Off to D.C.

My parents came into town on Tuesday April 13th, to fly out to see my brother, Jeff, in D.C., the next day. They suggested that I come, I ended up booking a ticket on Friday and flew out, with Paige, on Sunday morning. Paige did really well on the plane, thanks to a really nice lady who entertained her and held even held her for the landing.

Sunday night we had dinner with the missionaries and a friend of Jeff's.

Monday morning we headed into downtown. Paige had her first bus ride. Then it was on to the Metro. Our first stop was the U.S. Capitol

Paige loved all the statues.

The weather was beautiful.

Next stop: Library of Congress, which was gorgeous. We saw Thomas Jefferson's phenomal library. We also toured the Supreme Court. Paige and I got kicked out, not sure if it was her acting up or the cell phone ringing simultaeously!

We went home early that night and had dinner at Jeff's apartment.

Tuesday: We stopped at the National Zoo. Paige loved all the animals. The weather was even better.

Paige was great about sitting in her stroller and taking naps in there. Luckily she loves to be out and about. Even after being out all day, she would cry when we'd take her inside.

Next Stop: White House Visitor Center. Paige cleaned the floors for them. Anything to keep her entertained. I enjoyed looking a pictures of the First families and ladies.

We stopped for dinner at the Reagan Center in the Federal Triangle. Paige got soaking wet in the fountain, but she didn't mind.

Jeff met up with us to tour the Portrait Gallery with art of/by people who was influenced America.

This was one of my favorite pieces. Also, a portrait of Joseph Smith. There happened to be a Jazz group performing that evening so we stayed and listened. It was relaxing and a nice atmosphere.

Before going home we had ice cream and walked through Chinatown. Wouldn't want to miss seeing a kitchen full of dangling chickens with their heads still on.

Wednesday: We took a break from DC and went up to Fredrick, MD. It was raining, but they had a great downtown area with shops and some beautiful bridges.

We met Rick's Mom and Barry for lunch at the Olive Garden. My parents and Paige had never met Barry. It was nice to have everyone together-Rick was there via cell phone.

Paige also got to meet their dogs, Cocoa and Java. She LOVED them.

We met Jeff at the National Naval Medical Center, where he works. He made impressions of my Mom for whitening trays. It was fun to watch Dr. Hoyle in action. I played assistant.

We went back to Jeff's and made cinnamonless cinnamon rolls bachelor pad style (the water bottle was the rolling pin). Paige and Grandpa had a early night; Mom, Jeff and I went shopping at Macys.

Thursday: We walked the National Mall, there was a big Earth Day celebration going on including a 'Save the Whale' demonstration. Collected freebie souveniers!

It was Smithsonian day. We went to the Hirshol Art Smithsonian and then took a snack break in the Smithsonian Gardens.

We spent a little while in the Air and Space Museam. It was very overcrowded, but I enjoyed the Wright Brothers display.

Paige was a trooper, but she did have her moments. This was her throwing a fit for an entire train full of people on the Metro. Video would have given better justice. It was quite a show.

There is a new Smithsonian called Native American. It was beautiful. They had exhibits for all the Indian tribes, including the Yakama Nation of Washington State. I loved the special exibit that featured art made of sports gear. Next, we met up with Jeff and toured the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It's were all of our bills are printed (there and another plant in Dallas). It was probably my favorite thing to see. The day before the new $100 bill had been unveiled. It will come into circulation early 2011.

We got to watch people printing, inspecting, and packing real bills and a stack of a million dollars in $10 bills. I think I'll start stating my height in $100 bills, it sounds pretty high!

As the sun was setting we walked along the Mall some more.

I had never been to the WWII Memorial, and what a great evening for it.

Friday morning we drove through the Shenandoah Valley to Charlottsville, VA, were Monticello is (Thomas Jefferson's estate). There's a picture of it on the back of one of our coins... (check a nickel). Overlooking the estate was a phenomenal view.

Paige and I also got kicked off this tour, but we spied at Miss Virginia who was walking around and enjoyed the gardens. We had dinner at a cafe in downtown Charlottsville. Wow, what a nightlife, which wasn't too surprising since the University of Virginia is located there.

Saturday morning Paige and I packed up and then we all headed to Great Falls, in Virginia. It was a gorgeous cascading waterfall in a wonderful park. We enjoyed driving through the amazing neighborhood getting there.

We watched kayakers brave the trip down the rapids, crazy.

It was a perfect ending to a great trip. Paige was amazing on the flight home (mostly because she had her own seat, and she was exhausted from a long week).

A special THANKS to Rick, who took care of Tyson, Bradley and Kate all week.

Easter Events

We headed down to Kent Station for the second year to the Easter Scavenger Hunt, Egg Hunt, and picture with the bunny.You would never guess that two seconds earlier Kate was screaming and bawling because she was scared of the bunny, even though she knew it was 'just a person dressed up like a bunny'-classic.

I headed up the neighborhood hunt again. This year we had about 24 hunters with 400+ eggs. It poured all day Friday and into the night. Luckily it was a dry morning, just wet grass.

Paige did quite well, she actually collected eggs instead of just opening the first one she got.

By the time we hit Kent Station Paige had a hard time being limited to her 5 eggs, she wanted them all.

We had bagels, muffins, donuts, and hot chocolate after the neighborhood hunt.

Later that night we did one at home. I decided that to make it fair for the girls Tyson should have his legs tied together and Bradley had one arm tied behind his back. They thought it was fun, and it worked out well.

It was Bradley's favorite hunt.

Kate loved her chocolate bunny and furbee baby.

Rick thought 3 egg hunts were a bit excessive, demeaning the real meaning of Easter. We debated this on the way down to Kent Station. Luckily Kate saved me by giving an accurate account of the Ressurection, completely impromtu. Pheww!

By the end of the night Paige had figured out which chocolates she could open herself so she didn't have to bother asking for assistance.

We ended the evening with egg coloring.

Sunday we watched conference and had the Hatch family over for Michelle's birthday dinner- Happy 37th sis....wow we're getting up there!

A Mouse in the House!!!!

No, just Paige chewing through a stick of butter, April Fools!

We started putting in a new closet organizer on April Fools Day, so I told Kate we were emptying it out to be her new bedroom. She said "how are you going to fit my big bed (double) in here?" Turns out, she ended falling asleep in there...and we didn't even have to move a bed in for her!

But our best joke of the day was on Bradley.

He got plastic food in his lunch box courtesy of his brother!

There was also a note that said his real lunch was in a brown bag in his backpack. Apparently his teacher thought it was hilarious and showed the whole class.

Bradley's Big Baptism

Bradley was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on March, 27, 2010. He was baptized at the same time as another classmate, Rachel. It was a nice service. His uncle Brian gave a great talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost that he related to his GPS.

Afterwards, we had friends and family over for soup, salad, and dessert. It turned out the be a sunny day in March, though originally forecasted at 80% chance of rain. Instead we actually used the deck/yard which was great since there were over 40 people at the house!

Thanks to all who attended and made it a special day for him. We are so proud of you Bradley. You're really growing up.

My Spring Chicken

I was planning a trip to the zoo with my family, but we spontaneously decided to pull the boys out of school an hour early to join us. It was a fun surprise. Good thing we took the boys out of school early... otherwise they might have missed out on their gravity lesson...

We went to the Woodland Park Zoo with my brother, Brian and son Zachary, Michelle and Spencer, and my parents. A little role reversal I'd say.
Just monkeying around.
It turned out to be a cool but sunny day. A lucky break in a crazy spring season of downpours.

The most entertaining animals of the day were the monkeys. There were two of them playing/fighting for a burlap bag. It was so funny to watch. There was quite a crowd all roaring when they would tease and bat at each other.

Cousins Spencer and Zachary with Kate.

This peacock certianly wasn't afraid. She put on quite a show.

Double Derby

Bradley turned 8 just in time to join scouts and enter the pinewood derby this year. They (mostly Rick and Tyson) worked and worked on the cars. We pulled it off and at 7:50 and glue still drying they headed out the the weigh-in on Tuesday night (doors closed at 8:00).
They had a lot to live up to since Tyson won the whole thing last year.
They raced and raced... winning most, but a few second places...

Bradley ended up (after computer glitches and judging errors--we missed you Rich Haddock!) with first place in the Wolf Den.

Tyson got first place (was supposed to be second) in the Webelos Den.

Kate and Sydney hung out at the coloring table.

Paige learned how to climb and stand on the chairs.

Overall, it was kind of a bummer that the computers were down and the trophies got all mixed up, but the cars looked at raced great... a success.

Big 8 Bradley

Bradley turned 8 on MARCH 9TH. He recently gave a poem during a school assembly for their virtue of the month, it was on Honesty.

Hanging out in the temporary playhouse (dishwasher box, courtesy of a friend).

We had a birthday party Monday night with Grandma and Grandpa Hoyle and the Hatch kids (their parents were on a cruise.)

He got CASH.... always a favorite gift. As well as two video games, scout stuff, baseballs, and a racetrack.

Kate was equally as excited...

On Bradley's actual birthday, he, Tyson, Rick, and I all went skiing at Crystal Mountain. It was Bradley's 2nd time. We took him on the real lifts and he did great. He was on and off the lift and up and down the mountain like a pro. It was really fun. Tyson is a great skier too. We had a great day. Thanks for watching the kids Mom.

Love Abounds

Valentine's Day 2010.... We had spinach stuffed manacotti and heard-shaped breadsticks for dinner. Tyson helped me make it. We've had a lot of fun cooking together on Sundays now that we have church from 1-4pm. We make something and put it in the oven to bake while we're gone. His goal is to make a whole meal by himself soon. I LOVE having his help/company in the kitchen.

Valentine's Eve: Rick and I went to a party with some friends. Tyson babysat (Paige slept). We came home to this. It was so sweet. Bradley was on the floor next to them. We had a fun morning as a family.

The boys all got new sneakers, Paige tried them on, while getting her fill of chocolate. My Valentine to her was a helium balloon. I knew she'd love it. It was also part of the center piece with some flowers for our dinner.

But they couldn't have been more excited about the Valentines' from Grandma and Grandpa Hoyle. After Kate saw her $4 dollar bills she shouted "I'm free!." Later, she said "I can buy ANYTHING I want!"

Showing off his 8 dollar bills. He was so happy that Grandma rounded up.

Paige helping herself to one of her favorite and most accessible foods. Thankfully she put something healthy in her body after all that chocolate.

The next two days were mid-winter break (shortened due to the teachers' strike in September). Monday, the kids played with their friends all morning, then we went to the Supermall as a family in the afternoon to rent skis and climb the wall. Tuesday the boys went skiing with Rick. It was Bradley's first time, and Tyson's 3rd.