Our 1st day in DC!

Bob and I were sure the kids would sleep until 9 - needless to say, that did NOT happen. Annie was up at 6:30 a.m. ready to go and woke the others by 7:30. They were so excited that we really didn't care. We all got bathed and dressed quickly and ran down to brunch - Bob and I were looking forward to a nice leisurely brunch with lots of trips up to the omelette, waffle and potato bars set up but the kids had other ideas. By the time we got them their food and sat down with ours they were done and we were scarfing food down to catch up and get the heck out - great food either way - potato and sweet potato homefries, mini waffles with incredible fruit choices and the best omelette ever! We had a nice day - sort of low key. We ended up at the Thai Festival at union Station and than walked around downtown. When we got back one of my best friends from college was waiting at our hotel (based on a message I had left her) and so we all headed down to the pool (this was our most likely chance of getting to chat without kids interrupting). We ended up staying down there for 4 hours - ate hot dogs by the pool and then headed upstairs for showers and bed - ahhhhhh! Everyone is sleeping soundly and Bob just arrived back from a vegan restaurant up the street with a non-mushroom veggie burger and sweet potato fries for me! Sorry some of the pics are out of order - I am in a rush!

Fruit and cheese before bed last night - Annie ate all of the blueberries!
Pete woke up and asked for cereal in a coffeee cup so he could look like a teenager - he can't wait to get older!
Tubby time for the girsl! Molly now washes Annie for us - even her hair!
All three kids ready for brunch - how cute are they?
Molly went up to the fruit bar 4 times - she loved brunch!
The kids waiting for the kickboxing to start at the Thai Festival!

Bob and Molly in Union Station!

And we're back at brunch with Peter clowning around with the fancy glasses.
Everyone fed and happy!
Annie also enjoyed the fruit station - and she had the diapers to prove it later in the day!

Pete thought the McCain and Obama cut outs were hysterical - he had people passing by cracking up as he had lengthy conversations with Babama - as he likes to call him!

Molly loved the thai dancers - their costumes are sewn on them and their headresses weigh 12 pounds each.
Molly getting a flower painted on her arm!
Watching the thai dances!
Annie made a new friend - Natasha loved her! All of the Thai women kept stopping us with Annie and calling people over to look at the little cabbage baby - they thought she was beautiful like a little cabbage baby - we have no idea what it means but Annie put on a show for them everytime!
Molly's arm tatoo!

Peter's friend Peter from Holland - they played all afternoon together!
Molly jumping in to the pool!
My girl waiting to go back in the pool again - she never wanted to get out!
Auntie Chris and Annie Bananie!
hugs for Auntie Chris! We are going to dinner tomorrow night so we can get more time with Chris!

Molly and her friend Anna - they have a playdate tomorrow at the pool!
Annie finally gets out of the pool to have some dinner!
Concentrating heavily on dinner!
Peter hanging out in molly's goggles - he did not have a care in the world about wearing pink goggles.
not sure what happened here - my bathing beauty in the wading pool.
Annie hanging in the pool with daddy!
Peter and Annie swimming together!
Annie found stuff to do while we bathed the other kids for bed!
This one is for Nola - I couldn't resist posting this one of Annie kissing on my belly - she smothers it in kisses and rasberries constantly. Sorry about the gross belly picture but focus on my adorable baby!

I'm off to feast on my veggie burger - more updates later!

GNM - ILY!

We're here in DC and ready for bed!

What a day! An hour in traffic getting on the GW Bridge and than another hour on the NJ Turnpike due to an accident. The kids were troopers - the parents not so much! Then once we got to Dc we got even more lost thanks to our terrible Mapquest directions - after 7 hours the kids were done with the car and driving - Annie was less than understanding of our frustration while trying ot find the hotel. We are finally settled into the room and ready for a fresh fruit platter - chips and twizzlers in the car were no substitute for dinner - and then its off to bed for the chickies and the second to last night of Olympics for Bob and I - what the heck are we going to do with all of our time??

Annie and I hung out at the car during a trip to one particularly gross rest stop that I preferred not to bring her into! She was so cute eating her snack and having a drink!
Thanks to Auntie Eileen we had a great set-up for the kids with a portable DVD player and lots of movies to entertain them! It helped during the traffic jams. We actually only stopped twice in 7 hours - the kids were incredibly good and kept busy!
Annie was thrilled out of her car seat and in the hotel finally!
Bob and the kids hanging on the bed - they went to explore a little while after so that I could unpack and get everything settled - this hotel will never be the same again!
Molly-girl in her bed - she got comfy right away!
Peter hanging out by his bed playing for a while - he is actually in my bed right now watching the Olympics with Bob - so much for clean sheets!
Annie reading a book on our bed - so far no one looks all that tired - we may be in for a long night! Not sure what tomorrow will hold - possibly the zoo or we may just hang out and swim and explore. Either way we are happy to be here all together and ready for some fun! Bob told me that he has never been happier that he married me - when we walked in to the hotel there were signs for brunch tomorrow and I immediately said that we should go and have proceeded to talk about it ever since! Lots more updates to come but I'm off for now!

GNM - ILY!

Molly and Peter wanted me to send a message to Grammy and Papa so here it is - Goodnight Grammy and Papa - we miss you and want you to come to washington the next time - Mommy did not know how to get here and Grammy would know how. There is a pool and we are watching the olympics - I wish you were here. We love you! Most of that was Pete because Molly is fading fast!

Annie is officially mobile!

I was able to get Thursday and Friday off from work and Bob has the best boss ever so he got some time off too - we headed down to the beach house for some fun with Karla, Pat, the kids, KK and Grammy and Papa. It was gorgeous down there and the kids had a blast. I ended up forgetting my Zofran - the anti puking, anti nauseau medicine that keeps me sane - so there are few pictures from today but some cute ones from yesterday. And yes, Annie Bananie took her first few steps yesterday - is it possible that she is almost a year old?? Bob and I can not wait for the Olympics to be over - we stay up far too late during Olympic time and Annie has been waking up every night for the last 5 nights at 2 a.m. and just whining for an hour or so - uggg are we tired. We are leaving for Washington DC tomorrow and staying until Friday when we will brave the Labor Day traffic to get home in time to prepare for Annie's 1st Birthday - Wow!

We have lots of plans for Washington - the Spy Museum, back to our favorite - the Air and Space Museum, another moonlight tour - we all loved this the last time we were in DC and a few other surprises for the kids. Thanks to Auntie Eileen we should have a quiet ride - she got us our portable DVD player and we splurged on the extended version of Camp Rock for the kids - shhhh - it's a surprise for when we get in the car. We also have their Leapsters charged and ready to go so hopefully it will be an uneventful trip! Not sure how Annie is going to be now that she likes to be down and mobile but we have plenty of time to get there and lots of stops along the way if need be! Stay tuned for pictures from Washington - I'll try to post a few times while I'm there!

Katie - she had Uncle Bob and I gushing all over her as she cooed and smiled for us. She is just about sitting up now but still likes hanging on her back and playign with toys - or Uncle Bob's glasses!
Kisses from her godfather!
Bob and Katie - how cute are they?
Molly was so excited to sit behind Katie and make sure that she didn't fall while she practiced sitting.
Papa and Banana hanging out together - She is like his little appendage while we are with him.
A girl train!
Peter and Katie relaxing!

All the kids waiting to go for a trip over to the beach at dusk - poor Molly spotted a bee and was terrified after her recent issues with bee stings - she's had 5 this summer so far!
My beautiful girl posing on the beach.
Annie Bananie on the beach - she was exhausted!
Tyler hamming it up for the camera.
My love bug playing ball on the beach!

All the kids workign hard to entertain Annie on the beach!
Annie's first steps - I couldn't get the camera set in time - it happened so quick.
Hugs for Daddy after her big steps!
KK and Abby hanging out watching Annie learn how to walk.
KK, Abby and Molly - girl time!

Papa and his girls!
Papa and the girls watching the Olympics!
My handsome nephew!
Abby fading fast while watching the Olympics!
And she's out!

Grammy loving on a sleepy Annie.
Bonding with Annie.
My sleepy little angel.
Molly and Abby slept together in one of the queen size beds - they somehow wound up together in the middle and slept this way all night - how cute!
Papa showing Abby and Annie pictures on the computer!

Annie standing on the kitchen table with Papa. The things she gets away with !
My big girl doesn't want to leave Papa's side so here she is hanging out while he makes his coffee.
Eating a banana while Papa gets his milk - too cute.
Papa took the girls out for a LONG walk this morning and this is how Annie fell asleep.

KK got Peter this lollipop and he convinced us to let him watch the Olympics for a while and have a few licks since the girls had already fallen asleep. How can you refuse that face??

We had a nice few days at the beach and Bob and I are headed to bed now to get ready for the princess's evening visit to our bed. I'm going to finish packing tomorrow morning while watching the USA Women's basketball team win the gold tomorrow morning at 10.m.!!!!!

GNM - ILY!