The River House!

Jon parents have a friend who owns some houses by the river and he rents them out! We have stayed there a few times in years past! It is always a fun time! Last night was the first night we were able to be out there as a family and the kids sure had fun! They just played outside pretty much the whole time we were there! We had dinner and a party and had a great time visiting! This was the first time in a long time that some of Jon's family has been together and it was really neat to see! We love you guys!

Early Birthday and Easter!

While we were at the River House we had a combined birthday party for Maddie, Derrick and Jim! Derrick was of course thrilled with getting new presents ( cars, a puzzle, and a baseball bat and ball)! He cried when we sang Happy Birthday and brought his cake out, which must be a 2 year old thing because Emma did the same thing on her 2nd birthday!! He had his choice of candles and he specifically chose Dora! There was also a surprise visitor to the party...The Easter Bunny! Jon's older brother Sean dressed up as the Easter Bunny and had a little treat for all of the kids! I think Emma was the most excited! She has been asking me about the Easter bunny for weeks! (I was dreading taking her to the mall to see him...but now I don't have to!) Derrick wasn't so sure about him! But he did eventually sit on his lap! Even Grandma and Grandpa got a turn! It was a really fun night!

Washington D.C. Trip!!

Jon and I just got back from a wonderful trip to Washington D.C.! Jon was in Baltimore for work and I flew in on Wednesday night. We drove to D.C. on Thursday and started the long, but exciting days of touring our nation's capital! The first day the weather was absolutely gorgeous! But, I have never walked so much in my life and I got to experience a subway for the first time! (Kind of scary!) But, it was definitely the easiest way to get around town! The first day we toured the Library of Congress. Our tour was scheduled for 1 :30, but when we got there we notice a lot of black sedans and SUVs and a lot of heavily armed guards! One of the guards told us to come back at 2pm because the King of Jordan was inside the library! When we came back he was just getting ready to leave, so they stopped all traffic (including pedestrian traffic) to allow the King and his entourage to leave! It was actually kind of neat to see! So, after he was gone we had our tour! This building was beautiful on the inside! The architecture and the art were amazing! It looked like something you would see in Europe! But, it was completely made by Americans! You wee not allowed to take pictures in the main reading room! But it was neat to see!
After the library we headed over to the memorials and the Mall! This was amazing! We didn't go inside the Washington Monument because it was really busy! The World War II Memorial touched me the most! I didn't expect to get teary-eyed, but I did! While we were there a choir was singing "The Star Spangled Banner" and it was so beautiful! I have always been fascinated by WW II history and knowing that both mine and Jon's grandpas fought in that war made it more real to me! Then we walked the long haul of the refection pool to the Lincoln Memorial! There are so many steps to get up there! But, it was so neat to see that part of history! On each side of where Lincoln is sitting they have engraved in the walls his 2nd Inaugural Address and his Gettysburg Address! After this we went to the Vietnam Memorial wall! I did not expect this to be so long! It was overwhelming how many names were engraved on this wall representing those that lost their lives in that war! By the time we were done with all of the memorials we were so tired and headed back to the hotel for a quick nap! That night we just walked around Dupont Circle where our hotel was and went to dinner at a really good Italian restaurant!
The next day was very cloudy when we woke up! We decided to go to Arlington National Cemetery before the rain came! I'm glad we did because I would not have wanted to miss this! It was incredible to see! This was Jon's favorite place that we went! We were able to see the grave of JFK! Beside it they have an Eternal Flame burning! Across from his grave they have some of his famous quotes, Jon's favorite being, "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." We then walked over to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier where there is a guard standing watch all the time! We got there just in time for a changing of the guards! This was neat to see and to watch them salute the tomb! As we were walking in the cemetery every once in a while we heard a 3 gun salute and the sound of Taps being played!
After the cemetery we went over the the Smithsonian Museums and the National Archives where the Constitution, Bill of Rights and The Declaration of Independence are kept! They were very hard to read! I wasn't expecting them to be so faded! But, they are over 200 years old! :) The room where they are kept is very dark and they don't allow flash photography, so we did our best to get some pictures! By the time we walked out of the Archives it was pouring! We caught a taxi to the nearest place we could buy an umbrella! But, we got soaked waiting for a cab! All part of the experience!
We went to the Natural History Museum and saw the Hope Diamond! It is a 52 carat blue diamond! I told Jon I want it for our next Anniversary! :) We also went to the Air and Space Museum and Jon took a ton of pictures of planes! (I cut it down for the slide show!) He loved this! I was excited because they had a small exhibit from the American History Museum which was closed for remodeling! Here we saw a lot of really cool things from Dorthy's ruby slippers to Mr. Roger's sweater!
We also had a tour of the Capitol building! It was pre-arranged by one of the other managers that Jon works with! We met in the Senate building at Senator McCain's office! (He wasn't in...he's a little busy right now!) But, it was neat to see his office! We took a private subway that goes from the Senate building to the Capitol! The Capitol was impressive! Again, the artwork and detail was incredible! Going into the Rotunda where the past Presidents have lied in state was very neat...to be in a room where so much history has taken place! They also had a statue room, where each state is allowed 2 statues to represent themselves! Arizona's was someone by the name of Greenway, but we liked that there was a statue of Brigham Young in there for Utah!
That night we went to dinner with 3 of the other managers from Jon's work! We ate at a really nice restaurant in Georgetown! The food was pretty good, but the atmosphere was beautiful! It was right on the river and and had a amazing view! After dinner we went to see the White House! We never did see it during the day, but it was pretty at night! Jon liked looking for all the guards on the roof! :) It was not as big as I thought it would be! It just looks like a really big house, but I was expecting something huge!
The last day we were there we drove to Mt. Vernon! This is where George and Martha Washington lived! This was spectacular! It is set right on the Potomac River and has thousands of acres of land! We were not allowed to take pictures inside of the house, but it was very neat to see! There are 2 tombs on the property. One is where George and Martha laid for about 30 years until a new one was built according the the instructions he left in his will! The stables still smelled like stables but the area was just beautiful! We saw a cardinal in the gardens which was neat because it is the state bird of Virginia!
So much history here! We had a fantastic trip! I'm glad we got to experience all that we did! I would love to take to kids back when they are old enough to appreciate it! Enjoy the slide show! It's kind of long, but this is the condensed version! We ended up taking just over 200 photos in 3 days! When you are in a place like that, you can't help it!

Washington D.C. Trip!!

The result...

This is the result of a family of 4 being sick for a week! LAUNDRY, LAUNDRY, LAUNDRY!! The pictures don't even do it justice! I was so tired of washing sheets and towels and clothes that had been thrown up on!! YUCK!! Thank goodness it is over and we are all feeling well! The day after we found out that Derrick had pneumonia, Emma and I got sick with the flu, just like Jon had! This was our 2nd time around and it was worse the 2nd time! So, in reality the entire month of February there was at least one sick person in my house! But, I'm not all complaints! Jon did help me fold this gigantic pile of laundry...and that is the chore he hates to do the most! He would rather scrub bathtubs and floors than fold laundry! So, I know he loves me and was probably feeling guilty that he was acting like my third child for a week! :) In all honesty though, the Lord heard several of my desperate mother's prayers and helped us all through this! We are truly blessed!

February Blues!

I have officially decided that February is my LEAST favorite month! It is SICK month! 2 years ago when I was 8 months pregnant with Derrick, Emma got Croup! Then Derrick got sick shortly after he was born! Then last year Emma had Croup again in February and Derrick had Bronchiolitis! I started it all off this year with a yucky cold! It lasted about 3 weeks! Emma got it about a week after me! She had all the same symptoms as me, so I wasn't too worried with her! Derrick got it about a week and a half ago and his symptoms kept getting worse and worse! He was throwing up Monday and Tuesday, then acted better on Wednesday! But, that night he was coughing ALL night! I was going to give him one more night to see how he did, but then almost with out even thinking about it, picked up the phone and made him a doctor appointment! Thank goodness I did because he has a mild case of pneumonia! Poor guy! I feel so bad for him! His fever isn't too high, but he threw up twice again yesterday and all he had were liquids! He started an antibiotic and needs breathing treatments every 3-4 hours! I got him to eat some applesauce this morning and I'm giving him as much juice as he will drink! He is crashed out on the couch right now! I don't even want to move him! I'll just let him get the rest that he needs! Emma started coughing again today and I am not feeling too great either! I'm hoping mine is just from lack of sleep! (Or at least that's what I keep telling myself!) Jon has felt terrible the last 2 days, but has had important meetings at work! Hopefully we can all rest up this weekend and get well!

Happy Valentine's Day!

We had a good Valentine's Day! The day before was filled with cookies! Literally, ALL day long! My mom came over around 11am to help me make her famous Valentine's cookies for Jon's team at work and for Emma to take to her party at dance class! Well, between dealing with the kids and the time it takes to make these cookies, I did not finish until 11pm! But, it was worth it! They are my favorite cookies and Emma had fun decorating her very own! She didn't do too bad! The picture only shows half of the cookies that we made! This was taken after my mom took some of them home with her! My entire table and counter tops were covered in cookies! Jon and I decided not do give gifts this year because we are going on a trip in a couple weeks! (I can't wait to blog that one! Washington D.C., no kids!) On Valentine's Day I went to Jon's work and decorated his truck in hearts! That night we just had a quiet night at home! Jon brought home roses and made me a delicious steak dinner and chocolate covered strawberries! It was better than going out (and cheaper too!)! He is such a great cook! Happy Valentine's Day!

Derrick & Pooh!!

Derrick's new obsession is Winnie the Pooh! He loves watching "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" and "My Friends Tigger and Pooh" on the Disney channel! I bought him a real Pooh bear because he had been carrying around a yellow bear of Emma's and calling it Pooh! Sometimes it's "A-pooh" and someitmes it's "Pooh-Pooh"! He sleeps with this every night and when I go in to get him up in the morning Pooh is all wet from being sucked on! I have a feeling it will get worn out quickly! But, he loves it!

Bedtime Stories!

The other night before bed Emma and Derrick decided to climb up on the couch and read a story together! It was a "look & find" book that Derrick got for Christmas. He wanted help, so that's what Emma was doing! It only lasted a few minutes, but it was cute!

Emma sings...

Hooray! I was finally able to post the video! This is the unedited version, but you get the idea! So, here is Emma singing "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam" right before church on her big day!

Our little "Sumbean"!

Last week was Emma's first day in primary as a "Sumbean"! She mixes up her m and n when saying it! She had a new Sunbeam dress and was so excited! They had her classes a little confused the first week but we were able to get her into the class with her friend Erin! It was neat on Sunday as we were walking out to the car Emma got really excited and said "Mom, Jesus has a body just like me!" I'm glad she is learning in class! I'm sorry this took so long to post! I have been trying to get a video up of Emma singing "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam" before her first day in primary! But, something is either wrong with the program or the video because it will not load! I will post it if I ever figure it out!

Merry Christmas!!!

We had a great Christmas this year! The kids were so excited and it was a lot of fun to watch them open presents! Derrick would literally shake with excitement with each new toy! Emma got to leave Santa milk and cookies and he left her a note to day "thank you"! She got just what she asked for (Polly Pockets) and Derrick could start a toy car lot with all of his new cars! Merry Christmas to all!!

Christmas Eve...

We all got the traditional pajamas on Christmas Eve!


The excitement is building...

Snuggled in bed with "Santa Baby" waiting for Santa to come to the house...

The presents were out and Christmas Eve was over!

The 23rd...

Let the countdown begin! Tonight was our Christmas party at Grandma and Grandpa Trafzer's house! We had a lot of fun and got some great gifts! If you're wondering about the hat Emma is wearing...she found it in the box of her old baby clothes! It is a little small for her but she would not take it off! Then when she did take it off, I made her put it back on because her hair was crazy!

Holiday outfits...

I took some pictures of the kids all dressed up before church today! Emma has been asking to wear her Christmas dress for about 2 months now! She was so excited to finally wear it! I was amazed to get any pictures of Derrick even looking at the camera!