The Birthday Boy's "Big Boy Bike"

For Oscar's 3rd Birthday we bought him a Big Boy Bike. He calls it his "motorcycle!"

He is SO handsome...no, I'm not biased!
concentrating...although this bike rides like a dream!

Eleanor getting in on the photographic action.

Riding circles around us in front of the house.

I still can't believe my baby is THREE!?!

Easter Egg Hunt

A classmate of Eleanor's invited both children to an Easter Egg Hunt in his backyard.

In addition to the egg hunt, he had a swing set AND a trampoline. Needless to say, a great time was had by all!

Boys best friend

Oscar giving Jasmine a hug.

Palm Sunday

Our church had a live donkey procession, quite fun for the children.

(Eleanor is on the right in a pink coat petting the donkey.)
Oscar hitting me with his palm branch, I mean, waving, his palm branch!

Yum!

Oscar enjoying fresh homemade whipped cream!

Kristian is our gourmet weekend breakfast chef whose specialty includes bacon, waffles, strawberries & whipped cream!

Fun Family Photo

We attended the retirement ceremony of a dear friend at Fort McNair. Eleanor was thrilled to see the Crystal Ballroom! Oscar enjoyed watching the colorguard procession & even saluted.

The children behaved quite well given their age and the length of the ceremony. Chocolate cake is always the best bribe!

Behind the Potomac River is the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial & beautiful blooming cherry trees at the Tidal Basin. It was an overcast Southeast Alaska kind of day, well-suited for a retiring Captain who worked predominantly in wet weather.

Green with envy

We got the biggest kick out of this: the Bigmow!

It's like a roomba vacuum cleaner but for lawns instead of carpet! Oscar was in heaven...I know it's a random post, but those of you with boys understand!

Birthday Boy

Thank you Nanna, Poppa Brian & Auntie Bekah! Oscar loved his birthday package.

I caught great video footage of him playing "Don't Spill the Beans" he gets SO excited!

Queen Jasmine

Caught napping where she shouldn't be!

(Although she does deserve credit for blending in...)

Eleanor's ear piercing

What a brave 5 1/2 year old!

No tears, just sheer determination!

Admiring her new ruby birthstone earrings.
My baby girl is getting so grown up!!!
She asked about having her ears pierced before going to church, and when she asked again afterwards we knew she was serious. This girl was in the zone, there was no looking back.

One lump or Two?

This miniature teaset is a repo of Martha Washington's, called Ribbons & Cornflowers.

Both children have been obsessed with serving tea since our visit to Mount Vernon. Mostly Oscar pours cool tapwater from the big blue pitcher into the teaset and is entertained for hours!?! Eleanor & I prefer the real deal, down to the sugar & half-and-half!

Do come for tea!

Mount Vernon

The children with life-size bronze statues of President & Martha Washington.

Marthalee was our tourguide. It was a beautiful day.
It was so beautiful that there was a long line to tour the house (to the left behind the trees).
We bought an annual pass and will return when there isn't a line, come visit us!
I love that I captured Oscar's grimace!
Fruit tree espaliers begining to bloom.

I HAD to include this priceless photo of sisterly love...in her defense she was trying to help me get him to look for the photo!

Peeking into "the Necessary."

It was grand for it's day, a 3-seater!

THE front porch overlooking the Potomac River.

Carriage. How transportation has evolved!

A true split rail fence

The boys checking out the Potomac.

A reproduction 16-sided threshing barn, one of GW's many inventions.

We had a great visit & I enjoyed learning more in-depth about our first President.

His dentures were on display, so that was particularly fascinating for me. The children are so blessed to be taking in these sights at a young age, perhaps American History will come easier for them than me!

Spring has sprung!

Our backyard produced a field of crocuses!

What a pleasant surprise!
We enjoyed a picnic lunch and Eleanor picked our centerpiece.

Happy boy on the teeter-totter.

Engineering boy taking seats off teeter-totter.

Playing hide and seek with Oscar.

He was too quick to catch his face in the opening.

Daffodils just starting to bloom.

Fire Station

Too cool & super shiny...a brand new ladder truck!
Our neighbor friend had a tour of a local firestation in conjunction with his Birthday party. We saw firefighter trucks, tools, turnout gear, & their living quarters. A great time was had by all!

Meeting Miss Norah

I was so excited to have Drew introduce me to his little sister Norah! Isn't she a doll?

Oceanfront

I attended a dental hygiene conference last weekend in Virginia Beach and had a wonderful oceanfront room! I got up early and ran along the boardwalk, enjoyed a wonderful evening out with my girlfriends and am thankful to have earned all my continuing education credits (albeit long) in one weekend. Kristian did a great job with the kids! As my friend Marthalee would say, he earned "major martyr points" for that!

Jasmine Vanilla

Eleanor has agreed to a long-time ago suggestion (from my friend & dental co-worker Naomi in Petersburg, AK!) that Jasmine's middle name is Vanilla!
Stretching out on her new orthopedic bed. (The waterproof pad is there b/c she had an epileptic accident on her old bed and I don't want it to happen again if I can help it!)
When I left the room to get the camera, her ear was standing straight up. It flopped down by the time I returned...she's still so darn cute though!