Our Maryland Adventure Begins!

I have been really feeling guilty about not updating my blog in so long. Mainly, I feel that this is a way for me to sort of keep a journal of some of the things that we have been doing. These boys are growing up so fast and it sort of all just turns into a blur if I am not careful.

Last Fall, Ryan accepted a Summer internship with Proctor & Gamble in their Supply Chain Operations. For a while we thought for sure we would be sent to Cincinnati, OH. I had our Summer all planned out, even had an apartment lined up. We were very excited because it would only be a 4 hour drive from our house, so I could go back and forth with the boys if I needed to. To our surprise a few weeks before his start date, they told Ryan that they would like him to go to Baltimore, MD. Oh, boy! So, here we are! I have to say I love this area. After we left NY, I really did not expect to be back out on the East Coast again so soon. I guess the East Coast just keeps calling us!

So our first weekend here, we decided to adventure out and go the Air Show at Andrew's Air Force Base. It was quite the shindig just to get on the base. We had to park at a stadium, go through security, and get on a bus that took us to Andrews. Although, the bus ride itself just might have been Thomas' favorite part, it was quite the air show! There were parachuters jumping out of planes, airplanes that the kids could go in, and tons of stunts. Thomas has very sensitive eyes, so it was hard for him even with sunglasses on to look up at the bright sky to see the airplanes. Carter, on the other hand, loved looking up at the sky to find the airplanes and helicopters. For anyone that might be reading this that plans on going to an airshow this Summer, I really wish I had brought an umbrella to help shade from the sun!!!

Carter fell asleep on the bus ride to the base, so he explored the airplanes on Ryan's shoulder.

Carter was awake in time to see the parachuters do their stunts.

The boys trying to get a little shade by the wheels of the plane.

Our little man Carter really loved watching the airplanes do their stunts.

After the show, we loaded up on the buses again to take us back to our car.

Look at that cheesy grin!

And of course Carter was full of energy and...

Thomas was fast asleep.

Since we were so close to D.C., we decided to go see some sights after the air show. I seriously love D.C. It has a very special place in my heart since I spent a semester there doing an internship in college. It was fun to just walk around the National Mall with the kids and look at the buildings and monuments. I think we will have to make another trip down to hit some of the museums with the kids.

Sitting with the kids in front of the Capitol.

We walked through a garden area that was just of the National Mall.

The kids had fun running around and playing together in front of the Washington Monument.

Thomas was trying to figure out how to get in the gate.

The front of the White House.

Almost Caught Up!

One more post so I can get caught up before Thanksgiving. The weather here has been very unpredictable. One day it is warm enough to not need a coat and then the next is full on winter coat weather. The kids had fun taking advantage of as much outside play time as possible while we were at Mimi's house. This year, Carter has discovered playing with the leaves. He was a little unsure what to think about them at first, but eventually he started cracking up laughing when they would crunch. Here are also some pictures from our photo shoot with Laurel in October.

October 16 - Pictures with Laurel.

Love, Love, Love this one!

It was fun getting pictures with Aunt Meagan.

October 30 - Playing in Mimi's backyard

Right after Halloween, we switched our gears and began celebrating Thanksgiving. It has been fun teaching Thomas about being Thankful. On Nov. 1st we started a Thankful tree. Yes, I realize now that I miss spelled Thankful, but for those of you who know me well, know that I am a terrible speller. Thank goodness for computers! Anyway, everyday we each put a leaf on the tree that says something that we are thankful for. At first, Thomas would say that he was thankful for something that he wish he had, like a Thomas the tank engine toy. So it took some time to explain to him that we can be thankful for things that we already have. It has been such a sweet experience to see him come up with something different that he is thankful for each day. One day, when I was filling out one of my leaves, I asked Thomas, what should Mommy be thankful for? He said "you are thankful for your Mom and your Dad that is in heaven." We do not talk much about the fact that my Dad died, but it made me realize how much older he is getting as he is able to comprehend more. I think that we will have to make this Thankful tree a tradition.

This is our tree on Nov 2. I will try to post another one when we are finished.

One day while watching TV, Thomas saw this idea of making hand turkey sugar cookies. He was very intense about making them until Ryan finally volunteered for the job.

I Love Shutterfly

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is the annual holiday greeting card. Having lived in several places and made lasting connections, I love getting updates and pictures from my friends. I love the designs and photographs, too, and incorporate the pretty cards into the holiday decorations in my home.

I recently started a Christmas only scrapbook, where each year I put our own family Christmas card, cards we receive from our close friends, and our Christmas pictures from the year. It has been fun putting it together and looking at how our family and friends have changed through out the past few years.

I thought I would try to order our cards early this year when a message from Shutterfly offering 50 free cards to bloggers got me very excited. Using the Shutterfly giveaway as inspiration, I hit their site for ideas. Here are some of my favorites:

I like how this one allows some incorporation of the casual, candid, everyday photos from throughout the year.

And I absolutely love these tell a story cards. I think these are my favorite.

While I was there, I thought I might put together one of these. A friend of mine put one together and it turned out so cute!

Still looking, but extremely tempted so far...

I love Shutterfly! I love making photo books and ordering prints. I love their designs and how easy it is to use.

Though these are my actual opinions, Shutterfly is offering me free cards for this post. Get in on the deal, too. Here's the skinny: Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly, follow the arrow à http://bit.ly/sfly2010

Halloween Fun

I absolutely LOVE Halloween and this year was a blast. Thomas got a pair of bat PJ's in September that inspired his desire to be a bat for Halloween. So we went to the library, checked out books about Bats (which are pretty gross) so he could study the part. Luckily we found a very cute bat costume for him and he was way more than excited. Since Carter does not like anything on his head, we decided he needed to be a pumpkin. I must say, he made a very cute pumpkin! Thomas kept telling me that some bats like to eat fruits and so he wanted to eat the pumpkin.

October 28: The first of our Halloween adventures was playgroup at church. They made a couple of Halloween crafts and had fun running around in the gym in their costumes. Later that night we got back in our costumes again to go trick or treating at the outside mall. It was very cold and there were lots of people, but it was fun. If Carter could talk he would probably tell you that he was not to fond of the guy dressed up as a gorilla at one of the stores.

October 29: In the morning we went to a Halloween story time at a very cute local toy store (Brilliant Sky). They got to dress up in their costumes and listen to Halloween stories from a very good story teller. Then later that evening, we went to the MBA school for a Halloween party for the kids.

Thomas had fun playing games and doing crafts with his friends from S3.

And Carter was very squirmy of course. Carter had fun eating his new found favorite thing: a sucker. He managed to get it all over himself.

Obviously, we are one of a very few that have kids in the program. Ha Ha!!!

October 30: Let the main event begin! We drove down to Mimi's house to attend their ward's trunk or treat party. I must say that I am pretty sure that this was by far the best ward party I have ever been too! The Saline ward really knows how to party! I only wish I had more pictures of the games and decorations. After the chili dinner, the kids had a costume parade that went over a bridge that was on the stage. As I was waiting with Thomas to go across the stage, I thought of how shy I was when I was about his age. One year, my Mom made me a costume to wear to school (I do not think it was for Halloween) and I was so shy that I took it off and put it in my book bag. So I was really proud to see Thomas so excited to do the parade. After they announced his name, he walked up onto the stage, turned and faced the audience, spread out his wings, and just stood there for at least 3 minutes before walking to the other side. It was so funny. Everyone was clapping and whistling and he was loving it. After the costume parade, there were lots of games and a couple of crafts set up for the kids to play. Finally, we went trunk or treating. Carter was so cute. He got the hang of trick or treating very quickly. He would drag his basket from one car to the next and then hold it up for them to put treats in it. Once he figured out that they were putting suckers in his basket, he was even happier.

I unfortunately did not get any pictures of him on the stage, but this was his pose.

Doing a Craft with Mimi

The haunted house that Mimi made for the haunted house fishing game.

Carter getting a sneak taste of all the treats

Trunk or Treating Time

Carter was determined not to loose any treats

Trying to find his favorite one

He found it... a sucker!