A Capitol Idea

To celebrate our Family Day and the end of tax season we spent last weekend in our Nation's Capitol. We had a wonderful time!

We spent Friday at the National Zoo. Last time we were at the zoo Lily spent the majority of her time under the misters and showing the zoo map to all of the animals. This trip Lily was far less interested in the misters but still fascinated with the map.









We spent most of Saturday in the Museum of Natural History. Lily LOVED the dinosaur and ocean exhibits. Lily assured me she wasn't afraid in the dinosaur exhibit...however, she was holding my hand so tightly the feeling is just now returning!





For Lily the highlight of the weekend was not part of our "planned" itinerary. Sure the zoo was great...the museum was fun...riding the subway is always exciting (just not for Mom)...a ride on the carousel was an added bonus...but Lily's favorite part of the weekend, by far, was NASA's Earth Day exhibit on The Mall.



Lily made a satellite out of Legos, completed a puzzle of the Earth, had her picture taken in a space suit, viewed satellite photos tracking development in the Chesapeake Watershed over the last 15 years, and more. Our girl was in heaven. Seriously.









More than one of the NASA folks told Lily that she would be a scientist or an astronaut when she grew up. Lily smiled politely...but it was obvious she was not amused. Once we were out of earshot Lily nervously asked me if she *had* to be a scientist or an astronaut when she grew up because she really has her heart set on being a pet babysitter. :^)

Career counseling aside, Lily LOVED everything about the NASA exhibit - especially the tchotchkes. The NASA calendar she received has already been taken for Show and Tell and is now proudly hanging in Lily's bedroom. Oh, and the NASA bag she received has rarely left her back!



It really was a wonderful weekend and a great way to celebrate our 5th family-versary!

A Long Line of Love

Today would have been my parents' 52nd wedding anniversary.



And it is Mary Beth and Ed's 29th wedding anniversary.



I've asked Mary Beth many times what is her and Ed's secret to a happy marriage. Her answer has always been basically the same, "We just got lucky, T."

While luck may play a small role, both Mary Beth and I know it takes much more than luck to make a happy marriage. We learned from watching Mom and Dad.

From the outside looking in, one thing that Mary Beth and Ed's marriage has in common with Mom and Dad's is the same "If it's broke...FIX IT...don't throw it out" mentality.

I believe that is the true "luck" and "secret" to the success of the two marriages I most wish to emulate.

A Couple Of College Kids

Last Saturday Lily and I spent the day with Katie on her college campus. We had so much fun!! In fact, Lily is ready to start next semester!

Last weekend Katie's college was hosting a prospective freshman weekend and the Student Activities Board's "Spring ShaBing".



There was cotton candy, terra cotta flower pots to paint, tie dye and more. I'm thinking this experience may have skewed Lily's perception of college life just a bit!!



When Lily and Katie weren't "ShaBing-ing" they were playing Spot It and wearing matching bracelets...



and taking walks around the beautiful campus....



and checking out Katie's classrooms...



and Lily's personal favorite - hanging out in Katie's dorm room!



It was so nice to see Katie in her element and to meet many of Katie's friends.

Katie, thanks so much for a great weekend! I hope you're ready for a new little roommate next semester!!

Sweet Girls

Last weekend Lily and I left poor Tony home alone and hip-deep in tax season as we headed off to where the air was sweeter.

Friday afternoon Lily and I picked Katie up at school and the three of us went to Hershey's Chocolate World. There is just something about watching two of the sweetest girls on earth having so much fun together at the sweetest place on earth. It was priceless!!!



We went to a chocolate tasting, did the Hershey's Chocolate World tour (3 times!!!), and made our very own custom Hershey Bars.



Sure, all the chocolate was nice - if you're into that kinda thing. Me? I'm more of a jelly bean girl. Not to worry. Lily and Katie were in chocolate heaven and I got all the sweetness I needed just watching those two sweet girls together!!







We spent Saturday with Katie also - this time on her college campus. Lily was absolutely in HEAVEN! I'll post about all the fun we had later.

Happy Family-versary

Today is our 5th anniversary as a family of 3!



Five years ago today Tony and I were a nervous wreck preparing to meet our new daughter. Little did we know how seamlessly Lily would fit into our hearts, our lives, our family.

Fast forward five years and today Lily and I went to a fancy gourmet cupcake place to pick out our dessert for our Finally A Family celebration dinner. I read off all the different kinds of cupcakes the bakery offered. When I reached the "Pancake and Bacon" cupcake Lily's face lit up and she practically squealed, "Oh, Daddy will just love that!"

Not gonna lie, the thought of a pancake and bacon cupcake just about made me gag!! The good news is then Lily picked out a chocolate covered pretzel cupcake for herself and a salted caramel cupcake for her mama. Have I mentioned lately how much I love this child???



Because it's our Family Day...and we get to decide how to celebrate...we decided to eat our cupcakes before dinner! What a wonderful choice!! I'm not a huge fan of sweets, but these cupcakes were Out. Of. This. World!!! We're talking seriously yummy!!

Wanna know something really gross?? Tony said the cupcake with the chunks of bacon hanging out of it was actually delicious. I'll just have to take his word on that!

This afternoon as Lily and I played outside waiting for Tony to get home from work, I kept remembering back to 5 years ago and how incredibly afraid I was to be this sweet child's mother. Silly me. There is truly nothing I've ever done that has felt this right!





We are so blessed!

A Very Bouncy Easter

We had a wonderful Easter!

The Easter Bunny wasn't the only thing bouncing around here. Check out Lily's hair:

Before:



After:



Can I just tell you how much Lily loved her little bouncy self?!? I seriously thought she would end up in a neck brace today. You've never seen so much hair flicking and flipping in your life!!!

Lily's favorite thing in her Easter Basket? Colored pens. Beat the candy out by a long shot!



Lily's favorite activity of the day? Swinging with Christina at Aunt Baba's!











Oh, and the Easter egg hunt at our house was a close second for Lily's favorite part of the day!



From start to finish it was a wonderful day!

Hope You're Havin' Fun

When Dad was sick I bought him this little voice recorder dictation thing. I thought he could use it to make little voice notes when things popped into his mind. You know, questions for the doctor...that sort of thing.

Have you ever met my father?? He would NEVER, EVER use such a thing. Of course, on some level I knew that...I think I just needed to do something...anything. So, I bought the silly little thing.

Not surprisingly, Dad never touched it. We found it when we were cleaning out Dad's house and now the little voice recorder is one of Lily's favorite toys.

The other day I found the recorder and noticed there were several "notes" recorded. Being the Nosy Nellie that I am I hit Play.

Most of the recordings are funny little rambling montages of Lily singing and talking on...and on...and on...and on...about nothing and everything! However, there were two recordings that brought tears to my eyes.

In the first of the two recordings Lily says, "Hi Dad Dad. It's me - Lily. I love you more now than I did then."

How sweet is that? I have to tell you it did this mama's heart a world of good. Lily rarely, if ever, mentions Dad Dad. Of course, I know that it's completely age appropriate for Lily to have "moved on"...but I find it hard sometimes.

In the second recording Lily says, "Hi Dad Dad. I love you. I hope you and my mommy's mom are havin' fun wherever you are. Love you. Bye!"

You know what? I hope the very same thing!!