Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is Mom's birthday, so once again, my extended family met at a restaurant in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This time we met at Olive Garden. At the end of the meal, the servers brought out a plate with a lit candle in the center and tiny mint chocolate bars piled up all around the candle. They sang their loud, clapping birthday song, and afterwards, Brian insisted on blowing out the candle for Mom. For Mom's birthday, we had an extended family picture taken. This is something we do for Mom every other year for her birthday/Mother's Day. Getting all 7 adults and 5 kids color-coordinated and meeting together was a task this year, but we did it. We usually have mom choose two pictures, one of which is matted and framed, and another pose to just have a copy of. This year, she wanted a copy of every pose taken. Then on top of that, she wanted the family group picture enlarged to 3' by 2' - this is to replace the large family picture of us from 10+ years ago, which hangs over their family room fireplace. Her huge birthday gift will be shipped in the mat and frame that she chose within two to three weeks.

Family picture - April 2009 Grandchildren picture - April 2009

Maryland Day at Maryland University

We went to Maryland University to check out their 11th annual celebration of Maryland Day. The celebration was called 'Explore Your World, having seven areas with over 400 programs and activities to explore.

Maryland Day is a legal holiday in Maryland. It commemorates the landing of Lord Baltimore and the first colonists in Maryland in the 17th century.

The boys try the football throw and the crossbows









The boys each make a turtle craft with foam, popsicle sticks, buttons, and wiggly eyes We sat in the bleachers and watched the first half of the spring scrimmage football game. Here the boys pose in front of the field before the players come out and play.

Kevin and Justin Sing at Beltsville SDA Church

The Beltsville Adventist School Music Department led worship for the Beltsville SDA Church service.

The Junior Choir sang several numbers towards the beginning of the service. Justin is in the Junior Choir, which consists of grades Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd. Kevin is part of the Treble Choir, which is made up of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. They performed a musical called 'From Acorns to Oaks.' The kids help a farmer with his harvest, while he tells them about the parable of the seed and the sower. Some crows and even a rumor weed try to cause trouble, but the kids learn that the best way to produce the fruit that God desires in their lives is to plant their roots firmly in His word. All the kids did a wonderful job, and it was a nice to hear all the young voices singing and leading in worship.

Grandparents Day at BAS

My parents left a little before 7 AM
to make the drive to Maryland to spend Grandparents Day at school with Kevin and Justin. They enjoyed being with the boys all day - seeing the kids perform, making a craft together, eating lunch, and watching a slideshow. It really is a special program that the school does for the kids' grandparents.

Two of the pictures shown on the Grandparents Day slideshow - Grandparents Day 2008, and Grandparents with boys last month (March 2009)












Craft that Justin made with Grammie and Grandpa's help - a picture of himself and his brothers fishing with Grammie and Grandpa After school was finished, my parents treated the boys, and Kenton and I, to Baskin and Robbins ice cream cones.

The National Zoo

 

Today was the first summer-like  
day of spring this year. We decided to go to the National Zoo, and invited some friends to join us. After over an hour of driving through traffic, we finally arrived. Security had blocked the drive-in entrance for the zoo because all the parking lots were full.

Here are the boys with their friends, Alex and Brian (yes - two Brians today).

After driving around for half and hour, and not finding a parking place, we decided to eat. We found a Johnny Rockets, where the five boys enjoyed their meals and shakes. After eating, we returned to the zoo to find the entrance still closed to vehicles, but this time we were able to find a parking space a few blocks away. Once inside the zoo, we walked through the Asia trail and the bird exhibits.















The kids enjoyed the Indoor Flight Room the most - perhaps because it was cooler indoors, and they had fun finding the different types of birds which pictures were posted on the walls.

At the Outdoor Flight Cage, Justin was able to see a peacock up close. He followed the peacock for many minutes hoping that one of its beautiful tail feathers would fall off, but no such luck.








The five boys lasted for about three hours - they were hot and tired, and ready to go home. It was also very crowded - the most crowded we've ever experienced there. I suppose everyone had the same idea of enjoying of enjoying a warm day at the zoo.

Easter

We celebrated Easter with the extended family in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This is somewhat of a half-way point between where my brother and I live in Maryland, to where my parents and sister live in Virginia. We all traveled from our separate homes - my brother and his family, my sister, my parents, and my family – to eat at a restaurant and celebrate Easter together.

The highlights for the kids were the animal eggs that my sister gave them. Each egg transformed from an egg into an animal, just like the Transformer robots do. The kids forgot about their other eggs and candy – they just kept transforming and playing with these animal eggs. Great Easter gift for boys!

(I don’t have any pictures to post from today because every one I took got deleted!)

Jefferson Memorial / Cherry Blossoms

It had been raining all morning, but the forecast was clear for the afternoon. We wanted to see the cherry blossoms before they all fell off, so after the kids got out of school, we drove down to the Jefferson Memorial. We had planned to see the blossoms over the weekend, but never made it. It probably was a good thing, because we heard that it was difficult to even walk with all the visitors that came to see the trees.

The Jefferson Memorial is a circular columnated structure, modeled after the Pantheon of Rome. The boys are standing on the marble steps below the third column.














The columns all around the memorial are huge. In the center under the dome is a bronze statue of Jefferson, which is 17 feet tall.
















The Washington Monument can be seen from the Jefferson Memorial.















The kids pose with the statue of George Mason, who was an important American Founder. The George Mason Memorial features a circular fountain and a 72-foot long stone wall. The ground around the trees and the edges of the Tidal Basin were covered with fallen pink blossoms, but many blossoms still remained in bloom. It was so pretty with all the shades of pink.

Back to Blogging

My three sons and hubby is back! After taking a year off from blogging, it's time to restart our diary of life again.

It is amazing at how fast time goes by. Last summer, we spent several weeks in California visiting relatives, sight-seeing, and attending a family reunion. Then school started - Kevin now in third grade, and Justin in kindergarten. Both boys are at the same school this year, which makes our schedules much easier to manage.

We've experienced both joy and sorrow in our immediate family. We added an adorable niece/cousin to the family, but on the other hand lost Kenton's father due to heart problems.

Work-wise, Kenton is still working as a consultant for IBM, and I started a home-based business with health benefits.

Brian is no longer a baby, but a 'big boy.' Even though Kenton and I are at home with him, he misses his brothers while they are at school. They are his playmates. Brian and I eat lunch with them at the school a couple of times a week, and when weather permits, Brian joins the others in their recess after lunch.

It's hard to believe that the school year is winding down - summer break is around the corner. Where did the time go? No matter how fast our kids are growing up, we're so blessed and thankful for each day we have!