Is He Really 4 Already??

A few pictures from Irby's 'pirate party.' We had a last minute change in theme upon the arrival of the most incredible pirate ship from Ahnie and Papa. I mean if you moms of boys (maybe they have girl stuff too?) haven't discovered Playmobil, it is THE BEST and most entertaining stuff out there. Anyway, the party was wonderful and simple, he invited 4 friends and they just played, did a few pirate activities (Big Irbs led those...), smashed a pinata to pieces and did all sorts of boy fun. Kiki was here to party with us and she was also a great help with C&G.

Pirate ship cake

Loic, Addis, Irby and Francis playing soccer.

Irbs showing off his pirate tattoo that Aunt Kiki brought the kids for the party. I think Irby looks like Anne Caroline in this picture. Not that beautiful Muff makes tough pirate faces, but for some reason I see her!

First Day of School

Irby's first day of school in DC! He went to school in AL, but we have had such trouble finding a good place up here, and we finally have found something other than all day, every day public DC school for him. We actually have a decent public elementary school on our corner, but the PreK3 and PreK4 are 5 days, 8:30-3:30, and I just don't think we're there yet. Anyway, he is going on Wednesdays now, and I think he will start Tues, Thurs, Fri mornings in the fall. The program he is in now is affiliated with the school he'll go to in the fall, so I think it's a good transition. It's also spanish immersion, and he is picking up so much! I walked in to pick him up last week to hear him say, "Quiero un bicho, por favor......gracias......ADIOS!" (I'd like a bug(sticker) please, thank you, BYE!) I was totally shocked and it kind of made me feel like my 3 year old is a CIA operative. He is loving it. I'm not expecting him to come away fluent in Spanish, but I love that his mind is being stretched in this different way.

We were in the nursery last week at church and here are Charlie and Griffin having a snack with their friends. I couldn't believe they all sat so still in their chairs and just ate...I guess food is pretty exciting!

This is the view Irby has when he leaves for work each morning. It is one of the highlights of the morning to line up and wave to Daddy (except that there is usually a meltdown or 2 when it is realized that he actually left).

A day-trip to St. Michaels. We had sunny weather and had a great lunch at a place our friend Jodie recommended to us. The boys held still long enough for a brothers picture and are even looking at the camera! Then we just walked around town, looked at boats, played in the grass. I was a great treat to get out of the city.

Spring come quickly, we are growing very weary of the cold!!

A Glad Heart Makes a Cheerful Face

Proverbs 15:13

Quite literally...and with a blue sharpie. Any tips on how to get sharpie off skin?

Nothing makes my heart happier than these boys. Here they are all ready to get on the bike. Everyone's got their helmet head, very important as we bike through downtown some times to get to church!

And we also had a very happy weekend with Ahnie and Papa. GOOD NEWS: I actually took some pictures!! Here are 2 from a beautiful day at the zoo.

Christmas Finally

I know I've said it before, but I am resolving to get pictures on here at least close to the time they actually happened. Muffy, I need some pictures from Montgomery, do you have any? I didn't even take my camera out while we were there...terrible.

If anyone is wondering what to get Charlie for his birthday or Christmas next year, an empty bag seems to be the thing. I think Charlie had collected about 7 and carried them all around very proud of himself. This was our trip back through Asheville from Montgomery at Nana and Doc's.

Griff, showing his stash of apple pieces. He's my big eater, and always tries to hide some of his food for later.

Charlie after his haircut.

Griffin sporting the haircut, Charlie sporting the baby-mullet. I personally loved the baby-mullet, but Irby made me chop them off! It was a freezing cold day, so all 4 boys got their haircut in our basement.

Christmas PJS!!

Eating lunch watching the tree decorating. I have a picture of us chopping the tree down and both Irby's showing off their saws, but I can't find it! Irby was very excited to put the star on.

Santa

I hope to get some Christmas pictures up here....hopefully before February. I'm relying on family members who took pictures (Mom, Muffy?), I've got to get with it when it comes to taking pictures at these fun important events! Above is a photo we took at the White House Christmas tree Santa's workshop. We happened upon it by accident...we had gone up the Washington Monument around sunset to see the lights of the city and the Capitol and White House trees from the air, and we ended up just walking over to the White House and seeing the state trees (they have one for each state and a group in each state decorates it). The also have a great model train set up around the tree and of course Santa's workshop. Santa's lap wasn't quite big enough for all the squirming that was going on, and Charlie was screaming his head off so we had to jump in the picture. It was too funny. I'm sure you won't find it surprising this is the boys first picture with Santa ever.

Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving

Just catching up on pictures for the family on here.

Thanksgiving at Nana and Grandoc's in Asheville.

Charlie the rooster and Griff the turkey. Irby was Thomas the Train again (wanted to be Buzz Lightyear until he discovered that the Thomas costume is the only one with a special candy pocket. He may be Thomas for the next 5 years I'm afraid...)

Our happy pumpkin. What is it with people doing really scarry Halloween decorations and costumes? Maybe it's just up here, but seriously, even people with kids! (I'm talking skeleton's crawling out from behind grave stone, grimm reaper kind of things. So inappropriate!?)

At the pumpkin patch.

The Big Birthday Party

We had a beautiful fall day for the boys birthday. We did our usual cupcakes at the park with friends. It was a blast, and I love the sweet simple nature of birthday parties up here, but I think next year I will have to get a little more creative...

Charlie inspecting the chocolate cake....not so sure about it.

Griffin loving his cupcake (not really).

The spread including apple cake made from apples we picked ourselves at a farm in Maryland. We somehow ended up with 60 pounds of apples, but that's another story...we have had applesauce, apple pie, apple cake, apple muffins, apple tart, apple pancakes (the favorite), apple juice...you name it, we tried it.

I borrowed my friend Shellye's idea for '2 Peas in a Pod' birthday party, and this is the picture I modeled the cupcakes after. As you can see, I was a bit rushed and they turned out like nothing this beautiful. Oh well, they were delicious!