Gravelly Park, Wash DC

Austin got to be the "happy helper" at preschool this week, went to Madeleine's birthday party at Chucky Cheese, and won his little soccer game. Things were good for the lil' man. Austin asked me this week if he could marry his good girlfriend Madeleine. I said sure! Then he said, "I'll marry you both. That would mean a lot of kids mommy!" Didn't mormons do away with polygamy ages ago? Austin is such a great manipulator already. He'll phrase things in such ways to get his way...for food, toys, etc. His favorite songs he likes to hear over and over have now turned to the Beastie Boys: Beverly Hills and Brass Monkey. Oh yeah, and Winnie the Pooh.


Every single morning, Ashley will come from her room with her white patent leather shoes ready for me to put them on her. Then she'll go into my bathroom and dig into my makeup bag. Fingerpainting lipstick on her cheeks, brushing powder on her head, the more the merrier. Such a girly girl! She's also in this feisty stage too. It's funny now, but it won't be when the terrible two's roll around the corner. For example, if Austin takes something from her, or does anything to her she doesn't like, she'll scream like a teradactyl then attack! Fingernails to the eyes, rip your lips off, tries to take the eyebrows off your head! Watch out! You better stay on her good side. Poor Austin takes it. Although there will be the day when he's had enough....oh dear. Do I hear a great Ultimate Fighting Championship match?

Today we all went to Gravelly Park in DC and Austin flew his first kite! It's right next to Reagan airport so all the planes fly overhead as well. The kids loved seeing the planes so close. My ears are resonnating because of the jet engine roars..I probably did some hearing damage to everyone today.

Duane was in Oslo, Norway this week protecting Condi and he said that it was a beautiful country. (He brought back a Dale of Norway sweater for me-50% less expensive in Norway than what they sell them for here in the U.S.!) But my special agent hubby does far more than protecting diplomats or put his life on the line for our country...he's a great handyman! He turned a basement closet with rough-in plumbing, into a bathroom! He tiled the floor, put in the pedestal sink, toilet, lighting fixtures, painted, even decorated it! What a surprise! We also got new tile put into our home and finally got the vinyl out! We also re-carpeted everything. Ahhh! It's like a new home! If I knew he was this good at stuff, I would have put him to work on more stuff a long time ago. His honey-do list is growing....



Spring has sprung here in DC! Enjoy the warmth and outdoors like we are!
Love,
Angie

Florida Spring Break

There are bugs in Florida, but this one is NOT real. We returned on Wednesday from a nice long wonderful spring break visiting Pop and Grandma in sunny Gainesville Florida. It was perfect timing, because it was in the upper 70's, lower 80's there while it was in the 40's and windstorms in the DC area.

Florida is so nice! We always do the same things while we're visiting Pop and Grandma and we never get sick of it. These things include playing in the plastic pool, having water fights with the hose and the poor souls that get the broken squirt guns, feeding the ducks, playing in the park/playground, visiting the University of Florida-sometimes going by Lake Alice to see if any alligators are out sunning themselves, going shopping, playing with our big wheels and all of our outdoors toys which are different than the ones the kids play with at home, playing with "Happy Dog" (Pop and Grandma's miniature schnauzer), going to the local library, a weekend trip to West Palm Beach, playing at Gainesville Health and Fitness center where Pop referees the mens league (we always watch a game or two.) Basically, its time to just kick back and relax!

Chicago/Oprah Trip

I had a blast on our Chicago trip last week! I left my kids in Florida with the grandparents and set off to the Windy City kid-free, for a fun girls vacation!



We ate at Giardano's deep dish Chicago pizza twice in my 3 days there. We also had the famous Chicago stuffed hot dog at the Wiener Circle which weighed at least 1 lb. Thank goodness I brought my R-O-L-A-I-D-S. But we walked it all off as we walked around downtown for hours.




We did lots of shopping at the Water Tower and many other places downtown.





And we went to the Oprah show! The topic was on Dogs and is aired April 25th. Kendra and I were chosen to sit in the front and we were so excited!




Before the show started, I participated in a dance contest to win an Oprah T-shirt! They played "Who Let the Dogs Out" and I shaked around the Oprah stage and I deserved my hot pink O T-shirt I received! It was so much fun being up there!
After the show, Oprah did an after-show and then we got a tour of Harpo studios backstage pass because Kendra's daughter Kari is the webmaster for Oprah. It was so cool seeing where she receives all her mail, and all the back-stage type stuff! What a cool experience.

It was a great weekend full of fun, food, shopping and girlfriends. I'm already looking forward to next year's trip!

Easter

Easter came and went with a chill in the air and a light dusting of snow here in Northern VA!








Ashley eagerly followed Austin around with her Easter basket and didn't really know what to do, but quickly got the hang of picking up the eggs and dropping them in her basket.



There has always been a good rabbit that will come on Easter if we've been good and there's the "black hairy rabbit" that can come and leave rotten eggs. Thank goodness for Austin this year, the good rabbit came.

Happy Easter!

Baltimore Aquarium

This week Duane was in town and we maximized our time we all had together and had a ball!




This weekend we went to the Aquarium in Baltimore and really enjoyed it! Although after Austin had already seen Sea World and the Aquarium in Charleston, SC (which is truly the BEST aquarium ever!) we were a bit spoiled. But we had a lot of fun and Austin ran from exhibit to exhibit yelling, "Check this out!" Ashley also was thrilled and loved seeing the sea life! She's such a pipsqueak that we luckily can still fit her in the Baby Bjorn so it was easy to get around the very packed aquarium.
We then went to the Inner Harbor and walked around and got Marble Slab ice cream and of course the boys had to go into ESPN Zone.




Austin had many comical moments this week. Here are just a couple. He tattled on mommy as he threw his old piece of gum out the window and Duane yelled at him about littering and Austin retorted with, "mommy throws apples and banana peels outside her window all the time!" Busted. Also, he said his stomach hurt when we were in the car (you never know what might happen when a child says that) and we had just gotten Dunkin Donuts. You could tell he really wanted to eat the sweet powederd donuts he was staring at and licking his lips for as we were driving. Duane asked him, "Austin, if I give you a donut, are you going to be sick?" And Austin quickly grabbed the donuts and said, 'There's only one way to find out" and dug in. Finally, I told Austin to wash his hands before he eats dinner probably 4 times but he kept tuning me out and talking to himself and playing with his toys. Finally, the 5th or 6th time I said it again this time with a much more obvious crescendo in my voice. Austin looked up at me and said, "You're making me crazy in the head woman when you talk like that!"




Ashley is starting to dance. She taps her little feet-something that resembles the penguins in Happy Feet. She taps around and spins-sort of. She loves to follow Austin around and play with his toys. She is now imitating more and more animal sounds including dogs, cows, fish (we perfected that at the aquarium) and some commands. She is perfecting kisses and loves to give them out freely anytime, anywhere. It just warms our hearts!





I started jogging outside again this week enjoying the warm weather with the double stroller (its getting heavier as the kids are getting older....ugh!) We're getting ready to travel to Florida on Tuesday to spend some time with Pop and Grandma for a few days then go to Chicago with my buddy Kendra and see an Oprah show and enjoy Chicago with her daughter Kari.

I looked out the window this morning and screamed at Duane that his truck had been vandalized! It's horrible! Then I said, "April Fool's!" He didn't take that too lightly. He's never enjoyed any of my April Fool's Day jokes. You would just think that he would remember one of these years!

Happy April Fool's Day!
Angie

Walk Like An Egyptian

This week was pretty low key for the Toler's which was nice.

Austin only has one more week of swim lessons and he's doing great. He's changed this week from doing his band performances to having imaginary warrior friends. I accidentally let him watch a "jetix" kid station that shows Power Rangers a few weeks ago and he's regressed to thinking he's something similar to a character in the Matrixx. Poor Ashley has been on the end of some of his round house Jean Claude Van Dam kicks.





Ashley is now starting to follow Austin around and enjoying being allowed to play with some of his toys. She is getting to be rough and tough. She's on the move now and even though I have a 4 year old, I have forgotten what its like to have a near 16 month old running around getting into everything she shouldn't. She's just a doll.





Jonathan is in Egypt and Jerusalem with Condi and I saw a great shot of him on the news! It made me so happy because normally I see a brief glance at a profile here and there on CNN with so many special agents in dark suits and sunglasses I think I see him but not really sure. This time, he was on for a while! Yeha! He got me King Soloman stone earrings and an Olive Tree wood nativity. (I've gotta get some kickbacks with my hubby travelling all the time!)

My gym did go under last week, but I joined a new gym that's only 5 miles from my house. Other than that, I'm just getting ready for this weekend with the beautiful Cherry Blossoms blooming here in Washington DC! My older brother Chris and his wife Jodi are coming to visit over the weekend and we are so excited! The Cherry Blossom festival should be fun!

Enjoy the warm weather!
Angie

First time "Blogging"...

Blogging sounds like something Ashley does in her diaper. But I must say that this website will make it very easy for the Toler Clan updates! I

Uncle Aaron and Aunt Reghan sent us a package that included a Nacho Libre mask that Austin absolutely LOVES. He wears it all the time and yells "Nachooooooooo!"

Recently, Austin has really gotten into music. He sets up a "band" almost every day with pots as drums, his little synthesizer, a plastic xylophone and mic. He plays the different instruments and loves it. He sings tunes to Toby Kieth, Gnarls Barkley and Steve Miller Band. He really got to put his performing skills to use as he sang a couple of solos at a nursing home for a St. Patrick's Day party. He sang, “I Want a Girl Just Like the Girl that Married Dear Old Dad” and “Twinkle tiwnkle little Star”. Austin LOVES to be in front of crowds! His buddy Cameron singing helped him out quite a bit too!
He also asked me yesterday how a chrysallis works.. ..uh.....yeah.

Ashley is getting to be very animated. Very theatrical, and a perfect description of a drama queen. Having a Austin first I didn't realize just how emotional girls are about things even as tots! If she doesn't get her way, she arches her back, pouts her lips, throws a fit and to daddy (she's his little princess) it's absolutely adorable. I remind him that it won't be cute as she nears the terrible two's around the corner. I do have to bite my lip though during her escapades because it is quite comical. She’s just the most beautiful little baby girl you’ve ever seen. She’s so petite and pretty. She gets compliments all the time. She’s truly the star of the show.

Duane still has his hand in a cast and its been so nice him not travelling with the Secretary yet. He's been home during weekends and in the evenings. He finished his High-Threat training for the State Dept last week and he's qualified for all types of contingency scenarios in Afghanistan next year. He will leave sometime the end of July/beginning of August. Boo!

It was to my utter dismay last week when I found out that the wonderful little gym that I go to was having financial problems and may go under! My friend Cheri and I were scheming on what we should do, but I think the gym is salvagable and things will work out. I hope! I also had the opportunity to sing last week during church with a couple of friends to a wonderful arrangement accompanied by Jean singing and on guitar and Heather on alto! It was a great medley.

I am feeling spring fever....I NEED it to come sooner than later! It was 78 degrees on Thursday then snowed here Friday. I'm ready to be outside with the kids!

Happy Spring (on the 21st!)