My Dad's Visit

I am so thankful my Dad came to visit us for Spring Break/Easter Weekend. We had such a good time and really did some fun things with the kids and also got to spend time just as father and daughter. We even spent some late nights just talking about life in general and it was such a much-needed time with my Dad for me. So, Dad, thank you for coming - it meant so much to have you here. Here are some of my favorite and just random pictures I took.

My Dad bought Drew a bubble gun that he loved!

Drew playing in his soccer game that my Dad was able to see

Happy Easter 2011

Easter morning, the kids found their baskets on the front porch. Drew immediately went inside to go through his and eventually after Dilan found her chocolate, she went in as well. She literally downed her chocolate bunny and didn't much care for the rest of the stuff inside her basket whereas Drew took one bite of chocolate and couldn't wait to discover what else was in his basket.

Finding baskets outside on the steps

Dilan unwrapped her chocolate already

Grabbing the other piece of chocolate and having chocolate in both hands now. Notice the crumpled up wrapper near her basket.

Drew finds a new Thomas movie

Pajamas, movies, books, bath toys, candy and more!

Reading a Dr. Seuss book

Drake is happy about his basket

The Easter bunny even came for my Dad! He got a WWII book signed by the actual author and some beef jerky because he gave up meat for Lent.

Easter outfits before the Easter egg hunt

Dilan, Drake and Drew

(notice the coordinated green and yellow outfits because I had to work very hard to coordinate them!)

Dilan decided she was done with picture-taking but this was too cute of the boys to pass up.

Dilan on her hunt for eggs

Drew finding lots of eggs!

Finding the last ones in the tree and my Dad helping out

What a beautiful day and the tree blossomed at the right time!

Counting the eggs to make sure we have them all!!!

Easter Egg Dye 2011

We dyed Easter eggs and this was officially Dilan's first time. She insisted on using her hands which were a wonderful greenish color afterwards because her method was to keep putting the eggs in the dye and taking them out over and over again. When she started spilling, her time was up pretty much, but she really did enjoy it. My favorite part was that she kept calling out the colors she was putting her eggs in - it was very cute! And right now the color orange is "juice" because she associates it with orange juice.

Drew is a pro now at coloring his eggs. He had them all one color and in very pretty pastel shades. He didn't drag it out (like Keely and I used to do) but got right down to it. I gave each of them their own colors so it went pretty fast as they each could dye 5 eggs at a time. They love this part of Easter and so do I but I have to admit, the older they get, the easier it is!

Dilan getting started

Drew is ready to go!

Trying to help Dilan

Drew is hoping his eggs don't crack - Dilan cracked her first egg but my Dad graciously stepped in and ate it!

Drew's eggs are starting to look good!

A glimpse of a smile on Dilan and me

Drake got his own egg to play with and when he put it in his mouth, he did not favor the coldness of it!

About done!

Drew is wrapping up as well!

Me and Drew with some of his eggs

Gettysburg Take 2

On Saturday, my Dad and I went to Gettysburg, PA. He had never been there before, and I was able to go without my kids so I saw everything I wanted to see this time around. It was worth a second visit for sure. I was able to see the entire movie they presented about the battle at Gettysburg (whereas before I had to take Dilan out) and I saw the cyclorama which I missed last time too. My Dad and I even bought a CD for the auto tour and we toured every site there was to see. A very interesting part of history for sure even though it's still hard to see where the Confederates lost (even though it was important that they did lose the Civil War).

The Gettysburg Cyclorama was huge - a painting a French artist did back in 1883 measuring 27 feet high and 359 feet in circumference. It was so neat to see it in it's fullness and I took some pictures of certain parts of the battle.

The artist painted himself into the painting. He is in the center leaning up against the tree with his hand on his hip and a sword across his knees.

Love the uniforms

My Dad looking at pictures of some of the Confederate soldiers lost in the battle.

Abraham Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address

National Zoo on Good Friday

On Good Friday, we headed out to the National Zoo. It was supposed to rain by lunchtime so we got there in the morning in order to avoid the bad weather. The best part was seeing the lions who were outside and very playful. The male, the two females and the babies. It was a sight to see! We also enjoyed the panda bear, the sloth bear, the orangutans, and the elephants who were all outside too!

Me and my kids by the waterfall

The tiger is resting

Drake was all bundled up and fell asleep eventually

Panda bear outside

Elephant

My dad with Drew and Dilan

Me and the kids on the bridge overlooking the elephants

Tire Park

Yesterday, my Dad came into town for the Easter weekend to visit us. We picked him up at the airport in Baltimore and took a diversion to Fort McHenry where the Star Spangled Banner was penned. We've been there before and I love it so much, I had to take my Dad. Plus, they have a new visitors' center I had to check out. We even took a pizza to the picnic area and fed the ducks our crust. This was the kids' favorite part!

Today, we took the kids to the Tire Park and had a good time. I brought my camera for some pictures and it turned out to be a good day for that. We also hit up the Dutch Market for some homemade pretzels and bread. Mmmm...

Drew on the zip line

He loves this part!

Slide-time! you can see Dilan at the top of the slide coming down.

Our trooper! The wind was a little chilly but Drake hung in there.

Uh, Dilan didn't love this swing all that much.

Climbing on the dragon made of tires.

My dad and Drew

This balance beam shook and moved as you walked on it.

Dilan went down this slide over and over and over...

Just a cute shot of her climbing up the stairs to the slide.

Proud of herself that she made it to the dragon's head.

Dilan and my Dad sliding together