A Lovely Day in DC Town

Last Sunday was gorgeous. High of 70, breeze, clear skies.  We got out and enjoyed it.  Admittedly, this first picture is from Saturday, but I thought it fit in nicely anyway.  There is a new coffee and crepe place on 14th Street, so we tried it out.  Here is Ellis enjoying hers, and Anders trying a bit of one.

On the actual beautiful Sunday, we hit the park at Bancroft Elementary with the Freedkopfs.  Ellis, Anders and Nora were all over the place, but Jack was pooped and rested on his mom's lap.  He had been partying the night before and lost an hour of sleep, so it is totally understandable.  ;-)

Here Ellis is showing off her new shirt which we got along with the new jeans.  Ellis had taken off her jacket and her sweater because she claimed to be hot.  This seems impossible to me, as it was quite breezy. 

I have a very clear memory of being about 7 years old at Pontchartrain Beach and it was quite warm, but my mother kept pushing me to put on a sweater.  I insisted repeatedly that I was too warm to wear a sweater, and my mother blurted out exasperatedly, "It could be snowing out here and you wouldn't want your sweater!"  Thing is, I totally see it from her perspective now.  But I am trying to also remember the kid's side.  I really was warm and didn't need the sweater.  So I let Ellis tell me when she needs the darn sweater and only override her if she is clearly demonstrating signs of being cold.  Not saying it doesn't drive me nuts.

We also went to the trolley park with Gabby (our neighbor) and met up with Neil, a fun 4-year old who shares my mother's birthday. Ellis always has so much fun with Gabby, but the end of fun is always traumatic.

Here is Ellis after we dropped Gabby off.  To be clear, Ellis had been playing with Gabby for about 4 hours and, yet, still fell apart when it was time to separate.  We are working on trying to appreciate the fun had, rather than feeling miserable because it is over.  This is going to take some time.

Anders and a Kazoo

In the morning, Anders plays on our bed while we get ready.  One day last week, we gave him a kazoo that he got in a birthday gift bag.  He loved it, as you can see in this video.

This video captures a lot about Anders' personality.  He is generally happy, finds joy in simple things and laughs easily.  He is also always ready for the next thing, especially if it is harmful or life threatening.  So great, he played the kazoo.  Next up, wet wipes!

Here is more quintessential boy. He gets in the bath and starts bouncing, kicking, splashing and laughing.  He pulls himself right up, which makes me a bit nervous.  He grabs and splashes Ellis, which drives her nuts.  He is crazed until I take him out, when he immediately starts yawning and rubbing his eyes.  But you get the sense that if left in the bath, he would have endless energy.

Tante's Move and a Fort

Ellis and I helped Uncle James, Tante and James move to a new apartment. Ellis really was a real help and very enthusiastic. She made one big trip with us and then hung out with Ian while James, Pops and I finished getting the small stuff.

Then we came home a constructed a fort with the inflatable mattress.  Ellis slept there for 2 nights.

Seven Springs II

We returned to Seven Springs, Pennsylvania, for some more skiing.  The house accommodations were arranged by Carter and were much better (and next door to the place we stayed last year).  Here are Anders and Maura facing off.  Anders was very excited about Maura, which he showed by trying to grab and claw off her face.  She wasn't into it.

Ellis and Maeve were the night owls, staying up almost an hour later than the other girls.  So they found ways to entertain themselves.  The pool table was a favorite, as was jumping on the bed in the extra bedroom.  They laid out pillows on the floor "to catch them" if they fell. On the last night, Ellis saw me having fun with Mary and told me to "keep talking," then walked off.  A minute later Mike and I went to find her for bedtime and could find her nowhere.  We searched room by room...nothin'.  Finally, Mike was walking by the mud room and heard singing.  There Ellis was behind an open umbrella.  Honestly, if she had not been singing, I am not sure that we would have found her.

There was some fun adult time after the kids went to sleep, but we struggled to make it to 11pm.

Then there was the actual skiing.  The girls were entered into the tiny tots ski class and did a great job.  The bad moment was when Ellis was split from the Maeve, Maisie and Bridget.  First Ellis cried then she got pissed (picture to come when I have the chance to scan it in).  Then she skied like a champ.  I was slow with the camera and didn't get video, but she rocked the skies.  The first day was a slushy, almost snow-less day.  The second was ice covered with a couple inches of new snow.  Ellis did well in both.

Here are all the kids.  Gibbs (Maisie's little brother, 18 months), Anders, Ellis, Maisie, Maeve and Maura.  Gibbs was a kick in the pants.  He just roved the house and would be randomly found under the sink or some such place.

Next year, I think we need to go West.  Ellis skied great in ski school but we didn't give her enough credit.  When she skied with us, we protected her too much.  She kept telling Mike to move out of her way, that she liked to go fast, and that she didn't want to learn to stop.  Next year, she will go to ski school each day and then ski with us after lunch.  It will be another year for Mr. Anders.  But I think he will attack it -- just not sure he will stop so much as crash.  He is such the bruiser.

Disney on Ice

Monday was President's Day and schools were closed.  We used it as an excuse to do a little something special.  So the moms took Ellis, Maeve and Bridget to a special lunch and Disney on Ice. 

The girls really likes what they saw.

Dinner with the Nanni

We spent the evening with Drew, V and MJ. Anders could not get enough of the girls. Every time he saw them -- or even heard them --he got super excited.  In fact, he started tearing at his shirt like a soccer player after a goal. 

V got in a snuggle or two before we headed out for AA's bedtime.

Refurbished Park

This first picture doesn't have to do with the park.  It is just Ellis being Ellis in her school uniform on a pretty day on the way to pick up Anders from daycare.

Here is the new park, which is in the old 11th Street trolly turn-around.  It is 4 blocks from our house and transportation-themed, so of course I love it. 

Sadly, it is missing swings, but we parents haven't given up on that yet.  In fact, we are getting to know many of the neighborhood parents and kids at this park.

This is Michelle.  She is 5-years old and Ellis couldn't get enough of her.

And this is Ellis' favorite part of the park: the merry-go-round.  She could stay in this all day long.

This is my favorite part: Ellis likes to push the merry-go-round and wear herself out.