dentist

all done!

So we finally got our act together and made an appointment for Andrew to see the dentist. Thanks to the bravery of the Berenstein Bears at THEIR dentist, Andrew was actually excited to go. His dentist was very pleasantly surprised to have such a happy little patient! He was even great about getting fluoride and having his teeth flossed. Just another way that our little guy is growing up so fast.

ready to go!

counting teeth

very excited about his good bag

lovin' life with grandpa and grandma

Our computer has been down for the last week, so I'm just now getting around to adding pictures of our wonderful time with Grandpa Jack and Grandma Kathy. From the moment they arrived, the boys wanted them to do everything - feed them, read to them, get them dressed, put them to bed. We all loved it :).

One of many egg hunts Andrew enjoyed with Grandma Kathy

Zuccinii bread, head scratch, and cuddle time with Jack = happy boy.

My parents were a HUGE help to us in the yard. We got our flower beds ready (creating several new ones), and planted about 40 dahlias (in the 90 degree heat!). Here the boys are helping me water.

happy wet boy.

Andrew looking like gumby in mommy's rainboots.

oHIo

We had a WONDERFUL time catching up with dear friends from seminary at the Kessler home in Ohio. We decided to make our gathering kid-free this year, which was such a treat. I felt seriously giddy as we took our time in fun vintage second hand stores, strolling through the mall, eating leisurely lunches, playing at an arcade, and going to a movie. The best was having concentrated time to talk with dear friends.

Dave's favorite - getting ice cream at Jenni's

Prices, OC's, Nilsson's, Kessler's (we missed you Richter's and Scott's!)

the girls - Meagan, Laura, Holly, Laura

catching up

The last few weeks have been full and wonderful. My parents flew in on the 17th just in time to celebrate my birthday. After a weekend full of soccer, parties, yard work, shopping, and church (Dave preached Sunday evening), we took off on Monday for a 4 day kid-free reunion with seminary friends in Ohio! Our boys looove Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Jack, so although they were fighting little colds (and shared them with my parents), they had a wonderful time. Here are a few pics of the bday celebration. More from the rest of the week to come!

birthday party

cupcake time!

birthday flowers from my man

Blowing out birthday candles

Caden just after kising Elizabeth - notice his hand, notice her face...we're in trouble.

buddies

Laura and Andrew with our dear Monie

Easter fun

We had a wonderful weekend celebrating Easter!! Dave returned home from his week in Florida a few hours early on Good Friday (we were sOOOO happy to have him home!!!). We also decorated Easter eggs that evening - Andrew was definitely into it this year, which was fun!

Easter was a full, busy, wonderful day. Beautiful church services in the morning (which started at 5:45am for Dave), and a family gathering at the Wintroll's from 4-8:30pm.

Andrew wanted to empty each egg as he put it in his basket

Kaleigh, Hunter, Andrew smiling at their Tia

boys on the run

the family , right before Dave headed back to church for evening service

weekend full o' spring

We had a beautiful Spring weekend here in DC, full of cherry blossoms, holding baby chicks, and time with friends and family. Here are a few of the highlights in pictures:

Caden holding baby chick at the Glenn farm

Andrew and Caden petting baby chick

Kenwood cherry blossoms with my boys

Caden and Andrew in a cherry tree

Andrew with Grandma Dee Dee

Jammie time with Freddie

a week in our life

So although this has to be incredibly boring for anyone else to read, I thought it would be fun to record all of our activities in detail for one week so I can look back and remember more than just chaos , but the structure and routine which made these years work. I'm already having a hard time remembering just a week ago, but here's my attempt:

Saturday, March 28

• Dave attended his leadership conference through lunch
• -Andrew woke up with a fever, we were supposed to go to he and Caden's soccer class at 10am, but had to stay home.
• -We had dinner plans with a new MOPS friend of Laura's (and her family), but had to bail b/c of our sicky
• -5pm - ordered pizza out, Andrew's fever is gone, he's perky
• -7:00 baths, 7:30 to bed

Sunday, March 29

• Dave took of for church at 7:30am
• -Laura and boys arrived at church for 9:30 service
• -12:30 home from church, quick lunch and naps
• -Dave had meeting after church, arrived home at 2pm
• -1-3 - Laura planned meals for the week, made shopping list, worked on cbs lesson
• -normally we all attend the evening service at 6pm, but I took the boys to Trader Joe's for our weekly grocery run. 7:30 - boys to bed
• 8pm- Jen and Wen-Tsing came over to watch the Battlestar Gallactica finale (yes, we're all big nerds)
  

Monday, March 30

• -boys woke up early (6:30am), so Dave and I took turns sleeping (his day off!)
• -10:00 - loaded up the car and headed to Starbucks
• -10:30 met college friends (Erika and Kathryn and their kids) at the zoo
• -2:00 home from the zoo, boys took naps, Laura does laundry
• -5:30 - headed over the the Choi's for dinner (a typical week usually includes at least one dinner with them)
• -8pm- boys to bed - evening includes folding laundry, watching "Chuck", finishing cbs lesson

Tuesday, March 31

• -9:30-11:30 - head to church for CBS (Community Bible Study) - Laura goes to small group for young moms, boys go to their classes.
• -12:00 - took boys out to lunch at Leedo's with a few other gals and their kids -1pm - home for naps (Laura cleans bedroom, checks email, picks up)
• -4pm - walk to park (boys in wagon) to meet up with a neighbor and her son
• -5:15pm - return home to make dinner (grandma kathy's spaghetti), and see daddy
• -7pm - baths, dishes
• -7:30- kids to bed
• -8pm - watch american idol, prep for Bible study, stay up way too late trying to protect our computers from this virus that's due to unleash on 4/1

Wednesday, April 1

• -9:30 - head to Bible study at the Gilbert's
• -10 - 12- ladies eat, chat, work through Tim Keller study, kids play with Annie and Stephanie
• -12:30 - get home, eat lunch
• -1-3pm - boys nap (Andrew had "room time" for part), Laura cleans kitchen, starts some dinner prep
• -3pm - Andrew up, watches Dora
• -3:30 - Caden up, afternoon play
• -5:30 - Dave home, feed kids, Laura makes dinner
• -6pm - friends from 4th over for dinner (roasted apple and onion pork tenderloin)
• -7:30 - boys to bed
• -7:30 - 10pm - eat dessert, talk with friends, watch American Idol results

Thursday, April 2

• -9am- leave for MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) in McLean, VA
• -9:30 - 11:30 - MOPS - Laura eats yummy "tea" with fellow moms, boys go to (and love) their classes
• -11:30 - 12:30 - eat lunch with other moms/kids after MOPS
• 1-:00 - home for naps, Laura dusts and vacuums main floor, cleans upstairs bathroom and prepares room for weekend guests
• -3:30-4pm - boys up from naps, watch a show
• -4-5pm - Starbucks, giant, toy store run (to get bday present)
• -6-7pm - Dave home, eat dinner (leftover spaghetti)
• -7:30 - boys to bed, girls start arriving for Bible study
• -7:30 - 10pm - Laura hosts/leads bible study for young women at 4th, Dave leads guys study at college house at 4th

Friday, April 3

• -9am- leave for soccer
• -9:30-10:30 - Caden and Andrew take lil kickers soccer class
• -11:00 - stop at Starbucks and giant on way home (to pick up food for weekend guests)
• -12:00-1pm - lunch at home with daddy, Laura vacuums upstairs and basement, changes Andrew's sheets
• -1pm -Caden down for nap, Andrew plays, Laura cleans up lunch dishes
• -1:30-3pm- Andrew up to room for "rest" time (since napped yesterday, won't sleep today), Laura makes chicken and two rice salad (with craisins, orange zest, and yummy dressing) for dinner
• -3:00- Andrew watches show
• -3:30 - Dave takes Caden on errand to grab needed items for his Sr. Florida trip
• -4:30 - Laura and Andrew make quick run to whole foods to get two ingredients I forgot for chicken rice salad
• -5:00pm - The Hopkins arrive for their weekend stay
• -6pm - dinner with whole gang
• -7pm - baths
• -7:30 - kids to bed