Pictures

I know it has beem a long time since I updated my blog so here are some pictures!

Me on my 40th birthday. Kelly, Juliette and Kelvin came over for a dinner at home. We had roast potatoes and carrots. I was wonderful not to have any running around to do!

Devin on his first day of school. He is Mrs. Tesson's 4th grade class.

Jessi on her first day of school. She is a sophomore this year. Every day she carries her softball bag and her backpack to school. A few other of the other girls in her carpool also play softball. I imagine the Senior's car who takes her to school is packed with stuff every morning.

Devin at Happy Joe's celebrating his 10th birthday.

Jessi and Kelsie at Happy Joe's. What princesses they are!

Back to the "Routine"

No pictures but I didn't want to go to long with out an update. (It makes my sister-in-law cranky. ;>)
I am back from seeing my sister and my new nephew. Devin and I had an uneventful trip home. He slept about half the way. I guess his cousin, Dylan wore him out!

Devin turned 10 last week. We had a small celebration with Family at Happy Joe's. My mom and dad drove down, Sheri, Kenny and the kids joined us and of course our adopted family, Kelly, Juliette and Kelvin were there. I'll try and post some pictures soon. His birthday is dragging on and on! Every time I turn around someone is giving him a present.

Jessi made the varsity softball team at Rosati. She is excited but a little nervous. They have been practicing early in the morning in an attempt to avoid the heat. She is pretty sure that she will be playing center field. She was mentioned in the journal for those of you in STL. Her first game is August 23.

Both the kids start school on August 22. So they have less than a week of freedom. Jessi says she is ready to see all of her friends again but could do without the "learning part". Should I mention to her that Kyle and I pay a lot of money for the "learning part"! Devin is ready to start school. I can hardly believe he is in 4th grade! He will be a busy boy with 2 soccer teams and playing volleyball. I think who ever signed him up for all that must be crazy!!!

There might be someone out there who doesn't know that I am saying goodbye to my 30's next week. Kyle has been 40 for a couple of months and he seems to be surviving so I know there is hope! Just kidding! I feel better and I am happier than I have ever been so HELLO 40!

Welcome Drew!

My sister and her husband Darren were blessed with a beautiful baby boy this afternoon. Drew Jacob was born at 12:30. He weighed 7.79 pounds and was about 20 inches long. Jackie and Drew are doing well. I think Jackie looks great. Devin and I went with my parents to introduce Dylan to his baby brother. Dylan was very excited about seeing his mom and dad. He was less impressed with Drew. Dylan is 18 months old so Jackie and Darren are going to have their hands full!

Proud papa shows off Drew to us onlookers. Me and my new nephew. I am sooo happy for them!

(and sooo happy it isn't me!)

Devin holds his newest cousin. He was a little nervous at first but he did a very good job. Devin would much rather entertain Dylan and he does a great job.

Devin would much rather help with Dylan and he does a great job at that!

Grandpa and Drew

Grandma introduces Dylan to his baby brother.

Trip to see the new baby

Devin and I came to the QC to be with my sister when she has her baby. We got here Sunday night. It was a tiring drive for me. Devin sat up front to keep me company. Jackie, Darren and Dylan dropped by for supper. Dylan LOVES Devin! They had a great time together. Oh and we can't forget about Digger, Darren's bulldog, who has been staying with my mom and dad while Jackie and Darren try to sell their house. Be sure to check back soon for pictures of the new baby.

Isn't this the most adorable dog you have ever seen? HA!

Dylan loves Thomas the Tank Engine. He sat with Devin and "showed" him all the trains.

Devin and Dylan playing with Dylan's Thomas the Tank Engine.

Monday in DC

The last couple of days of our vacation we had trouble with our Internet. Now we are home and back into some sort of routine. Here is what we did on Monday. Monday we started at the Library of Congress. We took the tour and it was great. It is a beautiful place. We also went to "The Spy Museum". It was pretty interesting. First thing you have to do is quickly memorize a "spy cover" through out the museum you answer questions about your identity. If you answer correctly you get another assignment if not they suggest you find another line of work. Kyle and Jessi did great. Devin did better than me, I didn't do so great. Afterwards we went to the National Archives to see the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and The Constitution. It was very busy but we enjoyed it especially since we had just watched the movie "National Treasure" again. The best part of the day was seeing my Uncle Phil. He is in the House of Representatives. He gave us a personal tour of the Capital and the kids got to go on to the House floor. I truly enjoyed watching him work. It was the high light of our trip. Enjoy the pictures!

The ceiling of main hall of The Library of Congress.

They had the signs of the Zodiac on the floor of the Library of Congress.

Devin standing by his Zodiac sign Leo.

Jessi by her Zodiac sign, Cancer.

The Declaration of Independence. It was very impressive.

I was struck by how faded the document was.

This is the Old Senate. It is a beautiful room. You can feel the history.

Jessi, Devin, and Uncle Phil. Each state has two statues in the Capital building.

This is one of the statues from Hawaii.

It is so heavy that is can not be moved because it will fall the floor.

Kyle, Uncle Phil and me.

Day 2 in DC

Day 2 in DC:

Today was a very long day. We were at the Metro station before 8:00am. I had heard that to get the timed entrance tickets for the Washington Monument we should be in line before 8:30. When we got their a little after 8:00 there already was a line. But getting there early enabled us to pick our time. We also saw the WWII Monument, the WWI Monument, the Korean Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, and the Franklin D Rosevely Monument. The most moving thing we visited was the Holocaust Museum. It was very emotional and very well presented. If you are ever in DC it is a definite must see. Enjoy the pictures.

All of us at the WWII Monument. It was a very peaceful place.

We were at this monument early in the morning,
the small amount of other visitors enabled us to enjoy
the monument with quiet reflection.

The WWI Monument.

It not near as grand in scale but the belief by the people
of the United States that it would be the last great war made it powerful.

This panel of the Korean Monument was created by the artist
from pictures that were sent to him of actual soldiers.

As visitors walk to the reflecting pool of the Korean Monument they pass
these soldiers making their way in the war.

The Lincoln Memorial was packed with people. There were signs
posted asking people to respect the monument by being quiet.
It was one of the loudest places we visited and parents were
letting their kids run wild. It was about this time that
I was getting tired of all of the crowds.

The Vietnam Memorial was also crowded but the majority
of the visitors were looking for those they loved. Even those
who had not lost loved ones in Vietnam, like Kyle and I, were
incredibly moved not only by the monument
but also the intense emotion from those around us.

A view of the Capital from the Washington Monument.

Jessi texting in the Washington Monument.

Jessi texting at the Jefferson Monument.

We walked a long way to this monument because
it is out of the way but it's location also meant
that fewer people were there.

The FDR Monument was definitely worth the long walk.
We felt it was the best presidential monument that
we visited. It takes you through four "outdoor" rooms
each one representing a term of his presidency.

Kyle and I at the FDR Monument. This is a must see if you visit DC.

This is not a DC monument but we had never seen an albino squirrel.

Day 1 in DC

Washington Day 2: On our first full day in Washington we went to the Smithsonian Castle. It is an impressive building and shows the different exhibits that can be found at all of the Smithsonian Museum. I was very interested in seeing the Hirshhom Sculpture Museum. I really enjoyed the outdoor sculpture garden and the Wish Tree. Visitors are invited to write a wish and hang it on the tree. When the tree is full the wishes are going to be sent to the artist who is going to create a display of wishes from several countries. After that we went to the Air and Space Museum. It is a huge place and we could have spent days there. The American History Museum is being renovated. During the renovations the exhibits are being shown at the Air and Space Museum. I would have loved being able to see the whole museum but the exhibits that they had were really great. The kids could relate too many of the objects. They had the original Star Wars R2D2 and C3PO. The also had Lincoln’s hat and the counter from the Woolworth's were African Americans participated in a sit in to protest segregation. Enjoy the pictures.

Sculpture Museum.

Wishing Tree.

Lunar Module.

Jessi landing a jet on an aircraft carrier with a simulator.

R2D2 and C3PO.

Scarecrow and ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz.

Jessi texting in front of a giant sloth skeleton.

Capital.

Washington Monument.