March started off with Friday night dinner out with friends!
Selfie fun with mom's phone!
After dinner, we hit the Hill Book Fair!
March also brought a big move for Dory, Zayde and Uncle Phillip! A big move to Austin!
We're excited that they're here and hope it's a great place for them all!
We also started the Spring soccer season!
Go Rangers and Lavender Butterflies!
Playdate with new BFF Safia at Foodie Kids!
We were so excited for our trip for Spring Break to Washington, D.C.
Jake hadn't been back since we moved, and Allie had never been. So when my conference in D.C. was over Spring Break, it was a no-brainer!
Alex and Jake left for a day earlier then Allie and I did. They left early but they traveled in style!
They got to spend a nice night with Alex's friend Rachel and her family!
Allie and I enjoyed an extra day and home and she got to go to friend Barrett's martial arts birthday party!
And then we were off on our way! These pictures of Allie in the United Terminal at O'hare Airport bring back so many memories of being in awe of the lights (and probably the "moving sidewalk") when going to visit my grandparents in Chicago!
We started off in Arlington! I got to meet up with two dear friends I met through my Rodan + Fields business, Karin and Jessica.
While waiting for the girls, I loved looking out across the street at my old condo and probably our favorite place we lived, the Charleston!
Jake and Alex stopped by earlier in the day too!
We forgot to take pictures but we had a fantastic dinner with our friend Carolyn! Before heading back to the hotel we had to stop and one of our old favorites, Whitlow's!
Heading the next morning into D.C. The Metro was a HUGE hit with both kiddos!
First stop: The National Archives
It was SO cold waiting to get in! Some of us had an easier time waiting than others.
Next stop: The Supreme Court
It was my first visit as well. I loved the ceiling. We were able to sit in the gallery and hear about the history of the court! Unfortunately, once we went into the gallery we couldn't take any pictures!
Finally, we headed to the Capitol. Having worked there, it was really fun to be back! I was impressed with myself that I remembered how to get to my old office.
When I worked for Congressman DeFazio, I used to arrange tours of the Capitol and around DC. So I was very appreciative when the current Staff Assistant, Kitra, did the same for us.
Kitra took us on a fantastic tour. I remember about half of the facts I used to but I loved being there!
The beautiful ceiling of the Rotunda in the Capitol.
Learning about Oregon Senator, Edward Baker!
And...Texan, Sam Houston!
Allie was excited to see the statue of Rosa Parks, who she had learned about earlier in the year.
Being former staff does have its perks. We got to see our friend Kathy, who was my first intern at the Congressman's office and now works on a Committee.
We also got to hang out on Peter's great balcony with current staff and their furry friends, Elsie and Sophie. They were a big hit!
That night Alex surprised Jake with tickets to the Wizards and of course he ended up with the most amazing experience!
Wizards star player, Bradley Beal, signing a picture for Jake!
With their new buddy, Rishawn, with the Wizards hooked the boys up with courtside shoot-around time. Apparently, he was impressed with Jake's NBA knowledge!
While Jake and Alex were at the Wizard's game, Allie and I had a great time seeing my dear friend Maya and her daughter Ellie. Maya and I have been friends since we were 10. We went through Hebrew school together, Young Judaea and much more. Maya also picked me up airport when I moved to DC in 1996. A forever friend!
The girls had the best time together and didn't want to leave each other at the end of the night!
The next morning we headed to see a few of the Smithsonian Museums! We started with the Museum of Natural History!
We met our friend Jill for lunch at the National Portrait Gallery. Allie and I stayed and the boys went to the Air & Space Museum.
After learning about Leonardo DaVinci last year in Ms. Leslie's Pre-K class, Allie was very excited to see an actual DaVinci painting!
After the museums, we moved into a new hotel for my conference and had a little downtime. Then we headed to Takoma Park to see one of my most favorite families!
Loved seeing Elliot, Karen, Sarah, David & Zack.
Missing from the pictures are Sarah and David who headed home before our photo shoot and Alex left early to meet up with some friends.
Thursday I attended my conference for most of the day but Alex kept Jake & Allie busy and happy!
After a lazy morning, they headed back to the Museum of Natural History to explore more.
Then they went to the International Spy Museum. These two sneaky spies loved it!
We met up after for dinner and a reunion! We were so excited to see the Griffin Family! These little pumpkins were born 2 days apart and were so cute then...
And now!
Mamas look pretty good ten years later too!
I met Layton in baby class at the Ob/Gyn! And we texted while we were in the hospital at the same time. Jake was born 2 days before sweet Hadley. She's also the namesake of Jake's Hadley Bear (which he still sleeps with) which was a gift from the Griffin's.
Thankfully, we didn't lose touch and have actually gotten to be even closer and now business partners through our Rodan + Fields business.
Hanging with the big girls!
We had a great night! We loved seeing Layton and Aron, Allie loved hanging out with the girls and Jake and Hadley even talked a bit and they all "flossed".
Friday morning I skipped out of a meeting so we could tour the White House. It doesn't matter who lives there, it's still an amazing piece of our history and we were lucky to have tickets to see it.
Jake checking out the huge soccer goals in the White House garden. Maybe Baron plays soccer?
The rooms are beautiful. The large portrait in the back is of Jackie Kennedy.
Even the White House has a gift shop!
Hi George!
I had to head back to the conference but they braved the cold to go see Abe!
After finishing up with my meetings, we headed to Virginia to see favorite friends, the Tregers. When we left DC leaving Greg & Shana was one of the saddest parts. We also missed our steak & wine dinners out with them!
From the moment we got in the car when they picked us up everyone was fast friends!
We were especially excited for these two to meet! Shana and I have been waiting to get Allie and Talia together almost since birth!
Two peas in a pod!
Jake and Spencer met when they were little (not that they remembered) and had the best time hanging out!
These mamas were so happy to have all the kids together and to see them having so much fun. But they were really happy when the sitter came and the grown-ups went out for steak & wine!
It was a great trip!
We loved seeing so many friends and family and loved showing the kids such an important and special place to us! That said, we were pretty happy to come back to the Austin weather!
Good big brother Jake trying to help Allie pull out her tooth! It finally came out after a soccer game!
Fun impromptu night out with the Burton's!
Fun afternoon at The Blanton Museum with the Daviators! We went to see the Ellsworth Kelly exhibit and new permanent collection.The fact that Allie's teacher is willing to spend some of her Sunday afternoon with these crazies!
Getting ready for Passover!
He may not eat them but he cuts a mean carrot!
Making Bubba's Matzo Ball Soup
With our old school Maxwell House hagaddah and plague finger puppets from my Aunt Judy, our seder game was strong!
That night were visited by Elija AND (for the second time in a week) by the Tooth Fairy!
