Another NJ visit

Last Thursday, Little David & I returned to NJ for a wonderful visit. Friday I attended a wedding (sans my husband who stayed in MD to work night shift DUI training...He had some stories to tell after that!). I missed him terribly! But the wedding had its perks... "Mashed Potato Bar" anyone? I've never seen anything like it! CONGRATS to Bill & Stef (who are relaxing in Hawaii as I speak)

Little David & I had a blast pretending to be rockstars... Was I more into it than him?! haha



Saturday Dave drove up & we all attended a double bday party for Devon's two girls @ Duffield's Farm. We had a wonderful time despite the unusally cold weather. LD didn't seem to mind. He was busy exploring...Pinatas? candy? No David much prefers hay, rocks & sticks!



CHEEEEESE!


Uncle Derek even kept us company & I think LD was extremely happy about that... While he did take turns sitting with Dave & I, He clearly preferred to sit on Derek's lap for the hayride!

He had fun driving the tractor... even though it was not going anywhere :)

Mommy & Davey in Rio

Wednesday was so beautiful that Little David & I decided we were going to Rio for the afternoon. Well actually I decided, but I'm pretty sure if he could have said it, he would have!



We shopped around Right Start (one of our fav kid's stores). Dave loved the Radio Flyer Bike & chalkboard. Then listened to the kids practice music next door @ the "BACH to ROCK" school... He might be a musician one day; He just loves it!

Then we decided we'd sit outside & enjoy a cold treat. (Again, I technically decided... but I'm pretty sure he was in agreement :) He did say "icecream!") He got vanilla from PotBelly's & I got a frappucino from the Starbucks next door...

"soooo goood..." He's savoring every bite!

"FOR YOU?!?!" he can be very generous :)

David wanted to feed the ducks but decided he genuinely did not want to share his cheerios... oh well... "ONE FOR THE DUCKS..."

"TEN FOR ME..."

He also decided he wanted to CLIMB into this fountain! We compromised on the terms "hands only" & "splashing allowed". He of course did not follow the rules & was placed under Mommy arrest and landed himself in Stroller Jail... Ending our nice afternoon in Rio...

However, He did pick me a beautiful flower as a peace offering. It worked of course :)

Our NJ weekend

Since my husband had off Monday we decided to enjoy a long weekend visiting family in NJ. We enjoyed a great BBQ over my parents and Sunday spaghetti over Dave's parents. It was a wonderful trip but as always it goes much toooo fast



My handsome men...





David LOVED throwing rocks into PopPop's pond in the backyard...



Chicken update (as illustrated by my dad) Sadly, we must announce the sudden death of a well liked member of the growing chicken brood. She is survived by six other chicken sisters who I'm sure are grieving her passing. But with an optimistic "never waste a good thing" attitude Dad Sottile prepared for a chicken dinner... A memorial to the chicken was posted via sidewalk chalk "Chicken... Chicken... Roasted Chicken"



Little David picked me the most beautiful flower (OR weed... but I'm lean toward the optimistic side) in the whole yard!



And I told him I would treasure it forever OR until it wilts about an hour later... Either way I wore it proudly!



He enjoyed chasing the dog around the front yard. And Samson rather enjoyed running around a yard that was more than 10 feet in length (like ours!)... Because how much momentum can you really get going in 10 feet?! Anyway, they both loved their freedom outside this weekend...

My sis came home from Stockton to see us. She leaves next month for Kenya! And even though I am so proud of what she is doing, I am going to miss her terribly for the next 3 months...

Another Beautiful Day!

It was gorgeous outside today and nothing (I mean NOTHING) was going to keep us inside the house all day! First we decided to go to have a picnic...



david REALLY enjoyed his cheese puffs! I think he may be a cheese addict... That neon ORANGE cheese really screams natural & healthy snack, Doesn't it? All in Moderation...



Then we headed down to the park. The trees are starting to fill out now that Spring is here!



We crossed paths with 2 deer...









Then some freehand scribbles...



Bubble blowing contest (I won.)...

...And finally a game of Hide & Seek, where David insisted on hiding in the most obvious of places & I pretended as though I didn't obviously see him...

And did I mention the whole day he went SHOE-LESS because they were in Dave's car... Like I said, "Nothing was going to keep us inside on a day like today!" : )

RIO

Dave's parents are visiting this weekend & we decided to take them to one of our fav local places "Rio"...It is a great area to walk and shop, plus Little David loves to feed the ducks (really geese) and usually manages to get his daddy to buy him ice cream. We ate at one of our fav Mexican restaurants "Rio Grande Cafe" and fed the ducks Cheerios but left without icecream b/c we were trying to beat the approaching storm...

Sing-A-Long

This morning I took David to a Spring Sing-A-Long at the Pottery Barn Kids Store in North Bethesda (White Flint). They had "O, Susannah" a popular kids artist. He enjoyed clapping and dancing but he much preferred yelling at the poor little infant next to him. We only lasted about 25 minutes and bailed. Honestly I was happy to escape the crowds of crazy toddlers and even crazier mothers haha! He had fun playing around the store & enjoyed his ride in the rental firetruck strollers... Maybe we'll try again in a couple months...

Budding Urban Artist...

Today it was in the 70s & sunny! We took a walk to the park. Saw a big snake (David was fascinated!), cardinals, blue jays, woodpeckers and two deer. Spring is definitely here! David spent much of the afternoon creating temporary urban art of the modern variety... or maybe it was just sidewalk chalk scribbles... I like to think he's pretty talented! hehe. We had a great time, even though he kept wanting to decorate our neighbors door :)

David & The Bug

Spring has come to MD, and so have the bugs... David is in boy heaven. He smashes them, spits on them OR if they are lucky he'll sit by and quietly observe their buggy ways. Today his specimen was a spider.

After INTENSE scrutiny, he decided maybe he didn't like the spider.




"Intruder"!



And then he decides he'll smash it with a comb... Lucky for the spider (& unlucky for eager David) it is actually on the other side of the glass door... hehe. Well It was entertaining while it lasted!