Back in July, our friends Heather and Tony held a birthday party for their oldest daughter Morgan. Morgan was Peter's first friend, so eventhough I was working Brett took the kids to the party.
The kids enjoyed playing in the Witherspoon's back yard:
With Morgan's toys:
and on Morgan's pink piano:
When I got off of work I joined them just in time for cake (which Aaron smeared all over my arm).
I also got to hold the Newest Witherspoon - Chloe (who was VERY interesting to Peter and Aaron).
One of the birthday gifts that Brett wanted to take me out for a slightly nicer date night than what we usually do.
We had always wanted to see the on going comedy, Shear Madness, at the Kennedy Center, so it seemed like the perfect plan.
The show is a murder mystery that changes on a nightly basis based on current events and the audience. There is a lot of crowd involvement, which ads to the already hilarious script and makes you feel like part of the show.
When we left, we couldn't wait to go back and see what was different the next time!
The morning after my Skate-a-Bration, Brett and I got to enjoy my birthday gift from my mother - tickets to the Billy Joel/Elton Jon concert.
Billy Joel and Elton Jon are two of my all time favorite recording artists, so I was very excited!
My mom, her friend Nora, my sister Brett and I faced the DC traffic, and after much waiting we made it to the parking lot.
This was to be the first concert held at the new Washington Nationals stadium, which was evident by the sound system quality and traffic/parking issues; but I was so excited I didn't care.
Elton Jon, however was not as easy going with the technical problems. After his piano started malfunctioning you could see him swearing at his stage guys and eventually stormed off the stage.
Billy Joel announced that they were "haveing a real rock and roll F up" but he didn't say "F"
Billy Joel (who seemed much more willing to roll with the punches - or rock and roll F ups, as it were) did his set first, while Elton Jon's piano was being fixed.
Eventually, Elton came back (slightly more calm) did his set; followed by a set by the both of them.
Regardless of technical difficulties, traffic (it took us over an hour just to get out of the parking lot), and sound issues, I had a wonderful time. However I decided that I like Billy Joel best.
For my birthday this year, I wanted to go back in time to my childhood and have a pizza party, followed by ice skating. Being the man that he is, Brett made it happen!
Weeks before the event Brett send out an eVite inviting our friend to my "Skate-a-bration"
The house was decorated useing the MANY hockey jersey's that we own (thanks to my father), including one on my larger-than-life card board cut out of myself standing at the door greeting our guests. Peter refered to the cut out as "big Mommy"
All of our friends showed up ready to pack on the carbs they would then burn at the ick rink. Aaron's God mother made me an awesome hockey rink cake, which was as delicious as it was cute.
After signing happy birthday and stuffing our faces with cake, we headed out to Fairfax Ice Arena.
I was really impressed with our friends. Even people who hadn't ever skated (or hadn't in their adult life), were troopers and got out there to try.
However, many of them quit early on (admittedly it does hurt your legs/feet if you are not used to it).
Once everyone was too sore to move and practically frozen, we headed mack home to open gifts.
I was totally spoiled by my amazing friends and family, and felt so blessed to have such an amazing birthday.
After the kids have separate alone play time in the morning, we all play together reading books, singing songs, and doing puzzles.
This morning I was sitting on the couch in the kids playroom with Aaron on my lap, Peter brought me a new book to read.
After thanking Peter for bringing me a book, I asked him, "Peter, do you want to sit with Aaron and Mommy?"
His response as he climbed up on the couch next to us, but not too close, "Nope, I want to sit with Peter."
I just ignored the comment and read the book. After a while Peter realized that Aaron was getting more attention because he was sitting on my lap, so Peter walked over "hugged" Aaron and asked to, "Play with Aaron?"
Then he proceeded to pull Aaron of my lap and essentially body slam him on to the ground (don't worry - Aaron was fine - didn't even cry).
Before I could even starting to reprimand, Peter looks at me, hands out and shoulders shrugged and says, "What? He jumped."
This promises to be an interesting year of parenting.
Ever since becoming parents, Brett and I have been a little nervous about bringing the kids to watch fireworks.
It is the type of thing that the kids could either love or be terrified of, and we really didn't want to be in a packed area with a traffic jam blocking our ability to get away if it turned out that terror was the reaction.
So, we were delighted when we received an invitation to go to a party at my friend Georgia's house.
Georgia and her husband, Pete, bought there first home in March, but this would be their first big party. Georgia had the house decorated with red, white and blue; and Peter and his father manned the grill.
We showed up with the whole family (Rusty included), and had a great time with the Tahan's friends and some of Pete's family.
Peter quickly made friends with another little boy (who he was either fighting for toys with or holding hands with the whole night).
Aaron was teething, so Georgia invented a "new" teething toy, since she didn't have anything for him. He seemed to be very happy with that situation.
After stuffing our faces with kabob, hot dogs, burgers, and potato salad (Brett and I probably consumed an entire cow and chicken ourselves), it was time for the backyard fireworks display.
Pete, his uncle and his father had all bought HUGE boxes of fireworks (clearly they didn't talk to each other before hand), so we were in for a long show!
Brett and I braced ourselves, only to find that Peter and Aaron LOVE fireworks.
There were so many fireworks that we ended up taking a break for watermelon and dessert before starting the "show" back up again.
After the fireworks were over people started heading home.
Eventually, after the kids started getting sleepy on our laps, we headed home as well.
It was a really fun party, and we hope it becomes a tradition.
After wiffle ball and nap times on July 3rd, Brett and I left the kids with my mom so we could go to volunteer at an event in Sterling.
Restore Community Church (a new church that our friend and former New Life preacher, Ron Klabundi is planting) had a booth set up at the Sterling Fireworks. I was tasked with face painting, and Brett was responsible for talking with people about Generosity Can - a non-profit associated with the church.
Face painting quickly turned to strange body painting when one kid asked for a target on his back (we were next to a pool, so many of the boys didn't have shirts on).
The event was successful, and after we were done "working" we enjoyed the fireworks show before heading back to Annandale.
If you are interested in learning more or getting involved in Restore, please contact Ron Klabundi at ronklabunde@gmail.com.
One of Peter's favorite "games" is to hide something (or just ask about something in the room) and then "find" it.
This morning, I baked mini muffins for breakfast and as soon as I put Peter in his high chair he stuffed an entire mini-muffin into his mouth.
Without missing a beat he questioned (with a completely full mouth), "Where'd the muffin go?" with hands up and shoulders shrugged.
Two seconds later, his expression changes to excitement, as he points to his mouth (still full) and exclaimed, "Its in there!"
I plan to remind him of this when he is a teenager and thinks there is nothing to do on a rainy day. Kids can make fun out of anything, and I love that!
Back in July, our friends Heather and Tony held a birthday party for their oldest daughter Morgan. Morgan was Peter's first friend, so eventhough I was working Brett took the kids to the party.
When I got off of work I joined them just in time for cake (which Aaron smeared all over my arm).
