Back off Jack!

Ethan is so proud of his line of cars.Lincoln wants to play, too!
You don't mess with Ethan's organization!

It's a totally different world!

This blog is not mainly about the kids today. Sorry!
We have been in Virginia for 27 days now. I have been trying to hold judgement thinking that we have just not adjusted, but it's been 27 days. I am not saying everything is bad....far from it actually. As far as work goes it is much, much, much better in so many ways. They actually have STUFF! It's so indescribable all the technology and resources that are available! Today, we had convocation at school. The superintendant was speaking and he noted that he brought someone with him today to speak to us....GOLDIE HAWN. I about died. She spoke to us about stress in children. It was wild!
Another thing that is pretty good is the number of stores/malls around here. They have a LEGGO store for goodness sakes...if you want something it's easy to get it. The bad thing is getting to it. There is traffic EVERYWHERE. I have been at work for 7 days and still have not found a good way to get there from the kids Daycare. The same it true for Nate. He has tried the bus to the metro/the bus to another bus/metro to the bus....we still haven't figured out the best way for him, either.
I am not going to even get into the daycare situation...I am still trying to hold judgement on that one.
Nate works in an office building, but everything he needs to do as far as inprocessing is done at the pentagon.
In sum, Nate and I have decided that there is NOTHING simple about this place. We have learned to add 30 minutes to an hour to EVERYTHING. Lastly, nothing is PREDICTABLE.
On a positive note, we realize that this move/placement is going to teach us lots of things. This city is an extremely diverse one and we are grateful for the opportunity that Ethan and Lincoln will have learning tolerance. We will be EXPERTS at public transportation and map reading by CHRISTMAS!!! This place will definitely teach us patience. I think we are getting better with that everyday. We know that as long as we are all together, we will be happy no matter where we are!

Future Photographer???

Yesterday we trekked to the National Zoo. I say trek because we decide to take the Metro. Everything we read said to totally avoid parking at the zoo. It took us three lines to get there which took a total of 1 hour and 45 minutes. Apparently they do maintenance on Saturdays. It was ridiculous. Anyway...once we got there it was terrific. I once again forgot my camera, so I bought the disposable one at the gift shop. The quality was pitiful to say the least. Towards the end of the zoo, Ethan asked if he could take a picture. Since it was the disposable, (there is no way I would let him use my good camera) I told him sure. I got the photos back today and they are surprisingly good!
The gorilla was really close!
If you look way in the back on the top row there is a tiger!
That is an orangutan swinging.
He did great taking pictures!!!

Big Helper

For everyone who doesn't know how spoiled I was in Dayton....I was! Nate got the boys up in the mornings, got them dressed, fed them breakfast, and took them to daycare. I did the afternoon pick-up. Now, Nate has to take the metro to work. This past week, my schedule was different, and I woke the boys up after he left. (Next week it will change to earlier). Lincoln has not felt well this week, and has not been eating well. He has learned how to push his chair back, and feed his food to Hunter, OR throw it on the floor. SO, we moved his chair so that it backs up to the window (he just plays with the blinds now). Friday morning, we all sat down for breakfast with yogurt and graham crackers. The only way we could keep him eating and not playing with the blinds was to alternate bites. I gave Link a bite, then took a bite myself. While I was taking a bite, Ethan gave him a bite. It worked! This afternoon, Nate asked him to get him a diaper for Lincoln. He looked at Nate and said, "I'll get you a wipe too." Ethan has really turned out to be such a great help with Lincoln!

HE'S WALKING!!!

Yeah! He's doing it! We bought his first pair of tennis shoes this week and he looks adorable walking. We have made it three days at work and school. I got a little cold on Sunday and sadly Lincoln has it now. Ethan was lucky enough to start school during their summer session. They have water day on Wednesdays and they go on Field Trips on Thursdays. Tomorrow they are going to the National Aquarium. Nate is still learning the transportation system. I hope to have more pictures later this week.

Cartoon Buddies

Ethan loves watching Mrs. Spider. It is actually a really good cartoon. Saturday morning he went to watch Mrs. Spider and asked if Linky would watch it with him. I sat Lincoln up there, but that was really, really, short lived. Lincoln FINALLY started walking this weekend. He can make it across the room now. I know that his big brother is really proud of him.The summer offically ends for this Leap household tomorrow. Daycare and work for all! It's been a GREAT summer. The best part is that I know the summers will only get better. The thought of not having to carry a 20 pound baby around is heavenly!

Learning the Lay of the Land

We have found a GREAT grocery store nearby. The produce section is absolutely amazing. They have a hot and cold Deli that is awesome. They also have a dessert/pastry section. Ethan and Lincoln have found their favorite thing there-chocolate cupcakes with white icing and sprinkles. Yesterday, we found a nice playground for 2-5 year olds. It has that really nice soft (almost cork like) ground. We found Target the FIRST night! This morning while I went to orientation at work, Nate found Starbucks. It is starting to feel like home. We have four more days until we officially start work. I know we are going to enjoy every minute of it.
By the way.....Lincoln is so close to really walking. He took about 6-7 good steps today! Wouldn't it be great if was really walking by Monday!

Hey Mar, you know how much I love you???

Arms strectched far out "DIS MUCH!"
Mar left today. Ethan is already planning her next visit. He will say, "when Mar comes back tomorrow, I'm gonna tell her _______." or "when Mar comes back tomorrow, I'm gonna do _______." Linky keeps asking for "MUR." We had such a great visit. The house seems empty already! Mar, thanks for all your help! We love you!

cute outfit

Nate: I'll get the boy's dressed. What do you want them to wear?
Me: I don't care. Just pick something cute.
Nate: That's easy.

Lincoln at the Lincoln

Today was SOOO much fun. We took the Metro into DC today. Ethan was hysterical at the train station. He giggled and smiled and just loved every second of it.
We got off the train at the Smithsonian stop and we walked to the Air & Space Museum. It was fun, but after countless trips to the Air Force Museum in Dayton, it was not as exciting for Ethan and I. We did get to see the Wright Flyer. I felt like we had to see it since we heard so much about them while we were in Dayton.
We ate lunch outside and then found a bus over to the WWII memorial, reflecting pond, and Lincoln Memorial. There was a sign that said, "NO SITTING" in front of Lincoln, but I HAD TO get Lincoln over there for a picture. While he was sitting there, I heard soooo many people say, "look at that baby." It was adorable. We are definitely getting this one framed for his room. The bad part of us going to that area was there was no Metro even close. We had to walk almost a mile. Ethan was such a trooper. He walked sooo much today! Everyone was pooped! It is still so surreal that we actually live here.

Mount Vernon

We went to Mount Vernon today. It was about 20-25 minutes south of us. The weather was amazing. The estate was 200 acres. We did lots of walking and observing. The views and sites were gorgeous. I found where Nate would be if he lived there (the laundry yard). I think Marilyn, the kids, and I would be sitting in the chairs on the back porch looking at the Potomac. Ethan found this sucker at the gift shop. This is going to be a week long, nasty, mess! Tomorrow we are going to venture into DC. We haven't decided where, but Ethan is dying to ride the train! It should be fun.

Stinker!

Nate went into work for a little bit today and instead of driving in we dropped him off at the metro. On the way back home, sitting in traffic, I noticed two tracks above us. I told Ethan, "Look there are some train tracks." He said, "No, it isn't." I told him, "Yes, that's the train Daddy rides on." He argued it wasn't a track. I argued back. He argued once again and I told him I wasn't talking about it again. Just then two trains came by. Ethan smiled and said, "I told you it was a train track." UGHHH!!!!

First Touristy Adventure

Today, after getting the boy's rooms finally painted, we decided to do our first touristy thing. So, we drove about 20 minutes down to George Washington's Garden Farm. I have to admit that I shamelessly picked it because of the photo opportunities. We had to eat lunch before we got there. While at lunch, we realized I forgot the camera. So, these shots came from a disposable camera from Rite Aid. They do not do this place justice. It was absolutely GORGEOUS!

Why are those men mowing our yard?

This morning, after breakfast, I overheard the mowers AGAIN! They mowed here last Friday. I went to look out the window and the boys (including Hunter) followed. We got caught staring at them....they just smiled at us! Ethan asked me three times why those men were mowing our yard. Daddy was supposed to do that. I think I finally got through to him on the third time.Marilyn and I put up pictures on middle floor. While we were doing this Lincoln decided he would help. I just wish he was putting things away instead of taking them out.

Bucky & Earl

About a month ago Ethan started talking about an imaginary mouse that lived with him. When Marilyn got here, apparently she brought her imaginary mouse with her. Bucky and Earl became fast friends. About once a day Ethan will ask Marilyn to tell him a story about Bucky and Earl. They are night trouble makers. Marilyn will tell E about them washing their clothes late at night...or them getting into the food and leaving crumbs out. On the drive here we went through Buckystown. Mar and I laughed and suggested that we drop Bucky off. Ethan got the most worried look on his face and said, "NO." Today at lunch Ethan asked Mar to tell him story after story about them. It was hilarious! She has a great imagination!!!
Today we put up one of the vinyl stickers. This is a picture of the one in the living room. I love it!!!

We made it!

Everyone arrived safely to Alexandria. The truck only had room for 2/3 of our stuff. The basement stuff has to be delivered by another truck...hopefully by Tuesday. Marilyn and I were EXTREMELY happy for the chairs to arrive. It was tough sitting on the floor for two days. One of my favorite parts of the house is the toy room. Once we get it situated, I think it will be amazing! We brought along the tent and the boys played and had a snack in there before the movers came in. When I asked Ethan what his favorite part of the new house was he said, "the furniture!" The boys have been great!
Everyone is exhausted. Lincoln fell asleep at lunch yesterday. It was hilarious. I am sooo...sooo...sooo thankful to have Mar here. I honestly do not have a clue how this would of worked without her here. We would have been INSANE!