Strawberry Picking

A few weeks ago we went out to a local farm and went strawberry picking with some neighborhood and church friends. Irby ate his weight in strawberries and loved it. You can see by the juice all over Irby's face and shirt how juicy they were; best strawberries I've ever had. They also just let kids eat straight off the plant/bush/vine? since they are organically grown and don't use pesticides. It was pretty sunny and hot so the babies stayed home. Next year, I'll get pictures of all 3 doing this, I'm sure. If they have this wherever you live, I highly recommend it for kids (and adults - think strawberry ice cream)!

Biker Dudes

My 2 Irbys have both taken up a new hobby! Little Irby got a bike for his birthday, and we ride it to the park every day (and even all the way to Eastern Market, and the 'far away' park-Stanton Park, I know you're impressed). Irby's company got him a new road bike in an effort to support being 'green' and biking to the office. Irby bikes about 1-2 times a week. As you all know, he's incredibly buff; the ride is 8 miles each way! DC is a very biker-friendly city, so he mostly rides on a biker only road, but when he is on the actual road, cars are used to bikes and there is a bike lane in most places (he's also the only one out there without spandex on). The day these pictures were taken, we had intercepted Irby at the park on his ride home and he got to go for a ride with his oldest son. This is now little Irby's favorite past time - riding bikes with Daddy.

Wow, There Really Are Two...

As odd as it may seem, this thought honestly goes through my head each day. It definitely did when I took these pictures.

Griffin and Charlie, 5 months. I don't think I mentioned both babies have teeth. They got their bottom middle 2 on the same day last month, and the past week or so they have been cutting their top 2, probably all 4(2 each) going to come in in the next few days. It is so funny to see such little people with teeth! Maybe that will improve their interest in solid food...

My boys, Charlie, Irby, Griffin, 6.5 months and 3 years old!

Just found this picture from his birthday. We were having kind of a crazy morning (to say the least) and had to get out the door to take Lucy to the airport on time, so I let him wear his pjs and rain boots (at least it was raining). He LOVED it. I'm pretty sure this wouldn't fly in Alabama, but we even ran errands on the way home dressed like this. He was very proud of his special birthday outfit.

Getting in Shape...

We got a great trailer for the babies a week ago and took our bikes out for our inaugural ride! (We got the Croozer, made in China by same company that owns Chariot-high end bike trailers-and it is awesome. I think it is even better then the Chariot bc it has individual slightly reclined(as opposed to one double bench seat or one double hammock seat) seats, so the babies were very comfortable and safe in there, they even took a little snooze on the way back). Let me just say, biking is like no other exercise, my legs have never been so tired as after riding with Irby on the back of my bike (in a seat). I can only imagine how tired Irby must have been pulling the trailer, while aerodynamic, is also like a giant sail behind your bike. We went up the C&O canal and had a picnic, we also rode to church last night. Hope it's the first weekend of many full of bike rides!

Irby excited to ride on the big-bike with Mommy.

Having fun in the trailer

Easter

First I just want to say that I am so sorry I never have time to write much. Mostly it is because people are awake needing my attention, and on the rare occasion that that's not true, do I really want to spend my precious nap time blogging when I am just not a good writer and don't really have anything profound to say? Also, I really just know this blog is mainly looked at by family and friends who are far away, so I guess pictures are a good way for them to keep up with us (isn't that sad?). Somehow I think it makes me feel a little less guilty for being so far from them. I hate it, I really do, but am really trying hard to dig into this city that we love! Being so far away from family is hard, especially on holidays, but we are very thankful for our 'DC family.' The good thing about being in DC far away from family (as opposed to somewhere else far away from family) is that most people are in the same boat as you and are always looking for someone to be with on holidays. So, we spent Easter with a group of about 25 friends from our neighborhood and church. Of course, we failed to get any pictures of the grown ups. Now that we have a good family photo (see bottom), that is my photo goal for our next gathering.

The kids checking out what was inside their eggs. Check out my blue-eyed babies below! I mean, is it possible more than half of my children will look like me? (at least in the eyes!)

Griffin

Charlie

Irby stopping to eat some candy before looking for more eggs.

Our first family picture ever where everyone is looking at the camera, it's a miracle! Check out the beautiful outfits straight from Montgomery, thanks Ahnie!

Big Brother Turns 3!

Irby with his buddy Loic after cupcakes at the park.

Irby had a great birthday, thanks to Lulu for documenting the occasion!

The babies eating their cereal, which they hate...Charlie was more interested in putting Griff's bib in his mouth than the food.

Personality

My boys have got some personality, that's for sure. As you can tell from the pictures below (thanks Nana), Griff is a little more jovial, while Charlie is a bit more pensive. Both boys love to smile but Griff is a little quicker to smile. While Charlie loves a happy face to talk to, he's a bit more into playing with toys, studying them and cries when he drops them, until you put it back in his hand to study again. He also loves to scratch on anything he can reach (pillow, inside of stroller...) and listen to the noise his fingernails make (I'm right next to his room right now and I can hear him scratching on the sheet, so funny!) He does it all the time. Both boys love to be tickled and made to laugh (big Irby is particularly good at this, as soon as they hear his voice in the evening, the look on their face just says, pick me up! tickle me! Man, Dad's have all the fun!) They are both really great on their tummies, as you can see below...

Griffin

Charlie