Gary and Lori(n)

Spring has sprung, but a tad too late. My parents were here the last few days of March and the first few days of April--due to DC's unusual winter spring arrived about 48 hours after they left. Bummer. That didn't stop us from seeing the places the blossoms should have been. The nice thing was it wasn't too hot!  We did quite a bit of walking but we didn't have to worry about a blazing sun making us wet from sweat, instead we had to work with the rain, which got us wet anyway.  It rained for the first three days. Straight. It was a little discouraging, but I think we managed to make everything work.

Riley had to spend a lot of time at school so I was Mom and Dad's personal tour guide. Luckily he snuck away for some fun activities! They were excellent guests and Benson really loved having someone to play with. Dad may have been in dog or monkey mode for the majority of the week.  

Let's begin with pictures- there aren't many.

Dad took Benson swimming - he really loved it. He even dove in when dad wasn't looking. I guess we'll need to do swimming lessons soon!

Benson learned how to climb up on the balcony. He is really careful about it but I always have to watch him. Sneaky boy.

We visited the National Zoo. We were so excited to see the new baby panda- only she was sleeping where no one could see her. That is twice now that I have gone. She needs to wake up!

Dad went to the Air and Space museum one afternoon- It is a goodie!

Here is the mama panda. They eat most of the day.

Lunar landing module. Dad, is that right?

We took a drive up to Delaware to visit Aunt Jenny, her family and new dog! Oh Benson had a wonderful time following Nick around and playing with Charlie. 

"He's nothing but a big sweetheart"

Dad was so nice and drove us across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Thank you, Dad.

On the way home from DE we stopped at the Outlets and Benson got to ride the train-go-round :)

Ha, back to the zoo. Cute baby tiger.

Benson and Nick at the Longwood Gardens. We had the best lunch before going there. Capriotti's. oh. my. the sandwich was soooooo good.

Bens got to go on the merry-go-round at the zoo too! 

Charlie.

The "O-line"  Orangutans cross right about you! Riley never believed that they actually did it, but they definitely do! It was so neat. 

At the Post Office Museum- a new favorite. Across from us, in the stage coach were three statues that were scary looking. Benson didn't appreciate them.

Other highlights:

-We the Pizza

-American History museum war exhibit

-WWII memorial with veterans being honored. (one even stopped to talk to benson, so sweet!)

-Walking around the tidal basin with dead looking cherry trees

-Watching Downton Sixbey

-Watching Lip Syncing battles

-The Amish market

-The almost trip to Fort McHenry

-Having mom and dad around, Thanks for visiting! 

To all other potential visitors- we need you! We know some great places to eat and sight see. We also have two twin beds. and a couch, and an air mattress. Let's just say we can accommodate several visitors at one time. See you soon! 

No more monkey's jumping on the bed

This post is going to be a bunch of random things. I apologize. Let's go back in time to three weeks ago, my mom was on a flight to Maryland, actually she was on a layover in NC when she got a call from me.  Benson had been playing in the dining room and had face planted- causing large crocodile tears and a lot of screaming.  His nose was bleeding (no visible cuts) and immediately the bridge of his nose was bruised. I didn't know what to do! Do I take him to the hospital? Apparently the answer is no. Baby's can't break their nose I guess.  After some tylenol he was as good as new. Except the bruises that lingered under his eyes and across his nose.
My mom finally landed and we went to pick her up! Man, was she a sight for sore eyes.  I had been so excited to see her that I hadn't really prepared anything for us to do.  We quickly made plans and the next day found ourselves at the National Zoo.

Aren't they cute?

We had a nice day, the weather was PERFECT. The trees were changing and it was crisp. Oh so nice.  The next day we went downtown and ate delicious food at "We the pizza".  Delicious. Really. Then we found the Old Post Office Pavilion which was extremely disappointing, especially for mom.  So we ditched it and explored the American history museum- which was fascinating.  Benson was a champ! He loves riding around and seeing new things. 

We found the first car that mom owned! It was pretty cute.

On Thursday we went to the Powell's in Delaware- which I already posted about.  They were so kind and served us some amazing french dip sandwiches. Mmmmmm.

On Friday- poor little Benson woke up so ill.  He had developed a runny nose during the week but he woke up completely delirious.  Thank heavens mom was there to help.  He had never been sick before and we just didn't know what to do! it was a rough few days for benson.  He has never cuddled so much in his life- which I must say was very nice.  He has since forgotten those ways. 

We were still able to do a few more fun things.  Mom pushed Riley and I out the door for a date. A mucho needed date. We went to Union Station for dinner and explored the stamp museum.

Cute, right?

Then Benson started feeling better:

Poor guy refused to eat or drink anything for days. The next week he was diagnosed with a double ear infection.  I think he is started to feel much better now. 

Before all of this even happened we bought this chair off craigslist. we LOVE it. twenty dollars!

A few days after mom left (she doesn't know this but I cried), the wilson's came! Brandon, Chelsie, Kalen and Jenell all flew out to celebrate an early Christmas.  It was really fun to have almost everyone together.  Surprisingly none of them or the children were injured. I would call that successful. I only took three pictures the whole weekend- pathetic. 

So this is what happens when I let Kalen push the stroller.

 

On the last day we went to the Dulles Air and Space museum. It was massive and had lots of planes. This is Benson in front of a space shuttle!

Benson and Elsie. Cute.

Last story. yesterday at the park benson fell and cut the inside of his upper lip. I so wish I had become a nurse- it would be so helpful in scenarios like this. It was bleeding a lot, which I know is not uncommon, but we couldn't get it to stop. After a quick (LONG) trip to the ER we learned that they could do nothing.  Something that every mother got the memo on, except me. Someone should write a book on this stuff. Since then benson has reopened the cut twice, pulled a fan on himself and fallen countless times. I guess blood will be frequent in my future. 

this is halloween

Benson celebrated his first halloween in style. Lumberjack style. 

He even won an award at the ward trunk-or-treat.  I wish I had a picture or video of him walking in the parade. We brought a cart that he can walk behind and he joined all the kids. It was pretty hilarious.

Mom was in town and came to the trunk or treat, and then on actual halloween we went to the Powell's home in Delaware! We had a great time and ate some delicious french dip sandwiches :) Thanks Jennifer! 

Cousins!

It was so much fun to have some visitors this past week!  Jake, Kelli and Hadley came by for a few days. What a treat! Benson adored Hadley... he just showed his affection by grabbing her face. Cute, right?

They flew in late Tuesday night. That was a long day of waiting! I got to pick them up from the airport. It was so fun to see my sister again! On Wednesday we took the metro downtown and checked out the spy museum (we won't discuss the govt shutdown and how every single thing in DC is run by the fed, so nothing was open). It was pretty neat.  We also ate lunch at the Shake Shack- a personal favorite.  Though I will say, very few places downtown accommodate strollers. The spy museum doesn't allow them but they provided baby carriers. Benson weighs 22 pounds. So yea, that was fun. I have no pictures of this day :(

On Thursday we drove downtown to drive by the memorials.  It rained the entire time they were here so they didn't get the normal DC visit, but they will next time, right guys?  Then we went to Eastern Market and ate our lunches and then checked out this cool bookstore. It is unreal! A man turned his rowhome into a bookstore and there are books everywhere. Behold:

It made me nervous thinking how unorganized, yet organized it was- if that makes sense!  The last picture is the bathroom- where the foreign language books are kept.  It was nuts.

Benson and Hadley took a bath.  They splashed each other until their hearts were content!

We already miss them and can't wait to see them again!!