Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

Our first stop on Monday, before arriving at Kate's house, was the Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. Patrick was SOOO excited to go and see the dinosaurs, animals, ice age, everything.The first thing we saw right when we walked in was Dum Dum......the kids we're really excited to see something so familiar and Rain man, I mean Patrick, immediately started reciting lines from Night at the Museum (funny flick if you haven't seen it)
It was hard for me to get many pictures - Patrick was so excited he could hardly pose for any pictures and I was super paranoid because there were a lot of people there. Oh, and Elizabeth threw the biggest fit in the history of fits. It was impressive, and long, and loud!
Patrick wouldn't even hold still to pose with a Mammoth skeleton. He really enjoyed the Ice Age room.
Patrick wanted me to take a picture of this caveman because "It's Daddy" :)

Patrcik is climbing to get a closer look of the grossness......lions attack!

Here is the view from the thrid floor. We walked all around the third floor to see the elephant from every angle....and to get good shots for Daddy, because we really missed him.

Happy Easter

We had a great Easter.........a little bit like Christmas as the Easter bunny seemed to be out of control this year....oh well. Here are the highlights.....Patrick LOVED his new Spiderman bike. He rode it all over the house, well as much as Mommy would let him ride it around the house.
Elizabeth loved all her new goodies, especially her Dora jammies and dishware. She was officially eat a whole Dora meal - from placemat to utensils to cup to bowl to plate. Just need Dora napkins.
We even had an Easter egg hunt, and yes, there were Spiderman Easter eggs.......we have a fancy Easter bunny 'round these parts. I should have posted the egg hunt shot with the dark window.....our hunt took place at 5:45 am.

Pat and Sissy looking at their new books waiting to go to Pop Pop's house.

Elizabeth was gardening in the living room - cute, huh?

How lovely.

Sissy rocking in the kids chair at Pop Pop's and eating some of the treats the Easter bunny brought there.

Patrick, Elizabeth, and Mom left Pop Pop's to drive to Harrisburg as a half way stop for our Virginia vacation. We had McDonalds in the hotel because Mom was not braving the two kids in a restaurant. Sissy and Pat each had their own "tables".

Have Patrick and Elizabeth been this good??

That's what Mommy and Daddy asked after seeing all the loot the Easter bunny left. I guess what they lack in good behavior they make up in cuteness!

Friday....just as nice

Friday was also a beautiful day, so we spent most of the morning outside. We played on the swingset, played in the fort in the woods, and rode bikes....well, bikes and tractors. After all that playing we had a great surprise from Aunt Di.......fun Easter bunnies and an Easter basket cookie cake - YUM!

Dancing Queen

A random ballerina moment.....

The Real Easter Bunny

After coloring Easter eggs, Patrick wanted to be the Easter Bunny. Daddy had to "go to sleep on the couch" while Bunny Pat filled an Easter bucket with animal treats and left it for Daddy. Gathering the loot.......

Peeking around the corner to make sure Daddy is "asleep".......

and dropping the goods quick so to make a fast hop away!
(the pink skirt is the tooth fairy!)

Getting ready for the Easter Bunny

While we were waiting for yummy lasagna to bake tonight (thanks Grandpa), we decided to dye our Easter eggs.....as to be prepared for the bunny!
Patrick did a great job mixing the colors very carefully. He made sure the tablet was "fizzied" away before adding the water.
And he cheesed it up nice 'cause Mom was taking pictures.
Patrick even taught Elizabeth how to put the eggs in gently and not stick your fingers in the dye....for the most part.

Circus is in town......

Mommy and Daddy were oh so thrilled to take Patrick and Elizabeth to the Circus on Saturday night.....'cause it is our favorite place to be! The kids seemed to love it....and are still talking about it. Pat was hooked when the first act was a lion and tiger tamer....there was a "Daddy Lion", a "Mommy Lion" and three tigers. I don't think I have ever seen him sit so still!

The three circus girls....Tori, Elizabeth, and Megan

Elizabeth loved running around and trying to do tricks in the center ring at intermission. Matbe she'll find a career in the Circus....at times that is where we think she belongs!

.....and then there were the creepy clowns. I noticed that, in Elizabeth's eyes, the creepier, the better. You should have seen Mommy trying to keep Miss. Curious from trying to touch that bird thing the clown is holding. And, gross, look at the old clowns teeth!
Patrick's treat was a camel ride. He did it all by himself and loved doing it. After that is was a clown nose for everyone and we were out the door by the second half!

Playin' on a Saturday

Today I had to go to Cortland, all day, for some computer training for a class that I am taking. Rather than use the time to make a project for work, I used it to make a video of my favorites....Patrick and Elizabeth. The quality of the pictures isn't the best because I took them off the blog (didn't do my homework and bring first generation photos with me) but the cuteness factor is the same.

Big Brother to the Rescue

After Mommy dared to strip the sheets off Elizabeth's bed so that they could be washed, including the Dora pillow case, Patrick swooped in to fix the situation. He managed to stop Elizabeth's huge FIT with a brotherly hug and then comforted her under his "jungle" covers. He then told me that I should "just leave her (Sissy's) covers alone already!"

Monsters vs. Aliens

Elizabeth saw her first movie in the theater on Sunday. She liked it, Patrick loved it. Elizabeth did a great job watching, expect when she was trying to eat all the popcorn that had fallen on the floor!

Happy Birthday Daddy and Grandpa!

After Daddy and Grandpa played golf on their birthday - this past Saturday - they came to our house for birthday treats and lots of birthday Kansas twisters!

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

After a delicious macaroni and cheese dinner it was time for presents. Aside from the ones we wrapped, Pat thought it important to bring Daddy presents from the toy room. Daddy was thrilled!
Pat and Elizabeth gave Daddy a golf ball digital picture frame filled with our favorites for his desk at work!

Time for yummy double chocolate cake.

We Love Birthdays!

Lalalala, Lalalala Elmo's World

Tonight we took the kids to see Elmo Live - When I Grow Up. They were very excited and talked about it all week. The show was great......Brian and I even kinda enjoyed it.
It was hard to get any great pictures of the kids as I had at least one of them on my lap for the majority of the show. We had great seats....center stage third row (thanks Pop Pop). At one point Patrick asked if this were real (I think as opposed to a movie). Both kids were looking all over at the lights and perticularly loved the disco ball hanging above us.

Sitting on the stage at intermission.

Elizabeth's favorite, Abby Cadabby.

Patrick's favorite, Oscar the Grouch (only because Snuffy wasn't in the show)

The best part....the streamers that fell on us at the end of the show.

Who Are These Children?

After dinner on Thursday night, Patrick and Elizabeth enjoyed a treat for dessert.....mini M&M's. Why you ask? The both each ate a good sized piece of quiche Lorraine (with spinach in it!) AND Elizabeth ate like half my salad with bitter greens and a tahini salad dressing. Not sure what turned the tan/white/brown goddess green, but it needed to be rewarded.