Parker Kenneth & Riley Marie: 2012

Monday, December 31, 2012

Air and Space & Botanical Gardens

While Daddy was still on vacation we decided to take a trip into the city for some Parker fun! First we spent some time over at the Air and Space Museum. One of Parker's favorite places to visit!

Checking out the rockets with Daddy.

"Look Daddy, that is where the fire comes out!"

Riley slept through most of the museum - as is normal for her on these trips.

Counting the planes on the model aircraft carrier. Somehow most counting these days ends up in 7.

After the Air and Space Museum we walked over to the Botanical Gardens. We had heard from Ella's Daddy that there is a cool train display around the holidays. It was really cold outside and the line was long, but we braved it anyway.

The line was winding through part of the gardens before we came to the train display. So, we got to see some cool stuff on the way. Like this replica of the capitol building made entirely out of plant material.

Taking a break waiting in line - everyone needs tickle breaks once in a while.

Photo by the White House replica.

Part of the train display...

One of Thomas's friends was driving around the display - we aren't sure what her name is.

Thomas was also there with his cars Clarabel and Annie.

Checking out the cool trains!

Checking out the fairies in the tunnel.

Pointing to the last train in the display.

It was a great day - cold, but a great day. Another day we feel so lucky to live in such a great place!

Snow!

The day after Christmas also brought a special surprise - Snow! Luckily Mommy had hoped for snow this year and had prepared with some snow pants and a good snow jacket, and Cole has passed along some great snow boots!

All ready to go play outside!

Checking it out...

Sitting to get a better look...

Trying to get Mommy with a snowball - didn't get me though!

When he was all done out front they went in the back to see the snow in Parker's Park. Going down the slide in the snow makes you go really fast! But luckily all the snow clothes provide extra padding.

Unfortunately a warmish rain came later that day and melted all the snow. We have had some snow fall since then, but nothing has stuck. Hopefully we will have some more soon!

Day After Christmas

Of course, like most kids Parker wanted to do nothing on the day after Christmas but play with his new toys.

Mommy got up early with him and we built a big train station using almost all of his new track. There is a lot!

Then he spent hours playing Misty Island Rescue - because it turns out that Santa talks to Ma Pat and since Parker asked Santa for Misty Island, and Santa was bringing a helicopter, he asked Ma Pat to go in search of Misty Island stuff.

Riley got up to play with us too - she likes to watch us set up the train sets.

Early morning smiles!

Taking a break from Misty Island to play pirate - "I got my eye on you"

Daddy tried to spy some pirates once he woke up.

Taking a break to play with his new puzzle from Uncle Jim.

And enjoying some pumpkin roll that Travis made for Christmas - he left the extra at our house and Parker enjoyed "pumpkin cake" for 2 nights after Christmas...lucky boy!

Christmas Day

We were very lucky on Christmas to have Andrea and Travis stay with us on Christmas Eve and wake up to little kid craziness on Christmas morning. Luckily Parker is still a little young to get so excited he wakes up at 4AM or something crazy, so our morning started at about 8AM. We had coffee ready for all the adults, so it wasn't too early!

While we waited for everyone to assemble downstairs Parker decided to try on the Santa hat...

Then he saw that Santa had left him a "rescue" helicopter! It is a remote control helicopter and even though it takes some Daddy help, it is awesome!

Then he dove right into the presents - dishes are still really exciting first thing in the morning! Rocketship Toy Story plates and Lightning McQueen!

Then he opened the Jake Pirate Telescope that Uncle Jim had sent (we were supposed to wait to Skype with Uncle Jim, but Mommy wasn't paying attention to what present he grabbed). The telescope came with a Jake bandana that he decided he needed to wear to open his other presents...

Aunt Andrea offered to hold Riley during present excitement - I think she really just wanted an excuse to keep resting - and I think she may have fallen asleep for a bit...

Grandma and Grandpa Culver sent another great Jake and the Neverland Pirates present - Bucky the pirate ship! He was so excited, and it also came with all the Jake people. Perfect to play with while wearing the bandana!

Then he opened up some of the great new track and a new drawbridge for his Thomas set. He was really excited to see all the new stuff to grow his station, but was still wondering if the Misty Island set and the Logging Locos would make an appearance.

We decided to take a break from presents to have some breakfast - Eggs Newport of course! Travis had his first Eggs Newport experience and I believe we have a new fan! After breakfast Andrea and Travis headed home to go see Les Mes and Parker and Daddy decided to go outside to try out the helicopter. It took exactly 30 seconds to get stuck in the tree outside. So Daddy had to climb up on the stool and use the broom to get it down...

Then everyone watch to see if he would do it again...it did hit the tree, but didn't get caught anymore.

While we waited to Skype with Ma Pat, Pa Lar, and Uncle Jim, Parker inspected all his loot. Way too much Christmas already and we hadn't even gotten to his other Oregon gifts!

After Mommy took a quick shower we were able to Skype with Ma Pat, Pa Lar, and Uncle Jim to open presents long distance. So fun to still be able to see each other open gifts!

Of course I thought I had the best idea ever in turing the blog into books for both of Parker and Riley's grandmas. Little did I know that Ma Pat had made a blog book of her own as one of my presents to remember my November Thankful project. Great minds think alike!

After all the great gift opening we said goodbye to the Oregon family and Parker went upstairs for a nap and Riley got to change into her Christmas dress (Parker never got out of his pjs!)

After naptime and some playing it was time for Christmas Dinner - ham and turkey from Harry and David! Aunt Andrea took the opportunity for a quick photo!

It was soon time for Parker to head up for his bath and play with the great new bathtoys from Aunt Andrea - a bunch of cars and trucks and trains!

And with Parker in bed Ben decided to take the opportunity for a little flight practice!

We always wish we could spend Christmas with all the family in Oregon, but we know that living so far away makes this very difficult. But, we are so blessed to have our extended family of Andrea and Travis here to spend the day with us and also get to still celebrate with the families in Oregon from far away. We are so lucky to have so many wonderful people in our life, and had such a wonderful little Christmas in our new home in Maryland.

Christmas in Arlington

Shortly before Christmas we heard of an incredible organization called Wreaths Across America (http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/) that gathers volunteers to lay wreaths at veterans' cemetaries all across America on a Saturday in the month of December. It began when a man who owned a wreath company in Maine had an excess of wreaths in 1992 and decided to lay them on the graves in the least visited sections of Arlington. Since then the project has gown so that now wreaths are laid all over Arlington as well as cemetaries all over the country.
Of course when we heard about it we had to go and see for ourselves. I can honestly say that it was our favorite visit to Arlington.

We started by getting a car pass so we could drive through the cemetary (we are learning things in our time here!)...

Our first stop is always to see Mark and Ian and pay our respects to them. And right next to Mark's grave is a tree that was decorated with ornaments from visitors and families of those who rest here. I don't know who hangs the ornaments, but we read a few and there were a lot of messages from small children with Christmas wishes.

As we walked around the section we noticed that a lot of people leave gifts for their loved ones for Christmas. We don't know this Marine, but Ben noticed the beer and Copenhagen that was left and we both had to smile about the unique "gift".

Finally, we traveled up to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for the change of the guard. Andrea and Travis had come with us for this trip and we all thought it was very special to witness the ceremony on Christmas Eve. Little did we know we would see it just as it began to snow. You can't see it in the photo, but believe me we felt it! It was amazing yet again to know that these amazing soldiers perform this ceremony 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Following the ceremony we got to take the short walk back to our warm car, but those soldiers continue to march - amazing.

It is very heartwrenching to think of all of these families who spend the holidays without their soldier. All these families who leave little gifts to show they remember. I believe that this visit is a tradition that Ben and I will continue for as long as we live here. And I wouldn't be surprised if next year Ben has a special something to leave for Mark and Ian for Christmas as well.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Visit to Jersey Part 2

After breakfast with the Wadehra's we went over to the New Jersey Aqaurium.

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