Some Rangers love

It was another Louis day at the Ballpark, this time the Whitesides and Uncle Jack came in town to join the Woods and PatPat and PawPaw .

Tom was working, so the kids and I just went to the tailgate. We didn't stay for the game since we needed to get to our friend Brinley's birthday party that afternoon.

Wish this sweet picture had focused on Simon and PatPat.

He slept almost the whole time in his carrier, so I was able to get some pictures of the festivities.

Half of the Louis cousins were there.

PawPaw took the kids on bike rides....

... Simon just got a photo-op.

Washers

Uncle Brent treated the cousins to the ice cream truck.

Henry was very excited about his IronMan pop... until it started to melt, and  then Henry started to do the same :)

The girls got Dora

 Uncle Jackie is pretty funny

 Sweet Gwennie

Fun times!


 We celebrated Ella's 9th birthday at the Ballpark, too.

Henry preemptively holds his ears... in case it gets too loud.

Simon was a trooper... never fell asleep, but also never got fussy.

:)

My Mom and Papaw

My Papaw fell and broke his hip/ elbow while we were in DC. He's actually recovering well and feeling pretty good.

My mom came in for a little bit to help out and we met up with her for lunch.

We later went to visit my Paps at the rehabilitation home.

I like how he's wearing his farm hat. He told me that he likes to put it on when he's leaving his room 'cause he makes him feel like he's going somewhere :) 

I think MG looks a lot like him. But I think I've said that before.

Funny, since Simon looks so much like my mom.... those Bridges genes sure are strong.

This weekend we're getting together to celebrate my grandmother's 90th birthday and I sure am looking forward to having my family in one place... it's been a long time.

Henry's Last Day of School

Henry's last day of school was actually before we left for DC.

His teachers, Mrs. Woodson and Mrs. Tinkle, were super sweet.

The little stinker wouldn't take a picture with them.

Sadly, I think Henry was pretty pumped about it being his last day. After Simon was born, he stopped wanting to go. He didn't trust that what he was doing was a million times more fun than being home with us :)

Miss Thang wanted to be in the picture with her clutch.

(Jenny- I have got to get those glasses in the mail to you!!!)

Margaret Gray has not perfected the "thumbs up".

She's already excited about going next year, though... tells me she's looking forward to bringing a lunch box :)

 

Thank you, Pinterest, for this note pad idea! And thank you, Kinkos, for completing the order in 2 hours.... considering I found the idea the night before Henry's last day.

I'm sure his teachers loved the Cyclops look.

First day/ Last day

He had a waaay better haircut the 1st day :)

And just found this picture...

 Oh, wow. Look how much she's grown!!!

Miss those rollie pollie thighs :(

Simon 4 & 5 months

I took Simon's 4 month pictures before we left for DC, just never got around to posting them...

Let's see...

26 inches

15 lbs 13 ounces

Was going to bed between 6 and 7, waking up between 6 and 7, and feeding once in between.

Naps were anywhere between 1 and 2 hours.

Really started playing with hands and feet.

Errands got easier with him when I figured out he liked to be facing out in the Bjorn or riding in the stroller.

Better at tummy time. Rolled over for the 1st time (from tummy to back). Henry was the only one to see it.

Big thing this month is that we gave up the swaddle.

I got tired of going into his room several times a night to reswaddle him (even though he was double swaddled with a Miracle Blanket and another blanket). We had a tough 2 nights, then he worked it out. 

Found his thumb in the process.

We started just swaddling his legs.

5 months

This whole month was spent in Washington, DC.

Hmmm....

Think he grew some... had to of considering I fed him 3-4 times a night!

Something got into him this month and I'm not sure I'll ever figure out what was wrong.

He would wake up SCREAMING several times a night and the only thing that would calm him down was if I would feed him. 

Naps were all over the place, too, this month. But averaging 4 a day. Really wanting to cut it down to 3/ day.

Really started to drool.

Rolled over from back to tummy.

Gave up the pacifier.

When we got back from DC, we started intentionally giving him a lovey. Now whenever he has one (or a blanket) he usually immediately puts his thumb in his mouth. Sometimes he'll grab my hair and start snuggling with it.

We love ourselves some Simon!

Week 4- Last Days and Going Home

Can not believe that 4 weeks went by so fast!!!

Highlights from our last week in DC:

Monday

Did a whole bunch of nothing.

4.... the total number of times she fell from the bed.

Tuesday

Visited the National Building Museum.

PatPat had told me about this lesser known museum and am glad she did.

It had a kids' area for budding builders :)

The bigs enjoyed their time there!

I'm not sure that's a hat, Henry.

Book area

Tom got home in time for lunch and we headed out for a picnic and to feed the ducks for the last time.

This squirrel was too friendly

And had to say good bye to our beloved Museum of Natural History.

Margaret Gray's choice from the gift shop.

My sister and Tom's brother both suggested that we eat at Ben's Chili Bowl, so we rode the Metro to the restaurant for dinner.

Good chili dogs!

Tom had seen a park on Google Maps, so after dinner we went in search for it. Somehow we missed the park that was 2 blocks away from the restaurant and wandered off (about 8 blocks) to find this area for the kids to run around.

Made it back to the Metro before it started raining.

Wednesday

Took the kids to story time at the library.

After Tom got home, we went out to visit the Air and Space Museum again.

Stopped off at the National Gallery of Art.

It was closing in 15 mins, so we walked fast.

Margaret wasn't allowed out of the stroller :)

Family portrait

Air and Space

We found the hands on area

Infrared

Thursday

Our last day to explore :(

Our Metro stop

Shout out to Simon 'cause he's cute.

1st stop-

Library of Congress

Beautiful inside

Gutenberg Bible

Lunch outside the Library

Walked to the Supreme Court

Yet, another place inappropriate to bring kids.

We should have turned around when they made us fold up our strollers and put them through the scanner.

Instead of riding the Metro back, we walked.

Found the Botanic Gardens.

They had a kids' area.

After naps, we headed out to dinner to a nearby Tex Mex restaurant.

Friday

Tom went to a couple of lectures that morning and got home around 10.

We were on the road by 11.

Stopped at a "Old McDonald's" for lunch.

Her 1st Happy Meal.

Drove to Nashville. Got in around 11pm.

Left the next morning around 9.

Pretending to sleep

Kids did really well on the way home.

View of crossing into Texas.

It felt so good to know the end was in sight!!!

Got home around 9:30.

Children were elated!

Margaret Gray ran into her room and exclaimed "My room! My carpet!"

Henry was happy to come back to his ambulance he got from PatPat and PawPaw for his birthday.

Love this pic of my little girl... wish it wasn't so blurry.

Simon was happy to be back in his bed!

We had such an amazing time.

Before we left, I was telling a lady our plans for the next month. Her response was "That's nice of your husband to let you come." What?! He knew he didn't have another option. :)

We really did have sweet family time and made great memories.

Was it always pleasant??- ha.  The kids were absolutely wacko at times, but we were together and that's what counts. It was AWESOME to have Tom around so much- we kind of like him.... and we kind of loved our month in DC. :)