Funny Dinner Videos

I want Aaron to see the funny things our kids are doing while he's gone. Elise exercising her eyebrows:

Elise sings, "I'm a mean old witch with my hat..." The funny thing about this song is when she first heard it at JoyScool, she was really scared! Gina said she burst into tears the second time they were going to practice it. But look at her now! I think she may have scared herself a bit! : )

Sweet Naps

We miss Aaron! He went to San Antonio for work super early Monday and won't get back until tommorrow. He's working super hard and pretends not to enjoy all the steak dinners he doesn't have to pay for, for our sake. : )

Since I have to run with the kids, we got to try out our "new" double jogging stoller from Craigslist this week. Even though it's hardwork in the current weather (I admire people who jog with these regularly), this is one of the great things about going in the middle of the day... sleeping babies.

It brings back such sweet memories of when we first moved here, before we had a car and could visit our friends. Elise and I would go out for long walks every day to explore the surrounding neighborhoods, dream about the pretty houses and watch the seasons change. Most days, she'd fall asleep. I liked to call her my little Eskimo Elise.

Pirates & Princesses

Callie threw a theme party for her daughter Hannah, and she had such fun ideas! Elise showing off her pirate loot (sparklies and beads in rice), with her sweet friend Summer. They searched for the treasure chest with a map (and a lot of help from Hannah's daddy).

From Pirates and Princesses

Hannah, Trina & Summer searching for treasure.

Princess Elise with her good friend, Ches the Pirate.

Elijah in his lion costume, studying his treasure.

From Pirates and Princesses

A really fun thing about seeing your kids grow up is watching their friendships develop and grow stronger as they get older. Like Elise and Ethan... they've known each other for more than 2/3 of their lives.

These pictures are from a fun FHE lesson by Trina on Noah, and Mark is acting as Noah crying repentance to the people.

The people didn't listen and were covered with a flood... I thought this was a inventive way to tell this story and involve the kids. I love these dinner family home evenings!

Bert the Nerd

For Marnie's Birthday, we met up w/ her family & friends for a free program called Saturday Morning at the National Theater. We got to see a juggler, who called himself Bert the Nerd. The look on the kids' faces said it all... I had more fun watching laugh with delight and dancing to the music!

Bert the Nerd, displayed his talent on a unicycle and worked hard for applause.

The cute bunch of party-goers... I just noticed, but this picture gives some perpective to how high up this juggler was with the 6 foot unicycle laid out on the stage like that.

Afterwards we went to the park and ate some yummy pasta salad, apples w/ spice & cool whip, and cupcakes. The park was right in the center of downtown DC. The kids found and made friends with a little puppy, and Ethan played a little tug o' war with it. It was a beautiful day!

Thank you Caudle family for a fun, truly DC outing and celebration! It was a great idea.

Port Discovery

I'm so grateful that Jenny sent us the coupon for this museum (Port Discovery) in Baltimore! She is such a great resource when it comes to stuff to do out here as well as child development. We met up with her and her boys: Micheal & Nicholas and Michelle & Damon. It was totally worth the drive, we had such a great time and we spent 3 or 4 hours out there including a little lunch break at McDonald's.

Micheal, Elise and Damon "hiding" in the ball pit - I think this one is hilarious!

From Port Discovery

Elijah hangs ten in a cool water room. He really does take after Grandpa Larry!

From Port Discovery

Damon surfing - he really looks like a surfer with his blond, blond hair!

From Port Discovery

Nicholas makes this look easy, what a handsome guy!

From Port Discovery

Team Micheal - Elise! Team surfing?

From Port Discovery

As always I took a million pictures, here are the rest of them.

Cool Caterpillar at Norwood

Bobby found this huge caterpiller clinging to his blankie when he got out of the car at Norwood Park the other day... It was the most amazing insect I have ever seen - bright neon green, tiny red dots, with fuzzy, sticky legs.

Everyone was completely fascinated by it...

Deb studied it. She kept making these noises to describe it's sticky little legs - it was so funny! I wish I could describe it better, but it kind of sounded like stepping in mud!

Michelle is a little disgusted by it. : )

The kids loved examining and touching it.

Fun times on the tire swing.

Damon is so so cute!

This picture is of Elise and Damon at Meadowbrook Park the other day... We were thrilled to see our friends Damon and Michelle so much the last couple of weeks - we have missed them!

Family Hayride at Homestead

So, those who know me well will not be surprised that I accidently left my backpack (along with our camera) at Homestead Farm when I went for playgroup. Thank heavens for answered prayers, honest people and the workers at this farm! We went early on Saturday and everything was waiting for us at the register.


We even got to hop on a hayride for half the price - $3 each! Apparently they do cheaper rides on the weekends in October, but you have to pay for the pumpkin you pick.
We were so grateful to experience this with Aaron, who is gone so much lately!

Harvest time at Homestead

(Center Row of photos: Elijah pointing at a pumpkin, Katie, Thomas and a teeny tiny apply, Abby and a huge pumpkin)

This has been our third year going to Homestead Farm. So, I have to begin by posting these Homestead pics from years past again. I love this fall tradition!

Fall 2006 (Ethan, Elise, Damon, Summer, Ches)


Fall 2007 (Ches, Elise, Elijah and Annika)



October 2008
It was a beautiful, almost too warm day for the farm! I thought it would be fun to dress my kids in similar outfits for fall pictures! They were not interested in posing, of course!

A collage of of the kids playing on the haystacks.

A picnic and tour of the farm animals. The kids favorite animals were the piglets.


Sofia, Michelle and Elise showing off their apples.

From Homestead

Julia and Sofia pick a bushel of green apples.

From Homestead

Mina gazing at the apple orchard.


Heather found pumpkin siamese twins!


I love this family! Heather, Mina and Scott.


Kicking it.


Two of the cutest girls and their beautiful children. Katie, Thomas & Lucy with Deb and Bobby.


Debi & Michelle wave with Julia and Sofia. Debi is one of the most vibrant and generous people that I know and Julia is one of the sweetest.


The rest of the pics:

More Fun with Mina & Heather

This time, the kids and I got to go over to Heather's stylishly decorated apartment to play. They live in a beautiful neighborhood in Bethesda, and their driveway is lined with fig trees. I've still yet to taste one (they weren't ripe).

Elise and Elijah had a blast playing with Mina and all her fun toys. Heather told me all about an interesting book she's reading about a family's experience in deciding to harvest/ raise their own food or purchase it locally. It seems like such a wholesome way of living! I really admire Heather for choosing to be a vegetarian. I should become one too...

I love this beautiful pumpkin & harvest bread pan. Heather baked us some yummy lemon poppy seed bread.

It tasted and smelled divine!

Mina and Elijah have a love-hate relationship... He smacked her in the face with a toy truck - I was horrified! And sometimes, Mina likes to affectionately bump people and I think Elijah didn't realize it meant she likes him. But Mina and I are great friends! I love this smiling, scrunchy eyes face she's making!

The kids playing hide and seek in Mina's room.