Washington DC Trip

3 Babies hanging out

Angie and I in Baltimore

Travis, Peyton and I just got back from Washington DC last night. We went there mainly to visit one of my best friends, Angie. Angie and her husband Andy live in New Zealand:( They moved there a few years ago and then her parents moved to Washington DC. She came into the states to visit them, and we just had to go visit her since who knows when I'll get a chance to see her again. We had such a great time catching up and letting our babies play together. Angie had twin boys a week before I had Peyton! I miss her so much already and wish that our time together wasn't always rushed.

The National Monument, notice I have my feet in the water

The Lincoln Memorial

The US Capitol

If you know much about Travis this will make you laugh

At the Smithsonian Museum of American Natural History

The White House

The National Monument

While we were there we had to do some sightseeing. How amazing! It was so cool to see all these important buildings that have so much history to our country. We saw the Capitol building, Library of Congress, the White House, National Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and the Smithsonian museums. On the map it looks like all of these things are very close together, but when you start waking you realize that's a joke! Thankfully they have a Metro system that is pretty easy to use (although I don't know how comfortable I would feel using it by myself without Travis). The weather there the first few days of our trip were almost like home, but the last few days I thought we were going to die. Not only was it 95 degrees, but it was so humid! You walk outside and immediately were covered in sweat. Not fun! We also took a day trip to Baltimore and went on a cruise around the water which was really interesting.

Peyton was a perfect angel the whole trip. She did great on both flights, slept in her stroller (even in the 95 degree weather), and was happy the other times. That was definitely an answered prayer. If you've never been to our nations capitol, go! It was such a neat experience and we can't wait to take the kids there again some day when they can appreciate it. When you are there standing looking at all these amazing monuments and buildings, you just feel like you are apart of history.

Hot baby in the stroller

Peyton on the airplane

On a side note, Brayden stayed here with the Nevils for a few nights and with my parents the rest of the time. He did a great job, but missed us a lot! We probably missed him more:) We went and got him last night and we both said to each other "he has grown so much!" He's been pretty excited to be home and we're happy to all be together again. Speaking of how much he's grown, Brayden turns 3 tomorrow! More on that later.

Pricesses and Knights

Brayden kept on saying about the costume "I don't like it."

Notice the gold shoes!

We look like we belong in the Medieval times:)

Our friends the Johnson's threw a birthday party for their little girl, Kivi. It just happened to be a dress-up princess party. All the girls had to dress up as a princess, and the boys knights and jesters. Brayden got a knight costume together and daddy was an archer. Mommy got in the spirit with a tiara and Peyton looked like a beautiful princess. The party was complete with a dragon slaying contest and a no-utensil lunch. We had fun and hope that Kivi felt special!

To the cabin again!

Playing some really "fun" game:)

Yummy carrots

"Hahahaha"

Last weekend we went out to the cabin with our HFG (Home fellowship group). A HFG is families from our church who get together weekly and have a Bible study. We also do potlucks and fun things together too. We always say that we "live life together." We take a break from lessons in the summer to have Family Summer Fun Days. Each family gets to plan a week and what we will do. When it was our turn we decided to head out to the cabin! We had a lot of fun. The weather yet again didn't cooperate like we planned, but the kids don't care, they're just happy to play outside. We had a yummy dinner of homemade hamburgers and hot dogs and finished of our night with peanut butter and jelly bars (so good!!!), and smores. Of course we stayed up way passed our bedtimes and payed for it the next day as the kids got up at the crack of dawn:) Either way it was fun and we were reminded of how special our friends are to us. Our lives have been so blessed because of them. Yet again I bring my camera but don't take any pictures. Thankfully Tiff took a few:)

Friends for Life!

Peyton and Jared meet for the first time! (How cute is this kid?)

My friend Heather and I have known each other for a long time! We grew up going to church together and I don't remember a time when she wasn't in my life. We have been through a lot and love each other more for that. She is one of those friends who doesn't get mad at me if we haven't talked for weeks or months at a time, we just start where we left off. She recently moved back to Washington and had her first baby. I'm so glad that she is now in the mommy club with me:) Her son and Peyton are only 2 months apart and he is soooo cute!! Heather, I love you girl!

The kid is funny!

Brayden has been saying the funniest things lately! I love this age. He turns 3 next month and it seems like a lot of things are just clicking for him all of the sudden. He's putting things together in his mind and sometimes when they come out, they are hilarious! Yesterday we were in the kitchen making lunch. Brayden sneezed twice and neither of us said anything. Then he said to himself "Bless you Brayden," really loud and sarcastic. It was his way of telling us that we forgot to say it. Then Travis and I were moving the refrigerator so I could clean behind it. Brayden yells "Momma, dadda, watch your fingers!" We laughed pretty hard. He is so fun right now and we love to hear what little things he is going to say next. Thought I'd share a smile:)

6th Month Old Baby Peyton

I know every mom says this but my baby is growing way too fast! I can't believe she turned 6 months already. Time flies when you don't want it to. Peyton is such a blessing to our family, we are all enamored by her. She reminds us a lot like her brother at this age. laid back. very content, and just wants to be around us. The only difference I can see is that she is a bit more ornery than Brayden ever was:) That's ok though, we can handle that. Peyton had an appointment today and is very healthy. She weighs 20 pounds 6 ounces!!! (off the charts), and is 28 inches long (99%). Nothing new really. The doctor says that the acid reflux should be getting better now that she is eating solid food so we can remove the wedge from her bed. I'm a little nervous about it because I know she is so used to sleeping in it, but I guess we'll see if we get any sleep tonight.

Peyton is a very happy 6 month old who is constantly smiling and finding the silliest things to laugh at. She talks all day (ba-ba-ba-ba), and especially loves her brother. She can almost sit up unassisted and can turn over either way. She is experimenting with her diet and deciding which foods she likes and so far she is not too picky. She loves to jump in her jumpy or swing in her swing, but her favorite thing is to just be held and talked to. She has a lot of tickle spots, her toes, legs, arms, belly and neck and loves to be tickled. She has been sleeping through the night since she was 6 weeks old and is a great nap-taker too. Her favorite thing in the world is mommy's milk and will let you know when she wants some more:) We love having Peyton apart of our family and can't wait to see what she will be up to next.

4th of July at the Cabin

Peyton's first 4th of July

My Martha Stewart mommy with her fruit tart, so good!

Peyton hanging out with her cute cousin Roman

We spent the last weekend at our cabin on Anderson Island. Good times with the family, and a fun 4th of July. I love going out there for the fact that we don't have any agenda. It's just do whatever we want when we want. Due to the weather, we didn't get any time to swim or even take a walk, so we did a lot of reading (no complaints), and relaxing. My sister did a garage sale/inventory sale for her business- Posh Posada which has some great home decor items (check it out at www.poshposada.com). I enjoyed watching the fireworks from the ferry terminal out there. We can watch the firework show on the island, and all the ones across the water too! We love the cabin and are so grateful that we have somewhere free we can go for mini family vacations. Till next time...


On another note, we've tried some solid food with Peyton. She doesn't really seem to care for the rice cereal or sweet potatoes, but we'll keep trying. With every bite she is making yucky faces and just squirms in her seat:)