Spring Break

The kids will play when Daddy is away!  Dave was gone Saturday through Wednesday on the Senior Florida trip, but with wonderful help, lazy mornings, unhurried time with friends, it was actually a great (albeit tiring) week.

On Saturday, we started things off by meeting up with a friend and her boys at the library - we loaded up on Spring break reading, played soccer in the field outside, and enjoyed getting to catch up a bit.    

That night we were spoiled with a man n cheese dinner at the Chois (a must when my non-cheese eating hubby is away).  Here Will and Abby and enjoying their Easter chicks (pics of ours to come later!).

Dear Mindy stayed with us for 5 weeks before departing for Afghanistan last Friday.  We LOVED having her around (Will is still asking for her), and it was especially nice to have adult conversation and extra hands while Dave was away. 

 On Monday we met up with these dear Seminary friends and their 4 kids at the zoo.  We braved the INSANE crowds (took us 45 minutes to find parking...a ten minute walk up a big hill!), but it was worth every minute.  That night I was VERY grateful for our sweet friend Erica, who came and helped me get through dinner and bedtime with the boys.

 With Holly and her 4 week old Nathan - it was so fun to meet him!

On Tuesday a dear friend came over and we headed up to Friendship Heights and let little crazies run around while we sipped coffee (and even snuck into Anthropologie).  That afternoon we hit the church parking lot for some biking, and then another sweet ycf friend (thanks Maggie!) came for dinner and bedtime support.

Wednesday we met up with more fun friends at Cabin John Park to picnic and ride the train.

 Oh silly Caden - loved the train, didn't so much love the whistle.  

And then that evening, Daddy was home!  His plane got in 45 minutes early.  He called from the curb as we were getting ready to leave, so decided it would be faster to metro.  After getting over the fact that we weren't going to be the cute family meeting him at the airport, we decided we could meet in Friendship Heights for dinner...

at the restaurant (Chadwicks) where all 3 of our boys were named.  We were all giddy.

Daddy brings home the best presents. 

On Friday afternoon Grandma Kathy arrived - we got home just in time for pizza movie night.

Saturday we headed back out to our favorite farm to see animals and play with some chicks. 

 Love that tongue.

Will's first time on the tire swing.

 A bear and lion got loose in our house one morning - these two have been playing together a lot more lately.

Saturday evening, decorating Easter eggs.  Andrew was very meticulous this year - his eggs turned out better than mine.

Will joined us for the first time this year ;).  And I think we only cracked 3 eggs!  Not bad for 3 energetic boys.

More pics of our Easter celebration to come soon!

Spring....officially

What better way to celebrate the first official day of Spring, than post dinner ice cream under the cherry blossoms!!

Soaking up 70 degrees, no humidity.

Somehow we managed a quick family pic - these boys were excited to explore.

There were rocks to climb, streams to cross.

Happy Spring times.

What really made it perfect is that we ran into these crazies.

Will and Abby decided to take a sweet stroll under the canopy of blossoms - the older boys thought it looked like they were getting married ;).  Will has since asked to see her every day this week.

Earlier that afternoon, a quick stop at the church parking lot to ride bikes.

Think he's ready for a bigger bike?  Or maybe just some more air in the tires would help ;)  Notice the entrance to the Kenwood blossoms behind him...so glorious.

And lastly, had to capture the "euro skinny jeans".  Hilarious.

Happy Spring, everyone!!

Caden St. Patrick Day

We O'Connell's like to celebrate St. Patty's day.  And this year we realized it's an especially fun day for Caden since Patrick is his middle name ;).  

Dave took the boys out to our favorite farm (a local CSA farmed by dear friends) to see some baby animals, while Will and I went to a birthday party for one of his 2 year old buddies.

 Taking turns on the tire swing...we have so many pics like this, but I love them all.

 Meeting the baby pigs.

 20 or so people on horseback passed by on a fox hunt.

Meeting the kids - definitely their favorite.

How cute is that?

 

Some afternoon popcorn and March Madness.

 Thursday we enjoyed having the ycf crew in for Shepherd's pie before Bible Study.  I left things like this for Dave to finish up (Shepherd's Pie in the oven, sticky notes all over the kitchen)....because sometimes you just have to do Math night.  Andrew had been asking for weeks to go to "Math Night" at his school, and knowing we'd be having 50+ people for dinner that night, I was just hoping it could slide off the radar.  But the 2 days leading up, I could tell how desperately he wanted to go.  Not wanting him to feel like he was missing out because of our ministry, we made it work.  I was SO glad we did - he had a blast, and we had such sweet conversation on the way home (and dinner went great - thanks to my wonderful husband, and many other helpful hands).

 And what better way to end St. Patty's day than Guinness Beef Pot Pie...

followed by an unseasonably warm post dinner walk.

little bit of precious

Look what daddy let me do.  Next time we'll make sure to take our church clothes off before playing outside ;). 

Yep, Caden got to ride in a red convertible - truly livin the 4 year old dream.  Thanks Hadley! 

 Will watched...waiting for us to come around the block.

 Hi car.

 I think it's them.

Yay!!  They're back!
We're loving this early Spring weather!!  Soaking up these perfect days, and hoping we're not in for a crazy hot Summer.

Morning in Baltimore

We enjoyed a morning trek to Baltimore a few Saturdays ago, to meet up with some dear old friends at the aquarium.  It was a beautiful day to soak up the inner harbor, beautiful sea life, and sweet conversation whenever we managed to fit it in ;).

The boys in front of what they thought was REAL pirate ship.  Notice the lack of fencing at the water's edge - the entire inner harbor has open ledges, which kept all of us hoppin.

Jim and Tina - love these people!  Will got some extra time with them while I took the older boys to the dolphin show.

 A little aquarium photo shoot.

Soaking up some love from new friends

 Super Will, and a very obliging Jim.

 Sun, water, fun friends - perfect early Spring Saturday.  

Love these precious faces.
And I promise I was there too...just didn't manage to get on the other side of the camera this time.