It’s great to be 8!

Charlie had another birthday (8) and it was one never to be forgotten!

Grandma & Grandpa Thacker, Lucinda, and the Brown family all flew in the night before Charlie’s Birthday! We all met up at the National Aquarium in downtown Baltimore the next day. This aquarium is a family favorite so it was fun to share it with the Thackers. The highlight was the dolphin show where Charlie was able to help the trainer demonstrate proper beach recycling….a little random but he enjoyed it. We also were fascinated by the Archer Fish which we were able to see in action. One of the employees held a stick with a cricket on it high above their tank and the fish would spit water at it knocking it down. Very cool.

That evening we had cake and ice cream and finished up all the little details for his baptism the following day. He received a Skylander pack (I know we are only feeding the addiction) and some roller skates which were a complete gamble. We got them a couple of years ago on clearance at Target and were just waiting for his feet to grow. He had never mentioned anything about roller skating before but they were a BIG hit. Between all the little kids in the house somebody was always wearing those skates, even Conrad:)

We love this kid. He has been a great older brother to his siblings. Here is what he is in to:

He is helpful and tries hard to do what is right.

He loves math and reading but is still not a huge fan of writing. He received a journal for his birthday so hopefully that will help.

He would love to play Skylander (Wii game) all day if I let him.

He is progressing on the piano and has enjoyed having a teacher that is not his mom.

He reads a LOT!

Rockville Ward Primary.

I am the third counselor in our ward’s Primary presidency. I’ve served just over a year and have loved it. I feel really lucky to get to work with such great people. Our primary president is one-in-a-million and I have learned a lot from her. The other counselors are also wonderful and wonderful teachers who I have learned from as well. I was in charge of the yearly primary sacrament meeting program which was an overwhelming endeavor but it turned out fine and the kids were really cute. The best part of the program was hearing all the kids who finished reading The Book of Mormon this year talk about their experiences. Back in January our primary president challenged all of them to read it before the year was up. The junior primary kids were asked to read the Scripture Reader while the senior primary was asked to read the whole blue book. I have been amazed at how many kids rose to the challenge and finished the whole book, even with time in the year left. 

Different kids in the primary designed the program covers.

Charlie and I started off reading everyday together. Reading The Book of Mormon with a child is a different experience. He had A LOT of questions which led to more understanding for both of us.  Towards the middle he started to read more on his own and ended up finishing it before he was baptized in November.  WOW!! Charlie was born with a gift for seeking knowledge, I’m so glad it includes spiritual knowledge as well.  I have loved watching his testimony grow at such a young age! Matthew also enjoyed reading The Book of Mormon Reader; I hope that we will read the blue book together in a few years.

The primary ordered these super cool t-shirts for all the kids who finish reading. Carolyn the primary president designed them. My boys love them!!

A Very Bryner Thanksgiving!

Our dear friends the Bryners came to visit for Thanksgiving! They stayed for almost a whole week and enjoyed a lot of DC sightseeing. We played games (Spot It!), ate great food, and had a wonderful time together.

Everybody took time to write down what they were thankful for on paper leaves. We then turned the leaves into garland that we hung up for all to see. We had a great feast and with four cooks in the kitchen nobody was left doing all the work. The apple pie, pumpkin roll, and stuffing were my favorites.  Conrad enjoyed his first Thanksgiving and especially enjoyed the mashed potatoes.

The Bryners brought each of the kids a new Christmas book which we all enjoyed reading. We especially enjoyed “Mr. Wiollowby’s Christmas Tree.”  Conrad and Jude became instant buddies and Jude showed Conrad how to maneuver the dreaded dining room step drop off. We all went into the District the Saturday after Thanksgiving to visit the memorials and attempt family pictures. We also visited the Natural History museum and ate at a delicious Neapolitan Pizza place called 2Amys.  It was a random cold day but we all had a great time.  

Kelly and I fell in love with this house when we walked by on our way to the Pizza place!  So charming!

Conrad is 7 Months! (11-10-12)

 

It was a big month for this kid!! He got all of his four top teeth in about a week (making 6 total) and is a crawling pro! He’s still as happy as ever.

Halloween 2012.

Halloween was right in the middle of Donna and Bevan’s trip! It is always fun to be with family on holidays. I volunteered to be in charge of Charlie’s class party. We ate snacks and made fun spider hats that turned out great (Thank you pinterest). They usually have a parade outside but since the weather was still drizzly they paraded around the school. It was fun to watch them dressed up in their costumes.

That evening our ward had a chili dinner and trunk-or-treat. I LOVE trunk-or-treats- so efficient and the kids didn’t get too much candy.

Lucy slept through pumpkin carving this year.

Vacationing to a Hurricane!

Donna, Bevan, and Anna came for a visit! Lucky for them and us they made it in right before Hurricane Sandy hit. After we went to church on Sunday we made a dash to Arlington National Cemetery to visit my Grandparents graves. While at the cemetery we were able to watch the changing of the guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We also drove by the house my dad grew up in. We really wanted to get a picture of us in front but there was a large group of people eating dinner in the front dining room so that is why the picture is off to the side. It’s a quaint neighborhood. It was drizzling during all of this but nothing to severe. On Monday and Tuesday they preemptively canceled school, the metro was shut down, and ALL the museums were closed. It rained a lot and there were a few wind gusts but we were spared and didn’t even lose power. Because Seth and Bevan were home Donna and I were able to do a little shopping alone which is always fun. I was able to introduce her to the wonderful world of Unique(thrift store) and we outfitted Anna for the winter in Midway.  We played lots of games and there was the Ipad that got played with a bit too….wink,wink.

 

 

We had an impressive puddle in front of our home Matthew found entertaining!

After the storm moved on Donna and Bevan were able to spend two days in DC while I tended Anna. She is a sweet calm little girl and I was hoping she would have a good influence on Lucy.

Not so much.

On Friday morning we all decided to go to Bethesda to have cupcakes at Georgetown Cupcakes (they were only ok).  Thankfully Five Guys was across the street. Donna and Bevan had not made it to the National Archives to see the Constitution so we went there with all the little kids. Everybody did great and it was a success even with the parking ticket! (the number of tickets I have received since moving here is a little astonishing).

We had a great time with the Hawkins and I am once again grateful well live in a vacation destination. It makes up for all of my photo tickets.