16.4.09

The boys and I went to Norfolk last week with Jay while he did some training for work. This was the trip that made me realize that parents don't go on vacations for themselves. If we did, our children would not be there. After a few days of wondering why it wasn't fun for ME I decided that the sooner I consider trips like these extra work but lasting memories for the kids, the better I would feel. I was right. Of course, it helped that Jay had the last couple of days to spend with us after his training was done.
So, the first thing we did upon arrival was check the durability of the furniture...


Then the boys and I took a trip to the Virginia State Zoo. Aidan LOVES animals and could've watched the giraffe's tongues all day long. (think cow but much longer). Jayson really liked the train ride that doesn't actually go past any animals (lame) but there were a bell and an old guy dressed up like an engineer so...awesome! They were really good all day. And I do mean all day.




The next day we went to one of my new favorite places in Virginia..the Norfolk Azalea Gardens. The gardens were beautiful and expansive-they even had a vegetable garden with at least one of everything growing in it. They also had a great very hands-on children's garden called WOW (World of Wonders) and it was great. The boys got to dig in the dirt, play in different boats and playhouses, and they had a really cool hedge that they could run through like a tunnel. I loved it there!

The next day we went to see the big battleships at the Naval Base then we went to the mall. They had a really cool play area for the boys, and well..I love the mall. Besides, it was right across from our hotel so I didn't have to ask the Valet to get our car and tip him again.
Then Jay was done with work so we all spent the next day at Virginia Beach. It was a beautiful day and all three of my guys would rather be on the beach than anywhere else on the planet, so it was a good day. Oh, and a ladybug flew into the car and landed on Jayson when we got there. Life is perfect at the seashore :).




The next day was all for Jay. We went to Jamestown, the first British settlement in the U.S. It was actually really cool...it's an interactive museum, so you get to really see what things were like for the settlers and the Native Americans. Don't tell Jay, but I'm actually becoming more interested in museums and I didn't mind stopping to read every caption to every exhibit (even with two kids!) The boys were pretty fascinated by a lot of it, especially the ships and guns. Jayson even got to help carve out a part of a canoe with a seashell. He got very dirty doing it so we were proud of him.



We drove home that night and stopped to see the first plantation in Virginia which was beautiful then stopped at the grocery store to do our Easter shopping.
Easter was fun. After church Auntie Crystal came over and helped us dye eggs. She also hid eggs for an egg hunt for Jayson then we had a sort of blah dinner (it was very minimal effort though, which was nice after getting back so late on Saturday).

3 comments:

Nola said...

It sounds like you are having so much fun in Virginia! I am a little jealous. I think I am slowly convincing Tyler that he wants to move back East for at least a short amount of time. Thanks for giving me more fire power with all of these fun things you are doing!

Christine said...

Hey Stephanie and Jay! I love your blog! It's looks like you are having all sorts of neat adventures there. We miss you a lot! Congratulations on another little boy- that's really exciting! I can't believe that our Annika is turning one years old tomorrow. The year has flown by so fast. Anyway, I love your pictures and seeing Jayson and Aidan. They are such adorable little guys. Oh, I also wanted to tell you that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the jogging stroller that you gave us. I've been using it everyday to try and get in better shape. I'm starting to really like running again. Take care! :)

HOTWATERBEACH said...

Hey awesome pictures. Boys are growing in leaps and bounds. We finally updated our blog. Hope you are all good.

Love Dean, Khali and the boys

Shred Violinist on NY subway

Prep for Cross Country

Captain Jayson's Rocket Launch

Dutch Wonderful Rollercoaster!

The perfect vent for Aidan...

Rocket Experiment :(

I can't wait for Aidan to learn the Haka in New Zealand. Hopefully it will prove to be an effective way for him to release aggression, and he can stop throwing balls at my head.

feel like dancing?

Charlie's laugh

Jayson at Swim Camp

Swimming at the Beach

Swimming at the Beach

Charlie is multi-faceted.

Charlie, do you have something in your nose???

Happy Birthday Astronaut Jayson!

Da Bonk.

Happy Birthday Aidan!

Interview with a four year old...

Nadia CRACKS ME UP!!!

Watch this!

Our First Road Trip as a Family of Five!

Easter Message

Happy Birthday Aidan!

Aidan Learns to Walk

Jayson's usual eating antics

Aidan's Tickle Torture

Aidan Picks Up

Boo! It's Halloween!

Jayson's First Day of Pre-School!

Jayson the Pirate

Aidy the Inchworm

Jayson singing "The World is So Big"

In case you have trouble understanding...

The world is so big and oh, so round
And even God's creations are almost so found.
Brothers and sisters and trees so tall,
animals big and animals small.
The world is so big and oh, so round
And even God's creations are almost so found...
etc, etc.

The correct words are:
The world is so big and oh, so round
And in it God's creations are found.
Mountains and valleys and trees so tall,
Animals big and animals small.
The world is so big and oh, so round
God loves us all, His blessings abound

Pictures of Our New Apartment!

Jayson's Top10

  • The Beach (any pile of sand qualifies)
  • Daddy ("Daddy's just my favorite")
  • Singing (even during sacrament meeting we cannot squelch his humming!)
  • Dumbo, his everpresent Elephant
  • Robinhood (as in the Prince of Thieves. "Mommy, my name is Robinhoodin, not Jayson.")
  • Swinging, sliding, climbing, jumping at the park
  • Marshmallows
  • All guys, boys, men, grandpas, uncles, etc.
  • Doritos (spicy red chips)
  • the color yellow

Aidan's Top 10

  • Mommy
  • Babbling
  • Drooling
  • Wiggling
  • Watching the dog
  • Watching his brother
  • Sucking on anything that comes within close proximity to his mouth
  • Sucking on his two middle fingers
  • Breastfeeding
  • Eating

A Photographer in the Making

Jayson loves taking pictures! He took most of these while we were on vacation in Washington and a few at home. I love that he takes pictures of himself. He then asks me to show them to him and he giggles a little when he sees what terrific shots he's gotten.

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Merry Christmas!

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blip, bleep. I. am. a. robot. lover.

Aidan carries his tiger in his mouth so he can have both hands free

Our little beekeeper

Is it a fork or a magic wand?

Big Carseat! Happiness!











At good ol' GW's house (Mt Vernon)


Brothers

Trying out the new running shoes.

Murphy tickles Aidan with his whiskers

Jayson being tortured by his swim teacher

Scary! Look at my sun damage since we got here!

Help Me!

Our Little Smarty

Monkey on a tightrope

Jayson's best pirate face(yes, he always closes his eyes.)

"How does that music fit in that tiny box?"

Bryant, Angela, Zoey, Mia, and Brodi on the 4th of July

Making a fast getaway

Jayson's "trampoline"

Mom and Jays

Aidan kept trying to eat his mask!He'll eat anything!

First 4th of July!

Checking out the competition





My guys on the Metro

"Oh Daddy, I love food!"

Jayson's just cute!

We know where we'll be this summer!

Aidan after a hard day at the pool

Aidan bumped his lip...he first "owie"

Jayson and his bud, Lex have matching bikes!

the bike: "Rock it" Awesome!

My Man...He be Lookin' Fine!

Jayson loves Aidan

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