Lauren And Ellie

swimming! july 14 2009

2009-07-14T21:47:00.004-04:00

Today we went to Ft Meyer w/ Deanna and Summer Stacey. Ellie swam across the pool w/ the life vest and her pool noodle (without holding onto me)! It was a momentous day. She swam all around the pool singing "The wheels on the Bus." It was so cute! She's working at potty training. Had to take off her swim suit and leave the pool b/c she had an accident. Hopefully she learned a lesson from that.

Lauren is super excited about her ballet classes. She loves them and has been practicing at home.

David is becoming more vocal; doing lots of screaming. I think he's learning he can modulate his voice. He is beginning to yell more when I put him down. Usually it's b/c he's hungry. He rolled over several times today, front to back. He also is trying to sit up from the supine position.

2009-04-09T19:56:00.001-04:00

Lauren Colors Tinkerbell

She did this digitally using a Wacom Bamboo Fun.

Lauren Draws a Pretty Picture

2008-10-13T16:58:00.002-04:00

Dancing

2008-10-06T20:46:00.003-04:00

Those ladies love to dance.

Fun time with the Organs

2008-10-01T20:47:00.003-04:00

We had a good time with Chris and Jung-Mi (sp?) Organ. They have a great house with lots of land and two doggies that Lauren and Ellie loved playing with. They also fed us like royalty.

More birthday fun

2008-07-26T22:20:00.000-04:00

Lauren is Four

2008-07-26T22:18:00.001-04:00

Vacation Bible School

2008-07-06T14:40:00.002-04:00

Lauren enjoyed a fun week at VBS... Chrissy got to help out with arts and crafts for the preschoolers.

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Special Daddy Time at Ft Meyer

2008-07-06T14:38:00.003-04:00

Tim took the girls to the playground at Ft Meyer while Chrissy did some grocery shopping last weekend. They found a fun play house to climb in.

Visit by Andrew and Liza

2008-07-06T14:36:00.003-04:00

The Fourth of July was spent with Aunt Liza and Uncle Andrew this year.

We visited Arlington Cemetery, where we watched the changing of the guard.

A visit to The Eternal Flame at JFK's site was next.

Lauren and Ellie in a House

2008-06-29T12:00:00.000-04:00

You're a Grand Old Flag

2008-06-29T11:40:00.004-04:00

Sunday with the Callahans

2008-06-22T22:21:00.002-04:00

Daddy's Home. New Flash!

2008-06-19T20:05:00.017-04:00

We had a nice dinner at home the other night where Chrissy made some wonderful pork stir-fry. Here's a beautiful picture of Lauren that I really love. She did a good job eating her dinner; she even ate the broccoli on the plate.

Ellie had a good time too. I dropped two pictures on here that I think were very cool. These pictures in this post with the first representing Tim's new flash: a cannon speedlight 580EX II. Tim also had a lot of fun postprocessing the images in Adobe lightroom.

The Venturas come to visit

2008-06-19T20:03:00.007-04:00

It was great to see the Ventura's when they visited us recently in Alexandria. They were able to play with the girls take a tour of our small home and BBQ in our backyard. The best thing about it was that Paul is a master BBQ or and we get to enjoy the fruits of his labor. It was a beautiful day out and we enjoyed sitting in the back yard and talking. Afterwords, Shannon Allen came over and babysat for us while we went downtown walk around the harbor and eventually stopped for dessert in the majestic, a great little restaurant in the heart of old town.

Here we are posing for a picture down at the harbor. The evening was absolutely gorgeous.

Here's a picture inside the restaurant.

How Sweet it is

2008-06-07T21:01:00.003-04:00

Lauren's Preschool had an end of the year program to showcase the children's talent. It was lots of fun, and a welcome way to spend a hot and humid Saturday morning.

Lauren and Miss Katie

Lauren and her teacher, Miss Gina

Ellie, enjoying the performance

This is Lauren singing "you're a grand old flag"

Memorial Day Weekend in Vermont

2008-06-01T22:43:00.004-04:00

We enjoyed a fun weekend in Vermont with Chrissy's family. Fun was to be had by all during a fun visit with Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. Texas Falls was beautiful. Lauren loved the waterfalls.

Lauren and Daddy cuddling at Texas Falls.

Mother's Day Breakfast

2008-06-01T22:39:00.002-04:00

Lauren and Tim prepared an excellent pancake breakfast in celebration of Mother's Day. Lauren enjoyed adding blueberries to the batter and wearing an apron.

Ellie and the Mud

2008-06-01T22:36:00.004-04:00

Here is our pretty little Ellie, who enjoyed playing in the mud after a recent rainstorm.

Look at these feet!

North Shore with Andrew and Liza

2008-06-01T22:32:00.002-04:00

While in New England, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner with Andrew and Liza in Essex. They took us on a gorgeous driving tour of the North Shore.
This is the house and peninsula we're going to buy.

just kidding!

Lauren goes to the symphony

2008-05-18T15:52:00.006-04:00

This past Sunday, Lauren attended her first National Symphony Orchestra kids concert at the Kennedy Center.

We had an awesome view of the orchestra. The program featured several pieces that high lighted the different sections of the orchestra. Lauren's favorite was a waltz.

There was also an instrument petting zoo. She was a little overwhelmed by all of the activity and children, but we were able to convince her to try out this little tiny violin.

Fun in the Pool

2008-05-03T22:37:00.003-04:00

Fun abounds in the inflatable swimming pool, complete with the whale slide. Need we say more??

Fun Week with Grandma Jean

2008-05-03T22:15:00.002-04:00

The girls enjoyed being spoiled by Grandma Jean this week while Daddy was away... They are enjoying some new books, thanks to Grandma, and are sad she had to go back home.

Lauren the Magician

2008-04-30T21:30:00.004-04:00

Lauren's preschool had a circus today. Lauren's chosen role was a magician, complete with cape and top hat. She pulled a rabbit out of her hat, a white scarf out of her sleeve, and flowers from a stick.

She and Ellie are having a fun time with Grandma Jean this week.

Lauren Plays with Lego

2008-04-06T14:01:00.007-04:00

This was Lauren's first lego creation. She put everything together herself, except for the rear door which I helped place on. The plane is pretty solid, except for the flimsy base. I liked her overall layout and features, such as the lights in the front. There are two pilots in the plane, a front pilot and a rear pilot.

Now with some passengers . . .

Cherry Blossom Festival

2008-03-29T16:49:00.003-04:00

This weekend marks the beginning of the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC.

After a fun breakfast with some friends, we located several coveted parking spots at Haines Point, and began the trek to the Tidal Basin. It was a beautiful, crisp, clear morning.

The trees were beautiful, and well worth the walk. The kite festival was also held today, right by the Washington Monument. It was a perfect windy morning.

Easter with Friends

2008-03-23T20:54:00.004-04:00

Here is Lauren on Easter morning. The Easter Bunny brought her some pink Crocs, which she is very excited about. She also thoroughly enjoyed the chocolate eggs.

Here they are dressed up and ready to go to church. I love this pear tree outside. The whole street is lined with them. It's my favorite time of year on our street.

Ellie enjoyed hunting for Easter eggs in the garden.

Lauren found 18 eggs

Ellie loves to put things in containers.

We had some friends from church join us for lunch, and then dessert out on the deck, while the girls hunted for eggs.

Making an Easter Tree and Enjoying Spring

2008-03-14T20:37:00.003-04:00

Today was spent enjoying the beautiful warm weather outside. It was so welcome after a week of us all getting sick with the stomach flu.

We cut some daffodils from our garden and then had lunch on the porch.

While Ellie took her nap, Lauren and I made an Easter Tree from a branch we found on a walk.

Baltimore Aquarium

2008-03-07T14:18:00.003-05:00

We spent last Monday morning in Baltimore, enjoying the aquarium . It was a nice day to walk around Inner Harbor with the girls. They both enjoyed watching the dolphins through the glass wall of the tank.

They both also really enjoyed the dolphin show.

Hidden Pond Nature Center

2008-03-01T19:27:00.005-05:00

Lauren and Ellie enjoyed meeting the turtles and snakes at the nature center today. Lauren was really into learning about the amphibians and reptiles. Ellie was really into climbing up on all of the benches and steps. She seemed to enjoy the fish the most.

Here is Lauren's new friend, the box turtle. The high school students who staffed the nature center were very knowledgeable and good with the children.

Here she is touching a snake!

Here she is looking at stinkpot turtles and potato bugs with a magnifying glass.

There was also a fun path around the pond with lots of docks to stand on.

Ellie gave Lauren lots of hugs today.

Lauren Draws some Fish

2008-02-24T20:17:00.004-05:00

Today I worked on a web site and Lauren sat next to me and drew fish. Good times.

I am pretty impressed with her skills. We have lots of body parts starting to form. It's not darwin in practice, but it is interesting.

Visit from Ohio Grandparents and Great Grandma

2008-02-24T12:49:00.010-05:00

Lauren and Ellie enjoyed playing with grandpa, grandma and great grandma last weekend. Tim and his dad assembled the playground/ swing set over the course of the weekend. On Sunday, Tim's parents went to see a Civil War Re enactment at Fort Ward. On Monday, they celebrated President's Day at Mt. Vernon.

Lauren's First Hair Cut

2008-02-24T12:08:00.004-05:00

Lauren had her first hair cut on Friday.
These are shots we took before...

Here she is during her haircut...

And here she is afterwards. She still has lots of curls!
She was child of the week at school this week, hence the crown.

Rainy Wednesday

2008-02-13T21:26:00.004-05:00

We spent lots of time inside today because of the weather. We've had rain and freezing rain yesterday and today. In fact, the commute home for many folks in this area took hours last night due to freeways being closed due to icing.
Ellie fed her baby doll with a bottle for the first time today. It was really cute.

For Lauren, the highlights of the day included gymnastics class and and having our new playground delivered. She was literally squealing in delight. She is really looking forward to Tim setting it up this weekend.

United States Botanic Garden

2008-02-11T13:34:00.000-05:00

On this cold blustery morning, we decided to go check out the Orchid exhibit at the Botanic Garden. Inside the greenhouse, where it is warm and humid, we quickly forgot about the 20 degree weather we'd left at the door.

An amazing display of God's handiwork.

Elliot, Lauren, Peter and Ellie taking a short rest

Ellie was mesmerized by the light coming in through the windows in the roof of the greenhouse and all of the water to step in.

There was a beautiful display of Daffodils and Hyacinths in the foyer

What an amazing display of orchids! I have such an appreciation for those who have the gift of gardening. The children enjoyed all of the various flowers and the waterfalls, ponds and fountains throughout the greenhouses. They also were excited by some dinosaur foot prints as well as a green lizard we spotted along the way.

Here is one of the fountains in the center of the exhibit.

Lauren and Fritzske get married

2008-02-10T16:30:00.001-05:00

Lauren dresses up (herself) to go get married.

Enjoying the Warm Weather

2008-02-06T20:26:00.000-05:00

Lauren and Ellie Enjoy the Garden

The girls had a lot of fun outside today. It was 72 degrees here this afternoon. What a gift in the middle of February to be able to play outside without jackets and mittens on. Both girls are really enjoying the slides that we set up against the terraces in the garden. We're looking forward to adding a swing set and climbing structure later this spring.

Ellie follows Lauren every where...

Lauren had gymnastics today - and was still wearing her name tag this afternoon.

She loves to play this games she calls "ringing up the steps," where she climbs up the outside of the stairs.

Ellie loves to climb up the stairs in the garden and then go down the slide. She also really enjoyed playing in the dirt and putting rocks down the slide. She is able to walk in the grass now too.

Here's a picture of the house from the back. I pruned the Crepe Myrtle today and raked leaves out of the flower beds. The tops of little green daffodil shoots are now visible all over the garden!

Here's Ellie learning to negotiate the hill... at least it's a soft landing!

Lauren and Ellie in Driveway

2008-02-03T17:01:00.000-05:00

Some videos for the world. . .

Weekend in (slightly) cold weather

2008-02-03T16:29:00.000-05:00

Another fun weekend gone by. Not any, as in zero, house remodeling done (aside from research on radient heat).

This weekend was made up of a lot of Tim and the girls playing. He watched the girls all-day, and evening on Saturday and the whole family went to the National Zoo on Sunday. Tim has a nasty cold, so he slept in while the rest of us went to church.

Saturday warmed up nicely, but Lauren and Tim set up a Lego fire station. Lauren was fascinated and more excited than a five-year-old on Christmas morning. Tim set up several scenarios and soon all the doll-houses were on fire and in need of rescue. The man named Firestarter was the cause of all this, but he became good in jail and is now one of Lauren's best friends. Of course the police got involved and were able to use Lauren's rope.

At the zoo we were able to let Lauren and Ellie run wild on the soft play area where they fought for a chance to grab a mushroom or climb in the Olive. When 14-year-olds showed up, we moved on to see the prairie dogs (ellie's favorite) and then onto the lions, tigers, and finally the apes.
We were able to see a friendly bear on the way out and came home so Chrissy could take a run. Tonight, Chrissy has sonship. Tim is going to use his bit of free time to go rock climbing and get ready for his trip to San Diego.

Ellie in the olive

Friday Evening, Saturday Morning Fun

2008-02-02T08:56:00.000-05:00

We had our covenant fellowship group again last night at our house and we had a roaring fire in the fireplace. You can see a picture below.
We had three young girls here yesterday, Lauren and Ellie -- joined by the very young baby Abagail.
On Friday, Lauren kept us all entertained with her unique headdress.
Saturday morning, the girls are in their pjs.

Breakfast at the Boohers

2008-01-30T10:37:00.001-05:00

A little blogger hint is that you can click on any of the pictures below to see a full-size picture.

Here Lauren is playing with the toys we received yesterday. She is playing on the activity table Tim just made for her. It is so cool to have something so well made that she can jump on top of the table without us worrying about it breaking.

Endless scenarios possible with a simple set of toys.

Lauren enjoys her morning OJ with a straw and Ellie continues to learn how to negotiate the bowl to mouth transfer of cereal using a spoon. It's fun to watch them learn new skills each day. Today Lauren has gymnastics and Tim is working from home.
And another picture of Ellie with a spoon!
Here is a video of the whole deal:

This is Lauren at about the same age!

Toy Explosion

2008-01-29T18:16:00.000-05:00

One of Tim's coworkers gave us some Fisher Price toys that his kids have outgrown. Lauren and Ellie LOVE them. They also gave us some great puzzles and other stuff...

Lauren And Ellie Play on Saturday

2008-01-26T14:23:00.000-05:00

Lauren and Ellie had fun today. Ellie is just learning to talk.