Happy Birthday Anna!

Anna woke up Saturday morning so excited for her birthday party. This was her first friend birthday party and she has been counting down the days for about a month now. We planned a cooking birthday party. I saw this idea online somewhere and fell in love with it. After I mentioned cupcake decorating Anna was on board. When her friends got here we went to work decorating their aprons with buttons and sequins. After everyone was done we went to work at the "Pizzeria" making their own mini pizzas. It was funny to watch them pile on the cheese and other toppings.

After the pizzas were in the oven we went to the "Ice Cream Shop" to play a game of pin the ice cream on the cone. They each took a turn adding a "flavor" of ice cream to the top of the same cone.

We then went to the "Bakery" to decorate some cupcakes. Their was more candy topped on the cupcakes than frosting!

After that the girls ate their pizzas and had cake and ice cream and opened up presents.


Anna had so much fun having her friends around and playing with them. She was beaming! Thank you to all who came and to Grandma's, Grandpa's, and Aunts who sent gifts. You all made her day a special one.

Patrick and Jenna's Wedding

 
My cousin, Patrick, got married this weekend here just outside of Baltimore so we got to go. It was a nice service. My Aunt is a retired Reverend and has been able to marry each of her children. She did a nice job. After the ceremony there was a reception with all the traditions. Jared spent most of the evening sitting at the table watching and eating and Anna spent most of the evening dancing. That little girl has some moves! It was really nice to be able to go. The wedding happened really fast due to some health issues in the brides family so we ended up being the only extended family there on the grooms side. We really enjoyed being a part of their special day.

Rubba Dub Dub...

They will probably kill me one day for posting these pictures, but I love them. We have this huge tub and Audrey can sit up now so after playing in the leaves this evening I put them all in the tub.

Yummmm...Peas!

I was feeding Audrey some peas for lunch the other day while Jared and Anna were at the pool with Kevin when the Missionaries knocked on the door. I left Audrey in the highchair and went to answer the door, but since I was home alone we chatted on the front porch. When I came back inside I found this:

Don't you love the "hand caught in the cookie jar" look. I guess she really loves her peas.

School!!!!

The first day of school for Jared finally arrived. He has been anxious to start the new year. We bought his supplies from the classroom list a few weeks ago and they have been sitting in the corner like a neon sign flashing "SCHOOL"

Don't get me started on the supply list. This year we had an activity fee on top of the supply list. I find it absolutely ridiculous (sorry to all those teachers out there) that we have to supply the schools with paper, glue sticks, crayons, markers, scissors, wipes, tissue, etc.... I mean we already pay money in taxes for the schools. I guess instead of taxes going to where it should go I can take comfort in the fact that it is actually going to good causes in the private sector (ie. bailouts) insert sarcasm. Anyway, back to the main event. Jared was excited to start school this year. He is going to a new school this year. It is a Magnet school for multi age learning. We have to drive him everyday (I miss the bus!), but so far we are enjoying the extra time in the car to visit and sing to the radio.

Before I dropped him off I told him I couldn't wait to hear all about his new school. He sighed and said, "Oh man! That means a lot of questions doesn't it?" I just laughed. After he jumped in the car I asked him how his day went and he exclaimed, "It was awesome!" And then didn't stop talking until we were home 20 minutes later. Can't wait to see what this new school year will bring.

Funny Kids

When you wear these everyday for the past two months you get...


Raccoon eyes!

When you put curlers in your hair (please excuse the chocolate ice cream face) you get...

"Auugg! I look like a lion!"
When you put Parks and Dunn awesome genes together you get... 4 month old baby sitting up all by herself!

Keeping Cool

 

We have been at the pool almost everyday for the past month and having tons of fun. Jared is quite the simmer and loves to dive for toys at the bottom of the pool. He always has his goggles on which has given him a nice white ring around his eyes. Anna started the summer off swimming with a life jacket, but doesn't use it anymore. she doesn't go far from the edge, but is gaining confidence in her swimming abilities. Audrey enjoys the water too. It has been really nice living close to the pool so we could keep cool this summer

Four Month Old Audrey

Audrey had her four month check up and weighed in a whopping 16 lbs and 7 oz putting her in the 95% for wieght and the 90% for height at 25.5 inches long. She is rolling over now and grabbing at anything that is in her eyesight. She drools a lot which makes us think that teeth are on their way. She is so much fun and loves to laugh with Jared and Anna. She received two shots today and laughed during the first shot and scowled for the second. Can't wait to see what the next few months will bring.

Anna or Audrey?

I showed Anna this picture and asked her who it was. "Audrey." she says.

"Nope. It's you when you were a baby. Can you believe it?" I reply

"Thats crazy!" was Anna's reply.

This is Audrey:

Funny how alike they look.

Washington National ZOO

"Hhmmm...Maybe going to the National ZOO isn't the best idea."


Just kidding is was lots of fun and no this lion was not apart of the "roam free" exhibit. Anyone who is comes to the D.C. area with kids make plans for the National ZOO. It is free like all the other Smithsonian's and it has a wide variety of animals. Jared and Anna had a great time.


We stopped by the petting zoo first and they got to brush some llamas, goats, and donkeys. This was Anna's favorite thing at the zoo next to the butterfly room (which by the way was the "roam free" exhibit.) We then went to a sea lion training show and that was another favorite. After that we kind of just roamed around and saw the lions, tigers, and other small cats, monkeys, birds, fish, and others


We stopped at one point and had lunch on some benches.



The one thing you have to be prepared for when you go to the Zoo is a lot of walking and a lot of hills.

Jared comparing his hand to the paw of a Tiger.

Audrey did so great on the drive and in the stroller. She really travels well.

This is Anna's concerned face as we watched some orangutans climb out of their cages and up a tower connected to other towers by cables.

This cable systems allow the orangutans to travel from one end of the Zoo to the other all on their own. It was amazing to see how they walked the tight ropes so high in the air.

Anyway the National Zoo was a lot of fun. We recommend it and can't wait to go again.