This is the no-longer-available-for-use town spring that people used to drink out of when grandma lived there. 

This is the church and cemetary where many of grandma's (and James') ancestors are burried in Tomahawk, West Virginia. Yes it is as small as it sounds, but very beautiful. 

We drove grandma up to northern Maryland/West Virginia where she spent a lot of time growing up. This is one of the homes she lived in as a little girl. It was great to hear the stories of things she did as a child--we even saw the home of one of the boys she dated. 

This is Zoe and her cartoon buddy- they snuggled and watched cartoons together. Zoe was playing with my sunglasses and convinced grandma to try them on. :) 

We went and had dinner with some friends from AZ the other night and they have two little girls so it was dress-up central. Zoe makes a very cute chicken. 

Marlo took this picture of Teac sittting up by himself. He can also roll over now!! Front to back- not back to front yet. No more leaving him alone on the edge of the couch. . . just kidding. 

Great Grandma and the munchkins. 

Grandma took us to lunch. Zoe orered chicken fingers and grandma ordered shrimp. They bearly put the plates on the table and Zoe saw the shrimp, reached over and ate them. All she said was, "I like shrimp too!" 

I finally took a picture of him in his blessing outfit. Went to the Dr. on Monday. He is now 18 lbs 3 oz and 25+ in. long. Sometimes he sleeps through the night. 

Tickle time with Papi! The torture begins so young :) 

Beautiful girls... beautiful friends. 

Happy Easter! We love our little brother. 

The girls are happy but Teac just woke up so he is a little out of it. 

An easter egg just isn't an easter egg until it is properly dressed and made into a happy family. :) (The rags are the secret to Marlo's curls.) 

See our beautiful eggs! 

I think they look related... 

Ahh, grandmas are good for sleeping. 

We visited the new American Indian museum. They have amazing things on display from many Indian groups from North and South America. The coolest part was the theater. It is built in a circle like a kiva with a dome ceiling and multiple screens in the center. It transported us to Alaska, to Central America, North Dakota.... beautiful. 

Philly cheese-steaks in Virginia, very yummy. Grandma and grandpa came all the way up from Florida to see the grandkids before our big trip. 

Zoe decided that this bag made the perfect clown hat. 

I have to document any time Zoe lets me do anything to her hair. She had to adjust her pigtails several times before she would let me take the picture. I suppose having her at home with me will help make up for Marlo being the first child and us taking more pictures of her when she was a baby.

We had such a good time at the park that day. At one point she was playing ring-around-the-rosies with a group of little black girls that were there with their day-care group. The 6 of them were having such a great time. They were all the same height and singing together. I think they "all fell down" about 10 times before we had to go. It was nice as a parent to see how natural it is for children to love and accept everyone. We are the ones who teach them fear and that things are negative or strange. Granted some fears will save them, but others can just be wrong. It is amazing how much your children teach you, and it can be such a relief when they do things to reassure you that you are doing something right as a parent. I am reminded of the song in "South Pacific" where they sing that "you've got to be taught to hate". The conference talk today about the characteristics of a child reminded me of all of the things my children teach me everyday. They forgive so easily; especially me. 

How bizzare is that? Zoe and some friends from church about to be grabbed by the giant's hand. 

Oh no Zoe is being eaten by the giant!! 

At Haines point there is a sculpture called "awakening" that the kids climbed all over. It is made of metal and kind of slippery so they climb up and slide down his shin and in and out of his mouth. It is really cool. 

I wish I had a picture to show you of how amazing the Jefferson Memorial looks right now. I understand why people come from all over to see this. It is absolutely beautiful. This is a back side shot through the car window while I was entering the freeway... (one of my hidden talents.) 

Cherry blossoms! Thursday Zoe and I met some moms and kids at the park for a picnic at Haines point. It was beautiful and sunny. I got sunburned.