother/Son date out on the Hill. 
Carson chose to go to a little Hot Dog joint called DC-3, where he got mini dog sliders! But the real reason he chose this place was for the hand spun cotton candy!

He took a great picture of a mommy eating her YUMMY Italian sausage!

Both Mommy and Daddy had a fun night making memories with our sweet children.  Taking the time out to enjoy them and celebrate them and remind them what sweet gifts they are to us!

When was the last time you had a date night out
with your child?  

Hugs for Bugs

Long ago, this little one somehow earned
the nickname Henny Buggy

And it stuck.  She has been called…
The Hen, Henny, The Bug, Buggy

Recently she climbed up in my lap,
and declared “Hugs for Bugs!”

And hugs she got!
I responded with “Kisses for misses, Tickles for pickles”

I love the little games you can play with children.  Little cuddle time games that turn into traditions, that turn into memories.   Then one day they grow up and turn 4 and your no longer do those funny little games any more…   I think you should always write these things down, because even though you think you will never forget them, you just do.   I recently realized I hadn’t sung “I love you when you’re happy”  to Carson in a LONG time.   We sang it last night and he had the biggest bed time smile. 

And now… I am off to Hug a Bug.

There’s a Hole in Your Smile!

We were driving down our alley Monday morning, when all of sudden I hear spitting from the back seat. 
    “Something’s in my mouth!” And more spitting. 

“Is that a tooth?” Carson asks.
“No, it’s not a tooth Carson!”  Charlotte responds (not too nicely)

I slam on the breaks, flip around and scream
       “Smile—show me your teeth”….

And this was the cute little snaggle tooth grin looking back at me! 
It was indeed a tooth… and it had just fallen out all by itself !
More shrieks of joy were heard by all of us, as this rite of passage was happening right before my very eyes.   And we celebrated this monumental milestone right there in the Alley.

 

It had been wiggly for a while, but didn’t seem that close to coming out.  I guess I was expecting it to be hanging on by a thread.

And for all the inquiring minds that were curious… Yes, the Tooth Fairy DID make an appearance at our house!

While we may not do Santa or the Easter Bunny, as we don’t want our children to be distracted from the TRUE celebrations of those Holidays… We see nothing wrong with a little childhood magic. 
A Fairy that retrieves teeth and leaves behind treats is in no way going to confuse our children about deep theological issues and Doctrine. 

And let’s face it… our kids are smart cookies.  This little game will probably only last one year.   The “Birthday fairy” also comes to our house (and decorates the halls for each child’s birthday) and already they know it’s me.  Yet, we still play and now Charlotte joins in the fun of being the Birthday fairy for the younger ones. 

 

So…back to Tooth Fairy.

A letter was written… all by herself.  (I spelled the words out and she wrote it all)  I think it was the sweetest little note ever.

Magic was experienced. 
The Tooth Fairy in all her glory came and left behind some treats and a trail of glitter….her magic dust, you know.

Milestones were celebrated.  Mommy maybe cried just a tad at the realization that this toothy toothless grin is growing up.
               Growing up, all too Fast.

What a fun time celebrating this first lost tooth!

A White House Memory

It was a normal Monday morning, lazing around the house, recovering from an Easter Eggstravaganza of a weekend, starting laundry, and making my grocery list. We were about to venture out to my all time favorite store the HT, when the phone rang. 

10:15---- Phone rings.
“We got an extra group ticket to the White House Easter Egg Roll.  Would you guys like to go?It is for the 12:00 group.”

I frantically start thinking about how we could make this work.  I mean the kids are dressed, but not appropriately dressed for the White House.   They are dressed for the Harris Teeter.
I tell the friend we’ll call them right back, and discuss it with Dave.   
          I mean surely we’ll get tickets another year.  
         And the ticket was only for 4 so he wouldn’t be able to go  
         And can I really get all of us ready to go in time??
         And what about our groceries?


We had tried to get tickets through Easter Egg Roll Lottery and didn’t get selected this year.  Did you know that anyone can enter the lottery for tickets to both the Easter Egg roll and the Christmas Tree Lighting?   Well, anyone can enter, which means a lot of people get declined tickets…. but you can also get them through a House/ Senate member.    So I am thinking that surely we’ll get a ticket next year or the next…. but what I have come to learn over the past couple days is that it is extremely hard to get tickets. 

So, I am SO thankful for my (usually not impulsive) husband, who realized in the moment that we should not pass this opportunity up. 
He quickly helped me to get the children re-dressed, packed us up, and dropped us off at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

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We waited in a LONG line to enter the gates into the White House lawn….It was hot and there were over 5,000 people all waiting for our 12:00 entrance time.

The children did great waiting, and the Parks and Rec staff had ample drinks and snacks available to appease antsy little people

After about an hour of waiting, we finally made it through the welcome gates, and up onto the grassy lawn we went.



A small private affair, it was not.  But it sure was fun!



We frolicked and played on the White House lawn,
in awe of the great masterpiece in the backdrop
and in awe of the great nation it represents.



We met another family with 3 children,
and we swapped cameras and took photos for each other.



I may or may not have bribed my children to smile nicely
for this picture… or else.



What sweet pictures capturing a special memory!



It was such a fun experience… and one we will remember forever!

Pictures were taken

Eggs were rolled
(well actually they weren’t… my kids were more interested in other activities than actually rolling an egg)

Games were played

Naps were missed

Much water was consumed

Cheeks and shoulders were burned
(yes, I am that mom who forgot to put sunscreen on her kids)

Souvenir Eggs Treasured

Long lost friends hugged
Yes, while standing in line we found out some of
our Greensboro friends were there too!  We thought we’d never run into them in the mass crowds, but we somehow we found them!

And most of all…
Hearts were thankful for a great opportunity to make a memory!

 

And as always, Mr. Jokester makes it lively for us all!
So thankful for this great city we live in and the fun memories our children will have of growing up here. 

Thanks for sharing in our White House Adventure!

If you want a great book
to introduce your kids to the White House, I highly recommend 
the book Woodrow, the White House Mouse

It is where our children first heard about the White House Easter Egg Roll, along with all sorts of facts about the White House

The book is a favorite around here!  There is also….

House Mouse, Senate Mouse
Courthouse Mouse
and Woodrow for President.

What great fun stories to help introduce our children to politics, government and the principles our great nation was founded on!
We may not always understand or agree with the way our government is run, or decisions that are made… but one thing we firmly desire is for our children to grow up with a healthy honor and respect for the government and authorities God has placed to lead our country.

And all that brought to you from the
cutest little press secretaries ever!