party's over...almost.

Well, it's official. The end is in sight. The plane tickets have been purchased. We're going home...in a week. And while I saw my last Saturday here going somewhat different, sitting in the hotel doing laundry, while it rains, with Jon at work, is a close second.

Luckily, we have Christian, Sadie and CJ coming in a couple days to finish it out with us (the boys and I will be flying home with them, thank goodness).

I am so sad to leave. I love it here. But I really am ready to get back to real life. Good thing too, the hotel just raised the price of laundry to four bucks a load.

it's hot here...

It is really hot around here. We've tried to survive the heat by swimming or staying inside.

the watermine...





the baltimore chidren's museum...

more to him than donuts and coffee...

Sunday evening we went out for a drive and decided to go see the National Cathedral. We ended up getting a little lost, so we pulled over to look at the map. I was trying to locate our current location on the map, but was having a hard time finding the street. In the meantime, a nice Police Man noticed us and pulled over to help. Ethan was very excited about going to see the Cathedral and he was insistent on telling him. However, the guy was busy talking with Jon about the directions and wasn't paying attention. Ethan was getting very impatient with him and repeated, "We're going to the Cathedral. We're going to the Cathedral. Hey, little boy, we are going to the Cathedral!" Luckily he was an A-typical Police Man and didn't mind being talked down to. Probably because he has three kids of his own.

Anyway, after having a rough time giving us directions he suggested we just follow him. As we were following him, Jon became worried he would notice our headlight that has been out for a while. I assumed we were fine, especially because I had just seen him break a number of traffic laws.

When we arrived to the Cathedral he pulled up next to us and we expressed our appreciation. Before he pulled away he said, "Do you know you have a front light out?"

"Yeah, we just noticed." Awkward pause. Subject change.

"Hmm, so where you guys from anyway?"

i'm feeling gypped...

Everyone in Utah is celebrating a holiday, and here, well, we're not.


(Don't be fooled by the "brotherly love" facade, the big gash on Will's forehead is compliments of Ethan.)

Jon is out of town for a few days, so that means me going to the gym: not an option. So, we improvised. We went into DC to walk around the monuments. I was able to exercise and the boys were happy... and strapped in. Perfect.

Although Ethan has seen the Washington Monument a number of times, ever since the fireworks he has become somewhat fascinated with it. Whenever he sees it from across the river in the car, he gets very excited, "Mom, it's the Washingment!" (I like his "nickname", or more like his confusion. It's more efficient.) So today was especially fun for him. He was able to get out and touch it and just enjoy looking at it. He put it nicely, "Mom, it's wonderful."

ahh, the beach...

With our days here in Virginia winding down, we needed to check another destination off our "to-see" list. On Saturday, after five hours of driving (traffic was horrible, the drive home was much quicker), we arrived in Virginia Beach...to a down pour. Thankfully, in true Virginia fashion, it cleared right up and cleared a lot of people out, which meant a great parking spot.


Lucky for us, Ethan's new shovel and bucket also served as entertainment on the drive.

"Look me Mom, I'm Sir Topham Hatt (from Thomas the Train)."




Ethan loved the beach...







Will, not so much...



I took Will down to the water to watch Jon and Ethan playing.

From behind it appears he is loving it, cheering in fact.



From the front...Yeah right.





We ate at a great restaurant right on the beach, walked along the boardwalk, played on the playground, ate ice cream, got sunburned, enjoyed time together. It was such a fun day.

a great friend...

We have had the chance to get together a lot with a great family from our ward. It has been really great for Ethan to be able to play with someone his age.

Ethan and Lizzy...


(We told the kids to put their heads together for a picture...this is what we got.)




(Ethan had a wardrobe malfunction, so he ended up
in Will's swimsuit, which fit much better, no surprise.)

we heart grandma sue...

After my Dad and Hillarie left us, we were blessed to have my Mom stay an extra week. We had such a great time. We shopped, ate yogurt (we're talking the fabulous frozen, tart kind, not yoplait...you know, the pinkberry knockoff kind), went to the park, ate more yogurt, went to Alexandria Old Town, shopped some more, ate even more yogurt, had a jumping contest, got lost a few times (typical for me), laughed, ate good food, went on fun walks...the list goes on. The last morning she was here we went for a really fun walk on a walking path through a wooded area. It was beautiful. As we were walking, some lady walked passed us and in a nasty voice said, "those poor kids." I guess she didn't like the fact that both my Mom and I were on our phones with the boys crying in the stroller.

Grandma Sue getting some nice air...



Ethan trying to copy...



The boys love Grandma Sue and miss her dearly. Maybe it's because when she's around they get spoiled. Ethan's Thomas Train collection grew ten fold last week. Each time we went shopping, he walked away with a new train. Unfortunately for him, I'm not as nice. Today we walked into a store and he said, "hmmm, what do I want? What should I get?" When I explained to him that only happens when Grandma Sue comes, he finally conceded with, "Oh dear."



Thanks for all the fun!