Monuments, monuments and more monuments

 

So if I can remember we saw the Washington Monument, the WW II Monument, the Reflective Pool, the Lincoln Monument and some cool Smithsonian Buildings.  All still on day one!  

whew ... then came the tears from tired kids.  So we headed back for some dinner and of course swimming at the hotel! 

Our rain defenses .... in DC

As I mentioned it was rainy the first day we were in DC.  Micah and I thought we'd get some garbage bags to use as cost efficient, one time use, rain slickers.  We obviously didn't buy bags big enough for the adults, as Andrew is modeling! Reagan thought it was cool to wear a garbage bag for a minute, thanks Andrew. :-)

The kids had fun with the umbrellas we had with us.  Dylan loved his new spiderman umbrella/sword! 

Surprise, surprise, anything can become a sword if you are a boy between the ages of birth and ....... when will this end?

Museum of Natural History

Our first stop was the National Museum of Natural History.  Here are a few fun photos.  

As you can see it was raining that day so we were glad we had our jackets, with hoods, and a couple of umbrellas.  There was a lot of humidity in the air and still tons of people around for such a muggy day!  

Reagan LOVED all of the museums, and the monuments, the swimming and the aquarium and basically the whole trip!!  Her absences were excused from school because she got to do a report on our historical field trip.  She thought that was cool, I did too.  

Dylan loved the dinosaurs and the air planes, (next day at the air and space museum) and of course seeing Tayla and swimming in the hotel pool with Tayla.  And don't forget watching the HUGE TV at the hotel.  

Jack loved all the places he could run and things he could try to climb on, he also loved nearly falling into the reflecting pool, and had a blast at the aquarium! (3rd day in Baltimore)  He hated his "harness" (we call it a leash and he hung from it like a screaming dog on a leash) and squiggled out of his stroller any chance he could ... in hind site ... duct tape!

Metro Rides in DC

 

We started out our first day on the metro of course.  The kids thought it was fun ..... the first couple of times.  The ride got a little long at the end of the day when we were all tired and HUNGRY!  But fun! 

 

Semester Break !!! Vacations and FUN FUN FUN!

Wes is 1 semester down and 6 more to go!!! Yeah, way to go Wes, we are so proud of him!!  He has been working very hard since we moved here and of course doing great, he got A's in all his classes .... yeppie!  His finals were spread out over about a week.  One day he came home for school and I asked how he had done on one of his finals his response, "Another day another A"!  He's so matter of fact about it!

Since he had a break we decided to get out and see a little of the East Coast.  We started out going to DC with our friends the Ewell's ... fun, fun!  DC is about a 6 hour drive from here and that's about how long it took Andrew and Micah, but for some reason we did it in 7'ish.  Maybe something to do with 3 kids and LONG pit stops, but we made it!  First thing we did was swim in the hotel pool!  The kids LOVED it and really always have a great time with Tayla so that was something to look forward to on the drive out!  From there it was go go go, walk, walk, walk, see, see, see.  Fun to be in a place so full of history and so great to see all the reminders of our Great Nation and Priceless Freedoms! 

Pictures to Follow!

Jack is 2 .... going on 16

Jack is a Joy to us all and always makes me smile.  He has always been so grown up and "ready to go" since the day he was born!  He knows what he wants and is not at all afraid to go after it.  

He is curious and busy and a lot of fun!  He keeps us on our toes that's for sure.  He blends in so well with our family and has his own way of playing and getting along with both his older bother and his older sister!  All three of our kids are so different and get along so well (most of the time) I hope that lasts!  

Jack is a wonderful blessing in our family, what would we do without him?

Easter 2009

 

This was a fun Easter!  Jack was old enough to hunt for eggs and stop and eat what he found.  Reagan got a new Easter dress and Dylan loved the Easter sombrero that Grandma Bev gave the kids.  It was a nice day!  Good to take time out and reflect on the important things.

Kirtland Ohio

 

On the same theme .... the Grandparent trip.  We visited Kirtland Ohio on a sunny saturday.  None of us Ewings had been there before, my parents have but we hadn't.  It was fun.  

They had a bronze display up in the LDS visitors center about the life and Healing Powers of Jesus Christ, and that was really beautiful!  I am glad we got to see that while it was there.  If it comes near you go it'svery moving and really worth seeing! 

We had a nice picnic on the lawn in the sunshine and took the "abridged" tour of the homes and buildings that have been restored.  At the Whitney store after Jack's 27th attempt to grab, throw, escape and run we decided to bail and head up to the temple.  

The kids were excited to see the temple especially Dylan, he's alway wanted to go inside a temple.  I tried to explain that it's not owned by the Mormon Church and it's not being used like the other Temples but he was to excited to "see the inside."  

It was pretty cool to see how much work and love people put into their homes, the Temple, and things that were important to them.

We had a good time, looked at historical houses had a picnic, saw the Temple and tried to keep Jack from touching things!

Da' Zoo

One of our very favorite places is the local Zoo!  We bought a zoo pass and have already been 4 times since March!  The Erie zoo is just the right size and the kids each have their favorites there.  They were very excited to take G&G Bev to the Zoo and show them around!  It was cold as you can see from the hoods and blankets but still a fun zoo day!  

Dylan likes the bears, the chetahs, the tigers, anything spotted, and of course the train ride.  He's not a fan of the "smelly horse house barn"!  He also really liked the green house it was opened this time, and he thought it was really beautiful.

Jack slept through half of the trip this time.  He usually chases the ducks, likes the tiger and loves the giraffe.  He got to see the giraffe with Reagan and loved seeing him so close up!  He also loved the train, it was finally opened ...yeah.  Jack loves the zoo in general!    

The giraffe LOVES Reagan, we visited it 2 times and every time she went to the window it would bend way down to see her.  It only did this for her not anyone else!  It could have been the red jacket, but I think it was Reagan, it loved her!  Who wouldn't!  They sat head to head for a while, it was really cute! 

Beautiful Beach .... Jackets and All

 

Since we've moved here I've had about 3 people tell me how Erie has the BEST sunsets!  They have all claimed that they are in the top 5 in the nation, or world, or something.  One guy said it is because of the lake, something about air temperature and water reflection.  

My parents wanted to see the lake/beach while they were here so we thought let's time it right so we can see the sunset.  We had a lot of fun skipping rocks, (Grandma Bev finally got one to skip after about 30 tries) throwing sticks, and  enjoying the beautiful lake and sunset.  It was a nice sunset.  I don't know how it would rank but it was pretty.  We have been pretty spoiled the past 4 years living in Southern Utah.  We had gorgeous red rock sunsets out or front door most nights during the year!  A fun time on the beach for sure.

Chalk and Spokes, fun in the driveway

It was so fun to have Grandma Bev and Grandpa no hair come visit.  

We got to do a lot of fun things and the kids really enjoyed getting a LOT of attention!

Thanks Mom and Dad for coming.  And thanks Mom for staying on a little longer and helping me with sooo much.  It was nice of you and so great!

Here are a few pictures of the older 2  Riding Bikes and coloring chalk in the driveway with Grandma.  Grandma Bev even went for a short spin on Reagan's bike.  The weather was good and I am glad it has finally been nice enough to be outside and enjoy spring.