Washington DC

Several years ago, Tommy found out that the 2011 Army/Navy football game was going to be held in Washington DC instead of the usual Philadelphia.  Back in 2005 (I think) we went with our parents to Philly to see the game there and experienced the coldest weather I have ever experienced.  In hopes that DC wouldn't be quite as cold, we asked our parents if they wanted to go to DC for a week, and they said yes.  We rented a house so we could all stay together and off we went.  Because we had both kids and could stop at my parents house on the way, we drove.  Lulu the elf, who came to our house after Thanksgiving, found her way to the car and joined us for the trip.  

The first two days we visited museums at the Smithsonian.  Caroline spent most of her time in the stroller.  She was almost one year old, but could not walk yet.  She looked around, slept some, and of course we did take turns holding her too.  I was concerned about how she would do on this trip, but she surprised me and did so well.  The hardest times for us were lunch.  It was always crowded, places didn't always have high chairs or kids menus, and she was always tired by that point.  Other than lunch, it wasn't too bad.  One day she actually slept through our lunch.  She sat in the stroller and snoozed and it was a very loud restaurant.  Of course that was the one with high chairs, go figure.  

Our first day in DC it was pouring down rain, I mean pouring.  We were lucky that we had this rain cover for the stroller which kept the kids dry and the rest of us used umbrellas.  We just love a challenge.  

The first museum we visited was the Natural History Museum.  Lyla has been into dinosaurs lately, but I think she was surprised to see that there were only bones at the museum.  She was probably expecting much more.  She asks a lot of questions about why they are extinct, were the scientists alive with the dinosaurs, why didn't she get to meet them, it goes on and on.  

You can't see a lot in this picture, but I thought it was cute the way she was standing and because of what her shirt says.  I think it was these lit up jelly fish which you can see better in the next pictures.

She thought they were her new friends.  She loves everyone.

So I think this is the American History Museum.  Since I grew up watching the Wizard of Oz, I was excited to see the Ruby slippers.

Tommy for President!

Lyla and Dumbo

That evening, we celebrated Caroline's birthday with the Nana's and Papas.  I did some research before we left and found a good cupcake place close to our house in DC and ordered cupcakes.  It was raining, as you can see the bag is wet, but Tommy and I went out and found the cupcake place.  They were delicious!

The birthday girl with her family

The birthday girl with Nana and Papa George

The birthday girl with Nana and Papa Morrow

Gifts and cupcakes and the special hat.  

Caroline loves spaghetti so that's what we made for her birthday dinner.  As usual she ate a lot of it!

Blowing out the candle with mommy

Baby's first cake...I think, I can't remember if she had any before this

After cake, Caroline opened her gifts from her Nana's and Papa's.

The next day we headed out to visit more of the Smithsonian Museums.  Obviously we had to go to the Air and Space Museum, which was our favorite.  

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Lyla loved sitting in the planes and helicopters and wanted her Daddy to get in them with her.  These are such special times.  

One of my favorite days was the day we walked around out.  It was nice to be outside and just makes you proud to be an American.

Here's a family picture in front of the Capitol Building. 

Lyla resting on the steps of the US Supreme Court Building

Visiting President Obama at the White House.  

My parents, me and Lyla in front of the Washington Monument.  Look at Lyla's sweet face.  

Tommy with his parents at the Monument.

This is my favorite picture of Caroline in DC.  Makes her look like a giant.

And here is my favorite moment in DC.  Lyla saying the pledge of allegiance in front of the Washington Monument.  I was so proud of my little girl. 

Self portrait at the Monument

I like this picture of Caroline walking with her Nana's and Papas.

Lyla at the Lincoln Memorial

Caroline needed some time out of the stroller for a kiss with Mommy. I just love her little face.

Lyla warming up under the hand dryer.  She loved how it blew her hair back.

Watching the Changing of the Guards.  I was so afraid Lyla was going to run out there are shout something really inappropriate.  She was up front with my Mom and Dad and did great.  Caroline on the other hand was very loud and had to leave with Nana Morrow.

Tommy, his parents, and my Dad went to the Army/Navy game while me and my Mom rested at the house with the girls.  They had fun at the game even if Army did lose for the 10th year in a row.  Yes, we pull for Army, Tommy is a West Point grad, remember?

We had so much fun in DC seeing all the sites, visiting with our parents, and celebrating Caroline's one-year Birthday!  Now, next time let's go in the Spring and see the Cherry Blossoms!

Halloween Week!

This year Halloween was so much more than a day. Once you have kids you have Halloween WEEK or even more. The weekend before Halloween my parents visited. Lyla had been asking for a pumpkin almost everyday, so we took her to a pumpkin patch to choose a pumpkin for her and Caroline. We took some cute pictures while we were there. Tommy had been out of town and was on his way home this evening, so he didn't make it to the pumpkin patch, so that's why he's not in the pictures.

Loving sisters!

Lyla thought we were there to play with the pumpkins.

While we were waiting for Tommy to get back in town and meet us for dinner we stopped by the playground. I had put Caroline in the swings several times before this, but because I'm now chasing two kids, this is the first time I got a picture of her in the swing. She doesn't stay in too long, just a few minutes.

The day after Tommy got home, we went to a wedding in Jacksonville Beach. My parents stayed with the girls, and we actually made a night of it and spent the night at the beach for a mini vacation. We had a nice breakfast alone before going home the next day. I love being with my kids, but I cherish my alone time with Tommy now.

Lyla had a Halloween party at preschool, so the girls dressed in their Halloween clothes that morning. It was a hot Florida morning, but of course Halloween clothes are always long sleeve. I thought Caroline looked especially pretty this morning. Good hair day!

The kids came in from the playground for their party (which is why Lyla is so red) and kicked off the party with a craft.

Ms. Mary Kay told the kids to sit on the carpet. Lyla sat on the L for her name. They said the cutest little prayer and then lined up to wash their hands for lunch.

Lyla still eats her pizza crust first. Can't blame her, crust is yummy!

That evening we dressed the girls in their costumes and went to the Fall Festival at our church. Lyla originally said she wanted to be a pumpkin for Halloween, but then changed her mind and wanted to be Strawberry Shortcake. Caroline went as a strawberry. They both did great in their costumes. We painted our pumpkins this year because that was something Lyla could help with and we carved last year.

We ate dinner when we arrived at the festival. They had Chick-fil-A and kids could get a sandwich and that made Lyla so happy. She always wants a sandwich but of course that doesn't come with the kids meal and she can't quite eat the whole thing. She ate really well and then it was off to the games. They had bounce houses and so many games, and Lyla did pretty much all of them. Caroline hung out in her stroller most of the night and did really well until the very end when she got tired, then she fussed a little.

Lyla fishing...the kids got a prize at every game, so she filled her little trick or treat bag.

Playing putt-putt. She chased the ball around with her club trying to corner it into the hole. We gave her some time but then had to help her. Tommy will have to give her some lessons.

The next day, the girls wore their costumes again and we went to the Stroller Strength Halloween Party. Stroller strength is the group that we go to in the mornings where I workout and the girls play.

Lyla, Anna Claire, Langley, and Mason

The same group with Caroline added in.

This was mine and Lyla's third Stroller Strength Halloween party. Every year we attempt to get a group picture of the kids in their costumes. As you can tell, it is impossible and hysterical. Some kids stand there, and some kids scream. It's always hard to get the mommy's to leave their kids and get out the picture. Lyla is at the gate beside of the Fireman and Caroline is sitting in front.

Tommy's squadron had a Vampire Ball this year for Halloween. We didn't want to be traditional vampires, so we brainstormed and decided to be Hip Hop vampires complete with hat, gold chains, saggy pants, and Tommy wore gold vampire teeth (a grill if you will).

Me and my friend Sarah at the Vampire Ball. We are Navy wives together and we go to Stroller Strength together. I've known her for over a year now and she is one of my best friends. We even have kids the same ages. We met when we were both 8 months pregnant with our second babies, so we were instantly drawn to each other when we met at our first squadron Wives Club meeting.

And, drum roll please, here we are Halloween night! My friend Kathryn lives in a neighborhood that loves their Trick-or-Treaters, so she invited several of us over to trick-or-treat with them. Everything is more fun in a group. These are friends from my Stroller Strength group as well.

Lyla showing off her candy.

Towards the end of the night, Lyla asked to get in the wagon with Fireman Nate.

And on the way home, Lyla passed out. I guess a week of being Strawberry Shortcake wears you out. It was busy, but fun! Next year will be even more fun when Caroline can participate more.

Let's Dance!

Lyla started ballet and tap dance classes this summer at Nancy Dance. We started with a two week dance camp just to be sure she liked it before signing her up for the entire year. She really enjoyed it so now she goes to an hour class every Thursday. She has three good friends who also go to dance with her which makes it even more fun. Here is Lyla before her first dance class...so excited!

Jacqueline and Anna Claire take dance with her.

Lyla and Anna Claire were so excited to see each other all dressed up in their leotards and tap shoes.

The mommies are only allowed to be in the room for a minute to drop them off and then we have to leave. There is a tiny window in a tiny hallway for us to watch if we choose to. I have watched enough to know that Lyla really has a fun time. Usually I have to put Caroline in the stroller and me and my friends stroll our little babies around the shopping center for an hour. It gives us some time to chat, which is really fun. I managed to snap a picture on her first day as they were beginning circle time.

The girls get a little treat at the end of each class, which is usually a lollipop. Yesterday, Lyla, Anna Claire and Isabella were so cute sitting on the bench eating their lollipops. Isabella finished hers right before the picture, but aren't they so cute sitting her together?

They have a dance recital in June and I can't wait to see what all the girls have learned in their "Kreative Kids" dance class.

Lyla's 1st Day of Preschool as a 3 year-old

Schools back in! Last May when preschool was out, I wasn't sure how I would make it through the summer with two kids all day everyday. However, we had a great summer and I thoroughly enjoyed having time with both of my girls and watching them play and giggle together. I didn't cry this year, but that's because I had Caroline to distract me after I dropped Lyla off at preschool. They have the cutest blue preschool shirts with fish on them and the theme is "Dive in and 'sea' what God has planned for me." Here is what the back of the shirt looks like. Lyla has Ms. Mary Kay and Ms. Smith as her teachers this year. Tommy and I know Ms. Mary Kay from our Sunday School class and we are so excited that she is Lyla's teacher this year. I know she will do a great job teaching her about letters, numbers, colors, days of the week, etc. and most importantly, God's love.

Before leaving the house. She was excited, not nervous at all!

Posing outside of preschool. I love this picture.

Come on mom! I was toting Caroline and the backpack, so I was a bit slow that morning.

She immediately sat down and starting decorating her nametag with stickers. I snapped a quick picture and then made my way out. I don't like to linger during times like this.

Caroline's 1st Haircut

OK, I know I am including a lot of pictures in this post, but it was such a fun, cute day with my girlies and I could not decide which pictures were cuter. Caroline's hair was getting longer and longer, and "mullet" like, so I decided to take her for her first haircut at just 8 months old. Lyla was starting preschool the next day, so we got her a back to school haircut too. I take them to a cute kids place called Doodle Doos. The girls get to choose their cartoons before their haircuts. I chose Baby Einstein for Caroline, and Lyla chose Strawberry Shortcake to watch. As a side note, Lyla is going to be Strawberry Shortcake for Halloween this year.

Here are some before pics of Caroline. She sat in the choo choo train for her haircut. They warmed her up by blowing bubbles for her. Look at that hair!!

Engineer Caroline, driving the choo choo train!

So serious! They gave her the combs to play with and she loved it. They tried to put the cape on her, but she couldn't get her hands out and she didn't care for that, so we took it off.

She loved the haircut and didn't cry at all. I was such a proud, happy mommy! God blessed my girls with so much hair, so I am happy that he gave them the ability to sit through haircuts. Lyla has always done really well with her haircuts too.

Lyla's an old pro at this. She just sits there and lets them do whatever to her hair. She also had her nails painted.

My girls at the salon. Lyla in the boat and Caroline in the train. Love it!

I couldn't believe it when the lady started braiding Caroline's hair. How many 8 months old have enough hair to braid? It was so cute. She finished it off with a butterfly clip.

Loving Strawberry Shortcake!

They braided Lyla's hair on both sides and then pulled it back into a butterfly clip. Then they put sparkles in it. She looked like a little princess!

Here are my two cuties after their haircuts. I had a wonderful time with them at Doodle Doos and just love how pretty they are together. We are so blessed!