More fun in Virginia... July 2008

You can't have 4th of July without traditional sparklers. Madison writing her name with the sparkler.
Eliot roasting marshmallows with some of the cousins. FYI- S'mores taste better with dark chocolate and fresh raspberries.
Ana at Burke Lake Park with Maddie and Mitch. We were waiting for a train ride.
Me and the kiddos posed in front of the (stopped) train. Hands down best kid train ride I have ever been on. The scenery was beautiful and Ana had a great song to sing along the way. How does it go again?
Mitchell on the carousel ride at Burke Lake Park. Madison and Ana in the background. Burke Lake Park is one of our favorite spots in Virginia.

Aunt Michaela, Ana, and Madison on the hayride at Frying Farm Park. Another fun Virginia spot. The Park preserves and interprets a 1920s to 1950s farm. It was very fun and interesting.
Mom and Mitch with old barn in the background.
Mitchell was in heaven with these tractors that he could play on.
Ana and Mitch looking at some pigs in the barn. (It isn't clear whether or not the pig was wearing lipstick.)
Ana and Michaela- cute girls!

Fourth of July (Better Late than Never)

After a long flight from San Diego and a late arrival into Washington D.C., Mitchell and Eliot took the opportunity to sleep in. We missed the Pancake Breakfast at the church but there were many other Independence Day activities to come.
Mitchell and Eliot with Cousin JJ and Uncle Jeremy at the Fairfax, Virginia 4th of July Parade.
Some of the cousins with Aunt Melissa and Aunt Michaela.
Some of the parade sights.

Eliot and Scot preparing homemade ice cream. Yum!
Bop Bop with the boys.
Taking the Metro into Washington D.C. for the Fireworks show.
Me pushing the boys through downtown D.C.
The whole gang getting ready for the big show!

Kate and Maddie. They are so cute together and have so much fun!
Sights from the show. It was awesome being in our Nation's Capital for the 4th of July. It was really neat to see the fireworks at the Washington Monument.
The Ward family after a very fun and exciting day!

Summer Pops

We went to Summer Pops on Saturday with a group of friends. We had a great time. We listened to Frank Sinatra Jr. sing Frank Sinatra accompanied by the San Diego Symphony. We picnicked while the sun set and then got cozy for the show under the stars.

What a good looking group!

We had quite a spread of delicious eats.

Mary, Angie, Erin, and Darci do a want-to-be Rockette line. Sinatra's famous New York, New York song inspired this move.

Sisters Trip

We had a great weekend in Dallas for our Swensen Sisters Trip. We stayed at the Westin Galleria which is connected to a mall. We shopped, ate, got pedicures, saw a movie(Get Smart), had Afternoon Tea at the Adolphus Hotel (see picture above), went to Sixth Floor Museum, talked, laughed and had a fabulous time!

This is the street where JFK was shot and killed. This is the view from the Grassy Knoll. What a tragic moment in history.

The grassy knoll where individuals claim they saw smoke from a firearm and some unidentified people.

Here I am standing on the spot where JFK was struck by a second bullet. See the Book Depository building in the background- where the Sixth Floor Museum is and also where Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly fired a rifle which killed JFK.

Iddy Biddy Dance Recital

Maddie and her friend Sydney ready to perform now that they have their makeup on and flowers in their hair. Madison has her arms in first position and is doing a posse.
These girls became fast friends when we moved to San Diego. They are still buddies. Maddie names all of her stuffed animals after her good friend.
The girls performed at an outdoor amphitheater. They performed their ballet dances twice and all the performers did a tap dance for the finale.
She looks like she has a little stage fright. I think she was saying "cheese" for the picture while being distracted by the other dancers.

Oh Boy, I've Got Joy

Madison had her Joy School Graduation on Saturday. It was a fun party and cute to see all the kids in their caps. Madison is so grown up now. I thought it was so sweet because when she walked up to get her certificate she turned to the audience and did a curtsie. Precious!
Madison and all of her Joy School friends. They have had such a fun year together!
Madison even got a graduation picture. Wow! She was so excited and we were very happy for her and all she has learned.

Easter Best

Okay, so I got the kids Easter outfits to wear on Easter Sunday and Mitchell was sick that day. The next week we had company, then it was General Conference, the following week I was out of town. So finally today, almost one month after Easter, I got the kids dressed in their Easter garb and took a few pictures. Better late than never, right? (BTW- I tried to get the kids pictures taken at a professional studio--"tried" is the key word. Madison has decided she really likes getting her picture taken, but Mitchell has decided quite the opposite.)