Eleanor & Oscar's Adventures: April 2009

Iris

I love irises...mine are in full bloom and I am loving them for the last time. Wonder if our new house will have any? I will not be allowed to plant anything that is not seasonal. :(

Eleanor posing in what has become our annual spring iris photo.

TROUBLE!!!

Afternoon at the Beach

Emily burried Eleanor up to her chin!

Helping to build the sandcastle.

What Oscar mostly did at the beach: towed around his "board!"

Eww, seaweed! I love how he was pointing his finger at it!

We love the beach!

Water Fun

Our homemade slip-n-slide! We have also used a C-clamp to attach the hose to the top of the slide when Oscar tires of holding the hose!?!

Splish-splashing with his shovel.

Umm, yes, this is his Thomas nightshirt. He threw an absolute fit and would not take it off. Then...his diaper started oozing crystals and we knew it was time to undertake the battle of putting on swimtrunks!?!

March of Dimes

We walked for the March of Dimes at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront Sunday morning. Eleanor had fun with her friend Madisen from church, they were so cute walking together!

Cookie Time

Eleanor has snack week and they are learning the letter "Z" so we made Z cookies!

Jasmine all dressed up with nowhere to go!

Pool Time

Oscar had fun riding his trike IN the pool!

Pool Diva!
She loves being in the water. Kristian used the slide behind her and a tarp to make a slip-n-slide by clamping the hose on to the top of the slide! They had so much fun...sorry, didn't capture pics of that although I got a funny video. We all had fun relaxing in the backyard after our Spring Break trip to DC and all the hard work we put into the house.

Housing

We are quite pleased to report that we were able to find a lovely home to rent near Old Town Alexandria AND on the same day our house went under contract after being on the market after only two days!?! Praise God! We were dreading the thought of being far-away landlords if the house didn't sell, which we feared, especially in this economy. You can view the virtual tour that our realtor made at: www.williamlayton.com He did a wonderful job and we are so pleased. Tomorrow is the Appraisal and the Home Inspection date is still pending. We hope to close May 29th & Eleanor finishes school on May 21st so things are moving along quite nicely. Kristian will be working to set up a pack out date, pray that it will be after school lets out yet before closing.

The home in DC is one mile from the Metro so Kristian will be able to walk and then relax on the train before catching the shuttle to HQ. We had debated selling the truck and buying a commuter car but now we fear the truck will sit in the driveway begging to be driven!?! We were able to tour Eleanor's new Elementary School, which is less than 1/2 mile from the home, as well as the City Rec Center with a great indoor pool. The house is one of two homes situated at the end of a quiet cul de sac and we can forsee Oscar learning to ride his bike there! We have been so blessed in all of this, considering we dug our heels in when we learned we were to transfer to DC. It is proof that God does have a plan for all of us and will hold us in the palm of his hand during our trying times.

Also this last week, my Mom was in Seattle for a colonoscopy & scheduled gallbladder removal as she continued to have attacks. They were able to remove it laproscopically which they had feared not being able to b/c of scar tissue from her tumor removal last summer. She was discharged the same day she was admitted! Her post-op appt is Monday, April 20th and she will fly home to Alaska on Tuesday.

Metro Ride

Oscar had to stand and hold the pole during our recent trip to DC. We rode the metro to the Pentagon City Mall as a fun break for the kids inbetween seeing houses.

Happy Easter!

This was taken on the front steps of the church prior to the Easter Egg Hunt. It is so hard to get a good photo of the two of them, mostly b/c of Oscar's lack of cooperation.

There it is! The Easter Bunny hides the baskets at our house.

Oscar was particular about his eggs...he didn't want any pink or purple ones! How does that happen at such a young age? It is so fun to see the innate differences between boys and girls.

A bit washed out but too cute to not share. They are both so photogenic!

Careful in those heels big girl!

Eleanor & Drew. They are like an old married couple...too sweet!

"Can we go outside?" is Oscar's constant plea.

Here he is after dumping a big haul (of mulch, not eggs) back at home. BTW, he is in love with his new "cool guy sunglasses!"

Mall Play Area

Look at those long legs! She has gotten SO tall lately!

Robotics Tech Oscar!

He works well with his hands already...last night he unscrewed the toothpaste lid, proving it a good thing that we keep it up high out of little hands reach!

Astronaut Ellie!

I feel kinda silly posting these pics but the kids had so much fun posing at the Mall Play Area...and I had snapping their photos! Cheap entertainment as I told them I didn't have money to put in the machines...only Daddy does!?!