Grandma's Know Everything

This week marks the first week that Ashley has started to sing lullabys with me. Every single nap, and nighttime I'll sing "I Am a Child of God" to her and Monday she started singing along with me. Mostly only getting the last words of phrases, but it was so sweet-it made me half sad to know she's getting that old! She also started saying "I love you" back when we tuck her in at night. Normally we would pat her back and say, "Love you" and she wouldn't respond. But this week she's responding and singing. It's so cute seeing the difference between raising a boy vs a girl. Ash loves to dance and when the radio plays and I'm singing, she always starts to dance and try to sing along too. I love it!

This week there have been many times when I knew what Austin was up to (getting out of bed because I heard him jump out or filling the sink with water....) but I would always surprise him when he got in trouble. He would ask, "How did you know I was out of my bed?" And I responded with, "Mommy's know everything." And he has been retorting with, "You're too young. Only Grandma's know everything!" Very well said.

This week Duane and I were able to attend the LDS Temple together. It was wonderful going back (its been too long since we've been last). But I almost gave Duane a heart attack as we're getting ready to go, we were going through different kids classes/workshops being offered at the local Rec center (Freedom Center) and Austin really wanted to take a cooking class. He didn't want T-ball like Duane wanted him to join. Nor did he want any sport for that matter. Austin just wanted the tot cooking class. Duane told him no and then Austin went on to put my bra on his head. That sent Duane over the edge. I explained that Austin's masculinity will not be determined at 4 because of a cooking class or the fact that he's touched a bra. Needless to say, the temple calmed him down. Duane got Austin really excited about taking Tae-Kwon Do instead of cooking. Kih-Yah!

Tonight we went to the County Fair with some of our buddies and we had a ball. Corndogs, cotton candy, funnel cakes, fried oreo's and cheap fair rides. It's always something fun to go to once a year, but then you're glad that its only once a year.
The kids got their pictures taken this week and it was so fun. They both love to ham it up in front of a camera.

We leave on Monday to drive to Charleston and leave Tuesday for HAWAII!!! We're glad the tropical storm has left.....yikes!
Aloha!
Angie

Oh Snap

"How does that feel!?!?" was the question I heard from Austin. The kids and I were wrestling around the floor when I felt a sudden sharp snap. Only to realize Austin had grabbed the back of my bra and slung it back as if he were Davey fighting Goliath with his slingshot and snapped me. It hurt but I had to start laughing which just added fuel to his fire. The joys of having a boy. He also gets into Ash's dress up clothes and makes a mockery of them when he puts them on his head and dances around Ashley. She's screaming frantically but again, the crying adds fun and then the teasing game becomes ultra-exciting. This week at the Kids World (the nursery at my gym) Austin brought a little backpack which I thought was full of little toys. The leader told me that he couldn't bring in cologne anymore. I guess Austin had found one of daddy's colognes and stuck it in his backpack. Austin had sprayed everything and almost every child with Daddy's Dolce Gabanna. I then talked to him about why we don't do that (allergies, invades privacy, etc) and Austin apologized to the nursery leader the next day and told her, "I promise I won't bring in the manly alcohol anymore. Sorry."

Ashley has "graduated" out of her high chair this week! (She's really not big enough but she thinks she is....probably only because Austin isn't in a high-chair, she doesn't like being put into hers.) But every time I lift her up to her spot at the table now, she just smiles in pure joy!

Austin tried on one of Duane's suit jackets and looked like a wizard. He also painted a picture and painted his name on it because he saw his buddy Cameron had written his name on artwork. A little friendly competition is always healthy!

It's becoming more and more evident that Ashley is Daddy's little princess. Ash will ask for everything and Daddy is there to give it to her. She'll even throw something on the ground and scream, "Daddy!" just to see if he'll retrieve it for her. And guess what? He does. I told him we're creating a complete monster by letting her act like this and giving in to her every whim. But Duane just says, "She's my baby." Wrapped around her little finger....
A bit of exciting news for us....we're going to HAWAII!!! August 20-28. We're so excited! Dropping the kids off in Charleston with their grandparents and we're staying at the Hilton in Oahu. This year was our 7 year anniversary and this will be the first time together without the kids! T minus 8 days in counting!!!!
We ran 10 miles yesterday for our training. The weather was SO nice outside! It wasn't unbearably hot like it has been. Very enjoyable! Only 8 more weeks till the half marathon!
Enjoy the mid-August dog days of summer! (It won't last much longer...school starts right around the corner....)
Angie

Mine Too!

This week marks about the month mark that everything Austin has, Ashley HAS to have as well. If not, then a LOUD scream fills the car, home, church, grocery store, etc. It doesn't even matter what the object is, as long as it's in Austin's hands, Ashley needs it. So poor Austin is always being told to share. Giving Ash whatever prized posession he brings along with him. So now its double everything. Happy meal toys, drinks, treats. There must be two identical objects, or someone's not happy.


Ashley loves her pacifier "binki" but she calls it her "baby". But she'll throw it whenever she gets upset. But then she'll call out "BABY!" And immediately need it. I find that consistency is a great parenting discipline technique but I fail miserably when she throws her binki and I say, "Bye bye binki" and don't give it back to her. But then after 10 minutes of screaming at different locations I find myself frantically searching all over the car/cart, etc for the blasted binki! Just put it in her mouth!
Duane came back from Egypt this week and he said it as so hot there. Like 120 degrees hot. I saw him on the Today show with Condi! The day we were picking him up from the airport Austin wanted to surprise daddy and make cupcakes and put candles in them. Whenever there's a celebration, Austin believes there must be candles. He'll be our little pyromaniac!

Coming home from the gym one day this week, Austin told me he loved the Kids Club there. He said he meets lots of nice friends. Then he asked if he could go to a spend-the-night party. I told him he's a little too young to go to another little boys house to spend the night. He then told me, "Mom, it's not a boy. It's a girl. I've already spent the night at a boys house. It's now a girls turn."

Happy August!
Angie

Bad Hair Week

"YUCK! Is this Ogre chicken?!?!" was the sweet comment that my son made last night after I made him dinner. Austin would eat spicy curry, crocodile, ostrich and all sorts of crazy foods in Africa. But since we've "americanized" his palate in the States again with good old mac-n-cheese, hot dogs, and nuggies...I cant' go out of the norm too often. Although I did make brussel sprouts this week and the kids LOVED them! 1 point for Mom.

Why was it a bad hair week? There was silence upstairs for far too long when I crept up there and saw Ashley smearing a thick white ointment on her head! Not knowing whether to laugh or cry (I was seconds away from getting the kids in the car to take Duane to the airport for an Egypt trip). So Ashley just looked at me and started laughing. Austin loved the comotion and started dancing around Ash, excited at the fact that mom might get upset with her for a change. Austin helped me out by scraping the cream off of her head with one of his plastic swords. It was a good time for all! Ashley wasn't the only one with a bad hair week. I tried cutting Austin's hair this week (to save $15 on a 4 year old's haircut) and no longer did I plug the clippers in, Austin grabbed them and they were they immediately up to the middle of Austin's head. Swoosh! There goes a chunk to the scalp! I just yelled NO!!! Again, I didn't know whether to be mad or laugh, so Austin broke the silence by laughing when he saw himself in the mirror, so I laughed hysterically too! So the cut is a bit shorter than I'd like it. But hey! It's summertime. I guess we'll have to wait on those Target photos for one more month.

Is that my son with a pull-up on over his pajamas? That's a concept that won't quite work!

Ash is starting to put more words into sentences including "I'm Mama's girl" (she has always said I'm dada's baby...so any attention towards mom I'm savoring) . She also loves to mimic anything Austin does. Good and bad. She also has to have whatever he's eating and play with the same toys he plays with. So poor Austin always has to share everything. Her favorite items are her binkis (at night must have 2 in her hands at all times). And she still adores dogs. So we bought her a remote control puppy and she just walks around and hugs it all the time.

Ashley got strep throat this week! First time and odd for a 19 month old. Poor thing.
Duane is in Sharm el Shiek Egypt (we all went snorkeling there in the Red Sea a couple of years ago with my brother Chris and I'm jealous he gets to go again!)
Can you belive this week starts August?!?
Much love,
Angie

Allowance Begins

We found out Jonathan's assignment this year (since he's not going to Afghanistan) will be.....to stay on Condoleezza's detail for one more year! We are thrilled he's back on the detail, as he would not have enjoyed a desk job in the Washington field office for a year. Yeah! So continue to look for him on TV with her. He just got back from Lisbon, Portugal (where he served his mission). He told me he wanted me to cook the pastries and meats that they cook over there. I told him I wanted the househelp that lots of people have over there....the debate quickly stopped.


How is eggnog made? What's on Mars? How are books made? Why? How? Why? How? Austin is constantly pondering things. He also is enjoying CTR 5 class at church as he's been doing great and getting all three stickers (sharing time, singing time and class). He loves his new teacher and shows us the correct way to pray and remembers scripture stories quite well. We also went to a new pediatric Gastroenterologist this week and are thrilled with the new doctor. In September Austin will be admitted for a 24 ph probe in his belly through his nose and will have another upper endoscopy performed. We are very thankful for the time and care this doctor has put into our little buddy. Austin has also enjoyed sending letters and phone calls with his cousin Ryan who's been visiting Chris and Jodi for the past month. It's cute to hear a 4 year old engaged in a phone conversation. We just started an allowance this week for Ausitn. He now loves to do chores. He gets $2/week with 10% going to tithing and 10% to missionary fund. He loves having "money". He puts it in a special bag that's hidden from Ashley. He also has a special lucky penny that he puts in his special agent wallet that holds his credentials as well (badge, id, etc. just like Daddy)!



Ashley is so CRAZY. She is a real dare-devil! She gets on the edge of the bed and you'd better be right there to catch her, because she's jumping! She also jumps off the bottom two stairs and wants to go higher like her brother. She handles playgrounds with no fear, which instills a lot of fear in me as I'm running around after her. I went to take the kids to see Ratatouille this past week and Ash was out of control. No matter how much food I brought, she wanted to get down and walk up the stairs in the theatre and if not, she shrieked like a teradactyl. I was in out and of that theatre over 12 times. Never again will we go to the movies until she's over 3 years old. Yikes. We've started time-outs for Ash. She likes to hit her brother (and mom). Daddy is okay in her book. But the time-outs are working well. She's so funny though-she has started sticking her tongue out and now she's dancing more than ever. She loves to mimic sounds/songs on the radio. And still loves to have her toenails painted, and gets into mommy's makeup bag. Bare Escentuals powder covered our bathroom rug last week along with a large spill of fingernail polish...the rug was dunzo.

I just signed up for the Baltimore Half-marathon on October 13th. Duane is going to run it too! It's fun training again.

Have a great week!
Angie

July 8-15

This week's highlights:
Austin:
1. Austin's in a pirate stage right now and at the end of a long sword battle, he gave me a kiss and said do you want to have a tongue fight? I put this in this journal because I know he'll laugh about this when he's 18...or maybe not.
2. He's asked many questions this week. How is plastic made? How do waves form? How does the grocery store get all their fruits and vegetables? What kinds of people/things don't go to heaven? How many teeth does a crocodile have? Sometimes I had to just pause and let him think about things.
Ashley:
1. She's saying, "I'm Dada's baby" all the time now. Her vocabulary grows by the day. She likes to say thank you and please and screams extremely loud still when Austin takes something from her that she wants.
2. Its really fun to see the difference between boys and girls. Ashley tries to sing along with the radio now and loves to dance and follow the moves when people dance on the preschool shows. Austin never danced with Barney. She also still loves trying on different people's shoes and tries to put her bows in her fine sparse hair.



The highlight for both the kids this week was when Duane brought home his police/govt car and the kids got to sit inside and Austin pressed the buttons and horns and Ash pretended she was driving!

Other highlights:
This week was also our friend Roman Delzcruz's first birthday!
We had a baby shower for Brooke
I had BUNKO
I made Entrees Made Easy (love it!)
We had a BBQ for Duane's work
Austin had a follow up appt with the Gastroenterologist and we found out some good info. We'll be doing more testing including a 24 ph probe (tube that goes down his nose and into his stomach for 24 hours to find out where and when his acid is going) and a swallowing/aspiration testing done in the next month or so. (Fun fun.)

Keep enjoying the summertime and the pool!
Love,
Angie

4th of July '07

Happy 4th! And Happy Birthday Mom! This year for the 4th, my brother Christian and his son Ryan and wife Jodi came to DC! The week started with a fun trip with Austins buddies Cameron and Tate to a trip to Burke Lake Park. The train wasn't working, but they picked up sticks, ran around, presented a skit on the stage, climbed railroad tracks, rode the carousel and played on the playground. What more could boys want?

We also spent some great time with the Delacruz family who is moving soon. We are so sad! Austin and Madeleine have gotten so close! We will miss you guys!
Then my brother came into town. Christian is definitely into fireworks, so the 4th started with firecrackers mid-afternoon. Austin and Ryan loved them! Chris ended the week with what I'm sure were illegal fireworks, and Chris hit the "cool Uncle" status.

We then had a 4th of July parade to gear up for the festivities that evening! We BBQ'ed at home, then braved the masses and went downtown for the fireworks display. They were unbelievable as usual.

We spent a half day at Great Country Farms in beautiful Bluemont, VA. It was so much for the kiddos-hay ride, petting zoo, feeding the animals, rope swings, tire slides/mountains. They even got to feed a baby pig some milk!

We ended the week with a trip downtown DC to tour all the great things the city has. White House, Capitol, the memorials, monuments, statues, etc.

We hope you had a great 4th of July!
Love,
Angie
ps-Thanks for all the thoughts on Duane not going to Afghanistan. We feel its best for our family right now.

S.E. Vacation 2007

No blog in awhile, as we were on an extended vacation from June 7-June 28th. What a wonderful time we had bouncing around the Southeast! First, we spent a week with Duane's family in Myrtle Beach, SC and had a great time! We then spent time with his wonderful parents downtown Charleston shopping in the the market, museums, beloved restaurants and having BBQ's (and don't forget Brusters ice cream!)

We then flew to Ft. Lauderdale FL to spend a week with the loco LaBarbera's! We spent time at the beach, shopping, imax theatre, joking/poking/fighting in fun with my brothers and deep sea fishing was definitely the highlight of the week where we each caught 2 kingfish and quite a few baracuda's. Everyone caught something and it was a great time. Each night we had family night where one family had to cook and another family had to do the entertainment for the evening. It was a wonderful time.

Then we spent just a few days in Orlando with just our kids and did Magic Kingdom at Disney World. We closed the park down including the fireworks at 10pm, and catching the ferry out at 11pm with the rest of the mobs and tired kids. Austin really got into it this year. He loved the Pirates ride, Snow White (because it was scary) and the kiddie roller coasters. What a great time-I don't know if he had more fun or if Duane and I did as we're eating funnel cakes and doubling up on the rides-wanting to go more than he did. And Ashely was a trooper. She enjoyed everything amid the 99 degree temperatures in Orlando, FL. What a great time!

We have a bit of good news! No, I'm not pregnant. But, Duane WILL NOT BE GOING TO AFGHANISTAN!!! It was a decision made only about a month ago, after Austin's last bronchoscopy. Since Austin will be undergoing more surgery's this year, Duane just didn't feel right about leaving us for a year with all the problems our little guy is having. So, State Dept Medical understood and his assignment has been broken. Family comes first.

We're not exactly sure what he'll be doing, but we do know we'll be in DC for one year. Then we bid again. We'll keep you posted!

NYC-Family Trip

While Jonathan was in Spain, the kids and I had a wonderful time in New York City! In fact, I spent time with my parents, and 2 of my three brothers. I saw everyone but Aaron and Reghan and in New York of all places. Chris, as pictured above and his beautiful wife Jodi. Below is Grant. We had a great time together. We ate in Little Italy, hung out around Times Square, tried to get on MTV trl and Grant was a party animal the entire time. Grant went to bed around 4am, was meeting people in subways, attending private parties,etc. More girls were text messaging Grant that he had met in New York in 4 days than I get here among my friends. It's normal for Grant.


For the more tamer crowd (myself, my kids and the grandparents)...we had a ball together. We went to the Bronx Zoo where Austin had a camel ride, and loved the Grizzly and Polar Bears.

We went to FAO Schwarz where Austin touched and played with every toy known to man including playing the floor piano. We went to the enormous Disney store where he had a sword fight with pirates, and the huge Toys-R-Us store where the real size T-rex growled at him. A couple of times he ran away and yelled at Grandma to "Run!" We also enjoyed Central Park and the huge climbing rocks there.
Ashley was a trooper. Although the pollution in NYC was hard on her. We walked with Ash in the Baby Bjorn and pushing Austin in the stroller. We got around NYC just fine!

Among my highlights were being able to see 90% of my family this week, eating cheesecake at the Carnegie deli, Tasti-D-Lite (delicious frozen yogurt) and walking around New York City enjoying the wonderful things it has to offer.
This week we're leaving on a 3 week vacation to Charlston SC for a Toler Family reunion and then a week in Ft. Lauderdale Florida for a LaBarbera family reunion then finish up with a few days at DisneyWorld for Austin. More Toler Tales to come in 3 weeks. Enjoy the warmth of summer!
Angie

Bronchoscopy

Austin had a rough week. He had another bronchoscopy performed on Thursday (7th time under general anesthesia in 2 years) only to find out that his chronic cough and tracheamalacia is due to worsening bronchi. But we're still pressing forth and figuring things out slowly. He's such a trouper! We love him so much. Every time he goes into the hopsital, we read the Curious George story about George going to the hospital and the trouble he gets into there. Austin then loves to make the similarities in the hospital and what George did in the book.

Austin's given us a giggle this week as he's been asking questions like 'how are swords made?' 'why does outer darkness exist?' and making statements to me such as "if you don't give me dessert, I'll have to put you in time out." I think my favorite this week was in a prayer he said just after he got in trouble he says, "Please, please help mommy be nice to me. Because I know that if she's not, you'll give her swats too. You can do anything" I had to chuckle during that prayer.

Austin also has an alter ego. His name is Brucie. This name was taken after his Uncle Chris. When Austin does something bad, it really wasn't him. It was Brucie. So we've been working at distinguishing Brucie's actions and Austin's. He's so great at manipulating at 4!Austin also got "married" this week to his best little girlfriend Madeleine. They have so much fun together and we are really close to our dear friends Cecilia and Derek and their baby Roman.

Ashley is so funny. She's starting to get a little vicious. Partly as self-defense from her brother taking things out of her hands, and partly because she's second child. To put it lightly, I definitely think she'll be able to hold her own when she goes into nursery next month at church. Her beloved items are her pacifiers. She must hold 2 at once all the time. We've taken them away during the daytime, but at nighttime she loves her "baby's" as she calls them. Must have her babys!

Also, Ash had Christmas in May when my sweet friend Cheri gave Ashley a Cinderella vanity and play kitchen. Ash is all girl and loves to dress up already! Cheri is moving and is purging through her stuff and I'm reaping the benefits as her girls get older, Ash is getting the good stuff. I'm going to miss you Cheri! Sniff Sniff.

Duane went to Spain for the next little while and the kids and I are going to New York City! Yes, I was just there on a girls trip, but we're meeting up with Mom and Dad and my brother Grant. Besides, who can get enough of Central Park?

Have a wonderful Memorial Day!
Angie
ps-a few of you have asked what exactly happened this time to Austin in the bronchoscopy: The day of the surgery, he did great. But the Dr. came out and told me that his bronchi are getting worse. His floppy trachea is the same but now down lower, his bronchi are getting inflamed and floppy. So he did biopies in his lungs, bronchi and trachea and sinus cavities. He said that when the results come back we'll talk about what we need to do next. It's like we get one step forward with Austin and all of his medical things and then one step back. Also, I was told his acid reflux is getting worse. (Which is so hard to believe because we've been giving him an adult dosages of reflux prescription medicine the past 2 years). He's not in any pain, but he doesn't feel it because its all down in the trachea near his belly. But fat was found in his lungs which means food is going up and into his lungs. Not good. So along with his asthma and sinus problems, and a floppy trachea (extremely narrow and soft airways. Acid is coming up his trachea and nasal secretions come down and it makes him cough. His narrow trachea makes this cough sound croupy and barky. All his life he's been like that. We're just trying to fix it. And it sounds like Ashley has the same thing as she coughs she sounds like a little 80 year old man with emphysema....

Preschool Program

Lots of good news this week! One bit of great news-my brother Aaron in L.A. who works for Deloitte and Touche just got accpeted into Duke's MBA program which he'll start this summer! Aaron has always been so goal oriented and he knew he wanted to go to Duke as a teenager and he's accomplished his goal! GREAT JOB AARON!

Another bit of great news is I had my dear friend Lynn out here in DC this week and we had so much fun playing! Lynn and I originally met in Nairobi. Her husband is going through the State Dept's GSO training and Lynn came out to visit him, but I think she and I spent more time together than her and her husband. We shopped while Duane watched the kiddos (including her sweet baby girl Anna). We also had lunch and dinners together including the infamous "5 Guys". We had a blast together. Get out here soon Lynn!

I was also so touched and emotional at Austin's adorable patriotic preschool graduation on Thursday. He had a speaking part and they sang wonderful patriotic songs. Then at the end they sang a song about how to 'take a look at me now and enjoy me while I'm young because I will be big someday'. That sent me over the edge.
Tears were flowing as Duane is laughing at me. The video camera was shaking as I'm desperately trying to get every move of Austin on camera. I just want to keep both my kids ages 4 and 1 forever! Austin then jumped over a big line to show that he's done with the 3 yr old preschool program and he's heading into the 4's program next year. It was extremely special.


Duane and Austin had a ball this week as they watched Spider Man 3 together. It was "so cool!" Austin said! He's wants to go back to the theater with Daddy everyday. Duane also came back from Russia this week.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to do Entrees Made Easy and I have to say I love it! No chopping, cleaning, etc. Just put your meals together and take them home. Makes sense!
My older brother Christian had his 35th birthday on Thursday. Happy Birthday Chris! Have a great week!

Mother's Day 07'

Happy Mother's Day! This week was a great week and this weekened was even better. Although Duane does travel extensively, I must say that when he is home, he spoils me. My mother's day weekend started Saturday night on a date (sans the kiddos) at Ruth's Chris steakhouse with a dozen roses. Then Duane had to speak in church about mothers and was very publicly thankful for all of my efforts (always nice to hear). Then the mother's day dinner was all made for me. Tuscan chicken, sweet potatos, cinnmon apples, and complete with a mother's day cake. I then took a long nap (I don't remember my last nap) and he cleaned the entire house. I woke up and he was packed for Moscow and left. My mother's day was completely relaxing, spoiling and all about me. I loved it!


Austin made me a very special mother's day gift at his preschool. A little pot he fingerpainted with beans and a little flower candle inside. He was so proud to give me the gift. He then dumped all the beans out and wanted to plant the magic beans in our yard to see if a beanstalk would come up. Austin also started his "advanced beginner" swim lessons this week. He's doing great! Learning strokes, holding his breath, etc. He also has started asking me questions at the ripe old age of 4 that I don't know answers to. Such as, 'how do you make toothpaste?' and 'how do sharks get from the ocean or one aquarium to another?' He's already corrected me a few times.



Ashley is a ham! She's getting so vocal, saying 'love you' and 'thank you' and has increased the demands. Does that sound surprising? She's so much fun. She loves getting her white patent leather shoes out of her drawer every single morning and puts them on and grabs a makeup brush and tots around like she owns the place. She's also the welcoming committee for the gym nursery. As kids come and go, Ash yells "HI!" and "Bye!" She also has noticed when she passes gas-she says "toots!" Austin really likes that. In fact, that might be the coolest thing his sister has ever done up to this point.


Duane is off to Moscow and another location this week. He did a magnificent job for Mother's Day and I so appreciate him! I also love being a mom. My dear friend Abby is a tremendous mother and she sent me the lyrics to the song Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with revised words to sing to your little ones. Austin loves the song and Ash tries to sing along too. Here they are:
Twinkle, twinkle little Star
What a wonderful child you are!
Big bright eyes and rosy cheeks
A talented person from head to feet
Twinkle, twinkle little Star
What a wonderful child you are!

Have a great Mom's Day.
Love,
Angie

New York City

This week was SO MUCH FUN! First, Grandpa and Grandma from Charleston, SC came up on Monday to stay for a week. Austin and Ash were so excited! They call them the "Myrtle Beach" Grandma and Grandpa. We had a wonderful time together-soccer practices, games, preschool, etc. They saw the routine and did a GREAT job while I went out of town. As you can see, Ashley and Grandpa really connected. We love them and really appreciated them watching the kiddos!




I had a fabulous time in Manhattan with my dear friends/bridesmaids from college. We did about everything you could do in New York City. We stayed at the Waldorf Astoria on Park and Lexington and enjoyed lots of fine-dining (kid free!), We also had a cameo on the Today show on Friday morning where Amy announced that she's having a girl by holding a banner up and we got on camera! We did a tour of the city on a double decker bus which was phenomenal to ride because we were so tired! We toured Greenwich, Soho, Little Italy and ate outdoors at a cozy little restaurant called Il Pilazzo. We then went to Chinatown and of course did the knockoff shopping on the infamous Canal street where I've never seen more Prada, Gucci and Dolce. Too bad it all looked too fake. Although, we did buy some Coco Chanel sunglasses...


We then saw a Broadway show "Hairspray". It was really cute. The next day we took the subway down to the World Trade Center and that was very sobering. We then went to the Statue of Liberty. To finish out our final day, we had to celebrate Cinco de Mayo by eating at Rosa Mexicano (amazing guacamole!) and that was just the beginning of our night! We then hit a number of clubs. We all laughed the next morning because we were so not used to staying up so late (the ones with kids-we were all feeling it!) but we had a blast being together-reminiscing, joking, etc. Nothing can beat a girls trip!

When I came back (I started missing the rugrats as soon as I got to the airport to depart) I was thankful to be home. The first thing Austin said was, "Mommy, you're on my bad-guy list. You were gone too long!"


Ashley and Austin are starting to play together more. As long as Austin can manipulate his way so that things work out in his favor, he always lets Ashley think she has the upper-hand. She's saying thank-you, bubbles, baby, names lots of animals and is starting short sentenes, "Bye baby!" "Hi woof-woof." She's now 17 months old. Where is the time going?

Earlier this week, Duane tiled another bathroom floor. He's quite the handyman! He got to spend some time at the White House during the Queen's visit here in DC. Lucky Dog.

Enjoy the spring that's finally here!
Love,
Angie