Max and the Purple Crayon

Red Rover, Red Rover

Nate and I left D.C. and drove to his cousin Alicia's house this weekend. She lives on the Dover air force base in Delaware with her husband who is currently in Afghanistan as a JAG, and we spent Friday night chatting with Alicia about being a military wife. We watched her four kids Saturday, a sort of babysitting boot camp, if you will. Her youngest is about a year old, so while I had Max duty, Nate had Levi duty. Nate was also the one to read them their books before bed.

Funny Faces


Nate singing Levi to sleep


Bedtime stories



The best part of the day for me was when I was making dinner. Chicken had been in the oven for over a half hour, and the kids were getting hungry. Levi was clinging to my legs, whimpering as the others came in and out asking, "Is it ready yet?" This went on for the second half hour of cooking. I remember being little and smelling dinner for what seemed like hours before it was done. "Mom, I'm STARVING!" Well, I squelched their cries with gravy. It was very satisfying.

We drove on to Nazareth on Sunday and celebrated Nate's birthday early with some spinach lasagna and German chocolate cake courtesy of Lori's Kitchen (it should have a name, it's that good). Nate went back to D.C., and Keith and Lori are out of town until Wednesday, so I'm babysitting once again. Maddie, Logan, Max, and I are holding down the fort. Holding down the fort...
cause I made it through boot camp...
when I was on base in Dover...
red rover...
over...
and out.

Sleepy Head

Max wakes up to eat every 2 hours at night. But when he sleeps, he sleeps like a baby. Go figure.

TV Head

I think at Max's age, watching TV is helping to develop his brain rather than to rot it. That's what I'll keep telling myself anyway. I mean, I do need to shower every once in awhile.

Presidents' Day - Part 2

Arlington National Cemetery

After visiting Mount Vernon, we drove over to the cemetery and had an hour left before it closed. We headed up to the amphitheater, and Max got fussy right as we hit the top. Nate had to rush him back down the hill while I stayed to watch the changing of the guards at 5pm.

Cemetery Gates


Walking up through the cemetery







Sad Max



Amphitheater




Changing of the Guards




Back side of the amphitheater

View from back

Walking back down

Presidents' Day - Part 1

Mount Vernon

We celebrated Presidents' Day (George Washington's birthday) in the best way we possibly could. Mt. Vernon was packed with people from all over, but we loved it even so. George Washington's mansion had some original furniture and was painted with the original colors. We saw the room where the Marquis de Lafayette stayed, Washington's bedroom where he passed away, and his study with the swivel chair he used during his presidency.

Reenactment



George Washington's Tomb

Circular Barn




Slave Quarters



Dutch Oven Cooking


Potomac River


Old Tomb


Nate loved this brick wall


Max needing some TLC


The gardens


Washington's Mansion (no pictures aloud inside)



George Washington impersonator speaking to crowd during his "surprise birthday celebration"

Presidents' Day Weekend in DC - Saturday

The Metro

The White House

Oliver Platt

Occupy D.C.

Vietnam War Memorial

Washington Memorial



Korean War Memorial


Martin Luther King Memorial

Max being a trooper

Jefferson Memorial

World War II Memorial



Chance meeting with Emily from Nate's mission

Washington Monument