Lately

Last week we had a snow day. Zaven decided that it was his webkinz dog , Pancho's, birthday.
so we made some brownies and decorated them and sang Happy Birthday. It was fun.
You'll note that Zaven's pajamas are inside out - someone told him that would make it snow.


This weekend Zaven had his basketball game and he played well. He is going to do a basketball camp during winter break.

Chris and I bought each other a new espresso machine for Valentine's Day. It arrived today. We are very excited.
Chris is so excited he has had WAY too much caffeine today- not sure he will be able to sleep.


The box that the machine came in turned into a playpen for Nell and Zaven. The packing peanuts got everywhere, but they had a great time.


We had a beautiful day today, it was sunny and 50. Tomorrow it is going to snow all day. But it was nice to have a sunny day today.

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Our trip to Washington D.C.

On Sunday the 18th Chris and I headed down to D.C. to stay with Meg and Chris and be a part of the inauguration.
Milla was kind enough to come and be with Zaven and Nell.
We arrived in DC at about 7pm and went straight to a birthday dinner for Meg, at the new & amazing Bourbon Steak restaurant at the FourSeasons in Georgetown. We had a few star sightings there, David Gregory (the new host of Meet the Press) and Cher! The food was amazing and we had a great time with the whole Haney Family.
Monday we ran around in Georgetown and that evening we went to the Haney's for another birthday celebration.
Here are me and Meg before we left:

This is the view of the Capitol on Monday night- we started getting very excited seeing this.


Tuesday morning we were up and ready to walk the 2.4 miles from Meg's to her parents, we headed out


There were all kinds of memorabilia available as we walked over. I regret not buying more. There were a couple of shirts in particular, one with Obama's head on a man slam dunking a basketball and another one with Obama as a D.J. this one was a yellow shirt with purple silk screening.

I did end up getting some shirts, but there are others out there that i wish i had. i also got some "Presidential Peppermints"
nell is so cute when she says- "I got my Barack Obama"

As we were walking we also ran into Meg Fulmer and her family. So fun to see them so randomly.


When we arrived on the balcony- we had a lot of company on surrounding rooftops- these guys meant business.

the excitement continued to grow

and grow

during the swearing in and Obama's speech I stood on the balcony and watched through the binoculars- others watched on TV, but there was a delay and I loved being outside and able to hear the crowd. It was a remarkable event.

as you know, after the ceremony Obama walked Bush to a helicopter and off he went. He flew right over us. Bye, Bush!

later in the day, more people showed up to watch the parade.
among them was Sheryl Crow, (wearing a very cute hat, I might add-)

Chris, Meg and me

Joy Bryant and me

As we waited for the parade to start we were hoping that Obama would chose to walk part of the route. Meg told us that Clinton had walked just in front of their building so we were hopeful. Kevin and I spotted some official looking fellows talking to the police at the base of the building and predicted that they were alerting them to the plan. As the motorcade came we were so excited. Then the doors opened. We could not contain ourselves. It was amazing.

i love this picture.
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joe biden was actually waving to someone on the Haney's balcony who was a friend of the family.


We had a fantastic time. I am so excited about the new chapter for our country and so happy to have been there as it started.
Huge thank you to Meg and Chris and all the Haney's for being wonderful hosts and to Milla for taking care of the kids while we were gone.

Christmas

zaven and nell love bettie

aunt ella



when people ask where nell's curls from maybe i could show them this picture

boys (of all ages) love trains!

nell enjoyed opening presents

nell making pizza with poppy

breakfast

margo and tips

Berk

the cousins play at milla and poppy's

nell's new kitchen

Snow!

We had a lot of Snow on Friday.
I got to leave work early.
Nell's school closed at 12noon and Zaven's school was cancelled.
A nice treat for the weekend to get off to a nice start.

The snow started at 2 and fell about 2 inches an hour.
Zaven and Nell went out to play some before the sun went down (at 4:15 :()

Because of the weather we were unable to go to two Christmas parties, but we were happy to have a night at home.
We just joined Netflix and we watched Sex and the City the movie.

Saturday we were up early and the kids went out for more snow time.
Zaven had more fun than Nell.



Then Zaven had his basketball game. We were a little late as it took quite a lot of time to get the car out.
Zaven really enjoyed it. He is on the green team. He had a good game and scored two baskets. He got some rebounds and did well dribbling- which at times is optional in this league.

We did a little running around after that and then would up at the beach to play in the snow on a 25 degree day. It was cold!
But we had a good time and it was neat to be on the beach in the snow. There were even some brave or foolish souls surfing!

Saturday night we had two parties to go to, the kids were included in both. They both proved to be fun.

This morning we were up and down to the church. It was still snowing, but warming up some.


After , I went to the grocery.
Zaven got a call to go to a playdate to he was really happy to get out.
I will pick him up shortly on the way to pick up our sitter for the evening.
Chris and I are going to the choir party which should be fun- but they will make us sing the blessing.

weekend update- late

Hi,
I mentioned that Zaven started basketball last weekend.
He had a great time. He was pretty good. He made 3 baskets.
He was fast up and down the court. He played a little defense, got some rebounds.
It was fun.
When we got home he started "signing autographs" and he thought he would hand them out next weekend.
I guess we do not need to worry about his confidence.

Here is a photo, just after he shot during warm up.



Later in the weekend- Zaven wanted to hang the stockings.


We also were very excited to get a package from Milla with some dresses that were mine when I was little.
Here is nell with a sailor dress on. Perfect fit!

Nell is doing great. She liked watching Z play basketball.
I got an email about her age and it mentioned that kids her age would start to use words that convey position, under, over etc.
The day after I read that Nell said "dolly is across the way" i thought that was really funny. not over there. not under the chair- but across the way.
She continues to be a very funny and silly little girl. she has another thing she likes to say. she gets in this funny stance and says in a gruff voice "i have monster hand" I don't know why she says it- or why I think it is so funny- but that is the way it is.

going to sleep.

Fairy Princess Nell

Brice and Christie sent this adorable dress up outfit for Nell's birthday.
She loves it!

So Cold!

It is so cold here today.
I think the word is frigid.
And then the wind blows 30 miles per hour! There are not enough layers.

We had a good weekend.
Friday Chris and I went out to a silent auction at Nell's school.
Saturday was pretty gloomy and we were around the house a lot.
I went and had my hair cut- no pictures to prove it.

saturday night was alive at five. which is always fun. it was a good crowd.


sunday we woke up and there was snow!

Zaven was so excited.
He built a snow man.


Then when Nell woke up- she wanted to go out.


She put on her super cute snowsuit- a great hand me down.
She and Zav played out side for a long time.

They came in an had hot cocoa- Nell kept saying,
"Mom, Mom- this taste good"

sunday the bishop was at church. the kids stayed home with a sitter and i went to church alone.
After church , Zaven and I made some cookies to take to Boston to Walter and Grant.

Then we drove to Boston, an easy 1 hr and 15 minute trip. We had a fun visit with Mary, Brian, Walter, Grant, John, Sylvia and Oliver. We took a walk along the mall. It was very cold - at least the 2 year olds in the crowd thought so.

Zaven on the other hand- had a great time running and climbing.


It was really fun to catch up with Mary- Zaven loved hearing stories about me and Mary when we were little.