Great Grandma Lewchanin

With much sadness in our hearts this weekend we headed up to New York to say goodbye for now to a very special person, Great Grandma Lewchanin.

One evening Karen and I were working on putting together a memory board, we had a wonderful time looking at all the pictures and remembering her life. We even laughed a little. As we put her memories together to share with everyone the next day, Mady said she wanted to make her Great Grandma a board...and so she did...she drew her pictures and decorated a beautiful masterpiece...it was her gift to her Great Grandma! She left it for her at the grave.

The next day as we left the cemetery..Zach asked me if he could see his Grandma one more time...I explained that he couldn't...he replied with..."Yes we can, we can dig a hole and go underground and see her"... If Only.....

We went to visit Grandma's house one last time...Mady and Zach got to see where their Grandpa grew up and where Peter would visit his Grandparents...the kids each got to take something special from the house...some great memories were made and remembered in that home...

Although we wished it was under other circumstances, we did get to visit some family we hadn't seen in a long time...Peter's cousin Becky and her husband Jake came over with Luke to Aunt Cathy and Uncle Mikes. Luke is 2 months younger than Mady and they haven't seen each other in 5 yrs! They had a blast playing...Mady can't wait for Luke to come to her house!

Zach learned that Luke's Daddy, Jake, is a fireman!! Before Jake got there I said "Zach do you know what Lukes daddy does at work? He is a fireman" He looked at us with this very serious face and said "A REAL fireman!!!" He keep calling him "That Fireman" all evening! Zach has a new Hero!

We will miss you Grandma...

Pool Day

Today I packed the kids up and headed off to the Bethesda pool! The pool was great...the kids swam, played and had a blast! It was so much fun...man I miss our neighborhood pool! There are 4 pools so we made our rounds to each one...then I heard the whistle..."yes", I thought, "adult swim...there is a God...finally a break"...but no...you can go into the kiddy pool during adult swim...NO BREAK for mom!

I sat at the edge of the kiddy pool, smiling, watching my precious little ones play nicely, as did all the other mommies! They found some cups and began to play with some other kids. Zach yelled over to me that HE was going to make me something...oh how sweet I thought, he is make ME something to drink! He came over and handed me a cup..."Thank you so much Zach, is this tea for mommy?"...as he walked away he yelled "No...mommy it's beer...you drink beer...not tea" Nice...

Tonight we had a great time! I cooked a yummy dinner for my favorite people...Zach and Daddy sat together in our over sized chair watching baseball, and Mady was either helping me or with her Daddy and Zach...I heard lots of giggling coming from the living room! That is the best...

Here is Mady serving her daddy his beer...I guess Zach was right!

What is the secret to raising appreciative, non-spoiled kids? Who knows? In an attempt to accomplish this...in our house the kids get toys on Birthday's, Christmas, occasionally from Grandparents and very very rarely from us. Peter(mostly his idea) and I want them to appreciate the things they get...so it's one way we are trying to get that point across.

Well today I had to bring them with me to a Dr's appointment...so they got "THE TALK".... I expected them to be on their BEST behavior(yes, I also threw a bribe in)! They were so good... the ultrasound tech and doctor even commented on how well behaved and what good manners they had... Zach of course had a million questions while they did my ultrasound, but would always start his question with"scusss me mommy...why...". Zach talks from the moment he wakes up until the the moment he falls asleep...seriously...somedays it's exhausting......he is full of questions...and many times I fall short of a good answer for him...I should write a book..."Mommies guide to answers at...the park..., zoo, grocery store, about repair men, garbage men, homeless people,...........WHY...WHY...WHY!!!

So after the appt...we went to Starbucks...yummy breakfast! That was mostly my treat!!

Then yes to the toy store...(part of the bribe)...Zach made his choice in less than 1 min...a firetruck...surprise surprise!! Then we waited for Miss Mady...and waited and waited! One hour later...YES..one hour!!!! She finally made her choice...

After returning home and playing with the new toys for a while...fun, fun, fun...we were off to do some errands...

I was trying to be quick...surely they wanted to be home with their new toys...

As I turned around to make sure my little ones were walking closely behind me this is what I saw ...

yes that is cat litter...scoopable cat litter..who knew you could buy it by the lb...can I tell you how much fun they had in that bin...lots! Then it was onto watching a gerbil run around, and around, and around... They also loved the dog treat snack bar...oh the choices dogs have...! The kids wanted to buy Tana...my best friends dog in Atlanta some treats...they keep saying "Tana would love these...she really would, can we please buy her some" After spending almost an hour in the pet store I was ready to leave! But not them...they loved that store! We will be back...

See...who needs toys when you can play with cat litter!!!

Turtle Park

D.C. has some fabulous parks...today we visited one of the kids favorite ones...turtle park

We even saw a Black squirrel...never seen one before moving here...didn't know they existed...they creep me out...

Happy Birthday Papa Pete!

Today is my Dad's Birthday!! Wish I was with him, but Helen and her gang is...and I know they are having fun!! Mady and Zach love their Papa Pete!! We love you and miss you! I love you Dad...thanks for being a wonderful Dad and Papa!

Mady is registered for Kindergarten!

Mady was missing her best friend Jake...today she wrote him, Abigail, and Hannah letters and we walked to the mailbox to mail them! Here in D.C. our mail is delivered to us through the mail slot in our front door...the kids get a kick out of it everyday when they hear it hitting the hardwood floor! So when we mail anything we either walk to the corner mailbox or up to the post office! She loves mailing her friends anything!!

Zach was more interested in the stick he found on our walk there...and turning over rocks...cuz if he is lucky there is a worm or some other creature under it...

Later in the day we walked over to Madyson's school and registered her for Kindergarten!!! My baby is starting school...so hard to believe...she is growing up way too fast!! She was excited about today...hope she is when school starts!! Her school is right across the street from our house...so she will walk to school! How cool!! Today was a good day!

Rice Krispy Treats

Today Mady asked if we could bake something...she is my child!! Ya'll know I love to bake and cook and it's so much more fun with her! She with the help of Zach and very little help from Mom did a great job! They were yummy! Although, it confirms my fear of eating others peoples food...if you could see the fingers that were licked then reinserted...you would too! That's why if I ever make anything for anyone I reassure you I made it...I won't let little ones help!