Visitors from California make it an extra special Friday!

 

Mommy played hookie on Friday because we had four very special visitors to spend time with: Aunty Jen, Andrew, and Justin, all the way from San Diego!  First stop, a couple of hours with the kids in the Playseum in Bethesda, where they enjoyed shopping in the market, storytime, and the construction site, although Ellie liked tasting the sand a little too much.  Ellie and Justin then took a turn on the fire engines - baby at the wheel!  

That night, we met up with all our friends at Andrew's ol' favorite park on Harrison Street.  Ellie is really enjoying going down the slides these days.  She barely wants any assistance from mom or dad.  

 

Here's Evie scaling down the ladder after the slide.  Next stop: the giant sandbox and swings! 

 

Kate, Mommy, Jen and Justin celebrate a fun visit!  Hooray! 

A memorable Mother's Day

We spent a lovely Mother's Day morning in New Jersey, not only celebrating Moms but the string of May birthdays for the cousins.  Ellie was excited to get access to her own kid's laptop since Mom and Dad usually don't allow her to play with ours at home. 

Ellie serves as the greeting committee as she enjoys showing off her pink tutu dress.

 Sisters on the move, running around in delight! 

Mom finally gets them to sit down for a picture but it takes a lot of tickling to get out some smiles. 

With just the soon-to-be-birthday girl! 

 

JJ and Evie give Bebe their mother's day gifts and cards.  Evie was rocking a weird expression for most of her pictures today (sigh).

  

Cake time!  JJ and Stan get ready to blow their candles out - Ellie is just figuring out what this whole thing is about.  Did someone say chocolate?!? 

 

Well, then Evie felt left out so we changed it to "Kid Celebration Day" and gave her a chance to blow out the candles too. 

 Daddy gets ready to feed lucky Ellie some cake - she soon took over by grabbing the fork and going to town.  

I've got this, Daddy!  Thankfully all the chocolate stains would come out later...

 

Ah, so peaceful to finally get some shut-eye with Mom. Birthdays can be exhausting! 

 

Gallery Opening Night for Evie

Evie had an exciting night - her artwork was displayed down at the Torpedo Factory Art Gallery in Old Town. We loved her interpretation of a beautiful garden that she posed next to above. 

 

A classy gallery opening needs some classy food, preschool style: apple juice and popcorn.  Ellie was partial to the goldfish crumbs.  

 

Even Opa found the night to be quite the cultural excursion, as we roamed the gallery and enjoyed the other kid's creations. 

 

Afterwards, we walked along the dock a little. Ellie had to take a break after all the goldfish and exercise.

 

Evie did an impromptu dance on the stage. Then we had delicious dinner to celebrate Mother's Day early with Ba at Hank's Oyster Bar.  

Happy (Early) Mother's Day!

Evie and her classmates sang a Happy Mother's Day song -- a very lovely gesture! It's even better when Evie sings it to Mom by herself at home.

Evie is an 'enchanting' ballerina...Ellie - a rock star (from the 80s)?!?

 

Evie got all dressed up on Sunday for her official ballet picture in her recital costume.  She and the girls are doing a song from the Disney movie "Enchanted". 

 

Evie practices her sashay up and down the patio.  

Evie and her classmates (the "Unicorns") pose in front of Tiny Dancers!  They are a pink sensation! (yes, mommy bucked conformity by placing Evie's bow on the wrong side, not intentionally, though)

 

...While Ellie likes to rock out with her saxophone!  It didn't take her too long to realize how to get it to play some tunes...

I swear at one point she had the saxophone held over her head a la Rob Lowe in St. Elmo's Fire.  Yeah, she knows she's got the rocker look!

Mommy was tempted to tie a '80s skinny tie around her forehead.  Yeah, you know what scene I'm talking about!  Don't deny it! 

Sunday in the Park with Sam...

 We had a lovely Sunday in the city... first stop, breakfast at Emily, Paul and Sam's on Capitol Hill where Sam was very generous with both sharing his trains and a delicious breakfast.  Then we checked out his favorite park which had a lot of rope climbing fun and cool slides. It was a lovely morning!

Evie lays back on the rope hammock and relaxes with Dad. Nothing like a laidback morning in the city - thanks to our wonderful hosts!

 

Then, it was off to the Portrait Gallery for another Family Fun Day to celebrate the start of Asian Heritage Month.  Ellie woke up from her nap and loves taking it all in, from the orchids to the storytelling and the music.

 

Ellie likes swinging the take-out box around which has two fortune cookies inside that Evie created out of clay.   Look at her cute little expression!

 

Baby on the go!  Just like her sister before her, she loves pushing her stroller around. 

 

Daddy's new trick to get Evie to smile for the camera is to ask her for a kiss, which does make our little one smile!

 

Evie models her new palm frond Hawaiian lei necklace that she helped Mommy braid, while she dances to the Filipino music in the background.  

Ellie is all smiles...

Ellie is all smiles these days - who can believe that our little munchkin will turn one in a few weeks?

 Just taking it all in, walking down the hall.  I've got some funny faces!

Mommy seems to get a lot of serious faces out of me!