First Lost Tooth!

Last week we were visited by the Binki-fairy.  This week, we were paid a visit by the Tooth Fairy!  Yesterday Austin lost his first tooth.  The bottom middle one.  He'd pulled it out himself at camp!  I picked him up and he smiled really wide in my face and was so proud of himself.  Austin was getting so much attention that soon Ashley said she has "loose teef" too.  Yeah Austin!

You know that Duane is his father, Mr. Electronics, because Austin told me he wanted the Tooth Fairy to leave him a digital camera.  What?  Instead, the Fairy had left him $5 for his first tooth and Austin was ecstatic this morning.  Very exciting!

No more Binki!

This week marks a special week for us!  The pacifier or "binki" fairy came and took all of Ashley's binkis!  Including her pink princess one.  So of course, she did fine without them.  Pacifiers (esp at age 2) are so much more a habit and crutch for parents than truly a necessity for a child to soothe themselves.  She did fine without it.  Occasionally she'll see one in someone else's mouth and ask for her binki, but "the fairy took them." When Ash looked in her beloved little drawer full of binkis and it was empty, somehow having a fairy take them softened the blow.  

The "binki fairy" not only took the binkis, but left something for her.  The day after she paid her visit, we came home one afternoon and there

on the front doorstep was a pair of beautiful purple fairy wings!  Ash was so excited and has danced around the house with the wings on ever since.  What a sweet binki fairy!  My dear friend Jean left the wings! Thanks!

This week was also monumental for Austin too.  He stopped all of his acid reflux medication.  After his surgery April 8, we've been weening him off all of his meds.  And he's officially off.  He still takes asthma meds due to the scarring and damage done over the years, but he is MEDICINE FREE!!!!

While Jonathan was home, we visited Paramount Kings Dominion theme park (Nickelodeon) and rode great rides, ate funnel cakes, ice cream, pretzels, icees and anything else you'd junk up on at an amusement park.  The kids loved meeting SpongeBob, Patrick, and visiting Scooby Doo's haunted mansion and Ghoster Coaster.  Ash loved the Dora's sing-along adventure!  She gave Diego and Dora big hugs.  Jonathan and I even rode adult roller coasters!  The Volcano rocked.  Jonathan loved the freefall ride.  Yikes.  It was so much fun.

In closing, I had to accent some things that as a mom, made me laugh this week.  Austin was having a rough day and told me that he wanted to move to California.

Mom: Why do you want to move to California Austin?

Austin:  Because I want to see new things.  Visit new places.  Meet new people.

Mom:  Isn't Virginia good enough for you?

Austin:  Life's too boring.  I just need bigger spaces.

Also, I made the family healthy sandwiches with light lunch meat and fat-free cheese.  Austin threw the wheat pita away, threw the light cheese away, and asked me to cut off some "fat cheese" off the block for his meat sandwich.  Sure enough, the boy ate meat and cheese alone.  No bread.  He told me, "this is the way MEN do it."

We are in the middle of summer and I'm loving it.  Enjoy these days at the pool now, they won't last long.

Angie

Daddy's Home!

Daddy came home this week! He only has a week here, but the kids aren't letting him go again unless they go too.  

Austin has a very sensitive sniffer.  This week multiple times he "smells" things.  Like, "this (blank) smells like": old people, doctors hands, dog poop, coffee, preschool, bad breath, onions, garlic, and he even labels what he thinks Ash has eaten from her gas.  So gross!  Oddly enough, wherever we are, when he smells something, his label is normally right on.

Austin also went to his very first camp this week and he had a ball!  Each day had a theme to it.  Books, water day, circus, and construction day.   It was from 10-3.  His favorite day was the last day, Water Day!  Just having Ashley at home gave me a hint of what it freedom I would taste next year while Austin was in kindergarten.  Although Ash was just as demanding with my time ( a typical 2 year old) so it didn't free too much time for me.   and she missed Austin terribly.  She  kept asking where Austin was , when we could get him and if she could go to camp too.   Austin also started swim lessons at Piedmont.  His class name is the "Sea Turtles".  That's exactly what he looks like out there too.  We're coming along.

Ashley reenacted Goldilocks and the three bears at Tiny Dancers this week.  So cute!  She's been saying sassy little comments this week that surprise me.  Although very typical for a girl that I didn't experience with a boy.  Like I was about to take her cereal away because she was sitting at the table way too long.  She says, "Mama, don't you dare."  I even heard a "don't even think about it."  WOW.  

Ash and I had fun too while Austin was at his fun summer camp at the Signal Bay waterpark.  We had a great time together there.  

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Angie

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.