Happy Birthday Grandpa Jay!

This is last years birthday picture of the Grandpa to be...now he is one year wiser :)

This is Anna, Laura and me at Buca di Peppo, I was pregnant with an at least 9lb baby at the time, Jack was born five days later!

(Does the restuarant look familiar? If you watched the recent MTV show Real World D.C. the cast ate here often.)

And here is the 9lb 13 oz baby with the new grandpa!

Here are the babies that made him a grandpa:

Grandpa Teri is holding my niece Carolynne, her and Jack are almost the exact same age!
Jack's first trip to the beach, 5 weeks old:

Grandpa Jay, Godmother Anna, & Jack together for Jay & Teri's anniversary:

Grandpa making sure Jack knew how to have fun at the mall while Christmas shopping:

Jay holding the little reindeer at my work's Christmas party, Jay volunteers there and is one of the best!

Jay making sure Jack is a Hoya fan:



Another cute outfit grandpa bought Jack:

Grandpa x 2:

Jay has made sure to pass the love of baseball to Gabe and now to Jack:

Congrats to Jay and Teri on having all of their children become successful, the youngest child graduated this spring:

Thanks Jay for everything you do for us and being a big fan of my blog!

Last night we had a bbq at the La Monica's and tonight we are going to the Kampa's house. I've got to run to the store because I'm trying to make some cookies for Jay. He loves my cookies and he loves me like a daughter, I'm lucky to have a father-in-law like him.

We hope you enjoy the baseball tickets we got you too!

We love you Grandpa Jay!

Babies first Fourth of July

The Fourth of July is our favorite holiday. We started the day off at the National's game:

Jack got to show off his new Michael Jordan's that Michael Buckley got him.

He took a mid-day snooze on Dad. And here is a picture of me being a blonde again plus some cute baby teeth!

After the game we headed to Cantina Marina on the South West Waterfront:

Where we met the Cline Family for dinner and drinks.

After, we found a grassy area close by, laid down our picnic blankets and let the boys play for a bit.

It was a good location for the boys' first Fourth of July because we were far enough away so it wasn't too loud and close enough to enjoy an unobstructed view.

Happy Birthday Aunt Laura!

We love Jack's Aunt Laura sooo much....

The La Monica grandparents watched Jack Saturday night so Gabe and I were able to join Laura and friends on H Street for her birthday celebration, part 1.

H Street Country Club:

It was a rare, rare Sunday that Gabe had the day off! He did have work in morning for a few hours but was back in time to pick us up and get us to the Nationals Game at 1:35. We even made it there before the National Anthem!

After the Nats game we headed to the La Monica's neighborhood pool for a friends and family birthday bbq. Part 2 of the Birthday celebration.

Jack and I are regular pool rats these days among various pools in the area.

Gabe and Jack had fun catching up with each other in the pool, the pair hadn't played together in water since Tobago, almost six months ago:

Later, Jack had a great time on the swing set at the pool and climbed UP the slide twice ALL BY HIMSELF. I know I may be bragging sometimes or often, but I really don't know where this kid gets his superman strength. After dinner the gang played a fun game of volleyball until it got dark.

Then the gang headed back to the La Monica house to relive a few memories. The party turned into a slumber party when we realized we needed to get Jack to bed and we were still having fun with the gang! We usually sleep in Anna's old room aka a time capsual from her high school days. However, the house was fuller then normal with Anna back in town and cousin Kristen sleeping over. We joined Jack in Gabe's room, also a time capsual plus a crib. We might have giggled ourselves to sleep with Jack in the crib, me in the twin bed and Gabe in the trundel bed below.

Part 3, we celebrated the actual day of Laura's birth, July 12th! All a little exhausted from a fun-filled weekend, plus a full day of work or babysitting (thanks Anna, Kristen, everyone!) We had a family dinner minus Gabe because he had to work.

We walked around Old Town Alexandria and Jack was very active during most of dinner.

Happy 22nd Birthday Aunt Laura!:

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

Meadowlark Gardens as I call it is two miles from my mom's house. Throughout my life I drove by Meadowlark Gardens as I went back and forth from friends houses, or to work, etc. It is pretty just driving by it and riding over the rolling hills that used to make me slightly queasy when I rode in the back of my mom's station wagon.

Growing up, in an effort to get us out of the house on Thanksgiving my mom would have our Dad take us to Meadowlark Gardens. We fed the geese with the crusts of the bread that she had cut off to make the stuffing. These outings also gave my mom precious alone time at the house to finish Thanksgiving Dinner and clean up for the guests.

I have wonderful memories of running around Meadowlark Gardens with my twin sister being very excited to feed the geese. My dad is very creative and would make up stories to go with our adventures.

Last Thursday, Gabe had to go to work early on his usual day off. I packed up Jack, dropped Gabe off at the metro, picked up my mom and we took Jack to Meadowlark Gardens for the first time.

Even though you are not supposed to feed the animals Jack did manage to throw one cheerio into the water.

It attracted a few friends...

Jack checking out the animals

There are several paved walking trails perfect the stroller and admiring the scenery.

There is also a very cute kids area...

We saw several groups of kids at Meadowlark Gardens, Jack is always in awe of older kids and loves seeing them. He also says a lot of D sounds, Dada, Daddy, Doggie, and DIDS! (aka KIDS!) he screams with excitement!

A cute tea house, a fantasy world...

Jack digging in the sand...

We are looking forward to going again soon, who wants to join us?