Trip to DC for APSA

We went to DC this weekend with Dave for the big poly sci conference, APSA. Dave had minimal obligations, so that left us with a lot of free time to hang in a city we love a lot. Here we go!!!

In DC, May 2008, Molly and Potter in front of an Easter Island statue (called DumDum in the movie 'Night at the Museum'.)

In DC, September 2010, Caleb and Molly and Potter in front of an Easter Island statue (called DumDum in the movie 'Night at the Museum'.) Oh my, how Molly has grown up!!!

Caleb and another boy (who I thought was Adeler) but was instead some random kid. Lots of bronze-ish statues of early cave man stuff. Cool.

Molly was OBSESSED with seeing the elephants in this museum. We finally made our way there. She has her own personal shot (this time with the real Adeler in front of her!)
She had to stick her fingers up the nose of the elephant.....
Second floor view of the dinosaur room. I didn't realize how neat this shot was until I put it on the blog!!
Street guy who was juggling a 10 pound bowling ball, tennis racket and basketball. All 8 kids put money in his suitcase, Kate had to personally hand him the money, though!!

We had lunch at the Ronald Reagan building. Tim and Dave did their Rockettes dance. Dudes, you are in the wrong city for that!!!

All 8 kids in our group, sitting together, mostly with pleasant looks!!

Eli (5), Kate (2), Potter (10), Will (3), Molly (5), Adeler (4), Caleb (3), Fie (6)
At the National Zoo, the panda bear was outside and walking around, quite active!! Have never seen them anywhere except inside eating bamboo.
A nice cooling mist: Fie, Kate, Eli, Caleb
Orangutans are apparently allowed to go all over the zoo, overhead on these huge poles and cables. I had never seen this before, but there were three of them.

Potter's 10th Birthday Party

Potter had his birthday party today at Chuckster's, a new mini golf, rock climbing, and jumparoo place near our house. In the future, there will also be batting cages and go karts (ack!)! Potter decided to invite his two close friends, Ella and Neil. Dave and I took all 5 kids there for some really fun times, watching Caleb and Molly try to get the ball in the hole was hilarious!!! It truly is a really cool golf course, I recommend anyone in our area going to try it out. Afterwards, we came home for a cookout that was finished off with birthday s'mores. Super day with family and friends!!! (Just a side note: I started this blog on Potter's 7th birthday, you should check out that post and see how different my kids look!!)

Ella, Potter and Molly, on the warm up hole

Ella starting off at the first hole, with onlookers
Potter swinging to finish off the second hole
Neil is above everyone, surveying how to beat them on this hole
Dave and Caleb (with an orange golf ball), working as a team

Molly and Ella clink their clubs together, presumably for good luck!

Potter finishes off in style
Molly looking seriously at her putt
We played the longest miniature golf hole on the planet. Honestly, I have never seen one this big, it was totally cool, complete with a water feature!!! (Ella, Neil, Potter, Caleb, Molly)
Back at home after golf, getting ready to open some loot

Playing fortress, or some such game where Molly and Ella were princesses, the boys, I have no idea......

Potter is storming the castle with his new nerf gun that shoots balls
Everyone is regrouping.....
Lunch!! Hot dogs, chips, veggies, dip, watermelon, creme soda, what could be better???
Roasting s'mores of course!!!! Neil, Potter, Ella

Craftiness

A few recent craft projects...

Caleb made a pirate bag, decorated with stickers and markers. He uses this to carry his workman stuff in.

Bookmarks that I made one afternoon (with Granddad's cool Sizzix) to take to my book group meeting and hand out. They are so cute!
Molly made a waffle weave purse. She carries her princess puppets around in this.
The boys start to make waffle weave bags (boys don't carry purses!!)

Molly lost her first tooth!!!!

Do I need to say anything else?? She is PSYCHED for the tooth fairy to be coming tonight. I think she might be writing a note to her as we speak.

Caleb's fun day

Caleb had a fun day on Potter's birthday as well. In the morning, a very patient Granddad taught him how to play checkers. The thing is, he actually had the attention span to sit through an entire game, learn the basic rules, and wait for his turn. Later in the afternoon, Granddad took the older kids on errands, so Caleb and I took Mac for a walk. Caleb was very proud to hold the leash the entire way. Thankfully Mac didn't poop, or I would have been nominated for that. Pretty sure the almost 4 year old wouldn't have picked it up himself.

Thinking......

Making a move!
Leaving our house with Mac
Giving Mac some mid-walk lovin'
Making our way back up Lillian after going around a LONG block!!

Potter turns 10!!!!

My oldest son turned 10 today!!!! The day started for him at 6 am, when he woke up excited. Once the rest of us were up (a couple hours later) there was massive tearing and ripping of wrapping paper, tissue paper and gift bags. Boy did he score some loot!! In addition to his new iPod that he got about 10 days before his birthday, he got some games (Settlers of Catan for you Emma, to play when you are here), all the Harry Potter movies (thanks to Grandpa and Grandma), wood building projects, some new clothes for school (note the cool Red Sox shirt, all you Yankee fans!), and the last two Harry Potter books to complete his collection (thanks to Granddad). Whew!! The rest of the day was spent hanging out at home, playing with new toys. He and Granddad put together his new Robug, a little robot/bug looking creation that shakes and walks all over the table or floor. The day was capped off with his 'cake' request of banana creme pie. I have to pat myself on the back, I've never made this before and it came out PERFECTLY! Thanks, Molly and Maggie Ariotti for that recipe, it was a huge hit!

The Electronic Playground he got from Granddad. It has a bunch of ways to hook up wires and such. He did one experiment where we were actually getting a local radio station.

Now we just have to wait for Movie #7 in November.....
GO SOX, GO PAPI!!

We've already played Settlers.....

iPod love.
Potter let everyone help him open presents.
Putting together the Robug

Licking the whipped cream off the beater, while Dad lights the candles

Have you ever seen more angelic kids??
Molly loves her big brother like no one else can
The three biggest loves of my life.
Brothers!