4th of July

Happy 4th!

We had my brother Chris, Jodi and their son Brigg down visiting us over the 4th weekend. 

Every 4th the kids decorate their outside play toys (bikes, etc) and have a little parade.  Uncle Chris loves fireworks so the fireworks always begin a couple of days early on the 4th weekend.  Austin loves that part!  We had a great time/weekend with you guys!

Christian, Jodi and Brigg visit

July 3-6

The day my dad left, Jonathan came into town from Korea.  (He surprised me on July 1-for our 8 year anniversary!)  That night he took me to Ruth's Chris (my fav) and gave me a beautifiul necklace in the blue box.  Happy Anniversary honey!

The next day, my older brother Chris and his wife Jodi and son Brigg came to visit us over the 4th weekend!  They live in New Jersey while he works at Mars, Co.  (Think candy). We had so much fun.  Cousin Brigg is now 7 mos old and is such a good baby.  

We went to Tyson's Corner and shopped, the next day went to Leesburg outlets and did MORE shopping! Brigg just went with the flow the entire time.  What a good little guy!

Ashley and Austin loved hanging out with their cousin Brigg, wrestling and lighting off fireworks with Uncle Chris and hearing stories and songs from Aunt Jodi (a past kindergarten teacher!)

Thanks for making it down to visit us!  We love you guys!

Tiny Dancer

Ashley started her Tiny Dancers Class last Saturday and it has been absolutely wonderful.  Last week was an Alice in Wonderland theme and this week was Tanya the Dancer.  They learn little stretches, curtsy, and how to walk on tiptoes.  Then they're read a story in the middle of the class and then the rest of the class they dress up in these beautiful costumes about the story and dance like the character.  

During Alice in Wonderland week, each little girl got to wear an "Alice" Dress and would dance around like they were chasing the white rabbit while they each had a white stuffed rabbit.  Ash has so much fun.  She's our tiny little dancer!  Daddy even got to attend class this week!

Pop Visiting

June 23-30

We got home from our big 3 week vacation and things were calm for only about 4 days, then Pop came to Washington for a visit!  

When my Dad is here he helps me out with the kids, and takes care of me.  We talk about cabbages and kings and everything in between.  We would sit out on the deck and talk while the sun sets about anything and everything.  

He tried to pull out Austins VERY loose first tooth, but it's not quite ready.  (Dad pulled all my teeth out when I was little). We had a wonderful visit!  3 days was just too short.  

Ash got her first tea set and plays tea parties with anyone or no one every day, many times a day.  We also went to a huge park in Langley called Clomyjentri.  It was amazing.  

Thanks for the great visit Dad!

Myrtle Beach 2008!

June 14- 21

Ever since Duane was a kid, his family would go to Myrtle Beach in June for a week.  They have a condo there at the Atalaya and Duane's done it now for the past 25 years. So now we're taking our kids and everything we do during the week is a tradition.  

The Capeners (Duane's sister and family) and Ray (Uncle Ray) joins us for the week.  

The first day we go to the Myrtle Beach flea market.  We always check out the same goods, year after year.  It's always fun to go to and look around.  Although this year, Austin saw a bee-bee gun and asked for it.   Oh dear.  Yeah right.

The next day we go to Broadway on the Beach and walk around and play there.  We shop and always feed the fish!  We also ride the little carnival rides there are there.  Ashley fully enjoyed the teacups (had to be a pink one) with Grandpa.

This year at Broadway at the Beach they had built a MagiQuest.  Austin LOVES Magiquest!  WE got a new wand topper and a cover for it.  I swear, the accessories for these things cost more than the games themselves.  We had a ball playing MagiQuest a few times that week!  While Austin did MagiQuest, Ashley did her first "Build a Bear" workshop!  She picked a bright pink dinosaur named Princess.  She stuffed it and made a wish on its heart before she stuffed it into her dino.  Austin was "over" the build a bear thing.  He was onto magic and wizards. It was so cute to see her stuffing her animal as Austin had done a few years ago.

We go to the Tanger outlets, we hit a jackpot at the Disney store outlet and loaded up Princess gear for Ashley for her birthday (in 6 months).

In the afternoons we always hit the beach and play in the pool.  Austin loved wearing water wings all over the pool there.  It gave him some freedom he doesn't normally have in a deep pool.  

In the evenings we would play games (Catch Phrase) and watched fireworks out the balcony.  We also had strawberry milkshakes each evening!  (I'm hating the vacation weight....)

The week always ends with a big family trip to Miyabi Japanese steakhouse.  Austin and Ash LOVE seeing the big grill and the chef throwing shrimp and meat around and lighting fires and throwing things.  Austin remembered the tricks and kept asking for more.  They loved it. 

Myrtle Beach is a wonderful week we look forward to every year.  Thanks again for a great time!  Can't wait for Myrtle Beach 2009!

JAX & Charleston

On my drive up to Charleston from FL, I met up with my dear friend Cheri.  The kids had a great time playing together/visiting again.  I loved hanging out with her and remembered the times we'd chat when she lived here in VA.  In fact, she lived just a couple of houses away.  I miss you Cheri!  

After the stop in Jacksonville, we then continued north on 95 to Charleston.  (Jonathan is in Beijing this whole time).  We got to Charleston in about 4-5hrs.  

Something I absolutely HAVE to do when I go to Charleston when I visit Duane's Mom and Dad is to go downtown.  There's not any other charming place like downtown Charleston.  I love walking through the outdoor slave market.  To see all the homemade/Charleston-type goods.  I then have to make a stop at the River Street Sweets and get some pralines.  Mmmmm.  I absolutely love to spend time there!  Some more Charleston things we do is to visit Bojangles, and ice cream at Brusters.  Gotta love Chucktown! 

Bievenidos a MIAMI

After my family drove back from our Corolla vacation, I dropped off the kids in Gainesville, FL with my parents.  I then flew the very next day down to Miami, FL where my youngest brother Grant lives.  Grant got a marketing job with Frito Lay and is living the Will Smith song 'Welcome to Miami' to the T.  Grant and I have always been close and it was so nice hanging out with him!

I had 3 days sans the kiddos, to chill in Ft. Lauderdale/South Beach.  It was very relaxing!

Grant's girlfriend Janvier (nicknamed Jonny) was visiting Grant as well and we had the opportunity to hang out during the day while Grant was working. The first day we hung out around Las Olas in Ft. Lauderdale.  We had been there so many summers growing up (Yankee Clipper), so that was fun to walk around again.  That night we each ate a huge Cheesecake Factory salad and split a piece of key lime cheesecake and strawberry shortcake.  Mmmmm.

Grant left early the next a.m. so Jonny (Janvier) and I took a run on the beach and accidentally ran into a nude beach (yuck!)  We kept running but couldn't keep a straight face and hide our school girl giggles at the pure disgust we were trying not to look at.  We then swam in the turquoise warm Atlantic ocean and enjoyed the soft waves.  That night when Grant came home he took us on a tour of Miami.  We saw some lovely sights in Miami (boats, yachts, Bal Harbour mall, Southbeach) then we saw things that were probably on the video game Grand Theft Auto-Miami.  What a diverse, beautiful place.

The last day we did something that Jonny and I both like to do.  Shop.  We took a cab to the Sawgrass Mills Outlet mall which as 2 million square feet of outlets!  We did some damage there.  But mostly I enjoyed the time I got to spend with my younger brother and getting to know his lady Jonny cakes so well.  You rock Jonny! 

It was a WONDERFUL visit to Miami and I can't wait to see you guys again.

Outer Banks Vaca-COROLLA

We started our 3 week long Southeast vacation in Corolla with the LaBarbera family (my fam) for our first week.  Corolla is one of the more quiet outer banks islands off the coast of North Carolina.  

We rented a huge, very well taken care of  7 bedroom 5 bath home and we had a wonderful time.  There was a private pool, hot tub, pool table, foosball, playstation/xbox, all bedrooms had flatscreen  tv's, the works.  We had beach cruiser bikes we daily cruised around on, played tennis, and the access to the beach was only 300 yds away.  

The kids played on the sand dunes, flew kites, and in the evenings we took turns cooking dinners and playing games.  There will be wagers next year for Cranium. 

During the day we saw the Wright Brothers museum, went to Duck, the Corolla light house, and Nags Head and other islands.  We ran down huge sand dunes and pretended we were in the desert. Good job Ryan!

 Pop took the kids (Ryan, Ashley and Austin) on nature hikes where (each kid had to have their own nature walking stick) and found turtles, eggs, and even a hog snake. The nature hikes were one of the major highlights for the kiddos.   

We had so much fun with one another just relaxing, and of course the week ended with a grand fireworks display given by none other than Chris and Grant.  

Can't wait for LaBarbera Family Vacation 2009!  We had a ball with you guys.

Vaction!

Today we're leaving on our summer family vacation!  The OBX islands in NC, Miami then Myrtle Beach.  I'm obviously too excited because we're leaving today and I can't sleep seeing as its 4:20 a.m. and I'm blogging!

A few things to note this week.  We went to the opening of our pool this week.  The weather was nice but the water temp was 55.  Brrrrr.  But the kids had fun, and do did I on the lounge chair.

Austin:  Whenever he sees or hears something nice, he'll let it be known.  If there's a pretty lady we know or even total stranger, if she's attractive, he'll say, "Excuse me, you're beautiful."  Oh dear is it starting already?  What a  little lady's man.  At the same time, if he likes a name he'll tell people too.  For example his Italian friend Alessandro.  Austin said "Alessandro, that's a handsome name you have."  Paying it forward.

We ate yesterday at Cracker Barrel (one of our family's favorite spots).  As it's one of our favorite restaurants, we've always noted there are lots of elderly folks there enjoying their pancakes and eggs as well.  After we were almost done eating Austin said "Let's get out of here.  I can't stand that old person smell for one more second."  I ignored his comment and when again he explained that "old smell" is making him sick, I first hid my giggle that he even knew the "old" smell.  Then I explained we don't talk like that about people.  Although it was sooo true.  I could smell the Gold Bond lotion, Mennen aftershave, and Chantilly powder oh so clearly as our table was surrounded.  Austin's been telling it how it is.

Didn't you hear that Disney has added a new princess to their line? Cinderella, Ariel, Snow White and  Ashley Toler!  Ash is in princess-mania.  I didn't think this would hit till she was like 5 or 6! But from the first time she watched Cinderella and Little Mermaid, the girl is hooked.  She now brushes he sparse little hair on top of her head with 'relly brushes and sings the "relly" song about dreams coming true.  She'll sweep around the house and pretend the stepsisters are making her do all these chores and calling her by suddenly yelling out "cinderelllllaaaaaa!"  She'll be in complete imaginary play in this little princess world.  But at the end, she said he prince has come and they live "happily eva afta" as she puts on a frilly tutu or dress and gracefully dances around her room (and closes her door!)  She sings Ariel runs all day long too.  So funny!  We love it. 

Duane got to meet/take pictures with all the old school singers of the band KISS (think Jean Simmons i.e. tongue) on his last trip to Stockholm.  Gross.  But he came home yesterday and is going with us on our vacation the whole week!  Yeah!  Finally some good time off for the fam.

Austin and Ashley love their new John Deere Gator.  It goes 4mph and Austin's already learning how to peel out and spin around in it.  Beware Cecilia when he's 16 and picks up Madeleine on a date!  He's getting comfortable behind the wheel.  A little Ricky Robby. But Ashley loves to drive along with him for the thrill of the ride.  This little motorized vehicle has been the best yard sale buy yet!  Other than my $50 treadmill.  That was my steal.

We'll see some of you soon, others of you we'll see along the way and in between our trek. Much love to everyone and we want you know that your friendship to  our family is what makes our Toler-family  go around.  The love from our family, friends and other loved ones.  Thanks for letting us into your lives as our lives have been blessed by this.

So Hasta la vista, Hasta luego, Bon Voyage and Ciao for Now!  

We're going on VACATION 2008!

Love,

Angie

Great Wolf Lodge

This week we took a 2 day trip to the Great Wolf Lodge in  Williamsburg, VA.  We were so happy that it lived up to our expectations and all the wonderful things people had said about it!  Including the 66,000 sq foot warm indoor water park, and the MagiQuest game that Austin and Ashley could point their magic wands at things around the hotel and magic would happen.  We knew the lodge had a lot to offer, but we were floored when we found out there was an arcade, an Aveda salon, a 12 and under little salon called "Scoops" for little girls, mini golf, a teen club at night, 5 eateries there, and scheduled daily activities for kids of all ages.  Unbelievable.  From story time to their own little kiddie camp bunk beds in the guest rooms, the Great Wolf Lodge will definitely be revisited by the Toler clan again!  Talk about a kid get-away.  Did I mention I went down the 6 story water tornado over 7 times???  SO FUN!

Just yesterday, our neighborhood Piedmont had its bi-annual yard sale.  And can I just tell you that there's nothing more fun than getting a deal.  Anyone can shop and buy something they want.  But it's a far better feeling to shop and get something you wanted for one sixteenth the price!  My deals:  A $50 treadmill, (great shape!) orig over $1500, and a $70 motorized John Deere 2 seat truck for the kids (orig over $399)!!!  I'm so proud of my bargains and so are the kids!

Duane is in Palo Alto CA this past week (where the Sec State lives) and comes home tomorrow, to only leave again tomorrow for Stockholm and other overseas locations.  As for the kids and I, we've already BBQ'ed a few times this weekend and plan on taking advantage of the opening of the outdoor pool tomorrow!  I don't know who's more excited.  Me or the kids!

Happy Memorial Day.  God bless our soldiers and their families.

Angie