Putting around DC

The family headed into the city today to see the National Building Museum's mini golf exhibit.  It consisted of twelve holes designed by architecture firms in DC to represent elements of our nation's capitol.  Nothing like putt-putt in the comfort of air conditioning!

  

Ellie cracks up as we wait in line because her sister was nibbling on her fingers.  Silly big sister!

Ellie is very excited as she models holding her club. 

Then Evie gets in the action!

The second hole looked like a pinball machine with lots of lights and ramps. 

Evie peers into the reflecting pool in the model on hole 3. 

About 10 seconds after this picture was taken, Ellie's foot went into the hole.  Thankfully, it did not get stuck!  

Ellie dances through the city at Hole 10 a la Michael Jackson in Smooth Criminal.

 

A tea party in the middle of a golf course!?! Why not? These miniature chairs were perfect for Ellie. 

Whatcha talking about Mommy?  Share my Cheerios?!? 

Ah, Daddy's lap is the best.  

Evie is very excited because she spied a Firehook bakery in the Museum Cafe.  Time to end our trip with a golf ball cookie!  

Before we get back into the car, Evie does some climbing on the sculpture outside the museum.  

Whoa, those are some giant tools!  

Bryn's First Birthday, aka the Day Uncle Wally created a Homemade Slip n' Slide

 

On Saturday we traveled up to Pennsylvania to celebrate Bryn's first birthday at the McDonald's ice cream parlor.It was a perfect day for ice cream sundaes and sprinklers.  

Evie and Ellie dig into some delicious lemonade and Bryn and Molly's toys.  

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It was fun to watch Bryn and Ellie interacting for a bit.  

 

Ellie got to wear this lovely headdress from Molly's dress-up clothes. 

Speaking of dressing up, Molly dons her ballerina outfit and does a couple of twirls.  

 

 Evie digs into some delicious cupcakes that were baked on ice cream cake cones and topped with delicious frosting and sprinkles.  Did I mention they were delicious?

Bryn spends some quality time with Bebe on the porch before cake time. 

Ellie and Julianna played with the race cars. 

Time to blow out the candle (with the help of Mom and Dad)!  

 

JJ and Evie wait patiently for their turn to help blow out the candles on the cake...

...while big sister Molly takes a quick taste of Bryn's cake! 

"Who wants some ice cream sundaes?" asks Bebe, "Raise your hands!"  Some enthusiastic hands are raised! 

 

Aunty Karen shares a laugh with Bryn as she digs into her pink frosting. 

Four Grandmas--Aunt Dellie, Ba, Bebe, and Bonnie (Karen's mom)--pause to celebrate their many princesses.  

 

Then it was time for some fun in the sprinklers!  Molly and JJ look like twins here! 

Evie loved going down the small slide in the pool and landing with a big splash.  Wait till she sees the surprise Uncle Wally cooked up! 

Evie and Molly are having a blast running through the yard! 

Before Ellie got in her swim suit, she had a blast playing in the sand with Aunt Dellie. Maybe too MUCH fun, as she seemed to like to dump the sand on her head. 

When someone mentioned a slip n' slide, Uncle Wally decided to improvise.  After all, all you need is a big tarp, some stakes, a sprinkler... then maybe add a dish of bubble/dishwashing liquid to make it extra slippery, and you've got the recipe for heaven for seven very happy kids. Evie liked going down on her bum, as you can see from the video below. Meanwhile, Ellie could not get enough out of the little slide in the little pool. She went down at least 30 times. What a fun day!

Splashin' at the spray park

 

The girls and Mommy decided to check out the spray park at Lee District Rec Center with Valerie, Ava and her new brother Dylan. It was a perfect afternoon for splashing - not too hot for a change.  Ellie was a little curious about this new place, staying close to Mommy until she watched her sister run around in the water.

Then it was off to the water spurts!  YIPPEE! 

 

It didn't take her long to start trying to drink the water...

 

Evie also had a blast.  Thank goodness they were wearing their water shoes as the ground was slippery (as Mommy later learned). 

 

Two girls having fun splashin'! 

Ava and Evie sport big smiles before they take on their next adventure, the awesome playground next door.  

The Fourth with Friends

Evie started out the Fourth of July with a bang - an American flag waffle made by mom for breakfast!  Of course she loved the whipped cream the most. Ellie also loved her waffle and ate every bit.

After a morning of playgrounds with Daddy, we headed over to Maya and Brant's in Burke for a BBQ.  Everything was delicious and the girls had a great time playing with Connor and sampling the many goodies. 

Connor, Evie and Ellie pop the "magic" grow capsules into the warm water. 

 

Eventually, the capsules exploded into sponge ocean animals.  Unfortunately Ellie would like placing these in her mouth, eventually ripping the head off a shark.  She's got sharp teeth, our little Godzilla!