Cherry Blossoms

It is Spring in DC and the cherry blossoms are out and it is beautiful!

Brenna and I spent an afternoon downtown taking pictures of the blossoms during the cherry blossom festival. We had a lot of fun brushing up on our photography skills and especially enjoyed people watching!

This couple was our favorite.

Super Heroes

Enjoying Spring!

Jake and Lucy playing "camping" in the backyard. We had 2 weekends in a row of hiking and burgers with the Bird's. The weather was perfect as was the company. The first weekend we hiked to a waterfall and then stopped at Five Guys on the way home. The kids were so great on the hike and I think all of the energy they stored during the winter was used up! The second weekend we went on more of a nature walk followed by grilling our own burgers. I have to say, the grilled burgers were better than Five Guys. The group checking out the fish. (Except, what is Jeff checking out?) Jake is so proud of his worm. He insisted on bringing the worm home with us after our hike. Noah refused to sit by Jake in the car as long as Jake was holding the worm. About half way home, Jake pulled the worm apart, we rolled down the window, and the worm pieces went flying. Animal cruelty?

Baseball, Bikes and Bugs

We have been enjoying some great spring weather! For cousin James' birthday, we had an outside party with baseball and bike riding.

And then we had a bug problem. One afternoon, Grace complained that her head was really itchy. So I took a look through her hair and let out a small scream when I found live lice. Gross. Having dealt with lice before (when we took in 3 little girls for 3 months, they all had lice) I immediately began to panic. I had memories of picking through hair for hours and hours and never getting rid of the lice problem. But this time I was a little more prepared. While I ran to the store for some lice killing shampoo (which DOES NOT work. Never buy it. It is a waste of money. ) Aaron looked through Lucy's hair and found lice. So for the next week we spent 2-4 hours a day combing through hair picking out lice and eggs. The girls were really good sports about it all. One night I tried putting olive oil on their hair and then had them sleep with it on their hair. (because lice can hold their breath for 8 hours!) They were so excited to wear shower caps to bed. Glad they found some amusement in it all. Meanwhile I had to wash and dry everything possible in my entire house, vacuum daily, and put everything that could not be washed in garbage bags for 2 weeks. After a week and a half I am proud to say we are lice free!

And since I did not send them to school for a few days, Jake enjoyed the extra company all day long!

Body Painting, Pinewood Derby, Zoo and the Tooth Fairy

Painting himself with Nutella.

2nd Place at Noah's last pinewood derby !

We were invited to go to the zoo with James for his 4th birthday!

We loved the baby lions!

Lucy lost her first tooth!

Happy Birthday Jake

Duck Duck Goose.



Train cake with Buzz and Woody accessories.



Jake had a great birthday with a lot of fun gifts. Can't believe he is 3!

January Snow Days

We have had lots of snow days! And not because we have had a lot of snow. It has been a very different winter than we are used to in NE. If there is even a threat of snow, everything shuts down. We did get one storm that brought about 8 inches and everything was closed for 2 days after. The good part is that the weather is nice enough that the kids can get outside and play. So sledding has been very fun.


We have especially enjoyed sledding with cousins!

I decided it was time to introduce my kids to the games of "Oh Heck!" I am preparing them for our summer trip to Idaho where we will hopefully get to see Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Bird, the originators of this game.

Can you see the shock at Aaron putting out 4 fingers?!?!