Oh What Site Seers We Are.....

A couple weekends ago we had the chance to drive up to D.C and stay for a night. Brad's mission president and his wife came in from New Zealand and were stopping in D.C for the weekend. Brad has two other mission companions in the area so we all met up at a restaurant in Georgetown and visited for quite a long time. It was great to meet them and see them all chatting about Ghana. Kellen did great on the trip and we even got to see some sites and try out the metro!

Here we are at the Washington Monument, we didn't give ourselves enough time to see anything else but we did stop at the World Wa II Memorial.

 It's funny how so many people try and take funny pictures with the monuments. We were not the only ones looking ridiculous...but to no avail we were not successful in making Kellen look like he was sitting on top. But at least we tried! 

Representing good ol' Idaho! Isn't Kellen getting so big! He has is two front teeth and a molar in and a top one coming!

Here is the group of us at lunch! It was great to meet his Mission President, President Dill and Sister Dill. They were the sweetest people and made all of us feel like family. 

Brad's mission companion D.J and his wife Whitney have a little one about 6 months younger than Kellen. You can't tell from this picture but it is funny to see the size difference already! Noah is such a cute baby and we enjoyed meeting him and visiting with friends!

One of these days I will update with pictures of the house. We find new projects to do every day but Brad is better at finishing his than I am at mine. I sure am lucky to have him around!

A Weekend Get Away

Two weeks ago we went to Williamsburg, VA for the weekend. Williamsburg VA? Ya, what's that? I didn't entirely know either until my smart savvy husband informed me that it is the place where Pocahontas's dad gave John Smith a lot of land and where some of the battles were fought during the Revolutionary war. History 3 1/2 hours away along with outlet malls that would make you cry, why yes let's go! Brad was amazing and planned everything and kept it a surprise when we got there! It was a perfect weekend and we had a lot of fun!

Here is Kellen teaching Thomas Jefferson a thing or two! This is down town Williamsburg area where they have a Colonial village/city set up. You can walk down and look at the houses as well as see different demonstrations. We didn't see those demonstrations as you had to pay an arm and a leg, but we got the full effect! 

He just knows how to smile at the camera, huh!

One of the days we were there we went to two different museums. They had reenactments of the Indian tribes that existed at the time of colonization as well as the ships that came over from England. It was cool to see how they lived and imagine what it would be like! Plus it didn't cost us an arm and a leg so we felt much better about it! 

 Williamsburg is right along the James River so they have a ferry that goes over to the other side to the city of Surry. Not much there but the ferry ride is free and it was sweet to go across! Kellen loved it and we stopped by a mom and pop restaurant that had great food and was well worth the trip!

 At one of the museums, they showed us how an army would prepare to shoot the cannons in battle. They actually shot off the cannon themselves but before had volunteers come up and do a run through while explaining it. Obviously my husband was picked to help out and move the cannon to aim it, I mean hello he's got the strength. Plus an older gentlemen volunteered and I think they were concerned that the guy couldn't do it himself!

Here is Kellen at one of the churches that was built in the fake villages. Obviously Brad instantly wanted to take a picture of Kellen at the pulpit. How is Kellen standing, you ask? Well he is that good of course! Actually I held him up while Brad took the picture, it gave us a good laugh!

The last day was spent shopping at the outlets for new clothes and whatever we could find. Now I know you are thinking how great Brad was to plan all this but the even more amazing thing was he spent the whole day shopping with me! He was so patient with me and said we could go to as many stores as we wanted! I think he deserved no more shopping trips with me for the rest of the year, but I need him, he gives good advice and knows what looks best! So ya, I know everyone brags about their husbands, but this is just another example of what Brad does best and how dedicated he is to our family! 

The Summer Wrapped Up in One!

Ya, it's been awhile. I have been trying to finish up this free book I got from Shutterfly so whenever I got on that is what I worked on. But it is done so I thought why not just share it instead of reposting all the pictures! This weekend we are heading off to Williamsburg. Brad planned the whole thing and it will be nice to have a couple of days for a last summer vacation! He's a good husband huh! Another post to follow soon!

When the Lights Go "Out" In the City...almost everywhere!

Life has been a little hectic lately but we have been blessed and doing great! First off Kellen turned 7 months on the 18th and the pictures are getting harder but a lot more funny to take. At his appointment he weighed 16 lbs and things are going well. I can't believe he is already twice the size of the stuffed zebra that he was at one time smaller then!

As you can see in these two pictures he takes no care to the stuffed animal.

Kellen does not like to fall asleep in our arms but a particular lady in our ward just does the trick and he fell right asleep the other day while at dinner. She has the motherly touch!

Obviously this picture needs a little explaining. The wind storm that came through the southern/eastern states did hit Roanoke/Salem area. Luckily we were only without power for 20 minutes but a lot more people were not so lucky and still do not have power and haven't had it since last Friday. Some friends in are currently trying to move and have been without power. That mixed with record high temperatures makes for an uncomfortable apartment and a toddler who won't sleep. So they have been hanging out with us which led to this evening showing of "Baby Signing Time" Kellen loves watching Elizabeth play and its fun to see her sign and get excited about things. Hopefully they get their power back soon but until then we will try and help as we have been blessed to have power. My heart also goes to those who have lost homes in the forest fires in the Colorado and Utah area.

We have been spending a lot of time at the pool and we are slowly getting Kellen to play more in the pool instead of just watching. We will be sad because here in a month we will be moving and won't have access to the pool but once you see the next picture you will understand why we won't be too sad!

While we won't have access to the whole house we are renting the bottom floor. Twice the square footage for only about 90 dollars more. It's gorgeous inside and we just bought a great table to go in the dinning room. Pictures to come! 

This is How We Have Fun!

The last two weekends Brad has had off so we have been out and about enjoying the good weather!

Memorial Weekend they had a big festival in the park in downtown Roanoke. We went with some friends and Kellen loved being outside. They had tons of things for kids and it was one of the first events that we have been to in Roanoke that there weren't a thousand people smoking. I swear people smoke a lot more out here!

 After going down town we decided to head to our apartment building's pool. It was a perfect day to be at the pool and not a lot of people were there. Kellen loved the pool even though it was his first experience in a cold pool! If he could Kellen would live outside.

 Last weekend we went on a hike with the Young Women in the ward. It was in Blacksburg where Virginia Tech is. It was a gorgeous hike and a great one to break in our new  baby carrier. Because we were outside Kellen loved the hike and seemed to be comfortable in the carrier. It felt good to go hiking again and get outside. Virginia just keeps getting better and impressing us more and more. 

 Kellen even fell asleep the last little bit on the way there and on the way back, I guess the outdoors is just his element!

 Monday was my birthday and we spent the evening having dinner at the park. The day was gorgeous and was a perfect way to end the day. I will try taking more pictures of the scenery; sometimes it just takes my breath away. As I was driving today doing my errands, I couldn't stop smiling because of how beautiful it was outside. Being a girl who grew up in the desert it truly is amazing to live in the middle of a forest! I highly suggest making the trip out east at some point in your life to experience it. Just make sure you come before the humidity sets in!

6 Months and Gettin' Thick!

While we haven't been up to a lot lately we have been enjoying the little moments with dad and hanging out in the nicer weather! Kellen really loves to read books and loves it more when dad reads to him!

 Lately Kellen has been falling asleep at a moments notice. While I usually notice the signs, sometimes it catches me off guard. This little episode is a result of me trying to get him to be on his tummy. Kellen hates tummy time but I am trying to get him more familiar with it. One night he screamed and screamed until while I wasn't looking he finally gave in and fell asleep.

 Kellen is 6 months now and starting to sit up better by himself. We are trying to introduce more foods and soon will start on the fruit. (I have a feeling when he grows up he still will favor fruits over vegetables). He is starting to babble a lot more and will do a little wave every once in awhile. We go into the doctor here soon, so we don't know his stats yet but he sure is getting thick! Every once in awhile Kellen will watch Baby Signing Time a video we borrowed. While I am not intense about him learning it he really loves watching it and enjoys when I sing him the songs. 

 Here is another one of his sleepy episodes. I was making cookies and thought he was just playing but after I turned around he was out! Brad said Kellen fell asleep on him the other night as well!

I bought my tickets today for Boise and fly out July 18th. While I am excited to see family and friends I am bummed Brad won't be joining us. But with the weather improving we plan on going to many more baseball games and hiking trips before I go out!