D.C. Trip

We had big plans for a family trip to D.C. on New Year's Eve. I was really excited to go! Which is, of course, why Fate decided to give me & Jon the stomach bug (a mild case, but still not something to be trekking around D.C. with) the night before. Disappointed, we stayed home and kept Aaron home as well. We weren't sure if he was sick or not, but he would have been loads of fun either way. 

And so, we pawned our kids off on our family again and hoped they would be cooperative for a day of adventures!

Two kids and a dreary-looking Washington Monument

A brave Grandpa at the Air & Space Museum with his grandkids

My kids are drawn to water like fish.

My Maryland babies

Catherine loving the big cats

Enjoying the Nativity at the D.C. Temple

Love this picture!

And very impressed with all the smiles, even after such a long day of touristing.

December Kayaking

Since the weather was being ridiculously nice (and since we needed to get everyone out of the house), Jon came up with a brilliant idea: drive to APG, rent kayaks, and spend a few hours on the water. It felt really, really weird to be renting kayaks on December 30th, but it ended up being a lot of fun!

Jon getting Beth to pull her own weight.

The kayaking crew on the beach

I wasn't sure how Aaron would like it, but he was totally ready to go!

Embarking on an adventure with Grandpa & Bubba.

Aaron would probably go anywhere with Grandpa.

Jon took the bigger kids out.

Throwing rocks in the bay is more fun than kayaking.

Lunch break!

Toddlers throwing rocks and sharing food.

Meg takes Seth out.

We even got Mom out in a kayak!

Seth was quite insistent (bossy) and told me exactly where to go and what to hit with the kayak.

Another trip, this time with Aaron & Catherine.

Aaron was very good at not trying to jump out of the boat (not).

And a solo trip! The luxury!

This is definitely something we'll want to try again in the summer with friends & family!

Milburn Orchards

Poor abandoned children (and Adleigh)

Part of the fun of having family in town is pawning your kids off on them while you go out on a date! One of my former young women was getting married in the DC temple, so Jon & I did a session before the sealing while the family watched our kids.  Then we ditched them again that night to attend the dinner and reception. It was a lovely way to celebrate our tenth anniversary!

The kids got to have adventures of their own. Seth got to pretend he was a Knox all day, which is basically his dream come true. Catherine & Aaron went with the family on an adventure to Milburn Orchards. Catherine made it extra exciting by throwing up on the drive and having to wear Adleigh's clothes all day. So sorry, everyone! 

Catherine feeds goats

Aaron feeds goats

No fear

More goats

And a pig for good measure

Grandpa Russell is the food distribution center

Grandma being bossed around 

Two cute girls on a wooden train

Group shot 

Grandpa, the Pied Piper of grandkids

A bridge!

Looking very chilly by the water

Action shot

Big blue Aaron eyes

Adleigh & Catherine entering into negotiations over rocks

Climbing girls

Two toddlers on a bridge

A happy boy with his happy grandma

A happy princess on a swing

Conquering the tires

Apparently it was an exhausting day.

The kids had a blast!

Maybe we should ditch them more often...

Post-Christmas Fun

Time for a much-needed break from being in the house!

A trip to the pond in our neighborhood with Grandpa was just what the toddlers needed:

Breydon decides that he LOVES Legos. They are delicious!

In fact, he loves them so much that he makes a desperate lunge for them and smacks his head.

Aunt Megan feels like a jerk.

Knowing we would never get a decent picture on Christmas morning, we arranged for my friend Melissa to come over Sunday morning and take group pictures in our Christmas jammies. We had several uncooperative people, mainly my husband and youngest son, but it worked well enough! 

The grandkids

The Mikesell clan

Four sisters.

I so didn't want to take this picture.

Better.

Best!

All the girls.

Notice there is no "all the boys" picture?

Or a Blood family picture?

Did I mention how cooperative my husband was?