Hanging Around our Place

Just a little documentation of hanging around our apartment.

 



The 1 bedroom place faced out to a busy street. You could hear every honk, every siren... but the kids loved watching the hustle and bustle down below. I was thankful it gave them something to do :)

Toob animals have been a hit with my kids this trip... in the car and at the apartment.

Watching the Rangers play on the kids' "bed" at our 1st apt ... I really hope that when we go back and people ask Henry what his favorite thing to do in DC was, he won't reply "Watch TV!!"

The kids' new bed. A bit tall, wouldn't you say? We've tried to make it safe,  but I hate to report that Margaret Gray has fallen off twice.

I won't ever get over the sweetness of these 2 while they sleep... but who am I kidding- Henry's probably pushing her off.

Painting at the table (Thanks, Liz, for the good crafts!)

Living Room

Kitchen

There's a little nook with a desk (we don't have wireless internet, "gasp") and I try to keep the kid's toys over there

 Henry told me Simon was telling him a secret

 Our building spans a block, so this is the busier side...

And the more peaceful side. That's the Portrait Gallery at the top. If I turned around I'd be looking at the Navy Memorial and the National Archives.

 More TV watching

Very thankful I ran across this in our garage and brought it with us. (Sarah, isn't this yours?)
Simon's getting tired of being on his back and belly.

Margaret wearing it as a hat

 There is a courtyard at our place. We enjoyed a popcorn snack out there one afternoon.

View from our bedroom

Legos (Thanks, Amy! Henry's really enjoyed building with them and Margaret stashes them in random places)

Random shout out to Simon... poor little fellow has had a hard time adjusting (ie- bad sleeping). Today was a much better day, so there's hope for the rest of the month.

Getting There

(I've got other posts to catch up on... but I'll go ahead and start with our Washington adventure)

We left for our 3 day trek to Washington, DC on Thursday, April 19th... right after Henry's 4 year and Simon's 4 month check up (do you realize how many shots I had to witness?!?!)

I really, really tried not to over pack, but going somewhere for a month with 3 young kids required some necessities. Something I really wished we could have brought- Simon's swing. Something we could have left behind- ????

We moved Henry to the "back back" (as my family used to call it). Not the safest option being in a high back booster, but it was the only thing that fit. And for our sanity, it was nice convenient that I could sit between Simon and Margaret and keep the kids happy  content... well, at least try to do so.  I don't think my feet ever touched the floor and my lap was never empty.... the things moms do :)

The 3 hour trip to Shreveport was fine. Shreveport wasn't in a direct route to DC, but I really, really wanted to spend a few seconds with my family.

Stopped off to see my grandmother on our way out to my parents'. I didn't want Simon to spit up all over his clothes in the car and couldn't get to his bag when we stopped... hence the nakedness.

Made it to my parents', where all the Lagersen cousins were waiting to play.

We celebrated my mom's and Tom's birthday with a cake.

Got on the road around 8:30 the next morning.

Our first stop was Vicksburg, Mississippi.

We ate PB and Honey sandwiches for lunch. Then back in the car.

Simon did pretty well this day. Only one time where he was pretty inconsolable.

(Happened to be when we were driving through Birmingham. Pointed out to Henry that Birmingham was going to be where we were moving next year... he got real sad and said "But I love my home, Mom". :( Broke my heart)

Whole apples- kept the kids occupied for a while. Also had puppets, movies, books, magnets, colors, stickers. Henry did well keeping himself happy playing with his cars and Playmobil men.

Stopped at a Sonic for dinner.

Kids fell asleep around 9.

Drove until 12:30 am and stopped in Bristol, Virginia... right at the Tennessee/ Virginia border.
Kids did well at the hotel.

Next day was going to be a shorter drive through Virginia. Left around 9 am.

Kids were pretty whiny/ grumpy that morning.  Glad we went as far was we did the day before.

Simon slept for a grand total of 30 mins that morning.

Stopped in Lexington for lunch. I really did my best to try to explain to Henry about the "shot heard 'round the world".... turns out that was Lexington, Massachusetts. ha- whoops.

But we did happen upon Washington and Lee's campus and ate our lunch while watching a Virginia Military Institute (I guess their campus is right next to W&L??)  baseball game. No pics- not enough hands.

Back in the car, the kids took naps. Although Simon took a long one, he was so done with being in the car and cried a lot. 

I'm pretty sure these are the Shenandoah Mountains. A very scenic drive.

 

Finally arriving in DC about 4ish on Saturday.

It was so nice to get out of the car!!

Got to our apartment and they had messed up and gave us a 1 bedroom. Thank goodness there was a pull out for Margaret and Henry. (our 2 bedroom was ready the following Monday afternoon) Right when we left to walk to dinner, the temperature dropped a good 30 degrees and started raining, but we made it to a nearby Chipotle. Went to bed early that night!

So... we're here!

Celebrating 4 years of Henry

Henry's 4th Birthday was April 12th.

We started the celebration by getting some doughnuts on the way to school.

He also brought some cookies and Cars napkins to school for snacktime .

I told him he could open his presents when Tom got home. As soon as Tom walked in the door, he ran to them and started ripping them open as fast as he could.

We let him choose the restaurant that night. He wanted Taco Bueno, but I persuaded him to change his mind to Fuzzy's Tacos.

I knew he wanted a motorcycle birthday cake. I had the worse time deciding on what to do for his party, though. Thought about having it at a park or having people over and getting a bounce house.  Then I thought, "why not Chuck E Cheese?".... he agreed. It was kind of a last minute decision and I'm glad his sweet friends could join him. We had it on a Friday morning and were the only ones in the place for most of the party- such a bonus.

These pictures are all over the place since the new blogger kind of threw me off... but don't let that distract you from the awesome-ness of the party.

Getting ready for the Ticket Blaster. These pics get me every time. Not sure what makes me laugh harder- the tucked in shirt or the goggles?!?

I was laughing too hard to really pay attention was was happening. Amy and Kristen pointed out his "pinching" technique. Tom explained to me that he was doing this because he didn't want to let go of the 2 tickets he caught.

He was soo very very happy.

Kristen and Ava (Baby Connor was there, too)

Margaret Gray sat on this "ride" of 75% of the time.

She loved having her "money" and putting the tokens in the machines.

Luke and Vivi. Love his hand on her knee.

The whole Delaney crew was able to come. Love me some Baby Maggie!

Brinley was showing her new found brave side riding on this horse.

Simon's motorcycle onesie didn't last long. Thankfully had another backup motorcycle outfit (Thanks, Leah!) and I had half a brain to remember to bring it.

(Back story on the onesie- The Etsy girl was very kind to rush my order, but accidentally mixed up Simon and Margaret's colors... I had to tell her that they looked great, but I couldn't put my son in a pink onesie. She overnighted me another one. I mean the kid already has pink blankets and bibs, I had to draw the line somewhere)

The Barkers

So glad Tom was able to join us. He was Henry's game playing sidekick.

Liz found these Biker Duckies. Love them.

Party favors- Biker Ducks, key chains (cause you have to have keys to drive a motorcycle- too bad I didn't attach a key to the key chain) and tattoos

Henry enthusiastically asked for a "police motorcycle cake, with red lights on the front and back and all around the bottom". I think he was thinking of his fire truck cake from last year. There was no way I could make the whole cake a motorcycle, so this is what he got.

I really had hopes of the motorcycle standing, but it was too heavy.

Motorcycle Almond Bark

"I only got 2 tickets"

Some very tired kiddos. All partied out. So much fun.

Not sure the video does the experience justice.

We celebrated PatPat's, Tom's, and Henry's Birthdays the Sunday after.

Loved celebrating Henry turning 4!