{Catching Up}

This blogging thing has gone to the bottom of the list.  I am sad about it, since I like to think I was actually journaling a little.  I decided a mass update was over-due. Here we go:

 Alyvia and I got to visit Jonas' class in February.  It was funny to see his reaction at us being at school with him.  He loves school and has had a great year.  He does get to do a summer session for the month of July.  

 In March, Aunt Kaylee came to visit during her spring break. We had TONS of fun! Movies, bowling,  cherry blossoms downtown, and lots of good food.  I was sad to see her leave, and so happy she got to come!

During Jonas' spring break we were busy, busy! The kids both love the Zoo, but Jonas' favorite is the kids farm-which cracks me up.  The cow looks like its starving to death and all of the animals are pretty lame and just lay around.  I don't know what I expect them to do, but I get bored so quickly while Jonas could spend our entire day staring at the cow.

Lyv was in great spirits that day. She's a little bit...ahem...difficult at times.

:)

For the first time ever, I let Jonas dye Easter Eggs.  He L.O.V.E.D. it!! Sure he dyed everything within a 10 foot radius--it was heaven for my little art hater.  (Jonas DOES NOT like to color, cut, glue, etc)

He loved each little egg like this before he threw (literally) them into the dye.

Jonas got chalk from an Easter Egg Hunt (at the mall...genius idea!). So we did chalk outlines on the front walk.  It probably looked like a crime scene involving a whole family, but Jonas LOVES to be outlined.

The Easter Bunny came and went leaving the kids this fun trampoline. It took Lyv about 2 days to figure out how to get up.  She still falls OFF almost every time, but she keeps going back!

No one cooperated for Easter pictures, but they still looked cute!

We went to see Devin and work and then went to the Botanical Gardens.  It was about 30 minutes before it closed, but we had fun walking through it.  Lots of gorgeous plants and flowers. 

Occasionally the kids get along.  Alyvia rarely leaves Jonas alone. He tolerates it pretty good for a while-but eventually yells: "Hey! Baby!"  Then he comes to find me and asks for help.

We surprised Jonas with a trip to Baltimore to see Thomas the Train.  I'm not sure if Devin and I were more excited than Jonas...but its possible! It was LOTS of fun!

We met Sir Topham Hatt, played with trains, rode the carousel, took a 25 minute (extremely slow) ride on Thomas, watched the model trains go around and around (and around...), made necklaces, got some sweet tattoos, and did a little spin art.  It was magical :)

Then we saddled up and made Jonas take a horse ride...which he LOVED!! It was fun to watch him, and he was very brave.  When we got off he leaned over to the horse, named Tonto and said..."Bye Tonto!" and then he kissed him on the neck! I was DYING laughing!

Real Thomas.  

Finally last weekend we drove to Connecticut to see Uncle Destry graduate.  Its a long drive, and our kids did Super!! We have great travelers. We had a great time! It was good to see everyone-it had been a while!

Jonas puts his blankets over his head whenever the sun is in his face. Its pretty funny. He often falls asleep like this. (minus Dad's phone-which we use to try and keep him awake)

Lyv was great too. Sure she asked for a cracker or an apple about every 5 miles.  You get used to it :)

The kids at the graduation.

We had a super fun Mother's Day Weekend, too.  I'll have to post about that on the next update!

{Alyvia's 1st Birthday}

I will never remember to upload backwards. Oh well. Here are Alyvia's 1 year old pictures. Diana outdid herself again. She captured her smiles, and her little jack-o-lantern looking teeth she is sporting right now. So cute :) thanks Di...

We had a pretty low key day. Since Lyv was born on her Dad's birthday he took the day off to celebrate them both. We had a relaxing morning (Devin made his own favorite breakfast...crepes), and then left Alyvia to nap while our neighbor, Sarah, watched her and we took Jonas to school. Then just Devin and I did a little shopping and got lunch. We were home in time to get J from school and meet Lyv not long after she woke up. Then we let the fun begin. I have better pictures, but haven't downloaded them yet. These will have to do for now. She really liked the cake part of her cake, but not so much the frosting....just like her Mom and Dad!

I will add the other pictures one day.

On Friday Alyvia had tubes in her ears and her "gigantic" (as the Dr. put it) adenoids out. Thankfully she did very well and has had a pretty good weekend. We are hopeful for no more ear infections and more sleep full nights. Its been a rough year for this baby girl, but we are so glad she is ours. She's funny...belly laughs at nothing, mean...always steals Jonas' toys, sweet...she loves hugs and kisses, and very social...she will crawl anywhere she can hear people. We love you Lady!!!

{Christmas 2011}

2011, in general, was a whirlwind of a year. Alyvia was born, spent 6 days in the NICU. Adjusting to life with 2 kids, Jonas starting preschool, bad backs, ear infections, heartache, and 5 more days in the hospital with Alyvia. We were blessed beyond measure this year. I know that. But I was happy to wish a new year with health and happiness.

Since we stayed in MD for Christmas I was determined to get the Christmas rush done early so we could enjoy some of the things DC has to offer at Christmas time. We aren't usually here long enough to take advantage. So early in December we set out on a Sunday afternoon to stay at The National Harbor (near downtown DC) and take the kids to see ICE! Madagascar. We went a few years ago when it was The Grinch and loved it. Alyvia had been sick, so we were unsure how things would go. It was a disappointment to say the least. Since we didn't sleep well that night (Alyvia was sick, Jonas was excited for a new bed and a new adventure), we were a little on edge. The ICE! was way too cold for our kids (It was blowing cold wind like the arctics!) and so we hurried through. I think if we go again, it will be just Devin and I!

Jonas was freezing already.

We took Alyvia back to the Dr. after ICE! She was obviously not feeling any better (After 48 hours on an antibiotic and a nebulizer). It was craziness after that. Lets just say it involved me riding with my 10 month old to the hospital in an ambulance (her oxygen was really low), and 5 days on the peds. floor. RSV was the official diagnoses, but it took us WAAAAAYYYY too long to get to that point. Its so awful to watch your kids (especially a baby) be sick. You're helpless, they're helpless. It was not fun.

But she did get better and we carried on with our Christmas plans.

Visiting the National Christmas Tree was next on my list. We went when Jonas was a baby and it was fun. This year they had the trains all around the tree. Obviously Jonas was in heaven...even though he was very upset at first that he couldn't actually play with them.

This is one of several.

Devin and Jonas. The tree is planted in the ground, so it is up all year, but they decorate it for Christmas. It was a new tree this year and much smaller than years passed. It just needs some time to grow. The weather was nice and we had lots of fun. Alyvia went with us but was stuck in her stroller with the plastic wind/rain cover over her and she was bundled up like the Michelin man. I am determined NOT to go back to Shady Grove Hospital again!!!

The rest of Christmas was nice and quiet. We did take the kids to see the Winter Festival of Lights. They both loved it because we let them sit in the front seat of the car so they could see better. My favorite was every time we went under an archway of lights Jonas would get really excited to go "in the tunnel", as he said. We opened P.J.'s on Christmas Eve and Jonas got CARS2. We watched it together and sent the kids to bed about 9:30. Jonas finally crashed about 10:30-and sometime after that Santa did his magic.

We were all very spoiled, and feel so thankful for family and friends who love us.

We went to church Christmas morning and then spent the day opening presents and eating a yummy lunch with friends.

Our New Years included the 4 of us relaxing at home. The kids were in bed by 9 and Devin and I watched a movie and crashed shortly after.

Happy New Year to All. Lets hope 2012 is filled with as many blessings as 2011!!