A Capitol Fourth

So, we figured since we were here in the Nation's capitol on the Fourth of July we ought to take advantage of some of the wonderful events offered, despite my being 7 1/2 months pregnant and it being very hot and a mad lot of people. We were glad we did! We had so much fun attending the national parade in the morning. We were able to sit right across from the Archives Building and had a great view. The girls loved seeing all the huge balloons. One day we will have to take them to the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade!!

Right after that we headed up to the Capitol to stand in line and wait all day for the show that evening held on the lawn. It was so neat!!! Definitely worth the wait!! We got to see Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin, Natasha Bedingfield, and others perform. We also got to see the cast of Sesame Street, which Emma loved even though she's never seen the show!! The entire thing was broadcast on PBS and we were shown in the audience a number of times.

The fireworks afterward were pretty incredible. It was a great day- we love America!! When Emma saw the fireworks she asked, "Mom what are they doing that for?" I told her that it was America's Birthday and fireworks were a way of celebrating. She thought for a moment and said, "We can make America a Birthday Cake, Mom." She is so sweet.

Sweet Sisters

Since it has been a while since I have sent out my usual quarterly update (Can't imagine why I haven't gotten to that with all the craziness in my life!!) I wanted to create a post just dedicated to my sweet little girls and their adventures together. They are starting to play well together- sometimes. Other times there are screaming matches and things being wrenched out of one another's hands and all kinds of madness. But, I am glad they have each other. They are kind of lost without each other now. If one is still napping and the other one wakes up they kind of look around for the other one and aren't sure what to do.




Emma loves to take care of Arianna- even likes to feed her, as you will see in the video below. Emma has decided, however, that there are certain possessions of hers that are completely off-limits to Arianna. It turns messy if Arianna encroaches on this territory. Some such items are: her puzzles, her crayons, and her shoes. (Arianna has a thing with trying on any shoes she happens across) We love them dearly and are excited that they will have each other to play with when the new baby comes.





Oh- speaking of that, Emma will try to explain to Arianna every once in a while things about the new baby: What it will be like, when he is coming, where the baby will ride in the stroller, etc. It is hilarious. She is such a mother hen.

Trip to the National Zoo

We took our first real adventure this past Saturday since being here in D.C. . . .to the zoo! The girls were very excited. We took the Metro in. They were not too fond of the nasty elevator we had to take to get down to the tracks WAY below the streets (neither were we for that matter). But, they kind of thought it was fun to be on the train. Arianna went nuts when she saw the animals! She had a blast. But, that said, she also has a blast watching normal sparrows or pigeons on the regular city streets! Emma's favorite of the day was seeing the elephants. She requested to go back to them on our way out of the park. It was a gorgeous day- not too hot, and with a bit of a breeze. We thoroughly wore them out and they both zonked out in the stroller before we even got to the Metro station near the zoo. They slept the entire way home and transferred to their beds perfectly, for which this pregnant mom was grateful. I got a good nap in myself before they woke up!







We got a kick out of the fact that they both slept with their heads turned the same way and their arms identically transposed! So cute!

Fun in the hotel

The girls are having fun living here at the hotel. Partly because there is not as much for mom and dad to be doing and they get a lot more attention from us! With the house behind us, no place for a garden, much less cooking and cleaning going on, they have a lot more mom and dad time and are reveling in it! Here are a few pictures and a video of our fun times here at the hotel so far. . .

Good bye, house! Hello, D.C.!

We sold our very first home after living there for just 2 1/2 years. It was a hard thing, but it kind of all fell in our laps as though it were meant to be. It was strange to see it all empty and to drive away for the last time.

We took off last Saturday for Washington D.C. We are pretty much loving life right now. We are living in a hotel and being spoiled rotten. . .Breakfast served every morning, dinner three nights a week and not having to clean- beautiful! Kenneth is really enjoying his new job and the baby # three is happy in healthy inside mama's belly.



The girls are having a blast here! We have already discovered 3 different playgrounds within walking distance and go on some sort of outing every day. We will be in the hotel another 3 weeks before our apartment is ready. That should give us plenty of time to get settled in and ready for the little guy to arrive!

One last visit to the farm before we move. . .

We had one last visit to the farm before our move to Maryland. Karen and her family here visiting from Utah at the same time.

The three stooges. It was fun to live so close together for the first year and a half of their lives.

Arianna, Lydia and Benjamin

Grandma enjoying time with Emma.

Popsicles all around.

Can you believe that highchair line-up?

Emma and Arianna enjoying their popsicles.

House-Hunting Trip to Maryland

It just so happened that our house-hunting trip to Maryland fell on the weekend of our 5th Anniversary. It was like having a 5 day vacation without the children- meals paid for, hotel paid for- too bad we had the stress of having to find a place to live!!! We really did have a great time once I got over crying every time I thought of the children! We stayed at a really nice Marriott in Bethesda. We were able to go to the temple during our visit as well. I surprised Kenneth with an Album that I had put together of all the professional pictures we had taken in our marriage: from our Wedding Announcement to the most recent family pictures. He was very surprised! I love that the sentimental gifts are what Kenneth loves the best!

Here we are on the evening of our Fifth Anniversary. (I am 6 months pregnant with Grant) We enjoyed a lovely evening at the Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg, MD.

Enjoying my dinner at Macaroni Grill

The view from our table.

Kenneth and me in front of the Washington D.C. temple.