National Park Week: The Washington Monument!

For National Park Week, I knew that I wanted to include a monument or two for the girls AND go have a picnic. I thought the Washington Monument would be the perfect place for a picnic lunch because there is a ton of green space and the girls could eat and run around. 

The Washington Monument :)

Elizabeth refused to sit on the blanket to picnic

And I kept Caroline in the stroller to eat

After lunch, it was time to explore

What a great group selfie! Ha! ;)

Hugs with my big girl

Elizabeth played photographer for a minute... not too bad

I took this picture right before they both broke into a full sprint across the grass

Do you see them??

Climb every mountain... no thanks, we shall climb every tree :)

Not too happy we are leaving...

Happy Thursday y'all!

National Park Week: Lee District Park!

Yesterday we headed over to Lee District park with a picnic and plans to play under the covered playground.  Well... the cover had been removed from the playground, so we headed over to the playground by the spray park and had a great time running around!

This part of the park is called Chessie's Big Backyard and the girls had a ton of fun exploring it.  Elizabeth has always played on the 2-5-year-old playground and this year she went for the 5+ playground.  Caroline was in a stroller last year, so she enjoyed following Elizabeth and then exploring the 2-5 playground.

It was very sunny and very hot, and we had a ton of fun in the sun ;)

 Too sunny to look at the camera and smile :)

 Caroline following Elizabeth

 Elizabeth's favorite slide.

She was contemplating trying to climb up it

 Both girls did not like the "loose" way the bridge moved

 Caroline always goes down slides like this

Picnic lunch!

We have a few more parks planned this week, but we shall have to see how our allergies are doing.

Elizabeth is currently losing the battle against her allergies and Caroline and I are barely controlling them.

Happy Wednesday y'all!

National Park Week: National Zoo!

I thought it would be fun to celebrate National Park Week this year with the girls.  This week is the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.  Now, not to sound too much like Leslie Knope but I do love the National Park Service because I have loved every single National Park I have ever been too.  When I was a kid, I'm sure I complained about being pulled all around the country to visit historical landmarks, but as an adult I completely appreciate what my parents did and now have a love of the national parks.

We have a ton of National Parks around the DC area, but not all are completely friendly for 18-month-olds and four-year-olds, so I am mixing in national parks with some of our local county parks for a fun week of outings.

First stop on Monday was the National Zoo!  We have a membership that includes free parking, so I take the kids as much as possible.  Caroline is now old enough to actually enjoy the animals (and to actually see the animals). 

I want to apologize in advance for some of the photos, I didn't realize I had a smudge on the lens.

We got to the zoo around 9:45am and stayed until about 11:30am.  It was so hot by the time we left, I immediately changed the girls into shorts when we got home.  

 About to go to the panda exhibit

We got to see both pandas!  The baby was napping and the mommy was outside.  When we walked into the panda building, the mom came in and started to eat and then take a bath.  We were the only people in the room and got to enjoy the panda without a huge crowd- it was awesome!

 As the sign says, those are American Bison :)

After searching, unsuccessfully, for the elephants, we stopped for a snack of goldfish and juice.  At this point, Elizabeth was insisting we find the flamingos after snack time because she saw them with Charlie and Jack and wanted to see them again. :)

 Goldfish for snack!

 On our way to the flamingos, we found one elephant!

I don't know where the other five or six where.  We went to the elephant house and down the elephant trail and only found one.

#wheredoyouhidefiveelephants? 

 We found the flamingos!

 And a few cranes :)

The girls had dinner on the deck before Ben got home.

I love this weather (minus the allergies)!

Happy Tuesday y'all!

Weekend Review: Becky's Bridal shower!

I had a very busy weekend!  I made a trip to Pittsburgh on Friday afternoon to visit with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law before going to my cousin's (in-law, is that a thing?) bridal shower on Saturday afternoon.

 Dinner with Adam and Brigette on Friday night!

We went to BRGR and it was fabulous.  I highly recommend the fried pickles. :)

Saturday morning we hung around the condo until it was time to go to the shower.  Brigette and I rode together and I was very thankful to have someone driving that is familiar with Pittsburgh.  A bunch of streets were closed due to spring festivals and football games and Brigette knew exactly where to go and even knew where the secret parking garage is located. :)

 At the bridal shower, they served the Pittsburgh salad which has steak and french fries on top of it.

It was my very first Pittsburgh salad, so I had to take a picture :)

 They also served these beautiful (and very tasty) cookies at the shower.

(I brought a couple home for Elizabeth and Caroline)

 Becky opening gifts

 All the ribbons and bows.

Such a beautiful bouquet!

 All of Becky's aunts threw the shower for her.

This is Becky with all of her aunts :)

 And Becky with her mom and all of her aunts

 Brigette, Becky, Me, and Sarah

After the shower I came home to a sleeping baby, a toddler that inhaled her cookie, and a wonderful husband that had taken care of everything.  I missed my three so much, but I am really glad I got to see so much family and have a little kid-free time.  :)

 

Elizabeth thoroughly enjoyed her cookie :)

Happy Monday y'all!