DC- Spring Break Part 3

Both Addie and Alden have studied Washington DC a lot in school, and so we had planned a day trip there as part of our Spring Break.  A good friend of ours, Bethany, had never been, so we happily had her join us along with her 2 adorable kiddos!  

We made to DC in record time and actually found free parking a block away from the new Martin Luther King, Jr memorial!  We were able to walk down the Mall and see all the memorials from a distance.  All the cherry blossoms around the tidal basin were gone, but just a block off, they were still in bloom and the kids enjoyed them!  The museums were IN-SANE!  I have never seen them SO crowded!  The line to get into any of them was long- about 1/2 way down the block!  We decided to actually stand in line for Natural History- the dinosaurs were being closed at the end of the week for 5 years!  The 15min wait was perfect for the kids to eat lunch!  Everyone enjoyed the dinosaurs and then the long walk back to the van.  

Traffic was a bit heavy (shocker, I know...) so we stopped at Ikea and enjoyed some shopping and their yummy food!  Everyone did just great on this long day except Annalise- she needs her nap, and I mean NEEDS!  Thankfully God's grace is big enough to cover us both and we both lived to see the next day....

It was a lot of fun- and the big kids are already clamoring to go back!  I think we will take them soon- just 1 adult and the other parent will stay with the Littles....

Cherry Blossoms!  Don't tell anyone they picked them....

Asher so desperately wanted to climb the tree like Alden...

Washington and MLK

We made it to Natural History!

Capitol and White House

WW2 and Cherry Trees!

Ikea Dinner

Checking out the kid toys!

It was a long day but SO much fun!

Spring Break Part 2

Part 2 of Spring Break was actually restful and yet chock full of happy memories and time!  Time was spent leisurely eating breakfast, playing with friends, getting VERY dirty, and having a grand ol' time!

First up- playing with our friends, the Muncys!  The kids played "Kindergarten Test", "nap time" and then "lunch at the zoo"- these 7 kids had a blast together!!

Alden and Ava giving Rush the "test"

Playing Nap/Doctor

Feeding time at the Zoo!!

We embraced Spring Break by eating our chocolate covered marshmallow bunnies from MarMar one morning as our breakfast appetizer...  Yum!

Nap time was necessary for the Littles and the Bigs practiced their spelling- and yes, a barn is an excellent cheating deterrent....

What would a week be without a medical appointment?  Asher had OT and PT evals- and totally melted the hearts of both therapists who evaluated him!  He was found eligible for both therapies and will start them May 2nd.  Hopefully his physical and fine motor skills will improve with this help!

And to prove that he had learned something- he came home and pedaled the little tricycle our neighbor gave him!!

Go Asher, go!!

Jack and Annalise enjoyed sitting in the love seat- even if they were looking into the sun....

PopPop and MarMar Henderson sent an Easter box- and they were all SO excited!!

They loved the candy inside- but the bubble wrap was also a HUGE hit!  (mental note- give kids bubble wrap as a gift next time...)

Thumbs up for candy!

It was such fun having a clear agenda!!

NY Adventure- Spring Break Part #1

Spring Break started with loading up the van and heading to NY for a long weekend!  This was the first trip we have taken the Little Kids on- and we were excited for them to meet Poppy, Nonnie, Uncle Frank, Aunt Jen, and Nate. We left after dinner on Friday, and arrived in NY around 1am.  The kids did great in the car- most slept for most of the ride- and when they were awake, they happily looked out the widow.

Saturday we headed to The Bronx Zoo- the weather was perfect and we saw lots of animals and had a great time!  The Littles were amazed by the animals- and it was great to see Addie and Alden showing and explaining.  It was a great family time!

Sunday, Jen, Frank and Nate came over and the kids had a blast together!  We had an Egg Hunt- Asher and Annalise quickly picked-up on what to do, and had a blast!  Although, Asher was just as happy to find 1 egg with some stickers in it, and then proceed to play with a stick in the bird bath...

Monday Al and PopPop worked from home and MarMar worked at her office.  I took the kids to 2 different parks to let them play to their hearts content!  The 2nd park- it was extra special since it was the park 16months earlier that Al and I were standing in when we decided to start our adoption journey!

It was a great time- and we are all happily exhausted by all the fun we had!  Now to have more fun on the rest of our Spring Break!!

Happily ALL sleeping thanks to Melatonin and Dramamine 

Everyone bleary-eyed in Delaware...

NY BAGELS!!

Ready to take on the Bronx Zoo!

Sea Lions being fed/putting on a show

Feeding my little animals!

Butterfly Garden!

Navigation and more animals!

Meeting Poppy and Nonnie!

Egg Hunt Prepping- decorating bags while eggs are hidden

Finding Eggs!!  Asher happily playing in the bird bath

Showing off treasures- once Asher and Annalise realized there was stuff INSIDE- they went nuts!

Family photo fun...

Cousins!

MarMar made everyone a super special Easter Basket!

Park Fun!

Sweet and Spunky

My 4 Blessings by the playground were we decided to add to our family

2 Answers to Prayer

Hanging out together....

Surrounded by love!

Annalise's Kindergarten Test

Only in the US for 3months and 1 day, it was time for Annalise to take the Kindergarten Test.  I wasn't sure taking it would reflect what she actually knew since we just overcame the language barrier!  The Principal of the school she will be attending wanted her to take the test- and this way she would qualify for free summer school.  Ironically, the County isn't offering free Summer School this year- but we will pay for it since she needs it!

Annalise was SO excited to go to The Big School as she calls it.  In honor of the day Annalise and Adeline dressed alike.  I picked-up Annalise on my planning period- and off we went!  She was not in a good mood- and flat-out refused to do the physical part of the test- stand on one leg, walk backwards...  Still, once the teachers who tested her realized she was THE Lithuanian they had read about, were impressed that she could recognize a few letters, colors and shapes!  She has a long way to go, but she is a smart little lady and I fully anticipate she will be ready for kindergarten come September!

Matching Sisters

Annalise by her school- holding the important enrollment papers

So excited to officially be a kindergartener!!

Some Spring Time Fun

We have been trying to soak-up all the perfect Spring weather- before the pollen gets too strong and forces some of us inside...  It turns out that only Alden and Al may be impervious to allergies....

We have played at local parks, Addie and Alden have gone on training run with Al (their school is sponsoring a 5K that they will all run in!), and lots of time has been spent enjoying each other and our dear neighbors!  Each day the Littles love the fact that they are spending LOTS of time outside- they are tanning right up and developing muscles and increasing their coordination!

Running for the big kids and feeding ducks for the little kids

Running and more ducks

Sweet Sisters playing together- Annalise adores Adeline

Silly faces...

Going to a middle school soccer game to cheer for their favorite player, Abby!

Monunmet 10K

This year, our good friends the Ws and Vs came into town for the Monument 10K.  The men all met in college and have remained friends for over 18 years!!  Together, we were a group of 22- 9 adults and 13 kids.  It was a little loud at times, but it was an amazing time!  The kids all had a blast together- 10 girls singing and acting out Frozen, and 3 boys playing with Nerf guns- and the adults all enjoyed swapping stories about kids and our times in college.  It was great fun!!

Friday evening we all hung out at the W's and enjoyed a yummy dinner.  It was great getting to catch up with friends and see our kids start having fun together!

Saturday morning we all loaded up our various cars and vans and made to the race in record time.  5 of the kids were running the 1 mile kids run and several parents were running with them.  After the kids run, the dads all made it to the start of their race.  Since it was drizzling, all of us moms and kids stopped  in Panera and enjoyed a bucket of bagels and then made it back to the finish line in time to see all the dads finish!  

After naps for the little kids, the big kids toured the state capital, we all met at our house for dinner.  It was lots of fun and many memories were made!  We were even privileged to help the youngest, Rebecca, celebrate her 2nd birthday!  We learned that Asher knows the Happy Birthday song- who knew?!

Sunday morning we all enjoyed a brunch at the W's- the kids were playing together so it was nice to actually be able enjoy great conversations!

It was a great time and the kids are already asking when they can get together with their "college friends" again! 

Enjoying the swing set together!

Runners prepping Sat morning

Runner and their cheer leaders!

All-Star Dads!!  Sorry we didn't get Mike- he was too fast!

The kiddos having fun!

So many kiddos- such happy memories!

5 guys- friends for 18 years!

Singing Frozen

Boys enjoying the guns...

Thank you Ws and Vs for traveling to us- we are so thankful for that!!