Summer Bucket List #1: Strawberry Festival

Can you tell we're into strawberries? Between last weekend and this weekend, I think we've gotten our strawberry fill for the next couple of years. However, Drew was dead set on going to the Delaplane Strawberry Festival in Sky Meadows State Park. We came, we saw, we conquered. Not entirely sure I'd go back, though. The only strawberry-y thing about it was the stand that was selling them in the middle of the park (which had seriously delicious, mouth-watering strawberries, btw). The girls had a fun time, other than Addison getting sunscreen in her eye and turning into an uncanny smaller version of Hitch.


Sadly, this picture does not capture the severity it all. She was a trooper, though, and just kept trying to rub it out. Didn't cry once, big girl.


Other than that, it was pretty fun before we got rained out and mad-dashed to the car.













Can't wait for this weekend- CAMPING! First time in 6 years. First time ever with kids. Wish us luck.

Strawberry Fields Forever

We had such a phenomenal weekend, the perfect reward for a rather stressful couple of weeks (which included a talk in Sacrament meeting, a daunting day in Fairfax County Court fighting two bothersome and undeserved tickets, and a mild, but much-needed, confrontation with a doctor). I had been looking forward to this weekend for quite awhile because it meant all the aforementioned tasks were over with!

Friday afternoon: Lunch at Cafe Rio in Maryland with my fabulous friends. Oh, sweet pork salad, how I love and adore you! The 45-min. drive was well worth it to munch (read: devour) and mingle with these girlfriends.

Saturday: We finally went strawberry picking! After years of saying, "we should go sometime," we finally made "sometime" happen. We drove just across the river into Maryland to Miller Farms and picked to our hearts' content, gathering 7 glorious pounds of mouth-watering strawberries. Makenna was a natural, looking under the weeds to see if any berries were hiding there. Addison, on the other hand, floundered a bit with the rough terrain. After a while of carrying her around, Drew and I got sick of not having our hands free to pick so we plopped her down on the ground, letting her play in the dirt. Since we've come home, we have dined on such delicacies as chocolate-covered strawberries and strawberry milkshakes. And this morning I made a batch of strawberry jam...mmmm.






Saturday p.m.: On our way home from strawberry picking we stopped off at the National Harbor. Although we've passed by it many times, we have never stopped and walked around. Such a cute place! Reminded me a little of the Gateway (SLC) in San Diego. Restaurants and retail galore, with a random Peeps store thrown in for good measure (wha? That's what we said.). With our family sporting none other than tennis shoes and dirty jeans (thank-you strawberry fields), we felt a little under dressed. Nevertheless, we enjoyed strolling along the harbor and dreaming of our future yacht.
(Every middle-class, suburban, LDS family needs one eventually, right?)


What think ye of this strange, abnormally large foot protruding from the harbor sand? Before you form an opinion, you may want to know there were other body parts protruding from various places on the beach. Some sculptor paying homage to his fave TV show, CSI Miami?



This artwork here was going for $300 a pop. I, the #1 lover of Peeps in my family, JUST DON'T GET IT.







This picture makes me laugh. Makenna pointing the telescope into the middle of the sky and all she sees is black. "Mama, why I can't see anyfing?" "Because it costs 50 cents and I don't have any coins to put in." "But why you don't have any coins?" "Because we just spent a boatload of money on fresh strawberries. Now just keep on looking so I can get a picture."



Saturday night: We had a delicious BBQ with our friends, enjoying the beautiful spring weather we've had here.
Can I just say it again? LOVED this weekend.

At last...the pigtails have arrived!

We have some exciting news: blog-worthy news; baby-book worthy news. Addison can officially wear pigtails now!!! I'm not exactly sure why this is such a big deal to me. Probably because I'm a mother of two lil' girls and nothing gets me going like hair accessories. It is one of my personal life goals to learn how to make as many types of hair bows as humanly possible (don't judge, just accept). So to have my #2 of two girls have hair that's deciding to come in long enough to play with is beyond exciting.



And here's Miss Makenna posing like a goofball for me in our front yard. I'm taking another photography class right now and she's getting really good at saying, "Here Mama, I'll stand like this and you take a picture of me." She also carries around an old digital camera and says, "Here, look this way Mama." (looks at the camera) "Oh, shoot. We've got to do it again. That one didn't turn out very well." Then, "You want to see all my cute pictures I took?"

Oh, how I love this day!

Mother's Day, quickly becoming my favorite holiday! I just wanted to quickly share a few pictures of our recent visitors to Virginia, 2 grandmas and 1 great-grandma (Gigi), plus Aunt Donnalin. We had such a fabulous time with everyone all through March. We LOVE when they come to visit us. They spoil us unmercifully, we go see fun places, the girls have people who love on them 24/7, playing games, reading books, and cooking treats. It's a win-win for everyone!

I'm so thankful for my mom. Not only do I have so much fun with her whenever we're together, she's my best friend, and I find myself becoming more and more like her with every passing day. I am grateful for the beautiful example she is to me of a righteous daughter of God. I love you Mom!

Spring has Sprung

Makenna reciting the 2nd Article of Faith during Family Home Evening tonight:

"We believe that a man will punish for his own sins, not for Adam's treasure hunts."

Close. At least she's carrying the spirit of Easter with her even after the holiday's past.



This is a little Spring garland I made because I'm quite lacking in decorations after Valentine's and before Halloween. I got the cute idea here.






Outside today- such a gorgeous (albeit humid) day in Virginia. Perfect shorts weather. Great park weather. Wonderful washing car weather. Loved today.




Easter Sunday. The girls were pretty adorable in their Easter dresses from Grandma. Easter Bunny came this year and brought Makenna's new obsession, Tangled. How many times have we watched it since yesterday morning? You don't want to know. I couldn't help but think of last year's Easter morning and be entirely grateful that no ER visits befell our family. It was just a nice, quiet Easter morning with our two more-than-excited girls.


Happy Spring!

"His Hands"

Love this song. Love it even more when put to such beautiful scenes of the Savior's life. Hoping everyone has a blessed Easter Sunday.

A Month of Birthdays

Some expected, some unexpected.

On March 5th, our sweet Addison turned 1! Holy smokes, did this year fly by for us. We waited a week to celebrate it so that Grandma and Gigi could be here for the party. And we did partay! I did cupcakes instead of a traditional cake, but I didn't hear any complaining from the littlest princess. She devoured it (hesitantly at first, "Is anyone here gonna stop me?") in about 3 minutes flat. Of all the clothes, toys and books, I think she loved the pink balloons best of all. Go figure.








And now for some one-year stats and very important information:

At one year, Addison, you weigh 22 lbs. 12 oz (78%).
You are 31.5" tall (99%).
You can say "Mama," "Dada," "Ball," and "Hi".
You started walking at 12 mo. 2 weeks and you are a busy-body!
You are the lightest sleeper I've ever met in my life, although you go down for naps/bedtime like a breeze.
Flower bows/headbands/clips don't faze you in the least (which is one of the reasons I love you so much).
Although you've lost a considerable amount of your baby fat, you can still pound a meal like it's nobody's business.
You L-O-V-E birdies, doggies, squirrels and anything else in the Animal Kingdom; you basically go ballistic.
You've got rhythm that rivals any thug from the hood. At any given time, I can look back in the car w/ the music going and you're noddin' your head like "yeah", movin' your hips like "yeah". Got your hands up, they're playin' your song. Seriously, it cracks us up.

My sweet girl, you are an absolute joy. You smile all the time. You laugh hysterically at your silly sister. You cuddle and want to give loves all the time- it warms my heart. Happy birthday daughter.



And now for Drew's birthday on Saturday. We started out going on a YW certification hike for Girl's Camp- 5 miles at Great Falls in Potomac, MD. It was gorgeous- the perfect day! We dropped our girls off at our friends' house so it was just the two of us (plus 10 YW and 5 other chaperones:)



For the birthday man's dinner we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant, Guapo's. Not only do we love this place for it's authentic cuisine, but also because on your birthday, an entire Mariachi band comes out, places a sombrero on your head, sings Happy Birthday (Mexican-style), then takes your picture and gives it to you as you leave. Totally cheesy- but SO fun. Toward the end of our dinner, Makenna and I leave to "go to the ladies' room" (read: tip the waiter off that it's Drew birthday). Obviously there was some miscommunication because not 10 minutes later, the entire Mariachi band was making their way over to us, crowning Makenna with the huge sombrero, dancing around her, and earnestly trying (unsuccessfully) to get her to smile for the camera. At this point, she goes into traumatic survival mode, sticking all her fingers in her mouth (she does this, I don't know why, but she does), bowing her head, and scowling. What's worse, the band is so insanely loud, their singing can be heard from the far corners of the building, with all eyes on us. At this point, Drew and I are in stitches, thinking "What sane parents take their 3-year-old to a nice Mexican restaurant for their special day when there's a Red Robin next door and a Chuck-E-Cheese down the street?" After Makenna's personal nightmare had ended, she turns to us, doe-eyed and asks, "Am I turning 4 today?"



Back home for some presents. Notice Drew's face in the present-opening pics. After almost 9 years of marriage and diligent training, I can confirm he has learned the correct manner in which to react to gifts. If you've grown up in my family, it's second nature. If not, it can be learned with some practice.





Lastly, we finished up his big day with a homemade Great Wall of Chocolate cake (PF Chang's)- delish.


Happy Birthday Drew! Another year older and wiser too.