What we've been up to lately...

After being cooped up with the snow storms this winter and then having a busy early spring, we were glad to finally have a few free Saturdays where we could get out and do some hiking. Leading up to the weekend of April 24th, Martin asked me where we wanted to go. I said Mason Neck State Park but I was actually thinking of Leesylvania State Park. (We had been to both before. Mason Neck when I was pregnant with Dylan and Leesylvania when Dylan was about 7 months old. We are now starting to cycle back through the places we've been before. There are a few new places close to DC that we would still like to go but I think we are a little less adventurous now in not wanting to go somewhere that we haven't been before with two kids. Taking two kids hiking is adventurous enough. We've obviously given up trying to compete with the John and Laura B. for the most adventurous parents title.) Anyway, turns out it was a very fortunate (providential) mistake. The park was free that day because of a fair that was going on where they had booths that taught you about conservation and wildlife and all kinda cool stuff for kids...including PONY RIDES! Dylan rode the ponies twice and loved it. We also saw a reptile show, climbed in a fire truck, planted seeds, pretended we were birds migrating, played on the playground and still went for our hike. SCORE! I can't tell you the thrill it is to find something FUN, FREE, and Family-friendly to do and to just happen upon it rather read about it ahead of time just makes it extra fun. We needed this that morning too because that was the weekend that we had to find a new nanny.

The next weekend we went to Huntley Meadows - another hiking spot from Dylan's first year - and brought Amy with us which was super fun too. We didn't have the camera for those events but we did for the next ones - the next Saturday I had a meeting at church but Martin took the kids to a fun festival at Dylan's future preschool. That Sunday was Mothers Day and I chose to take the kids to the Leesburg Animal Park, where Dylan got to ride a pony yet again (Wasn't terribly impressed on the whole with the park though - they had some cool animals but it was mostly a glorified petting zoo.) And then last weekend was our last PALS trip of the year and on Sunday Martin and Dylan went with Russ and Richie to the airshow while mommy had a gloriously quiet Sunday afternoon at home while Lydia napped. See the link to my online album for Spring for some pics from these events.

This weekend we're headed to NC to visit Martin's brother and his family - this is the 3rd year in a row that we've gone to NC at the end of May so I think it's officially a tradition. After our return we are looking forward to a summer of more day trips (all our Saturdays from June 12th through the end of August are open!!! - this is unheard of!) and days at the neighborhood pool we joined.

I'm also very very very excited about going to camp with Dylan in mid-June. As far as a family vacation, we're looking to doing something low-key like rent a cabin for a week or long weekend right after Labor Day.

What's on tap for you this summer?

Update on the kids in bullet points

Dylan


-Gave up pacifier and afternoon nap. These two events were not unrelated but it's debatable which came first. I think giving up the nap was first though, which prompted me to take a drastic measure and cut up the pacifier. I was letting keep the pacifier to try to get more napping out of him but it proved to be less and less effective.


-Has been having a lot of accidents lately (once every day or two). May have to do with the change in day care providers but he says that he like the new place/nanny.


-Starting to come out of the Terrible Threes and has become a little more agreeable when told its time to eat or get dressed.


-Will start preschool two days a week in the Fall at Vienna Baptist Children's Center which is a block from our house.



Lydia

- Loves animals and has started to make animal sounds. She calls her stuffed lamb "ba." I must admit though that she does also enjoy playing with Dylan's trucks and making car noises.


- Has learned to shake her head "no." Ah, it begins...:) She also says "ishsh" for fish and has a word for Cheerios.


- Like to climb in chairs and sit like a big girl. She has been known to sit still for more than a minute...after Dylan, I didn't know children actually do this. She is also learning to go down stairs and the slides at the playground by herself.


- Is still nursing but I think the end is near.

Great Mother's Day Wishes

A number of folks inadvertantly gave me some great Mother's Day wishes in compliments last week.

"They don't get any cuter than that..." - women in grocery store

"Watching your daughter is like playing with a live baby doll." - lady in the church nursery

"You should have more kids because you are such a great mom and any kid would be lucky to have you as his/her mom." - a dear friend

And of course the kids added their own wishes to make my day:

"Happy Mudder's Day, Mom-my!" - Dylan

"Eh!" - Lydia as she hands me a card she and Daddy made for me.