Weekend on a Wednesday

Since I skipped pics from the weekend earlier this week, a little recap is due today. But first, the story of Bennett's first day of school yesterday:

{Pull into parking space}

Bennett: Why you park-in?

Me: So we can bring you into school.

Bennett: Don't need to, just drop me off.

Me: No, I actually have to, there is no drop off today. And I want to give you a hug.

Bennett: I don't need a hug. I'm three. 

And off he marched 4 steps ahead of me and into his classroom without turning his head back around once. 

His first day in his own words:

We went on the playgroud. 

I played cars.

I didn't learn anyone names.

There's sand in my shoes.

I asked my teacher for marshmallows for snack, but she says we having apples. 

Never change Bubs. We love you and are so happy about your confidence!

*****

So last weekend. As I've mentioned a billion times, the weekends are weird, especially since the unit Kev is with isn't located here, there is really no one else in our position to hang out with while everyone else is enjoying their own weekends with their families.

 On Saturday morning, the boys were driving me a little nutty, but it was also too hot and humid to go outside and do anything enjoyable. We needed to get out of the house and as we started driving up the Parkway, I spotted the Capital Wheel across the water in National Harbor and decided that is where we were headed. 

It was a little pricey at $38 for the 3 of us (no charge for Wells) but it was neat to do once. And by the time we parked, got tickets, waited to get on, went around 5 times, walked around a bit more and headed home, the two hours I needed to take up before lunch and nap were gone. 

The boys thought it was pretty neat. And if you are claustrophobic, it is nice because there is A/C and music playing in each little cab, so it distracts you from the fact that you are in a tiny box at the top of a huge wheel above the water. 

Wells was a little confused/mad that I wouldn't let him crawl around and bang on the doors. 

All in all a pretty neat experience that I am glad we took advantage of. 

The rest of Saturday was spent playing and watching football.

Then on Sunday, we met my inlaws down at their church and then went back to their house for lunch. I was able to leave the boys there for a few hours while I ran up to my friend Alysa's bridalshower. It was a beautiful party and I can't wait for her and Ant's wedding in just a few weeks!

We stayed at Nana and Pop's through dinner (and Nana sent us home with dinner for last night too- the best) and the boys made sure they had Pop do every activity in the world. 

And I think Pop wore them out a little bit too...

Hope you are having a great week! 

The Perfect Kind Of Weekend

Guess what we did Saturday?

N-O-T-H-I-N-G

The real kind of nothing. 

We didn't clean. We didn't cook. We didn't see anyone except for our boys and each other. 

We played outside. We rode bikes. We went for ice cream. Kev and I sat out back in the sunshine with a beer while the boys napped. We ordered in dinner. 

It was one of those wonderfully simple, perfect kind of days. One where I just soaked in every ounce of blessings that my family gives me and enjoyed every second without an agenda.

Look at Mommy and smile!
Fail.

My litter photographer hard at work

Baby's first ice cream

Not sure why the chicken wing, but always nice to get in the picture

 Sunday was Mass and lunch, followed by Kev taking off to travel for work this week. Luckily, my friends Cate and John came to the rescue with pizza and cookies for dinner so I wouldn't have to worry about cooking and snuggled (and got beat at lacrosse) with some boys. You guys are the best!

Hope your weekend was just as wonderful

*Linked up with Mommy Moments

Stop and Smell the Tulips

On Tuesday mornings, B, W and I always have a date while C is at school. Some days we hang out at the book store and others we come home and make chocolate milk and play monster trucks, but this Tuesday, we tried something new. I saw someone post on facebook about the Netherland Carillon Park where there are some amazing tulips in bloom, so after we dropped off Cullen, we drove a few more miles north to check it out. 

It was absolutely worth the visit.

The park was actually right next to the Iwo Jima Memorial- one that I have driven by a thousand times but never seen up close.

After a while, B decided he wanted to take my camera and capture his own images. 

Unfortunately, I had my 50mm lens on and it is a manual focus, but I still love what he came up with (all straight off the camera, no edits).

 Budding photographer, I think.

I think it can only be cute to take pictures of random Veterans if you are 3. 

 I feel like it is so easy to get caught in a rut and not go and explore and take advantage of this awesome city we live in- so I am very grateful for this beautiful morning with my littlest boys.

Things

A few notables:

-We have been trying to do a lot of the holiday highlights DC has to offer and while we didn't cross off everything on our list, here are a few we did do:

Zoolights at the National Zoo.
We actually did this a few weeks ago but I never blogged about it. Luckily, my mom did. Here is the post about that.

Christmas at National Harbor.
We headed over to the Gaylord National to see the light/music show last Sunday. Upon arrival, Bennett scarfed down a cookie, and then threw it up... All down Kev's back... We didn't see the light show.

At least they looked cute on the way there

Season's Greetings at the Botanical Gardens
Last Thursday, just Bennett, Wells and I went on a little adventure into the city to 'see the trains' at the Botanical Gardens.

We are hoping to go see Christmas at Mt. Vernon this afternoon, but we will see if that actually happens.

-Wells had his 4 month check up on Wednesday morning. He weighs 17lbs 11oz and is 27 inches long.

Yay! I am giant!

-I updated my blog list over there ---> to all of your lovely people who I read often and who comment over here often even when I am behind on reading. So if you are looking for some new blogs, check out anyone on that list. Chances are they are funny and/or good photographer and/or have cute kids. If I left you out and you want to be over there, please let me know! I know there are some that I overlooked.

-Another blog business thing: do you follow your blogs through facebook? I have been toying with the idea of doing a 'fan' page to keep you updated on when a new post goes up. I am just curious how many of you would find that helpful?

-Friday morning I have the boys' Christmas Pageant, Kev's graduation from his Major course and my grandma's retirement mass from the Elementary school I went to as a kid. They all start at 9. If anyone know how to split themselves in thirds, please pass along the info! (For the record, I am going to the boys' pageant, my father-in-law and almost brother in law are going to Kev's graduation and my mom, brothers and several aunts and uncles will be there for Grandma, but o how I wish I could be at all 3!)

-Speaking of my future brother in law, my sister in law is getting married next Saturday and I got to go to her final bridal fitting last night. She seriously looks like she walked out of a magazine. I can't wait!

-You read that right up there: she is getting married next Saturday. So we are looking at Christmas Eve visiting my Oma and Opa and going to Mass with Kev's parents. Christmas morning at our house. My family and Grandparents over for Christmas Day, Christmas at Kev's parents on the 26th, Rehearsal Dinner on the 27th, wedding on the 28th. Whew. 

With all that said, I won't be blogging next week and will just be enjoying this special time with my family. 

I hope you all have a wonderful and Merry Christmas!

(There will likely be an instagram here and there, so feel free to follow along @katedaffodils)

The Weekend We (Finally) Had Nothing To Do

For the past few weeks we have been so busy and thankfully, this past weekend, we didn't have anything to do and took advantage of having a little family time. We started Friday afternoon with a walk along the Potomac River and Parkway paths. It is so pretty in Virginia right now and I just want to be outside as much as possible. 

 On Saturday morning, we decided to head into DC for the first time since Summer and spent a few hours on the Mall and at the Natural History Museum.

 This Nature's Best Photography special exhibit was amazing. If you are in the area, you have to go check it out. 

Cullen's favorite picture was of this pelican diving into the water (and eating him.)

 Bennett, not quite as impressed as the rest of us.

 After our adventure, it was home for the Army/Airforce games and later the Auburn game. Uncle Jojo came by for a little football

 and to teach Bennett how to light a can of Off on fire. To which B kept repeating "Light fire a-dain Joe? A-dain Joe! A-dain!"

We ended the day with (another!) Auburn win and hanging out with our friend Chris who was in town for the night. 

On Sunday, Kev went to the Redskins game with a friend while my boys and I met my in-laws at Mass and had lunch, then went to visit my grandparents for the afternoon. 

A perfectly low key weekend, which is just what I needed in order to gear up for my little sister in law's Bridal Shower and Bachelorette party this weekend! 

(If you have any good Bachelorette games, let me know!)