Big Brother teaches Little Sister

Found Owen reading to Viv this morning. {cuteness}

Cheers to better health

Mike and Lindsey introduced us to juicing. They were introduced to it by our good friend Kenny and his girlfriend Ashley. This morning while Owen was at preschool, Vivi and I went to Bed, Bath & Beyond to buy a juicer. We got the Breville Juice Fountain Plus which came with a free DVD - Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dying - a documentary created by an Australian guy who turned his life around with the help of juicing. He did a 60-day juice fast (we are not doing that anytime soon, but maybe a shorter one in the future) and lost 100 pounds and was able to get off all his medication for the debilitating skin condition he was suffering with.

The main point of the film was that Americans are so hooked on processed food and sugars, that they have forgotten that fruits and vegetables are the best food available to us. In an effort to help Owen and his #2 issues, and also to feel better, I've decided to take processed foods out of our diet as much as possible. I'm sure we'll have occasions when we'll have to eat it, but if we can help it, I'd like us to focus on eating whole foods and whole grains.

 {Backdating: at Mike's recommendation, we also watched Food, Inc. and Fresh - two more documentaries about the industrialization of the food industry {both on Netflix}. What an eye opener - I had no idea. I wish we would have watched them when they came out back in 2008 and 2009. Please watch them if you haven't yet, and tell me if your eating habits don't change. I dare you.}

Frying Pan Farm with Andrea & the kids

Today Andrea had some free time to burn since Tim is giving his presentation, so we met up at Frying Pan Farm to show them one of our favorite places to go on a nice day.


There were tons of baby animals out with their mamas! Three litters of baby piggies were born in March - they were so cute! But very stinky.


We had a picnic in the shade (Andrea took a great picture of us all on self-timer) and the kids played in the grass and dirt. Such simple fun, I loved it. So glad I had an extra day to spend with our friends. {love}

Winery picnic at Chrysalis

We had to say goodbye to Tim, Andrea, Olivia and Mason today. :( But, the good news is, we're already planning our next get-together for early 2013: a 10-yr anniversary child-free all-inclusive vacation - yes, please!

This morning we packed a picnic lunch and headed over to one of our favorite Loudoun wineries - Chrysalis. Molly and her boys Nate and Drew (Tim was sick and opted to stay home and rest) and Kelly, Matt, Kayla and Ryan met us there.

The weather was perfect and the kids burned off tons of energy blowing bubbles and running around the grounds. It was such a fun day and we're already planning on hitting up another one next weekend so Tim can join in.

Old friends are the best

"We will be friends until forever, just you wait and see."

~ Winnie the Pooh

Even though it had been a few years {and two kids less} since we all were together, it was as if we hadn't missed a beat. Yesterday afternoon the Hertels arrived at our house for a two-day visit and we were all so happy to have the chance to spend time together.

We kicked off the weekend with happy hour at our house. The kids took turns on the slide. We had cheese and crackers. We explored the big tree area. The kids took turns blowing bubbles and popping them. Vivi was smitten with Tim from the time they arrived. It was so cute.

Then it was time for dinner. An early dinner at Clyde's on the patio was just perfect. We had a nice big table on the perimeter of the patio so that we could enjoy the weather and the kiddos wouldn't disturb {too many} people around us.

The food was delish, the company was divine, and we were swiftly approaching the bedtime hour. Amen for that.

Upon arriving back at home, we tossed all four kiddos into the big tub, poured in some bubble stuff and toys and they had a ball getting clean.

Finally it was the most wonderful time of every parent's day: bed time. :) We read Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site together in Owen's room and then it was time to say night-night. Owen was pretty crushed that Olivia didn't want to bunk next to him in his room, big tears and all, but he recovered pretty quick. The kids fell asleep easily and then it was our turn to really relax and catch up.

We made some yummy drinks {marshmallow vodka, anyone?} and pulled out the old board games. Several rounds of Cranium later and we were all ready to call it a night since we had to be up early the next day. {Our Cranium clay had sprouted salt crystals, so we used Owen's playdough instead}

This morning started out with yummy waffles made in our heart waffle iron, fresh fruit, milk for the kiddos, and coffee for the sleepy parents. We made it out of the house around 9ish, in time to see the parade as we walked into the Natural History Museum.

We opted to skip the parade in favor of beating the crowds at the museum, and after we left we realized what a good decision that was. The kids had so much fun running around checking out all the exhibits.

We headed over to the Air & Space museum next, and were planning on getting lunch in the food court there. But since the weather was so beautiful, we decided to grab McDonald's at the food stand right outside the building so we didn't have to fight the lunch crowd and more importantly, so we could enjoy the sunshine.


After lunch we took a stroll around the first floor of the Air & Space museum before the kids started to fade fast. We headed home to take naps and rest before dinner.

Ben made pizza {two ways} on the grill and I threw together a salad. The kids were so tired from all the excitement today that they went to bed so easily right after we ate.


Then it was time for game night, round 2.

See all those red chips? Ah, yeah. That would be how Andrea dominated Domination.

Such a fun day! We're sad to have to say goodbye tomorrow. :(

They're here!!!

And we couldn't be happier!

Vivi was so happy, she ate cement.

{I am back-dating after a fun-filled weekend with Tim, Andrea, Olivia and Mason}

How Owen does dinner

What? You mean you don't stack your nuggets to build a tower before devouring them one by one?

Yeah, Vivi doesn't bother either. She just gobbles them. That's my girl.

Mommy's little climber

Vivian is all about being where I am these days, including in my chair when I'm at the computer. She can just about climb into the chair without assistance, so I may be handing over blogging duties to her as soon as she learns how to type and use the mouse. :)

Driving the ambulance ride together

after a quick trip to the Leesburg outlets.

I have learned through trial and error over the last few years as a mommy, that sometimes a bribe reward is the best way to be assured that you'll get your errands done without a meltdown (times two). Be it a sweet treat {read: fruit/veggie puree pouch}, a trip to the library {yes, that works with my kids}, or a ride on a mechanical toy ambulance, I have found the way to save my sanity.

Not ashamed to have been using this on an almost daily basis lately.

We're all the happier.

Go Mommy.

Scaling the shelves at the library

Looking for just the right book to read with Mommy & Owen.