The Getaway- Part 1

Joseph and I had the opportunity after 8 years of marriage to get away for 5 days without the kids. It was SO MUCH FUN!! Why haven't we done this before?

We went up to DC to take in all the sights, and let me tell you, we crammed in soooo much!

We left on a Wednesday and headed up to my Uncles house in Alexandria. We had dinner, and my Uncle showed us some sights before we got started the next day on all we had planned.

My Aunt was telling us about a townhouse that was about 6ft. wide. I didn't really believe that... so my uncle drove us by it. Crazy! If you couldn't tell, its the blue one in the middle. I guess some people were fighting over the alley in the middle, and the solution was to build a house in it. I wonder how they got their couch in there?

He also drove us down to see the Potomac, and the statue of the Awakening. It was neat! We also passed by the church where George Washington attended, and where his funeral took place. I wasn't able to get a picture though.

Thursday morning we headed off to Mt. Vernon!

We were able to tour George Washington's home, it was amazing.

View of the Potomac from the back porch

George Washington and his wife Martha's grave

The old family tomb where George Washington was originally buried

His new family tomb that he requested be built and have him buried in, in his will

Mt. Vernon is still a working farm, and they had people dresse in character taking care of it, It was neat!

View of the back of the mansion

After Mt. Vernon we headed off to the DC Temple to do an Endowment session.

I never realized how big this Temple was... It is gorgeous.

 

 Selph portrait as we were leaving...

First full day of vacation.. done.

April Rewind: Goodbye Scott, Hello Mud!

In my attempt to blog again on a regular basis, I am just going to post a bunch of pictures of whats been going on around here the last few months! I am SO far behind!

So obviously this picture didn't upload correctly, but thats alright. Its still cute. Ben LOVES Granddaddy, and he'd stay outside with him ALL day if he could!

My brother Scott left for his mission to Recife Brasil! Here is a picture after his farewell talk. What a crew.

Getting ready to board the plane!  I miss that kid like crazy!!

Also, back in April I was able to participate in a mud run last minute with Joseph's sister in law. It was awesome! It was the USMC Ultimate Challenge Mud run up in Columbia. To quote the website: "The Leatherneck is a 5.2 mile all-terrain Obstacle Course designed by a former Marine Drill Instructor to challenge each team mentally, morally and physically. The 36 Obstacles include mud holes, walls, trenches, and more that require swimming, crawling, climbing, jumping, determination, and team work"

Before the run... I'm not sure I knew what I was in for... After all, I had just been asked the day before to participate!!

The water was freezing!

None of these are in order, but you get the point!

We survived!! 

I had a BLAST. These girls were awesome. I am so glad I got to do this. And even finished with a smile!

My kids did lots of cute things I'm sure, but since I'm so far behind, I'll post pics of them later...



Rounding up March

Wow... Could I be any more behind?  Here are a few pictures to sum up the rest of March.

We were invited to a friends Birthday Party at the rollerskating rink. I imagined it being way easier than it turned out to be!  Maddy wouldn't even attempt to skate. She just wanted to sit. It terrified her!(no surprise) Ben was all about it at first. Of course the skates didn't come in his size, so I put Maddy's on him and skated around the rink while he dangleed from my arms with his feet rolling across the rink. Then there was Sarah. She loved it!  She let me take her around a few times, and she let Mike (the B-day girls Daddy) take her around too! Then she practiced with the walkers that they have. I was shocked. She is usually my timid one.  Content to sit and watch everyone else. Not this time!

She was loving it.

We later found out that strollers are allowed on the rink, so I put Ben in ours and skated the night away. Maddy never did warm up to it. I wish I had more pictures!

Random picture of Ben NOT paying attention at Storytime... Its turned into a lost cause anyway. Maddy has the riddles memorized so right away the librarian asks Maddy not to answer- and Sarah and Ben never pay attention. We rarely go these days. Its sad! I've been taking Maddy since she was 10 months old. She should have started kindergarten but missed the cut off so she has had an extra year... Sarah and Ben have never enjoyed it the was Maddy has, so I'm ready to call it quits.

I love this picture!  They love eachother so much, and truely enjoy playing together. (most days...)

Now that its warm we spend out afternoons having tailgate parties in my mom's driveway ;)

The kids love nothing more than to hang out with Aunt Erynn...

My grandpa's birthday is the day after Sarah's (St. Patties Day) So we had a little get together to celebrate. I have a super cute picture of the girls next to these azaelea's from a couple years ago, so I thought it would be great to snap one with all three kids.

Ben wasn't so thrilled, and eventually had his feelings hurt. But I love it anyway!

Our latest family photo (we welcome pinkie pie to our family, Sarah's b-day gift from my grandma)

Stephanie and me cheesin' it. People think we look just alike.  I'm not seeing it!

They were loving trying to reach the wind chime hanging from the tree. What cute kids...

That pretty much sums up our March! Now onto Easter...

Sarah's Birthday

I still can't get over how fast babies grow. Can Sarah already be three? Time really does fly...

Sarah decided back in February that she wanted to have a frog birthday party. She LOVES the color green.. so I thought it was very fitting. She wanted a frog cake, and I didn't want to buy a pan, so I just made myself a pattern!

I took a 9x13 and cut out legs and feet and added it to a round cake. Then used cupcakes for eyes

Not too bad!

Looking more like a frog after it has some frosting on it!

Tada!

I was proud! Looks pretty good I think!

I knew the frog couldn't feed the whole family, so I made some lilypad cupcakes too.

I took a gummy lime slice (like the orange slices) and smashed it down and rolled it in sugar. It made the perfect lilypad!

All finished! Time to party.

We just invited family, but lets face it, I have a whole lot of family members! It was crowded!  We had pizza and salad and the kids played in the back yard for a while.

Ben + Porter = best buds

The dead grass made it extra fun to play with the balloons. Originally Ben came outside with one thinking he could play with it like a ball, but when he dropped it-  it popped. Naturally the older kids started bringing all the balloons outside and tried not to let them touch the ground. I couldn't stop laughing! When the balloons touched the ground they literally exploded, sending  pieces flying in all directions... Repeatedly.

Blowing out the birthday candles!

 -with the one eyed frog :( I guess it was just too irresistable and had to be eaten! Sarah didn't even notice, so all was well.

After cake and popcicles (and the great icing all over the carpet incident) it was time for the

Frog pinata!

I didn't really think this one through... So Joseph held it for a few of the little kids, then we graduated to putting it on a broom and holding it from behind the clubhouse climber so we wouldn't be hit!

Maddy taking a whack at it...

Ben was horrified! It was hilarious!

It took a big kid going crazy in order to bust it open. No surprise there.

Happy Birthday girl!

Then I had to show that frog who was boss...

Take that frog!!

Time for presents!!

She loved all of her gifts, but she loved her banana sundae card the most...

My little Sare-Bear had a wonderful 3rd birthday! We love her very much and we are so grateful that she was born into our family.

Happy Birthday Sarah!!

My sweet little Sare-bear is THREE. I can't even believe it. Where did the time go?

We are so grateful that you are in our family! Here's to another year... Happy Birthday Sarah! We love you!