Another Snow Day

I think Fairfax County has been closed more than they have been open so far this year. Since RJ's preschool follows Fairfax schedule, today was another snow day.

RJ peeking out the window watching the snow.

Laura just couldn't resist a sled ride.

Hold on tight!

Great run!

Charlie - "Where'd my mommy go?"

RJ and Mommy ready to go

1, 2, 3! After many runs, RJ decided I should be in the front, which resulted in our best run. We made it all the way to the flower pot on the cement slab.

Julia is 8 months old!

Julia turned 8 months old today! She is still a happy, laid back baby. Her sleep is less consistent (as in, she wakes up at night), but it seems like even when she is awake in the middle of the night, she is happy. She has learned some new skills in the last month.

She loves looking at herself in the mirror. Here she is exploring the other baby's hand. ;)

Looking at Mommy in the mirror

She is learning to eat a variety of foods and is generally happy sitting in her chair while I make dinner.

She is getting stronger and pushing herself up higher when she is on her stomach. She is getting good at reaching things out of her reach. She moves her legs and can move backwards, but hasn't quite figured out the coordination to move forward.

She is so happy when she reaches and grabs the toy she wants.

Indoor Fun

We can only spend so much time outside, so we needed to come up with some indoor fun, too.

RJ playing a modified version of Twister.

Julia playing with her toys, happy with the entertainment in the room.

RJ decided we should have pancakes for dinner...with chocolate chips. I think he was just trying to trick me into letting him have some chocolate chips. As you can see, he has become quite independent in the kitchen and often tells me, "I want to do it by myself!"

Saturday Storm

The nice thing about a Saturday snow storm is that we have all weekend to play.

RJ going out Sunday morning to assess the snow. This was the snow after two rounds of shoveling the day before and overnight sleet.

What started as building a snowman, quickly turned into building a snow family. RJ wanted the baby (far left) snowman to cry like Julia.

We had a great idea to make a snow sculpture of a dinosaur. A short attention span and limited energy (remember I'm fighting a sinus infection and strep throat and had just finished shoveling the driveway and making the awesome snow family) turned our dinosaur into a crocodile.

The tail of the croc after RJ painted it. This was our second time outside this morning, so we were ready to get inside and eat lunch which is why only his tail got painted.

Exercising

RJ: Um, I'm at the gym so...
Me: Laughing out loud
RJ: Hey, don't laugh at me. I'm doing some exkerskise.
Me: Ok.
(A few minutes later and after I run to get my camera and take a few pictures.)
RJ: I'm all done getting some exkerskise!

Sick and Tired

I'm sick of being tired and tired of being sick, so decided I definitely needed to see a doctor before Doug left for a week. So, here's a summary of our Saturday.

5 inches of snow (and that was just a few hours in the morning, we got more as the day went on)
4 medications
3 1/2 hours in CVS "minute" clinic
2 infections (sinus and strep) and patient children
1 awesome husband who willingly drove me to the clinic, entertained RJ for 3 1/2 hours by trying on every pair of sunglasses in the store, shoveled the five inches of snow when we got home and then left for the airport headed to California - the only state in the nation that has warm temperatures today.

RJ picked out these sunglasses specifically for Uncle Jimmy. (Where does he get these ideas???)

Snow Day

Another snow day = another sledding day! RJ was soooo excited to go sledding with Nicholas and I was so happy Julia took an extra long nap while the boys played outside. They played all morning together - outside and inside.

Kimberly giving RJ and Nicholas a good push down the hill.

Our little "angels." If you look closely, they might be growing horns. ;)

Bradley came over for an afternoon play date.

Kaitlyn was excited to see Julia when she came with Geoff to pick up Bradley.

Ready, Set,

Jump! RJ and Bradley

Monkeys

Valentines Day 2015

We started this very cold morning by going ice skating on the canal (just RJ and Doug) and then to the Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum.

American interpretation

Doug, RJ and Julia with Discovery

RJ was so excited about all the airplanes. He kept saying he wanted the airplanes to go. When they made an announcement that a paper airplane workshop was about to start, RJ could not contain his excitement. "Mommy, Daddy, they are going to start the airplanes!!!!! Did you hear it? They said they are going to start the airplanes!!!!!"

RJ and I prepared a valentines dinner including heart jello/jigglers and a heart shaped veggie tray.

Sorbet

RJ is 3!!!!!

It is hard to believe RJ is three! He was so excited about his birthday. We had many celebrations.

Pretending to nap to avoid pictures

Being silly on the chair

Finally posing after threatening to not let him open gifts. ;)

Celebration #1 was with his grandparents.

RJ opening a truck that was Doug's when he was little.

Working on a puzzle while Dad and GrandDad were picking up the pizza.

Family picture with his requested decorate your own cupcakes "like Lydia and Celia" (Thanks Auntie Ana for the brilliant idea!)

Julia and Grandmother Chris

Celebration #2 with Ryan and Monica
This was not really a planned party. They were coming over for dinner and when I got out the cupcakes, RJ insisted having candles and singing since that was what we had done earlier in the day with his grandparents. Ryan and Monica were our first visitors the day we brought RJ home from the hospital.

Julia and Ryan

Ryan and Monica with kids

Family photo

Fun with Simon

Celebration #3 was with just our family on his actual birthday.

This balloon was on our mailbox when we came home. He was so excited about it. He had many guesses on who put it there including: Grandmother Chris, Santa, John and Valerie, Christy and Mr. Jim and Ms. Laura. The Warrens called later to sing to him which he was also pretty excited about and loudly exclaimed, "Thank you!"

RJ grabbed the sprinkles and decorated his cupcakes while I was distracted talking to Auntie Ana who had called to sing to him.

Patiently waiting for Dad to come home so he could open presents.

"Reading" Christy's post on facebook. "Happy birthday RJ! I can't believe you are 3 already. I hate that I don't get to see you grow up and play with you everyday. I hope one day you will understand how much you mean to me! You always bring a smile to my face, always make my days brighter, and you bring me so much joy! I hope you have a great day and I will see you soon! Love you!"

Mom with RJ and Julia

Dad with RJ and Julia

Celebration #4 was at preschool.

He had fun putting the sprinkles on the cupcakes, but then told me that he didn't want a party at school because it was too loud.