Circus Elephants.

This last Tuesday, we headed to D.C. to see the Ringling Brothers Circus parade their elephants in front of the Capitol. It was fun to see the elephants and venture out to D.C. with the kiddos. I always enjoy it, even if it's exhausting!!!:) Our friends Jenny and Lilly came with us and as always we had a great time with them.

The train ride was looong! and the kiddos were so anxious to get there! They did have a fun time sitting next to each other.

When we got there, Brielle was being a little bit of a stinker! That little girl sure gives me a run for my money! She's so sweet and helpful and willing to listen one minute and the next minute she's whinning and just being a little stinker!!! She is 5 going on 15! The whinning, especially, is driving me NUTS! I think it's time to start the token system again and hope that if she gets rewarded for NOT whinning she'll stop!

This little boy brought his camera too so he can take pictures of the elephants. He's growing up and has been saying the funniest things lately...like the other this is the conversation he and Brielle had:

Brielle: I wish I was a fairy so I can fly everywhere!

Braden: ...and I would smash you with my foot!

Oh! and he's decided that it's time to stand up for himself and not be manipulated by his big sister. Sometimes, Brielle can get her way with Braden, but lately he has had it!:) it's funny to hear him argue with her and tell her, "no, no, no, Brielle" and sometimes he just plain gets frustrated and they start fighting!

The parade was a small one...it probably lasted a total of 15 minutes, if that!:)

But the elephants were huge and fun to see and the kids got a good laugh when one of the elephants decided to do his business in the middle of the street!

They thought that was just hilarious!

The clowns were fun to see, even though, they are a little freaky! The one in green though, was friendly and waved at the camera.

The elephants stopped for a few minutes and we were a little dissapointed when we realized we were on the other side of them...so we could see their behinds but not their faces!!! Such a bummer! It would have taken them 30 seconds to turn them around and let the people on our side see their trunks!!! Oh well...may be next year we'll be smarter and sit on the other side!

I guess we got to see their tails and this is where the 'business incident' happened, so we all got a good look of that!:)

These two are so cute!

After the little parade, we went by the fountain in front of the Capitol Building. It's a really cute area and we had some bread left from lunch so the girls were feeding the ducks...and then came the seagulls...tons of them...

Braden decided he was not a fan of the seagulls being so close to us and he was holding on to my leg for his life!!!!:)

We had a fun time enjoying a beautiful day. The kiddos got to run around for a little while and Jenny and I had a fun time talking!

It was such a fun outing.

Carpe Diem.

We've just been doing the usual around here...except for the fact that 7 o'clock comes around and I'm about ready to call it a day! Like not just relax, but just go to bed. Sleep. This little life inside of me is making me feel so tired! A couple of weeks ago, Scott felt quite a few kicks! I have to say that feeling the baby move is my ultimate favorite thing about being pregnant! and even better when Scott gets to feel it too. The kids aren't patient enough, so they haven't been able to feel anything...but they will soon...and that will be a moment that I will want to freeze!

A couple of Saturdays ago, we got the blessing of joining our dear friends Rebecca and John in the temple for their wedding. Those two are such wonderful people and we have been so blessed to know them. The kids didn't want to miss it, so Scott went in for the ceremony and the kids and I waited outside. I was bummed to miss the ceremony but it was so special for me to explain to Brielle and Braden what was going on inside. They are both so cute and so full of questions. I love it when I see their little brains working and thinking.

While we waited for them to come out, Mr. Braden was cracking me up with his poses...ha!

When they saw Rebecca they ran to give her a hug. Rebecca and John both looked so happy and all 4 of us were happy to be part of their happy day! (That is a lot of "happy" in one sentence!)

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It has been so nice not to have Scott on call on the weekends. We get to play and explore this amazing city we live in. There are so many options! I'm having major mixed feelings about this being our last year here! About this time next year Scott will have a month left until he graduates!!!! I can't hardly believe it!

I will rejoice about Scott being done but I DO NOT want to leave this place!

Last Saturday, we headed to a beautiful trail called Scott's Run Nature Preserve. It's about a 15-20 minute drive from our house. It was the beautiful day and it was the perfect trail for our family...and Braden HAD to bring his binoculars.

It's so nice to spend time with this man. I love him and I love watching him have fun! He saw this fallen tree and HAD to climb it. This picture doesn't do justice...it was sooooo high! I was scared he would fall!

Brielle was complaining that it was a little chilly. So, we decided to jump to warm up!

She thought it was a good idea...:)

and then we all did it! ha ha! We are such geeks!

I was bummed though that I didn't get one of Mr. Braden.

As always, these kiddos find little "treasures". This one that Brielle found, was actually pretty cool. She found a heart-shaped rock.

Then she picked some flowers, and made me put one on my hair.

At the end of the trail, there is this beautiful little waterfall.

Brielle and Braden played with the sand for a little while until we got cold and decided to head back to the car.

On the way back, we took a wrong turn and got detoured about a mile!!! I think we ended up walking 4 miles by the time we got back to the car! It was good exercise for us all and there is nothing better than spending time outdoors. It rejuvenates me! I LOVE it!

Braden doing his happy dance after walking our 4 miles on Scott's Run!

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The weather was so beautiful last week. 65 degrees is perfect t-shirt weather. I wish it would just warm up already for good. But I am grateful for the days we had last week of nice, enjoyable weather.

Behind some buildings, where we live, there are these beautiful yellow bushes. They are just amazing! The color is so vibrant and it just makes me happy! I think next time I redecorate my bedroom I will include yellow.

As you can see, Brielle was very eager when smelling the little flowers! Poor flower! Braden is always a little more cautious! It's fun to watch their personalities, even in something as small as smelling a flower.

I truly think that one of my favorite things in this life is taking walks. I absolutely enjoy it so much...

...and it's even better with these two little munchkins!

I guess, Braden was tired after our walk...we got home, I fixed dinner, we were in the middle of dinner and he laid down like this for a second and fell asleep!!! He was out for the night!

I love these people I get to spend my days with.

Life Post-Morning Sickness.

January and most of February was pretty miserable for me. I feel like the sun has finally come out, that picture of Brielle perfectly describes how I feel now. Two weeks ago I hit 14 weeks and I almost feel like a new woman! I still get a little bit of morning sickness but nothing like it was. It could have been worse but this time around I decided to be an intelligent human being and suffer but more of a reduced suffering. I asked for Zofran (nausea medication). It helped a lot. It didn't take the everything-around-me-is-disgusting feeling and the someone-injected-me-with-sleeping-pills feeling, but at least I was keeping some food in me.

As everyone with children knows, life has to go on, even when mother is sick...still have to take kids to school, still have to drive them to their classes, still have to go grocery shopping and cook, although we did eat crappy during those 2 months...still have to do laundry...mainly the essentials (I did 7 loads of laundry last week, I was SO behind!!!)

Let's just say that for two months, I did the bare minimum, I was so behind on EVERYTHING...my kids watched a lot of PBSKids and movies for most of January and February.

We told Brielle and Braden why I had been so sick around 12 weeks. They had been wondering what the heck was wrong with their mother! When we told them, Brielle asked:

"Did the germs make a baby in your belly?"

It was so innocent and hilarious.

The kids have made some of the miserable moments worth it with their excitement about this baby...and oh the questions! especially from Brielle...:)

We are all very excited and happy.

I think we can find out what we're having on my next visit, but Scott doesn't want to find out! I just don't know if I will be able to go that long without knowing!!!

We shall see what happens...

We had a few warm-spells in the middle of February and the kiddos begged me to go outside. It felt like we were coming out of our cave. We met up with our dear friend Rebecca for a short walk and even though, it was still a little chilly we had such a fun time! Rebecca used to be our neighbor our first year here and she is one of the kindest people we have met here in Virginia! Brielle and Braden LOVE her and she is always so sweet to them!

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Valentine's was interesting this year...I called a babysitter and all I wanted to do is have a quiet dinner with my husband, without children constantly interrupting. We went to Texas Roadhouse, shared a meal, enjoyed a great conversation with my husband and came home. It was all I needed. A few hours later, Scott came down with the stomach flu (the kids had had it a week earlier and Scott thought he had lucked out)...not so...thank goodness it was a 24 hour bug and by Monday he was all better.

For Valentine's Day we decided to have a few friends over to decorate sugar cookies. It was fun to have everyone over.

Later on the 14th, I was craving strawberries with chocolate. Scott brought me some beautiful flowers and we enjoyed a nice evening together.

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Mr. Braden is taking a gymnastics class and loves it. They had an observation day, where we got to be in the gym with his class. He was having so much fun and it was a blast to watch him.

His teacher is the nicest lady and so patient with the class, they are a little rowdy!:)

I love the little faces Braden makes when he jumps! Sometimes, Brielle and I laugh out-loud when we watch him! He is so cute and so into it!



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We've had warmer days and on those days, we just HAVE to go outside and enjoy the sun and warmth.

I'm so glad it's getting warmer. My kids tend to start fighting and be grouchy when we spend so much time inside. They do play together well, but sometimes they just need to run around. They are so much happier when they get to go outside, run around and use up all of that energy!

We've all been trying to drink more water around here...

Photographed by Braden.

Here I am at 13 1/2 weeks...what I like to call the awkward stage...not quite showing but my gut is bigger.

I am 16 weeks today.

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For almost a whole week, I ate these for lunch. A french roll with melted white cheddar, a slice of tomato and a few leaves of basil...heaven on earth!

This last week, all I wanted to eat for lunch was a sandwich wrap...

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Last week, our friends the Gardner's invited us to go bowling with them. Last time we went bowling Braden was 1, I think. It had been a long time. The kids had a blast! Scott and I suck so much at bowling is not even funny. We do enjoy it, we just simply have no skill. Needless to say, the Gardner's kicked our trash.

Brielle and Braden had SO much fun! I even think they got better scores than Scott and I! ha!

It was fun to watch Braden..."may be if I move to the left the ball will move to the left too!!!" so funny!

Monkey.

All those bowling experts out there can criticize my form all you want...:)

Scott and I decided we need to take a bowling class. Scott more than me. ha ha!

I beat him.

Sweet victory for me. ha ha ha!

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My dear friend Daija and Bridger came to visit us last week. I loved just hanging out and catching up. It makes me miss her so much though.

Bridger is just about the CUTEST 2 1/2 year old around. He is so smart and has THE cutest little voice. My kids had so much fun playing with him.

We loved having you Daij! Thanks for coming to see us!