Spring and Easter and some Catching Up

Spring has finally sprung here is Virginia and I am so happy to see the sun and feel some warmth again.  We have started going out and about some more to gardens and festivals and of course Easter came and went as well.  One of our fist excursions was to the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC.  The blossoms weren't really out but the kites were out in force!  Orson was over the moon and, as the first time out enjoying actual sunshine, I was too! 

The one tree we found starting to bloom

 KITES!!!!

 Playing on the mall

 And enjoying the Smithsonian gardens

We also celebrated Easter.  We went to early church (and the boys changed so quickly that I couldn't get a picture).  And in the afternoon we hide eggs in the house (it was raining and our planned egg hunt got called off).  Both boys grasped the concept very well this year.  And Ferd was the first to figure out that candy was inside the eggs!  Orson picked out our outfits for the hunt while Matt hid the eggs downstairs.

We have also started going on afternoon walks when we can.  There is a magical spot on the trails by our house full of tree blossoms.  Orson kept calling it flower snow.

This past weekend we went to the National Arboretum in DC.  The boys loved being able to run around and I loved all the flowers!     

 Matt tried to teach Orson how to use perspective to make funny pictures.

The arboretum is known for its amazing Bonsai collection

 Colors!

 Trying to get the boys to take a picture together is always fun

 F in the Cherry Blossoms

 and waiting for his brother to get back from the potty

In other news, baby continues to grow.  Both boys rub my belly and listen like the midwives do.  I prefer to use the belly as a shelf.

Happy Spring everyone!

Summer fun

The last couple of days we have been busy with our friends.  Lots of people are moving away by the end of this summer so we are having playgroups by the bucket load.  

We had a swim party at Jamie's house.  Orson even went to the first step of the pool, which was further then I was willing to go, it was chilly water :)
but the playhouse was the real hit.

Then yesterday was our last playgroup that Penny and Griffin will attend.  Their mommy got a great teaching job in middle California and they are moving this weekend.  We will miss them but it does mean that we now have friends only 20 min from the Monterrey Bay Aquarium!

We tried really hard to capture all the kids in one photo, it of course didn't work but here are my attempts. 

 Below is the best of everyone :)

 And then there were a few hams that wanted to see a picture of themselves.

 Our newest mommy group addition, Jude...

Orson's sleeping has been a little hit and miss lately which resulted in a very early wake up for me yesterday...I spent some of the time out in the garden trying to coax the birds into showing themselves for my camera.

 Its hard to see in the little picture but this is Mr and Mrs Gold Finch, they seem to love our garden and fountain.

 Mrs. Hummingbird stopped by, I was hoping that her mate would come take his morning bath but no luck.

And just to remember, some favorite Orson stuff:

He is in love with the baby in my belly, kisses, hugs, talks, toys all go to it instead of me now

Whales, sharks and other ocean related stuff is one of his favorite topics of conversation, as is asking to go to the beach.

Dinosaur Train is his favorite kids show and he normally wakes up to tell me about dinosaur related dreams that he has had.

His favorite mantra the car is "No nap, no go home, no naps"

He asks if his "friends are comin" all the time

He is potty trained almost completely when he is awake and not wearing underwear....

His dad is his favorite person

He asks to go ride an airplane to see Grandpa Jones all the time (I think he misses our trip to England almost as much as I do)

and he loves his little pool in the yard