oatmeal aka ma-ma

our little Yoda

My Temple... again

Growing up in NH, the Washington DC temple was the closest temple to us until they built the Boston temple in 2000. We would go on youth temple trips overnight every summer to the DC temple. We would all pile into HUGE vans (usually old vans with no AC... one time it was overheating in the middle of a heat wave and we had to have the heater on the whole way down... that was a rough one!), and stay at cheap motels (one of our favorites was the one with the rough, concrete-bottomed swimming pool, bullet-holes in our motel room window, and prostitutes coming out of the room next to ours. I still have scars from that trip... from the bottom of the pool AND the hookers! Yikes!)

And now the Washington DC temple is my temple once again. It is only 2 hours away now, but we still made a trip out of it. Brian, Alexander and I, and our friends Brett and Lauren went down on Friday night and stayed in a hotel just outside of Chevy Chase, MD. (That's funny, huh? Chevy Chase, MD! But it's true!) We ate a delicious dinner at the Cheesecake Factory (I've never been before). Then on Saturday, we left Xander at the Stake Center next to the temple with our friends the Reeder's (Thank you again for babysitting!!!!!!!) and went to a session at the temple. It was great to be able to be there with my husband. Since we had Alexander, it's been awhile since we have been able to do that.

Alexander had a long weekend. He wouldn't nap on Friday, then went to bed really late on Friday night, then was stuck at the church during his naptime on Saturday. The Reeder's said he was really good for them, but when they left for the temple and the next sitters took over, he thought it was his turn to leave too. He sat in front of the door for awhile crying, "Mommy, Daddy". The sitter, Bro. Clayton, was trying to entertain him but he was having a little tantrum. Bro Clayton turned away for a minute to talk to someone and when he turned back, he found Alexander like this:
He never falls asleep anywhere but his crib! And he was so tired that he stayed asleep the whole time while people and kids were climbing over him to get in and out of the room. Sooooooo cute!

Temple trip cont.

After going to the temple, we headed into the city for some sightseeing. Brian and Lauren had never been there. (Brett was our expert tour-guide... he lived there for 3 months in high school) Brett took us to one of his favorite restaurants, Capitol City Brewing Co. I had the yummy fettucine alfredo (not like any alfredo I've ever had... it had kick!)

...our partners in crime, Brett and Lauren.


Then we went to the Mall (not to be confused with the mall that you go shopping at) in DC. We saw the Korean War Memorial, and the Lincoln Monument. It was really cold and getting late, so we pretty much just drove around the rest of the city to see the sights. We can always go back.

Pregnancy Cravings

Last pregnancy around this time, I was craving oranges. Had to have one every day. This time it is Vlasic Zesty Dill Pickle Spears. It has to be this kind and it has to be spears, and I have to have one or two or three every night. I also have to cut them in half lengthwise so they are even skinnier spears. The worst part is that I then smell like pickles for the rest of the night! Poor Brian.

Smith Playhouse

Wednesday for playgroup we went to the Smith Playhouse. It is this old mansion that they converted into a big playplace. The second floor has toys galore. The first floor has big toys to climb on and foam blocks to play with. The basement has riding toys. And outside is a huge playground with cool play-structures I've never seen before, and a giant covered wooden slide that you slide down on gunney-sacks (sp?). It is definitely germ-infested, but definitely fun!

Snow Day

Last week we had one of our first snow days here. It wasn't quite enough snow to really play in, but cold and miserable enough to want to stay indoors. Even though we didn't go play in it, it still kept Alexander entertained for quite awhile. He sat in front of the window just watching the snow fall all morning.

The rumors are true....

OK, so I'm letting it all go here, but seriously, I think I have an identical picture of this from when I was 5 months pregnant with Xander! Yes it's true.... I am pregnant... due July 25th! We are happy. Haven't been as sick this time. I discovered the miracle drug... Unisom... does wonders for morning/all-day sickness!

Do you think I'll be this big again? Or bigger?

Half-of-the-Kane-Family in New York

...on the coldest day of the next year!


I don't think Mom wanted her picture taken. Actually, I think she is giving me the "you-better-not-put-this-on-your-blog" face in this picture!

Pops on the ferry.

CHEESE!

Denver trying not to be sick on the Ferry. Seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time.

Then my camera died. So, we rode the Staten Island Ferry over to NY,NY. We saw ground zero and Times Square, then ate at Dallas BBQ (horrible service!). It was Denver's first time to New York city, but he was fighting off the sick-ies, and it was colder than the North Pole, so we didn't stay long.

Kane Family in Philly

...on the coldest day of the year!


We ate cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal.

Then we saw the Liberty Bell, and toured Independence Hall. Then we went home for a New Year's Eve party which included gads of food, and the Newlywed Game. It was a blast!

Happy Birthday Brian!

We celebrated in the usual way: hilarious basketball game with the Kane girls, huge dinner with friends and family (we had Meat House meat... MMMmmmmmm good!) ... That's a lot of candles!

Christmas Break

For Christmas break, we spent 2 weeks in Utah and then 1 week in NH. We probably spent as much time in transit as we spent actually being somewhere. It was a great trip but after 3 weeks of travelling, I am happy to be at home again.


Here are some picture highlights of our fun Utah trip:

I love this picture of Grandpa, Erica and Sydney.

And I love this one of Xander. His face looks so confused and sad. Huh?

We made gingerbread houses. Brian constructed ours and took a lot of heat for using up all the frosting to coat our whole house. It sure was strong though. Then I decorated it. That's my job... the decorator.

Alexander went sledding for the first time. He liked it, except for when his face got snow in it. And he would wimper a little when they were going too fast. I only took him down once, because hauling my cookies up that hill carrying Xander and a sled was not my idea of fun!

Christmas Break cont

Alexander and Avery kissing. They loved each other. They would walk up to each other and say "hi", then hug and kiss. It was soooo cute.

Grandma-great was looking fabulous!!!

Grandma Ivory and her babies.

The best Christmas Eve picture of all time! That's my boy!

cont

Christmas morning.... Xander looks a little confused.


CHAOS

Updating

Ok... so it's been soooo long since I have posted that I don't even know where to start. I'm just going to start posting. The posts may not be in order, but oh well. Here goes....